CA2610507A1

CA2610507A1 - Mobile power generator

Info

Publication number: CA2610507A1
Application number: CA002610507A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Stefan Stan
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-11-17
Filing date: 2007-11-14
Publication date: 2008-05-17

Abstract

A mobile power generator for use in remote areas, comprising a wind turbine, photovoltaic solar cell panels, an internal combustion engine motor generator, a rechargeable battery, operatively connected to the wind turbine, solar cell panels and motor generator, and a digital console having a CPU, operatively connected to the wind turbine, solar cell panels, motor generator, and battery whereby independent monitoring and operational synchronisation thereof is achieved for optimizing wind and sun energy collection. The control consle includes an electrical supply, for continuous independent delivery of electrical current from each wind turbine, solar cell panel, generator and battery, to external equipments, and the CPU including a power management algorithm routine, enabling prioritization of electrical supply to the battery selectively from at least one of the turbine, solar panel and motor generator, in accordance with relative energy supply therefrom and with remaining electrical charge at the level of the battery.

Description

,UF,'t'NE INVENTION= MOBllLI'O R GENE AT k FIELD OF THE INVENTION
'1 his invention relates to a mobilc power generation unit, lirr use in supply ot'electricity whete electric power grid is either damaged, destroyed or non existent, BACKGROUND UH"I'IIL+; INVENTION
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Autonomous power systccns that collect renewable energy such as wind and sun, rtnd convert same to generate electricity, are known. These power tiystema inay be 1o useful for reside=ntial, and commercial purposes for equipment already connected to the ntains utility electrical grid of a city, for exantple, when under severe weather disturbances such as hurricarie,, earthquakes or ha=avy freezing rain conditions, or af.tcr damages brought about as collateral darnages in wars, electricity distribution network is, damaged and rendered temporarily inoperative.
Anothcr usc for such autononious power systenis is when the electrical equipment is located in a remote area, never wnnected belbre to a mains electrical grid, for example in srriall unintiabited islands or hot or cold deserts, or otherwise unoccupied tracts of land. T'he.u renewable energy systems niay also include batteries, to temp(irarity store 2c c the electrical c:nerl;y undcr chemically converted condition, aq known in the flrt.

However, operation of such known autonotnous power systems is typically awkward. Moreover, ttie interplay between the electrical supply compc-ncnts nf' such i=
known power systems creates inefficiencies that reduce thc ovcrall output pcrtorrnance theraof.

SUMMARY OF THF. INVENTION
In accordance with the teFwhinbs of the invention, there is disclosed a mobile pawer generator for use in remote areas, said generator comprisinL :
wind turbine rnearrs, li,r collccting kinutic energy from ambient air wind speed and for transf'orming ;.

swne into electrical energy, and including a first electrical output;
phc~tuvoltaic solar cell means, for collecting electromagnetic radiation 1'rom the sun and tr=ansforming the latter intu electrical cncrgy, and including a second cleorical output; an internal cotnbustion : engine motor generator tncuns, for transtorming mect-anical power bcncrate.d by an s internal ccnnhustion cngine into clectric;a) eriergy, and including a third electrical output;
rachargeablc battery cell means; including an electrical current intake, operatively connected to said lirst, second and third clcctrical outputs, and including a fourth electrical output; and control Ineatts, operatively connected to said wind tur.binc meanY, said solar cell meates, said motor engine generator meuns, and said battery cell means, said control nieans inclucling :- an ei4ctrical supply means, fi>r continuous independcnt delivery of clectrical current 1iom at least one of each said first, second, third and fburth electrical outputs to cxtern:il ccluipnients, and - a power tnanagement mcanti, enabling prioritization of electricul supply to said battery cell mwns electricat current intakc selectively from at least one of suid first, seccmd and third clectricall outputs, in accordauce with relative energy supply frorn said tlrst, sewnd and third electrical outputs and with rumaining cle4trieal chntbc at the levcl of said battery cell means, whcrcby independent monitoring and operational synchronisation of said wind turbine means, solar ccll means, motor generator tneans and battery cell nieans is achievcd for optimizing wind atid sun energy Collectiorl Yreferably, said cotitrul means f'urther iru;ludes a control console, and further incfuding a shelter unit having an cnclosurc receiving said cvntrol con5ole and for acconimodatinb an operator of said control console.

