WO2013121349A1

WO2013121349A1 - Hybrid installation for feeding off-grid base-transceiver stations

Info

Publication number: WO2013121349A1
Application number: PCT/IB2013/051137
Authority: WO
Inventors: Massimo OMBRA
Original assignee: Ausonia S.R.L.
Priority date: 2012-02-15
Filing date: 2013-02-12
Publication date: 2013-08-22
Also published as: ITTO20120128A1

Abstract

Hybrid installation for feeding off-grid base transceiver stations comprising: - a first module (12) having an outer casing (18) with the shape of a parallelepiped elongated in the horizontal direction, the first module (12) containing a fuel tank (24), and - a second and a third module (14, 16) having respective outer casings (20, 22), wherein the second module (14) contains a generator (28) and the third module (16) contains a battery pack (34), wherein the second and the third modules (14, 16) are arranged side by side and in mutual contact on an upper wall of the first module (18) and wherein said first, second and third modules (12, 14, 16) are mechanically, hydraulically and electrically connected internally between each other, in order to eliminate external tubes and to minimize the risk of theft of the fuel.

Description

"Hybrid installation for feeding off-grid base transceiver stations"

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TEXT OF THE DESCRIPTION

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to a hybrid installation for feeding off-grid base transceiver stations (BTS) .

In the field of mobile telephony networks, the term Base Transceiver Station (BTS) indicates the sub- installation for transceiving a radio signal, equipped with a transceiver antenna that serves the mobile endpoint devices of the user, covering a specific geographical area known as the cell station. The base station is therefore the basic infrastructure of the cellular telephony- used in the transceiver links of cellular mobile phone networks in the radio interface of the cellular installation.

Typically, base transceiver stations are composed of transceiver antennae placed at a certain height on supporting masts, in turn placed in elevated locations with respect to the coverage area of the cell station, in order to avoid interference and fixed obstacles. Thus, in urban environments, antennae are typically placed on the roofs of buildings (public or private) , while in semi-urban and rural areas they are located on small peaks and hills clear of vegetation.

Base transceiver stations that cannot be connected to the electrical grid are fed by power generators. The more traditional solutions envisage the use of generators operating continuously for 24 hours a day. This solution, in addition to being a source of air and noise pollution, represents an element of burden on Operating Expenditure (OPEX) . There is therefore a growing interest towards solutions which, in addition to being more environmentally friendly, are based on innovative technical solutions that make them economically competitive compared to traditional feeding installations, thanks to the integrated use of hybrid technologies and/or alternative energies.

Description of the prior art

Hybrid installations for feeding off-grid base transceiver stations are already on the market. The hybrid installations are equipped with a direct^ current (DC) generator that charges a bank of storage batteries and simultaneously provides the energy needed to feed the BTS. The generator is designed to stop when the batteries are charged. When the generator is turned off, the loads are fed by the batteries.

Compared to the more traditional generators operating continuously 24 hours a day, hybrid installations facilitate a significant increase in energy efficiency, implying a significant reduction in fuel consumption and maintenance costs of the installation. Further optimization of energy efficiency is obtained through the integration of renewable energy installations (photovoltaic and/or micro wind turbines ) .

The substantial economic and environmental benefits offered by hybrid installations have created a strong interest for the use of this technology, in the field of off-grid feeding of BTS, by operators of telecommunication networks.

This has led to a considerable development of hybrid installations with different configurations and installation design solutions.

The development of hybrid installations has been facilitated by the introduction of a range of technologies to the market relating to key components that constitute a hybrid installation, in particular:

electric generators (alternators) able to provide electrical energy in a direct current (DC) form and, therefore, directly usable for the charging of battery packs;

industrial engines with variable revolutions, which offer the advantage of optimizing the specific fuel consumption as a function of the output load;

- lighter/smaller batteries for cyclic use, with greater energy efficiency, extended operating temperature range and longer lifetimes;

lighter/smaller modular DC/AC inverters, with better performance and integrated electronic management.

On the other hand, the increasing extent of coverage of mobile telephony from urban centers to rural areas means that the BTS antennae are increasingly being installed in rural areas and headlands away from population centers. These areas are disadvantaged not only for the lack of electricity grid but also for the difficulties in reaching the installation sites.

In view of the substantial logistical difficulties that characterize the installation sites of the BTS antennae, there is an increasing need for feeding installations that can be installed with light means of transport, that allow simple maintenance and repair operations and that offer better protection against theft, both of the fuel and the whole installation.

Object and summary of the invention

The present invention has the object of providing a hybrid installation for feeding off-grid base transceiver stations that allows the aforesaid requirement to be satisfied. According to the present invention, this object is achieved by an installation having the characteristics forming the subject of Claim 1.

The claims form an integral part of the teaching given in relation to the invention.

