ES1243549U - INTELLIGENT SOLAR COLLECTOR FOR SHOWER (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding) - Google Patents

Abstract

Intelligent solar collector for shower, which includes a control plate and one or more sensors and electrodes, characterized by - an electronic micro-controller with a software algorithm capable of determining if there is water in the tank, its temperature and the electrical conductivity properties of the water and if electrolytic corrosion phenomena occur - one or more replaceable electrodes that allow the passage of electrical charges in an aqueous medium -powered by a photovoltaic panel or batteries and capacitors - a communication procedure with the user. (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding)

Description

DESCRIPTION

INTELLIGENT SOLAR COLLECTOR FOR SHOWER

INDUSTRIAL FIELD OF APPLICATION

Showers that store water in solar energy collection tanks, widely used as a supplement in swimming pools, hotels, camping sites, gardens, etc. They incorporate selector valves to mix the hot water from the collector next to the mains water, which is usually at a lower temperature than that of the collecting tank. As they are simple devices, there is no clear way to know when the water contained in the solar collector is at the right temperature to be used, nor when the water temperature is too low and can cause damage due to freezing.

STATE OF THE PREVIOUS TECHNIQUE

There are many systems to measure the temperature of tanks containing hot water and to prevent possible corrosion that may occur internally. But practically all are aimed at water heaters or steam producers. This invention refers to a water tank that is heated based on a solar panel or, by default, batteries or condensers and what it tries to do is avoid very high or very low temperatures, in addition to possible corrosion. The closest patent is the Chinese patent WO2008094874 from an American, which describes a control system for high temperature and the oxidation-reduction potential of a hot water system. But this, like others, are oriented, I insist, to hot water systems, while the one that this patent refers to is a content of water that heats up or cools between limits of liquid water.

EXPLANATION OF THE INVENTION

It is important to note that the scope of temperature control refers to a shower collector, so the water temperature will always be well below the boiling temperature and always above 0 °, since these are one of the objectives of this invention.

This utility model solves the drawbacks of systems aimed at controlling water heaters by incorporating a monitoring system that first checks if the collector has water and if so, performs a series of measurements of physical parameters such as temperature and conductivity that allow informing the user of the availability of use, as well as proper maintenance to avoid freezing problems and deterioration of the collector's hydraulic circuit. To begin with, this invention Check, first, if there is water in the tank, data, since its use is random, which is unnecessary in a heater or kettle.

The device is made up of a printed circuit board, which we will call a control board, which incorporates a low-consumption electronic micro-controller, connected to one or more temperature sensors that can be of the NTC or PTC type, which they can be housed on the same printed circuit board where the micro-controller is located or in separate locations. Likewise, the control plate can incorporate connection to one or several electrodes of various materials such as Platinum, Titanium, Aluminum, Copper or Zinc of variable lengths, which can be covered by a sheath of porous material that allows the passage of electrical charges. in aqueous medium and that can also be replaceable.

The electronic control board and the rest of the elements are powered by taking advantage of sunlight using an amorphous, polycrystalline or mono-crystalline silicon photovoltaic panel, as well as having several electrolytic capacitors that store enough electrical energy to allow the night operation of the electronic system. It can also be powered by Zinc, Lithium, Aluminum-air batteries, Ni-MH and Li-ion batteries.

Through different combinations of electrodes in contact with the solar collector water and the algorithm introduced in the micro-controller software, the electrical conductivity properties of the water due to the presence of dissolved minerals are determined, this parameter informs the user of the quality of the water. It also allows determining if REDOX electrolytic corrosion phenomena occur due to the possible deterioration of the internal anticorrosive treatment of the solar collector, when it has been built with metallic materials. In this case, the micro-controller can act on the electrodes to generate an electric current with the appropriate voltage to neutralize the effects of the residual galvanic current, reducing the rate of corrosion.

The temperature sensors inform the user of the availability of hot water in the solar collector, together with the voltage and electric current parameters measured by the control board on the photovoltaic panel, allow predicting by a software algorithm, the time remaining to reach a suitable temperature. Likewise, in places with cold weather, they can warn the user with sufficient time in advance of the possible freezing of the water contained in the collector due to a drop in the outside temperature to values below 3 ° C. Allowing timely maintenance operations.

In any case, the most relevant data, maximum and minimum temperatures, conductivity, etc. they are registered in a non-volatile solid state memory (EEPROM) that incorporates the main electronic board.