Prefcrably, said wind turbine mcans includes at least one telescopic tower nrember, mountcd a.l a lower section thereof to said shelter unit, and carrying at an upper srction thereof a rotor having a rotatable bladc assembly, said contrul mwans having nteans to detect cxcess wind speed overload conditions fln.d associated nteans to progrestiively telescopically retract and extend said telescopic tower membcr responsively to variable wind speed conditions.

2 Said shclt.er unit could bc a freight containcr having a top wall with four corners, and wherein there would then he four telescopic tower members each upwardly projec:ting f'mtn a corresponding one of the four top eorners of said container.

s '1'ower mounting means preferably mount each of said tower members to said c:ontainor for relative movemcnt thcreabout between an upright operutive condition and a generally horizontal inoperative condition against said container top wall. Thetie M1 t.ower niounting means could inelude a reel and pulleys cables and ltydraulic cylinder system, the latter sywtcnl romotely actuatable via said control console.
Preferably, said solar cell means inchidmi a first set of solar panels, tirst niounting means fixedly mounting said first set of solar panels to said containcr top wall, a tiecortd set ol' tiolitr panels, sccond motuntin6 means mounting 5aid second set of solar panels ta a pair of successive said telescopic tower members lower sections iiir relative sun tracking movement thereabout, a third set of solar panels, third mounting tneans mounting said third set ul tiolar panels to a sucond pair of suceessive said telescopic tower ntembers luwcr st:ctions for relative sun-trucking movement thereabout, all said solar panels operatively electrically interconnected wherein said control means have means to track sun niotion in the sky and associated power ineans to move said second and third sets of solar 2o patiels accorciingly about their said tirst, second atid third mounting metuzs. AC/DC
convertors should he provided, converting variable frequency current generdted by stsid =
rotors and said solar panels through a common DC line, to a fixed voltage current through an AC litio.

= {
is l'ivotal mnunt means cntild mrxint each of said tower mcmk>cra for relative movement hetwcen an operative upright condition and an inoperative retracted condition generaily abutting against the container top wall.

Preferably, said solar ccll mcans further includes an additional set of solar 30 panels, ftnd grcttsnd stipport mctnbcrs supporting said additional set of solar panels spacedly =

:t c over ground and spacedly laterally from said container, said additional tiet of solar panels ~ all operatively elcctriCally connected with said first, second and third set of solar panels.
DESCRIPTION OF THE D1tAWINGS

In the annexed drawings :
Figure 1 is a ftont perspective view of the power generator according to the present invention, shpwing the wind turbines in erected and extracted position, and further showing a first set of stationary solar panels on the container top wall and a second set of solar panels pivotally carried on opposite lateral sides of the container.
Figure 2 is a schexnatic block diagram showing the various functional components of the power generator of the present invention;
Figure 3 is a partial side elevation of the power generator of figure 1, at an enlarged scale relative to figure 1, and sequentially showing the installation procedure of a wind turbine telescopic tower in full and phantom lines, respectively;
?'igure 4 is a view similar to figure 1, but at a smaller scale and showing an { additional set of solar panels supported horizontally over ground by a numher of upright posts;

} Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view at an enlarged scale ol' ihe mobile power geneMor of ftgures 1; and figure 6 is a front elevationaI viaw of the power generator of '70 figure 1, sugt;esting the sun tracking tilting motion of the lateral solar panels.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTIOIV OF TEiE EM$ODIMENTS

The present invention relates to a mobile power gonerator 10. Envisioned -applications of the present inve,=ntion are, for example, to mcct the electricity needs of ~ dwellings on remote constructiottq sites or in far removed villages whet-c electricity is not ~ readily accessible.

Power generator 10 comprises a container 12 of generally parallelepedic shape, defining a container interior (not shown).