Brief description of the designs

The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings, provided purely by way of non-limiting example, wherein:

- Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating an installation according to the present invention,

- Figures 2, 3 and 4 are elevation views according to the arrows II, III and IV of Figure 1, respectively - Figure 5 is an exploded elevation view of the installation of Figure 1,

- Figure 6 is a perspective view of the detail indicated by the arrow VI in Figure 5, and

- Figure 7 is an elevation view in transparency illustrating the content of the modules of the installation according to the invention.

Detailed description of one embodiment of the invention

With reference to Figures 1-4, the numeral 10 indicates a hybrid installation according to the present invention for feeding off-grid base transceiver stations .

The installation 10 is composed of a first module 12, a second module 14 and a third module 16. The modules 12, 14, 16 have respective outer casings 18, 20, 22.

The three modules 12, 14, 16 are physically independent from each other and are releasably connected to one another so as to produce an integrated installation wherein the individual modules are interchangeable .

The outer casing 18 of the first module 12 has the shape of a parallelepiped elongated in the horizontal direction, with a width Dl, a depth D2 and a height D3.

Preferably, the outer casing 20 of the second module 14 and the outer casing 22 of the third module 16 have equal dimensions, with a width D4 , a depth D5 and a height D6. Preferably, the width D4 of the second and third modules 14, 16 is equal to half of the width Dl of the first module, the depth D5 of the second and third modules 14, 16 is equal to the depth D2 of the first module 12 and the height D6 of the second and third modules 14, 16 is equal to the height D3 of the first module 12. In practice, the dimensions of the outer casing 18 of the first module 12 are equal to the sum of the dimensions of the outer casings 20, 22 of the second and third modules 14, 16.

The second and third modules 14, 16 are arranged on the upper wall of the first module 12, adjacent to and in contact with each other. The first module 12 serves as a base for the support of the other two modules 14, 16.

With reference to Figure 7, the first module 12 contains a large dimensioned fuel tank 24, for example with a capacity of 1500 liters. The tank 24 may be arranged within a basin for collecting leaks. The first module 12 is provided with slits 26 adapted to receive the forks of a forklift · and with lifting eyes for handling by cranes.

The second module 14 contains a generator 28 that includes a variable speed diesel engine 30 which rotatably drives a continuous current electric generator 32 produced with PMG (Permanent Magnet Generator) technology. The second module 14 also contains the accessories of the generator 28, including the radiator, the coolant expansion tank, the silencer, etc... The outer casing 20 of the second module 14 is soundproof and is equipped with easily openable doors on all the lateral faces, so as to ensure maximum accessibility for maintenance of internal components. The second module 14 is provided with slits 33 for handling by a forklift and lifting eyes for handling by cranes .

The third module 16 contains a battery pack 34, a control panel 36 for the general control - of the installation 10 and a group of DC/AC inverters 38 which enables the supply of part of the power supply, including alternating current. The outer casing 22 of the third module 16 is also provided with easily openable doors on all the lateral faces, so as to ensure maximum accessibility for maintenance of internal components. The outer casing 22 of the third module is equipped with an electrical outlet 40 (Figure 5) for the supply of electrical energy. The third module 16 is also provided with slits 42 for handling by a forklift and lifting eyes for handling by cranes.

To standardize the mode of transport and handling, the individual modules 12, 14, 16 preferably have the same weight, of the order of about 500 kg.

With reference to Figure 5, the three modules 12, 14, 16 are equipped with electrical, hydraulic and mechanical interconnection means. In particular, the second and third modules 14, 16 are electrically connected together by means of quick-coupling electrical connectors 44. The first and second modules 12, 14 are connected by a hydraulic line 46 equipped with quick-coupling connectors, for fuel supply to the engine 30. The mechanical interconnection means are configured to allow the mutual and releasable fixing of the modules 12, 14, 16. For example, as shown in Figure 6, each means of mechanical interconnection may be composed of a metal rod 48 permanently attached to one of the modules 12, 14, 16 and adapted to releasably engage a quick-lock closure element 50 fixed to another module. The quick-lock closure element 50 may, for example, be a bolt.

With respect to the solutions currently present on the market the installation according to the present invention has the following advantages:

- ease and speed -of installation/removal of the installation even under difficult logistical conditions: the installation can in fact be dismantled into several modules of equivalent weight, in order to easily facilitate the installation using light and/or makeshift handling means with limited capacity;

- scalability of the installation as a function of the specific needs of the operational sites: the modularity of the installation allows a quick and simple reconfiguration of the installation by coupling of modules produced with different functional characteristics (for example, type and capacity of the batteries, characteristics of the generator, etc.) by means of the simple replacement of the . three modules that constitute the installation, without requiring the redesign/production of a new installation; this feature allows a remarkable ability to adapt and to provide an immediate response to the various functional requirements that may occur on the various operating sites ;

- easy maintenance of the internal components: the specific design of the installation allows access to the upper modules (generator and battery compartment) on three sides for each module; the doors present on all sides provide very easy access to all internal components of these modules, facilitating preventive and/or corrective, maintenance of the installation and dramatically reducing the time and cost of these operations ;

