초록 ▼

Various implementations of a system that addresses the need for clean drinking water, improved solid fuel combustion and convection of the heat resulting from the combustion, exhausting of gases and air-borne particulates resulting from combustion, and provides electricity for lighting and charging

Various implementations of a system that addresses the need for clean drinking water, improved solid fuel combustion and convection of the heat resulting from the combustion, exhausting of gases and air-borne particulates resulting from combustion, and provides electricity for lighting and charging of battery-operated devices are described herein. The system may include at least one solar panel, a battery, a fan assisted exhaust hood, a fan assisted cooking device, and a water purification device. Such a device could not only save millions of lives, but the quality of life for millions of people living in impoverished areas or refugee camps could be improved dramatically.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A system for providing micro-renewable energy comprising: at least one solar panel configured for collecting solar energy;at least one battery configured for storing electrical energy converted from the collected solar energy;a fan-assisted exhaust hood device configured for capturing at least a

1. A system for providing micro-renewable energy comprising: at least one solar panel configured for collecting solar energy;at least one battery configured for storing electrical energy converted from the collected solar energy;a fan-assisted exhaust hood device configured for capturing at least a portion of gases and air-borne particulates from combustion of solid fuel, the hood device comprising a first fan;a fan-assisted cooking device comprising a second fan configured for forcing air flow to a solid fuel cooking fire to improve combustion of the solid fuel; anda water purification device,wherein: the battery is configured for supplying power to the first and second fans and the water purification device,the fan-assisted cooking device comprises a heat-resistant perforated housing configured for being disposed in direct contact with the solid fuel cooking fire, a housing in which the second fan is mounted, and at least one conduit extending between and being in fluid communication with the perforated housing and the fan housing, wherein the perforated housing is at least partially ring-shaped and defines a plurality of holes, the second fan is configured for forcing air through the plurality of holes toward the solid fuel cooking fire, andthe cooking device further comprises an insulated handle disposed adjacent the heat-resistant perforated housing, wherein the conduit comprises a flexible conduit that extends at least between the insulated handle and the fan housing. 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the water purification device comprises a ultra-violet (UV) light source. 3. The system of claim 2, wherein the UV light source comprises light emitting diodes (LEDs) and/or compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs. 4. The system of claim 1, wherein a speed of rotation of the second fan is controlled by a variable speed controller, the variable speed controller configured for adjusting the speed of rotation of the second fan. 5. The system of claim 1, wherein the fan-assisted exhaust hood comprises a frusto-conically shaped hood and a conduit in fluid communication with the hood, and the first fan is disposed within the conduit. 6. The system of claim 5, wherein the hood is collapsible. 7. The system of claim 1, wherein the shape of the perforated housing is selected from the group comprising: annular shaped, C-shaped, U-shaped, and D-shaped. 8. The system of claim 7, wherein at least a first portion of the plurality of holes defined by the perforated housing are arranged along an inner radial side surface of the perforated housing. 9. The system of claim 8, wherein the first portion of the plurality of holes are defined within an upper quadrant of the inner radial side surface and a second portion of the plurality of holes are further defined within along a lower quadrant of the inner radial side surface, the upper quadrant being defined on the inner radial side surface between an upper surface of the perforated housing and a plane bisecting the inner radial side surface and an outer radial side surface, and the lower quadrant being defined on the inner radial side surface between the bisecting plane and a lower surface of the perforated housing. 10. The system of claim 9, wherein the first portion of the plurality of holes are arranged at a first angle of between about 30° to about 60° above the intersection of the bisecting plane with the inner radial side surface, and the second portion of the plurality of holes are arranged at a second angle of between about 30° to about 60° below the intersection of the bisecting plane with the inner radial side surface. 11. The system of claim 1, wherein the perforated housing comprises one or more legs that extend downwardly from a lower surface of the perforated housing. 12. The system of claim 1, further comprising a water tank defining an outlet on a side wall thereof, the outlet being in fluid communication with the water purification device. 13. The system of claim 12, wherein the water tank comprises a bottom surface and a cylindrically shaped side wall extending upwardly from the bottom surface, and the water tank defines an opening adjacent an upper edge of the side wall, the system further comprising a frusto-conically shaped funnel configured to be disposed adjacent the opening and for capturing rain water and funneling the captured rain water into the opening. 14. The system of claim 13, wherein the funnel is collapsible. 15. The system of claim 14, wherein the funnel comprises a photovoltaic material disposed on at least a portion of a surface thereof, the photovoltaic panel configured for collecting solar energy incident on the panel. 16. The system of claim 13, wherein the upper edge of the side wall defines the opening. 17. The system of claim 13, wherein an annular shaped surface extends radially inwardly from the upper edge of the side wall and defines the opening. 18. The system of claim 1, further comprising an outlet plug in electrical communication with the battery, the outlet plug configured for providing electrical energy from the battery to one or more battery operated devices or light-emitting diode (LED) lights. 19. A fan-assisted cooking device comprising: a heat-resistant perforated housing, the housing being at least partially ring-shaped and defining a plurality of holes;a fan configured for forcing air to flow through the plurality of holes; andat least one conduit extending between and being in fluid communication with the perforated housing and the fan and through which the forced air from the fan flows,wherein the heat-resistant perforated housing is configured for being disposed in direct contact with at least a portion of a solid fuel for combustion, and the plurality of holes direct the forced air flow toward the solid fuel, andwherein the cooking device further comprises an insulated handle disposed adjacent the heat-resistant perforated housing, and wherein the conduit comprises a flexible conduit that extends at least between the insulated handle and the fan housing. 20. The device of claim 19, wherein the perforated housing is annular-shaped. 21. The device of claim 19, wherein the perforated housing is C-shaped. 22. The device of claim 19, wherein the perforated housing is D-shaped. 23. The device of claim 19, wherein the perforated housing is U-shaped. 24. The device of claim 19, wherein a first portion of the plurality of holes are defined within an upper quadrant of the inner radial side surface and a second portion of the plurality of holes are defined within along a lower quadrant of the inner radial side surface, the upper quadrant being defined on the inner radial side surface between an upper surface of the perforated housing and a plane bisecting the inner radial side surface and an outer radial side surface, and the lower quadrant being defined on the inner radial side surface between the bisecting plane and a lower surface of the perforated housing. 25. The system of claim 24, wherein the first portion of the plurality of holes are arranged at a first angle of between about 30° to about 60° above the intersection of the bisecting plane with the inner radial side surface, and the second portion of the plurality of holes are arranged at a second angle of between about 30° to about 60° below the intersection of the bisecting plane with the inner radial side surface. 26. The device of claim 19, wherein the perforated housing comprises one or more legs that extend downwardly from a lower surface of the perforated housing. 27. The device of claim 19, wherein the fan is disposed in a fan housing, the fan housing comprising a variable speed controller configured to rotate the fan at variable speeds.