At each one of the four corners of container 12 arc mountcd a number of romovable telescopic towers 14, each telescopic tower 14 comprising thrce distinct sections, whicti arc euch hollow and pret'crably of generally square cross-section.
1'ele.wc:0pic tower 14 comprises a bottom tower section 14a, an intermediate section 14b a concentrically and slidahiy received within bottom tower section 14a, and an upper section 14c concentricnlly rcccived in intermediatc tower s~ction 14b, and fixedly secured thereto.
L;ach telescopic tower 14 pivotally carries a wind tttrhine 16 at the f'rcc top end of its upper scction 14c, and wind turbine 16 can pivot wittt respect to tower 14 about the latter's longitudinal axis. Wind turbine 16 comprises a conventional wcathervanc 17 orienting the zo turbine in the direction ot'thc wind, aiyd three conventional blades 19 moun.ted to a rotor.
E;ach telescopic tower 14 is provided with a deployment mcchanism, as sttown in figuru 3. It comprises a selectively actuated reel 110 commattdcd by u digital control console 80 of the generator 10 (figure 2), as described hcreinufter.
It further 15 comprises two pulleys 112 and 114 attached to the outer side surface of bottom tower section 14tt, and an internal pulley 116 located at the extremity of intermediate tower seotion 14h tiituated inside thc lumen oi' buttont tower section 14a. Thc tower dcploymettt mechaniam l'urther comprises tt cable 117, the outer frcc end ol' which can he selectively attached and wound around actuated reel 110, (:ablc; 117 is rollably supportcd sequcntially 20 by pulley 112, hnd thcn by pulley 114; it then penetrates in an orifice (not shown) made in tower buttctin svcticitt Ma adjacently tn pulley 114, and circulates in the interstice between the inner wall oI' tower bcrttom scction 14a ftnd the ottter wall of intcrmediate section 14h.
It then rollably hears against pulley 116, and runs back up along the above-mentioned interstice, antl is fixedly secured to the inner wall ur'tuwcr tiottom section 14a at 119.

Thc: (unction.ing of the towcr deployment mea;httnistn will now be deseribed, burittg transport, tclesct-pic towers 14 are contracted to tlteir shortest length, detached from container 12 and stored inside container 12, One purpose oi' the tower deployment 7 ntechanisnt is to ereet the wrreWnding tower 14 to a vertieal, operational position. To position a tower in a vertical position, the bull, end of a tower bottorri section 14a is pivotally ttttached to container 12 at 120. '1'he outer frue end of cable 117 is then attached ,'to reel I 10, and a blocking pin 122 is inserted transversally in tower 114, t4- sect-re the bottom and intermcc[iute tower sectinns 14a, 14h of the tower together und preve:nt relative niovt;incnt therebetween. Actuated tvel 11() can then be activated (by digitttl control cons(ile 80 as described hereafter), to wind cable 117 therearound ttntl thus rull and pivot the turbine-prctvided tower 14 towards container 12 as sequentially tihown in figure 3 (positiem5 I-+ 3). A semi-skilW worker ean then manually secure bottom section 14a to container 12 itt its erectcd condition, tatiing bolts or other suitable fttyten4rs.

'I'he blocking pin 122 can then be ditiengagedd from tower 14 to permit xo sliding moverncnt of intermediate tower section 14b rclative to bottom tower section 14a.
Since tower 14 is now firmly secured to oontatner 12 and can no longer move relative thereto, and since blocking pin 122 has been rclea.sed froan tower 14 to permit relative sliding rryotiun oi' intcrtnediate tower amlion 14b with respect to bottom tower scctiott 14a, further actuation c-1' r4t1 110 will bring about rnovcmcnt of intermodiatc section 14b in or is out ol' Exritc-rti se:ction 14a. If reel l 10 is cominanded to wind cable 117 thereart-und, cable 117 tightens ar-d hc,ists inttrmedittte section 14b upwardly, theretorc extLndinb tower 14.
Liversoly, if reeI 110 is cotntnanded to unwind cable 117, cakylc 117 loosenti and jntet7nediatc section 14b retracts insidc bottom tower section 14a under the biasing intluence ot' its own weight, thus causing the contraction of towcr 14.
~D
Mureaver, container 12 carries a number of top stationary solar panels 18 fixedly 9t:cur4d to its t-ocf, as well as tt pttir of oprnsitr., Tateral solar pariCls 20, 20 hingedly attached to an intermecliate section of the same bottom tower sections 14n of the telescopic ttrwcrs 14 sunpnrting top wind t.urhines 16. Lateral solar panels 20, 20, as best seen in 25 ligures I and 4, crin pivot relative to container 12 towands or away from its outer lateral walls 13 (only one lateral wall 13 is apparent in figures 1 and 4). Moreover, mobile gencrator 1() is provided with a pair of positioning rods 22, 22, cach rod pivotally connected to the rear surfaee of panels 20, 20 at a sa-called panel end; artd pivulally aird slidably mounteci in a track 24, 24 at an opposite so-called track end. A
motor 23 (figure 3) 30 can he :talectivcly ac:tivat.ed to tu:tt+trte a chttin [iyr exArttple (not shown), to raise or lower =
I= .