Communication with the user supports several non-exclusive modes, it can be carried out by means of light signals using light-emitting diodes (LEDs), liquid crystal displays (LCDs), LED screens, acoustic signals using piezoelectric buzzers or small loudspeakers, and by means of information transmission technology Wireless Bluetooth low energy (BLE), allowing interaction with various devices such as: computers, smartphones, tablets, smart watches, wearables, etc.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 shows a model of monitoring and control apparatus, including a complete set of sensors and actuators, providing maximum functionality.

Figure 2 shows a simplified model of monitoring and control apparatus, limiting the number of sensors, offering the basic functionalities.

DETAILED EXHIBITION OF AN IMPLEMENTATION MODE

In the model with its complete equipment, Figure 1, we can see how a solar collector (3) is arranged, which contains water inside, this condition is detected by two methods, the first by measuring electrical conductivity through the electrodes. (1), the second by measuring the temperature gradient between the sensor (5) that captures the ambient temperature and the sensor (2) which measures the temperature of the water inside the collector or the temperature of the envelope of the solar collector ( Figure 2).

When the system detects that there is water inside the collector, the control board (7) makes measurements of temperature, solar radiation and electrical conductivity of the water contained in the collector, these measurements are stored in a non-volatile internal memory that allows managing a history for the user, in addition to providing data for the control algorithm.

The control board is powered by the photovoltaic solar panel (6). In turn, when there is not enough ambient light to power the control board, there are various methods of storing electrical energy, including the use of electrolytic capacitors that can be included in the control board (6) and batteries ( 4) They can be from different technologies.

When the system is in operation it can indicate various situations such as adequate solar radiation, low temperature, excess temperature, poor water quality or even maintenance, such as the deterioration of the anticorrosive protection inside the collecting tank, in case that it is metallic. The above indications can be signaled to the user by means of lighting components such as LED diodes (8) and also by wireless communication through BLE low energy Bluetooth technology that can be included in the control board. In situations in which the control system detects a drop in ambient temperature that may cause the freezing of water present in the collection tank, with the consequent deterioration that on the solar collector may be produced by the increase in volume of the water contained when passing In the solid phase, the system can activate a drain solenoid valve (9) located at the bottom of the collector that will allow it to drain, as well as the renewal of water at a higher temperature to prevent freezing. Said solenoid valve can be powered by a separate battery (4) or a battery integrated in the solenoid valve itself.

In another simplified embodiment, such as the case represented in Figure 2, there is a solar collector (3) which contains water inside, this condition is detected by measuring the temperature gradient between the sensor (5) that It captures the ambient temperature and the sensor (2) which measures the temperature of the envelope of the solar collector.

When the system detects that there is water inside the collector, the control board (7) performs measurements of temperature and solar radiation, these measurements are stored in an internal non-volatile memory that allows managing a history for the user, in addition to providing data for the control algorithm.

The control board is powered by the photovoltaic solar panel (6). In turn, when there is not enough ambient light to power the control board, there are various methods of storing electrical energy, including the use of electrolytic capacitors that can be included in the control board (7).

When the system is in operation it can indicate various situations such as adequate solar radiation, low temperature or excess temperature, to name a few. The above indications can be signaled to the user by means of light components such as LEDs (8) and also by wireless communication through Bluetooth low energy BLE technology that can be included on the control board. In situations in which the control system detects a drop in ambient temperature that may cause the freezing of water present in the collection tank, with the consequent deterioration that on the solar collector may be produced by the increase in volume of the water contained when passing In solid phase, the system in this simplified version can activate a visual indication by means of LEDs (8) and send an alert by wireless transmission to smart devices that inform the user of the situation required to empty the collector.

Claims (1)

1- Smart solar collector for shower, which includes a control plate and one or more sensors and electrodes, characterized by . an electronic micro-controller with a software algorithm capable of determining if there is water in the tank, its temperature and the electrical conductivity properties of the water, and if electrolytic corrosion phenomena occur . one or more replaceable electrodes that allow the passage of electrical charges in an aqueous medium. . powered by a photovoltaic panel or batteries and capacitors . a communication procedure with the user 2- Smart solar collector for shower, according to claim 1, in which the electronic microcontroller has one or more sensors connected, which detect if there is water in the tank and the water temperature. 3- Smart solar collector for shower according to claim 1 characterized in that the connected electrodes are made of materials such as platinum, titanium, copper or zinc of variable lengths and are covered with a sheath of porous material 4- Smart solar collector for shower according to claim 1 characterized by a non-volatile solid state memory 5- Smart solar collector for shower according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that there is communication with the user, which can be carried out by means of light signals (LED, LCD), acoustic signals or by means of Bluetooth low energy wireless transmission (BLE).