Development of Modular Design Energy Generation and Storage System for Autonomous Power Supply

Abstract

The article presents the design conception of a high mobility energy generation and storage system with intelligent energy conversion and storage systems for use in military and civilian purposes in regions with damaged infrastructure, where access to electricity and hot water is limited or threatened due to man-made actions or natural damage. The proposed system main feature is modular design which combines a heat collector, electrical energy converter, and related energy storage systems. The modular, reliable design and ease of deployment of the proposed system, the size of which allows to carry out in standard shipping containers, enables rapid and flexible scaling of a deployed solar power plant, production and storage of electricity and hot water. The design of the module of the proposed system is based on the use of highly efficient multi-junction III-V solar cells in combination with economically and reliable plastic made system for concentrating solar radiation. At the same time, the cooling of solar cells to maintain their operating temperature provides heating of water to the minimum values required in domestic conditions. Also, the modular principle is the basis of the system for storing and distributing electrical energy, which is supposed to be made of highly efficient Li-Fe based rechargeable batteries, which today have one of the best indicators in terms of the ratio of volume and accumulated energy. An intelligent control system based on microcontrollers provides accurate positioning of solar cells, the implementation of the MPPT algorithm to maximize power generation and maintain a balance between supplying consumers and charging batteries. Modularity makes it possible to form emergency power supply complexes of different power (45 W of electric power and 50 W of thermal energy per one module) for provide emergency and permanent power supply of most electronic devices according to the standard protocols PD 3.0, QC 3.0, 12 V, 220 V as well as supply consumers with warm water for basic needs.