:thc*. track end of' rods 22, 22 along tracks 24, 24 and tiius modify the pivotal position of the lateral solar panels 20, 20 with respect to the container Sidc walls 13.

Container 12 is also provided with a distribution pattel, sc:hcmatieally shown at 100 in (igurc 1, which compri;aos a number of AC outputs 101, and a number of DC
outputs 102. Thc.,c outputs are destined to bo connected to any sort of electricity-powered dcviceti, directly to the electric panel of a dwelling, ctc., as known in the art.

The clectrical f'unctioninf* of the power gencrator will now be detailed.
lo Figure 2 tihawti the different futictional componcnts ol' the power generator 10 and their interacticyn. For fiirther ref'crance, it is noted that the wiring of generator 10 comprisc'.s two contmon electricity lines from which DC or A(' currcnt will be drawn or to which it will be dtl.ivered: a cammon 1)G line 40 (e.g. 24 V) and a common AC linc 60 (e.g.
110/220 V, 60 fii).
Wind turbines 14 output variable-frcquettcy alternating current_ Each wind turbine 14 is conncctcd to distinct AC/DC converter 30 to convert the variable-frequency AC currcnt generated by the wind turbine to a fixed-voltage current. Converter 30 then dclivcrs thc rc4ultint; DC current ta common DC line 40.

Similarly, the power output of each solar paticl 18, 20 (preferably being o1' tlie photovoltaic type) is conneeted to an AC/C)f: power converter 32 which cunverts the variable-voltage r)C current output by the salar pancls to a fixed-voltage one. C'onverrters 32 deliver the resulting fixed-voltage sigual to common DC line 40.
= 25 1+'igurc 2 ttlso showy thut power generator 10 is provided with a back-up internal combustion cngine generator group 50. Engine generator group 50 comprises for example a diesel-powered engine 52 outputting its meclianical energy to a lxiwcr gcnerator 54, as known in thc art_ When dicscl cnginc 52 is ntnning, generator 54 produces an AC
current and delivers it to AC line 60 (provided that circuit breaker 56 is closed, as de.scribed hereinafler).

Common I)C: line 40 and eotntnon AC line 60 are each independently connected to a battery module 70, via DC battery line 44 and AC battery line respectively. E3attery modttle 70 comprises: (1) a battery charging controllcr 72, and (2) a lrtrke-capacity electricity storage device such as a battery group or battery 74. E'he battery module 70 ctrtly outputs DC currcnt, and delivers it to DC line 40.
C:onve.rtiely, bttttery 74 is oniy rechtrrged by AC current, conveycd thereto via AC battery line 64.

1)C' [ine 40 can selectively feed DC current directly to DC consumers 42 through cottnccturw 102 of distribution panel 100. DC line 40 is also connected to a DOAC
so converter 34, which converts DC current from i)C line 40 to AC eurrent, and delivers it to common AC litic 60. Similarly, AC line 60 can selectively deliver AC current to AC
consumers 62 through connectors 101 of distribution pane] 100.

Mobile power generator 10 furthcr comprises a digital control console 80 (see figure 2). =I'he control links interconna;ctin.g the control console 80 to the various components of thc generator are schematically shown by double dotted lines in figure 2.
I}igital c(-ntriil RO is pivotal to the functioning of generator 10; ii synchrtimises thc opetatiun of various components, monitors activity of cettflin components, optimizes the funt:tioninp, of the i;enerator, etc. The purposes of control console 80 are inanilold, and are 2o listed below:

= Lndelrcndcnt monitaring and control of each wind turbine 16. As known in the art, wiricl turbines should be provided with protection against very strong winds to prevent it from spinning i'aster than it.s safe maximum rotatiort speed. Uvcrspeeding of the turbine's rotor can .indeed destroy or othetwise damage the turbine. It is thus dcsirable to protect the generator's wictd turbincs 16 from ovcrspceding when exposed to strong winds. 't'o protect the wind tut=biues 16 against strong winds, digital control 80 ' continumutily mottitors the turbiue's rotor speed, and if it exceeds a certaiu predetermined speed valuc, digital control 80 can engage a protection mcans.
Protecting thr. tttrbine against overspcoding can be accomplished in a number of ways:

