The present invention relates a lateral window of a passenger rail vehicle, and more generally a lateral window of a public transportation vehicle.
CN203573992U discloses a laminated photovoltaic module, comprising in a top-down sequence an upper ultra-clear float glass, an upper transparent polyvinyl butiral (PVB) layer, a sheet of photovoltaic cells, a lower transparent polyvinyl butiral layer and an underlying ordinary PVB transparent glass. The individual photovoltaic cells are connected to one another and to an external circuit by wires. The module can be used in building e.g. as double glass windows, French windows, glass walls, ceiling, sightseeing elevator, balcony, etc. Such modules are custom modules, which have to be specifically designed for each application. In particular, the size and distribution of the individual photovoltaic cells has to be adapted to the size and shape of the available window frame. The photovoltaic cells and wires hinder the view when the observer looking through the photovoltaic module is close to it. Hence, it is not adapted to vehicle windows, in particular to lateral windows of public transportation vehicles. Moreover, The use of amorphous or crystalline silica for conventional photovoltaic cells is problematic because of the low availability of the raw material and of the high cost and energy needed for its manufacture.
DE102009029790 discloses a lateral window for a transportation vehicle, comprising: a first transparent panel, a second transparent panel spaced apart from the first transparent panel, a window frame for supporting the first transparent panel and the second transparent panel, an inner space being defined between the first and second transparent panels and the window frame, and a photovoltaic generator arranged between the first and second transparent panels. The photovoltaic generator comprises a multi-layered colorant-photovoltaic layer arranged that constitutes an anode and a one-side electrically conductive polymer foil that constitutes a cathode. A generator layer is arranged between the anode and the cathode, and has an ionic material of titanium oxide or zinc oxide with artificial colour pigments as ionic partner for a given wavelength range of solar radiation.
The invention aims to provide a low cost photovoltaic module for equipping the lateral windows of a public transportation vehicle.
According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a lateral window for a public transportation vehicle, comprising:
The resulting arrangement offers a uniform transparent surface.
According to an embodiment, the photovoltaic gel contains a silicon gel and a semiconductor.
Preferably, the photovoltaic gel completely fills the inner space.
According to an embodiment, the first and second transparent panels are planar. Curved transparent panels are also possible.
The filling arrangement may comprise a filling inlet for introducing the photovoltaic gel into the inner space, a pressure compensation outlet for allowing air to leave the inner space and closure elements for closing the filling inlet and pressure compensation outlet. According to one embodiment, the filling inlet comprises a through hole in the first transparent panel. Similarly, the pressure compensation outlet comprises a through hole in the first transparent panel. This arrangement is particularly simple and makes it possible to fill the inner space after the lateral window has been mounted on the vehicle. Alternatively, the filling inlet and pressure compensation outlet are arranged in one or more frame members of the window frame, with the advantage that the filing inlet and pressure compensation outlet are not visible
According to an embodiment, the lateral window is provided with a pair of electrodes spaced apart from one another for electrically connecting the photovoltaic gel to an outside electrical circuit through the window frame. One of the advantages of the invention is that only one pair of electrodes is necessary, i.e. the whole window operates as a single photovoltaic cell. Preferably, the electrodes are arranged on the window frame. The electrodes are not visible and do not hinder the view.
According to a preferred embodiment at least two openings are provided in the window frame. The two openings form the filling inlet and pressure outlet and are closed by bushings that connect the electrodes to the outside circuit. Alternatively, different openings in the window frame can be used for the electric bushings and the inlet and outlet openings.
According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a photovoltaic power generation system for a public transportation vehicle, characterized in that it includes a set of one or more lateral windows as described above and an electrical circuit for connecting the electrodes of the one or more lateral windows to one or more electrical components amongst the following:
According to an embodiment, the electrical circuit includes a charger controller between the electrodes and the one or more electrical components. Preferably, the lateral windows are connected in parallel.
According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided A public transportation vehicle comprising a side wall provided with lateral window openings, and a photovoltaic power generation system as described hereinbefore, wherein the set of one or more lateral windows of the photovoltaic power generation system are framed into one or more of the window openings.
Other advantages and features of the invention will then become more clearly apparent from the following description of a specific embodiment of the invention given as non-restrictive examples only and represented in the accompanying drawings in which:
Corresponding reference numerals refer to the same or corresponding parts in each of the figures.
With reference to
As illustrated in
The frame 16 of each lateral window 12 is substantially rectangular and comprises four sides, each formed from a main profile 26 and a clamping profile 28 received in a groove 30 of the main profile 26. The main profile 26 provides an interface with the side wall 10 of the vehicle. A sealing gasket 32 is provided between the main profile and the side wall of the vehicle. The clamping profile 28 protrudes from the groove 30 and has a region of overlap with the inner transparent panel 18.
The inner transparent panel 18 has a pair of through holes 34 (only one of which is illustrated in
The inlet 36 is used to fill the inner space 24 with a transparent photovoltaic gel 46 while the air in the inner space 24 is expelled through the outlet 38. Once the inner space 24 has been filled with the photovoltaic gel 46, the inlet 36 and outlet 38 are closed and sealed with the closure 44. The inlet 46 and outlet 48 can be of similar construction or can be different from one another (e.g. to include check valves).
The photovoltaic gel is preferably a sol-gel of Si2Ox in a water matrix.
As depicted in
In the operational state, when the vehicle is in or out of service during daylight hours, the lateral windows 12 generate electrical power, which is used either to directly feed the DC/AC inverter 56 or to charge the batteries 54. Peak performances in standard lighting (1000 w/m2) are in the range of 90 to 100 W/m2. The voltage obtained between the electrodes vary from 2 to 3.5 V depending on the thickness of the gel layer. Favourable thicknesses (i.e. distance between inner transparent panel and intermediate transparent panel) range from 4 to 8 mm.
Referring to
The opening of the bushing housing is used to fill the inner space 24 of the lateral window 12 with the transparent photovoltaic gel 46, either before the electrode is put in place, or after the electrode has been inserted in the bushing but before it is locked with the sealing cap 80. As there are at least two such openings, one can be used as inlet to fill the inner space 24 while the other is used as outlet to expel the air from the inner space 24.
While the above examples illustrate preferred embodiments of the present invention it is noted that various other arrangements can also be considered. The electrical circuit 51 can include any subset of lateral windows 12 on one or both sides of the vehicle body or one more than one vehicle body. The shape of the window can vary.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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16171184.1 | May 2016 | EP | regional |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/EP2017/062310 | 5/22/2017 | WO | 00 |