- the possibility of "on site hot-swap^"": in the case of serious damage to one■ of the modules that constitute the installation, it is possible to easily replace it on the site, without having to replace the entire installation, using agile and light handling transport means; this feature is extremely advantageous from the operational point of view due to the difficult accessibility of off-grid BTS antennae;

- possibility of moving the entire installation as a single piece: once assembled, the installation can be easily handled even as a single piece, allowing the maximum rapidity of installation, in cases where it is only possible to access the BTS with heavy transport and handling means;

- considerable fuel autonomy, without the need for additional tanks: the optimization of the overall dimensions and the specificity of the adopted configuration facilitate the use of the entire lower part of the installation for positioning the single fuel tank module; this therefore allows maximization of the fuel storage capacity without adding external tanks, consequently obtaining ^■ the possibility of maximally reducing the number of fuel transportations/refilling; since these operating sites are difficult to access, it is understandable how this characteristic is essential for the purposes of facilitating the management and reduction of operating costs; -protection against theft of fuel: off-grid BTS antennae are often installed in unmanned and remote sites, which are frequently targeted by local criminals; the problem of theft of diesel oil is a very serious problem, because in addition to causing an immediate economic loss, it also leads to an interruption of energy, the need for repair and the need for additional diesel oil refilling; very often the theft of diesel oil is also associated with phenomena of diesel oil spillage, with all the associated environmental issues and the consequences regarding environmental inspections; in the installation according to the invention the large capacity of the fuel tank eliminates the need to use additional external tanks which increase autonomy; the absence of additional external tanks and the integrated configuration of the installation (in particular the mechanical coupling between the tank module and the generator module) facilitate the elimination of external tubing whilst minimizing the risk of theft;

- protection against theft of the installation: one of the major concerns relating to the service of energy supply to off-grid BTS is the possibility of theft of the installation; although the installation is comprised of a set of independent modules which are easy to install/remove, once assembled the modules are locked by bolted closure systems; in this way the installation is transformed into a heavy single piece which is difficult to remove by potential thieves, who typically operate with makeshift means;

- easy logistical management of the installations: the modularity of the installation enables the transportation of the installation both in its assembled form and disassembled into its three modules; the size of the modules is standardized to maximize the number of installations transportable by a single means ;

this enables the installing of a large number of sequential installations at multiple sites, with a single journey and -a --single handling means; this opportunity is extremely advantageous in the market, as it significantly reduces upgrade costs of the installations of a BTS network distributed throughout the territory (this is the case, for example when, at the end of a service contract, the service provider finds it convenient to replace the company that provides the energy supply) ; in addition the possibility to decouple the three modules, their standardized size and the stackabilty of the individual ^' modules, allows the maximization of the number of assembled installations or the number of modules of the same type stowable inside a container; this is a big advantage for the transfer of the installations from the manufacturing country to the country of use, reducing transport costs and using standard container transport systems by ship, rail or road.

Of course, without prejudice to the principle of the invention, the details of construction and the embodiments may be varied widely with respect to those described and illustrated without thereby departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the claims that follow.

Claims

1. Hybrid installation for feeding off-grid base transceiver stations, comprising:

- a first module (12) having an outer casing (18) with the shape of a parallelepiped elongated in the horizontal direction, the first module (12) containing a fuel tank (24), and

- a second and a third module (14, 16) having respective outer casings (20, 22), wherein the second module (14) contains a generator (28) and the third module (16) contains a battery pack (34),

wherein the dimension of the outer casing (18) of the first module (12) in the longitudinal direction is equal to the sum of the dimensions of the outer casings (20, 22) of the second and third modules (14, 16),

characterized in that

the second and third modules (14, 16) are arranged side by side and in mutual contact on an upper wall of the first module (18), and

wherein said first, second and third modules (12,

14, 16) are mechanically, hydraulically and electrically connected internally between each other, in order to eliminate external tubes and to minimize the risk of theft of the fuel

2. Installation according to claim 1, wherein the second and third modules (14, 16) have essentially the same dimensions.

3. Installation according to claim 1, wherein said modules (12, 14, 16) are fixed together by means of quick-lock closure elements

4. Installation according claim 1, wherein the outer casings (20, 22) of the second and third modules are equipped with a plurality of openable doors.

5. Installation according to claim 1, wherein each of said modules (12, 14, 16) is provided with slits (26, 33, 42) engageable by the forks of a forklift and with lifting eyes for handling by cranes.

6. Installation according to claim 1, wherein the second and the third modules (14, 16) are electrically connected together by means of quick-coupling electrical connectors (44) .

7. Installation according to claim 1, wherein the generator (30) of the second module (14) is connected to the fuel tank (24) of the first module by means of a hydraulic line (46) equipped with quick-coupling connectors .