= M

o By conventionally controlling the turbine's furling wcathervane 17 (see tigure 1), so as to steer the wind turbine's rotor out of the wind, thus causing the turbine rotor to slow down.
o By controlling and modifying the pitch of the rotor blades, tt) decrease their etliciency and thus prevent overspeeding of the turbine's rotor.
o By activating an elcetrical braking nieans to automatically control the turbine's speed.
. 3= Control of telcscopie towers 14. Once tclescopic towers 14 are mounted to the corners of the c(intainei- 12, control console 80 can command actuated reel 110 to extertd or so contract telescopic towers 14. Extension and contraction of the teleseopie towers 14 can be effected f'or different reasons, for example:
o Aitcr having mountecl telescopic towers 14 to the corners oi' the container 12 as described above, telescopic towers 14 can be extended to desired length.
15 <) Control console 80 can extend/cori trftct telescopic towers 14 to desired length to protect the wind turbines from overspeeding. Wind speed gencrally rises with altitude, ancl thus loworing the turbine by contracting the towers can help reduce the rotor speed i1'it becomes too importtuyt.
o'1'he length of towers 14 can also be modified to optimize the wind turbine's 20 efficicncy. lndtcd, if twu given wind turbines are at the same vertical level, and if the wind direction is in line with these two turbines, the ieading turbitie (with respect to wind direction) will capture most of the wind's enorgy, and the trailing turbine will not be able to spin optimally due to the obstruction by the leading turbitie uf the incoming wind stream. 1'fius, if 25 two turbines arc in linc with the wind's direction, controi console 80 will command aetuated reel 110 to position the two turbincs at difterent vertical levels, thus minimiring the leading turbine's interEerencc with the wind streatn dcstitieci tu drive the trailing turbine.
;+ Solar panel contrttl. '1'he control console can also control motors 23 to modify the 30 position of the lateral solar pancls 20, 20. As ktiuwn in the art, maximal pawer output of a solar panel is obtained when incident sunrays impinge orthogonally on the panel's surface. '1'herelbre, the control console can automatically modify the position of lateral solar panels 20, 20 in ac:cordance with sun position in the sky (figure 4).
Sun position can either be sensed using a suitahle sun position detectian system, or be approximated by the control console in accordance with the time of the day and ot' the year. 't'he position of lateral solar panels 20, 20 can also be modified according to wind speed regardless of the sun's position, to prevent damage to the panels if the winds are too violent, e.g. by folding the panels completely towards container walls 13.
+ Monitoring of DC/AC inverters 30, and AC/DC converter 34.
+ Independent managements aad monitoring of DC and AC consumers 42, 62. As zv can be scen in figure 2, circuit breakers 43, 63 arc interposed between the DC, AC lines 40, 60 and the. DC, AC outputs 102, 101 respectively. Each circuit brcaker 43, 63 is indcpendently controllable by the control consolc 80, and the latter can selectively trip out/close a given circuit breaker 43, 63 to interrupt/enable the supply of electricity to a given power consumer. Now, mobile generator 10 can only handle a tnaximal power load. F.ven so, ideally, some critical electricity-powcred devices should be Ihe last to lack electricity evcn in the event of a deniattd overlcrad. Thereforc, to optimize power distribution to consumers, the control console 80 can be customized to prioritize cettain of its powcr consumers 42, 62. To do so, a priority value - on a pre-established priority scale -- can be assigned to each DC, AC connectors 101, 102 by programming the control console accordingly. For example, the refrigerator, hcating or other critical electricity-}x>wered device of a dwelling could be connccted to a high-priority pQwer output 101 (or 102), whercas a television or other non-critical electric devices could be conncctccl to a low-priority power output 101 (or 102) of the generator. In ttte cvctnt of a denirvtd overload, control console 80 can automatically trip out the circuit breakers zs 1 43, 63 to which are assigned lesser priority values to intcrrupt powering of non-esscntial consumers, while maintaining the electricity supply to cssc:ntial consumers by keeping the corresponding circuit breakers closed.
Battery management. To maximize the longevity of a hattcry, it is well known to allow the battery to go through complete charge/discharge cycles. In other words, it is o desirable to allow the battery to almost fitlly clischargc before recharging it to prevent it to wear uut too rapidly. '1'herefore, control console 80 can control a circuit breaker 65 on battery AC line 64 to allow or prevent AC current to be delivered to battery inodule 70 to recharbe the battery. '1'hc control console 80 hence constantly monitors the battery level, xnd when the battery neun depic:tion, control console 80 closes circuit breaker 65 in order to establish electrical. communication between AC line 60 and battery module 70, thus allowing the battery 74 to rechargre. Additiemaily, digital control ce>nxolc 80 also commands the battery charging controller 72 to regulate the delivery of DC current by the battery to iX'. line 40.
= Management and synchronisation of main and back-up power supply circuits.
For security and stability purposes, the AC. line 60 should not be fed simultancously by the io main 5upply circuit (whose power sources are the wind turbities, solar panels, and hattery), and by the back-up diesel generator circuit, for extended periods of time. To prevent waste nt' non-renewahle and costly f'uel, the back-up diesel-generator group 50 is only activated if the electricity demand increases above certain value that caan not be sustained solely by the main supply circuit. '1'hus, if the electricity deiuand increases above a c:ertain lcvcl, digital control console 80 activates the diesel-generator group 50, and then calibratax it in orcier for its A('; current output tc> have the uame current characteristics (frequency, voltage, phase, etc.) as the current output of the inverter 34 of the main supply circuit, Once the characteristics of both power signals matc:h, the control console cloties circuit breaker 56 connecting generator 54 to AC line 60, and generator 54 starts delivering its generated AC current to AC line 60. A brief mornent after circuit breaker 65 is closed, circuit breaker 35 - interposed between invcrtcr 34 and AC.' line 60 -- is tripped out by the control console 80. Power gtnerated by the wind turbines {md the solar panels, and discharged by the battery onto DC line 40 is no longer cottverted to AC and supplied to AC line 60, and is concc;ntrated only at 2s supplying DC current to DC consumers 42. On the other hand, the At.".
curretit fed by the t;cnerutor 10 to the AC, eonsumers 62 is produced exclusively by the diesel-generator group 50.

It is noted that since circuit breaker 34 is tripped out only After the circuit so breaker 56 is closecl, i,e. aRer the supply of AC: cu-t4nt to AC line 60 by the diesel-gcneratOr group 50 is well establisherl, the transition from one AC supply source to the ~~ -other is seamless (i.e., the electrical eurrent supply i:, continuous and uninterrupted) and does not alTect the operations of the AC consumers.

All the data acquired during the rnonitoring activities oi' thc control console s 80 can be selectively displayed on a screen thereof (not shown).

Although automatic behaviour of the control console was almost exclusively described abovc, all of the controllable elements of mobile generator 10 can of course also be controlled manually by a human operator, through the instrumentality of input devices io } on the control console.

It is envisioned to provide the control eonsole 80 with remote controlling and monitoring capabilities (e.g. by radio frequency, internet connection, etc.).

z5 Figurt, 4 shows a plurality o!' additional solar panels 130, 132, supported horizontally spacedly over ground by a plurality of spaced upright posts 124, 126. The lower sections of posts 134, 136, may be driven into the ground, for example, to anchor =; same in vertical upright condition. The free height of posts 134, 136, may be for example slightly greater than an averagc person's height, and/or about the height of the container 20 12, to allow fice circulation therebeneath by a, scrviceman for maintenance thereof.

Solar panels 130, 132, are electrically connected to an AC/DC convertor 80, similar to convertor 32, which convcrts the variabEc voltage DC current output from the solar panels to a lixed voltage one. These convertors then deliver the resulting fixed 25 voltage signal tc) a eomtnon DC tire similar to DC,' line 40, toward the digital console 80.
ti3olar panels 130, 132, are preferably mounted adjacent to the container side 12.
=y The total surface area of the solar panels 130, 132, will depend of course on he in situ requiremcnts, but niay be for example 2500 square feet.

30 ~
F R

=41 It is understood that the elcctricity generated by mobile generator 10 is used to meet its own Ix)wor need, in addition tt) supplying electricity to external consumers.

In one embadiment of the present invention illustrated in figure S, the digital scontrol console 80, the diesel generator 140, the batteries, and additional components of the system Are contained within the interior of container 12. It is envisioned that a desk and ;ehair 142 be also provided within the containers to allow an operator of generator 10 to $ttve a decent worlcing environment within the container 12.

zo Moreover, it is also envisioned that if battery 74 is charged to its full capacity and tkte power demand remains inferior to the power generation potential of the wind turbines and solar punels, excess power could be rerouted to be used to power an external device, e.g, a water pump, instead of being wasted.
It is also understood that a plurality of containers can be connected in is parallel to increase tite power supply potential to consumers.

Other modifications could also be macle to the present invention. Additional power generating units driven by renewable energies could be added to the systcm, e.g. a water turbinc that coulcl he installed in a nearby water stream. Similarly, additional power 20 generating units driven by non-renewable cncrgies could he added to the system, e.b, a coal enginc.

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Claims

1. ~A mobile power generator for use in remote areas, said generator comprising :
a) wind turbine means, for collecting kinetic energy from ambient air wind speed and for transforming same into electrical energy, and including a first electrical output;
b) photovoltaic solar cell means, for collecting electromagnetic radiation from the sun and transforming the latter into electrical energy, and including a second electrical output;
c) an internal combustion engine motor generator means, for transforming mechanical power generated by an internal combustion engine into electrical energy, and including a third electrical output;
d) rechargeable battery cell means; including an electrical current intake, operatively connected to said first, second and third electrical outputs, and including a fourth electrical output; and c) control means, operatively connected to said wind turbine means, said solar cell means, said motor engine generator means, and said battery cell means, said control means including :
- an electrical supply means, for continuous independent delivery of electrical current from at least one of each said first, second, third and fourth electrical outputs to external equipments, and - a power management means, enabling prioritization of electrical supply to said battery cell means electrical current intake selectively from at least one of said first, second and third electrical outputs, in accordance with relative energy supply from said first, second and third electrical outputs and with remaining electrical charge at the level of said battery cell means, whereby independent monitoring and operational synchronisation of said wind turbine means, said solar celt means, said motor generator means and said battery cell means is achieved for optimizing wind and sun energy collection.

2. ~A mobile power generator as in claim 1, with said control means further including a control console, and further including a shelter unit having an enclosure receiving said control console and for accommodating an operator said control console.

3. ~A mobile power generator as in claim 2, wherein said wind turbine means includes at least one telescopic tower member, mounted at a lower section thereof to said shelter unit, and carrying at an upper section thereof a rotor having a rotatable blade assembly, said control means having means to detect excess wind speed overload conditions and associated means to progressively telescopically retract and extend said telescopic tower member responsively to variable wind speed conditions.

4. ~A mobile power generator as in claim 3, wherein said shelter unit is a freight container having a top wall with four corners, and wherein there are four telescopic tower members each upwardly projecting from a corresponding one of the four top corners of said container.

5. ~A mobile power generator as defined in claim 4, further including tower mounting means mounting each of said tower members to said container for relative movement thereabout between an upright operative condition and a generally horizontal inoperative condition against said container top wall.

6. ~A mobile power generator as defined in claim 5, wherein said tower mounting means includes a reel and pulleys cables and hydraulic cylinder system, the latter system remotely actuatable via said control console.

7. ~A mobile power generator as in claim 4, wherein said solar cell means includes a first set of solar panels, first mounting means mounting said first set of solar panels to said container top wall, a second set of solar panels, second mounting means mounting said second set, of solar panels to a pair of successive said telescopic tower members lower sections for relative sun tracking movement thereabout, a third set of solar panels, third mounting means mounting said third set of solar panels to a second pair of successive said telescopic tower members lower sections for relative sun-tracking movement thereabout, all said solar panels operatively electrically interconnected wherein said control means have means to track sun motion in the sky and associated power means to move said second and third sets of solar panels accordingly about their said first, second and third mounting means.

8. ~A mobile power generator as defined in claim 7, Wherein said rotors and said solar panels including corresponding AC/DC
convertors, converting variable frequency current generated by said blade assembly and said solar panels through a common DC line, to a fixed voltage current through an AC
line.

9. ~A mobile power generator as in claim 7, further including pivotal mount means mounting each of said tower members for relative movement between an operative upright condition, and an inoperative retracted condition generally abutting against the container top wall.

10. ~A mobile power generator as in claim 7, wherein said solar cell means further includes an additional set of solar panels, and ground support members supporting said additional set of solar panels spacedly over ground and spacedly laterally from said container, said additional set of solar panels all operatively electrically connected with said first, second and third set of solar panels.