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EP-4737295-A1 - THERMOELECTRIC SYNTHETIC DECKING FOR MARINE VESSELS

EP4737295A1EP 4737295 A1EP4737295 A1EP 4737295A1EP-4737295-A1

Abstract

The present disclosure refers to a synthetic decking for marine vessel decks comprising at least one decking panel comprising at least two adjacent strips imitating planks separated by caulking or planks directly adjacent to each other, the adjacent strips alternately having respectively different thermal absorption properties such that strips with a relatively lower thermal absorption property alternate to strips with a relatively higher thermal absorption property, thereby resulting in a temperature difference between adjacent strips when exposed to solar radiation, the decking panel further comprising at least one integrated thermopile comprising a series of thermocouples having junctions alternately arranged in thermal contact with either of the at least two adjacent strips such as to generate an output voltage and an electric current based on the thermoelectric Seebeck effect caused by the temperature difference between the adjacent strips. A method of manufacturing the synthetic decking is herein also disclosed.

Inventors

  • CURCIO, MARIO

Assignees

  • Curcio, Mario

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20241104

Claims (15)

  1. Synthetic decking (100) for marine vessel decks (210) comprising at least one decking panel (111, 112, 113, 111', 111", 111‴, 111ʺʺ, 113', 113") comprising at least two adjacent strips (1, 2, 2', 2") imitating planks (1) separated by caulking (2, 2') or planks (1, 2") directly adjacent to each other, the adjacent strips (1, 2, 2', 2") alternately having respectively different thermal absorption properties such that strips (1) with a relatively lower thermal absorption property alternate to strips (2, 2', 2") with a relatively higher thermal absorption property, thereby resulting in a temperature difference between adjacent strips (1, 2, 2', 2") when the decking panel is exposed to solar radiation, the decking panel (111, 112, 113, 111', 111", 111‴, 111"", 113', 113") further comprising at least one integrated thermopile (120) comprising a series of thermocouples (123) having junctions (121, 122) alternately arranged in thermal contact with either of the at least two adjacent strips (1, 2, 2', 2") such as to generate an output voltage and an electric current based on the thermoelectric Seebeck effect caused by the temperature difference between the adjacent strips (1, 2, 2', 2").
  2. The synthetic decking (100) according to claim 1 wherein the alternating adjacent strips (1, 2, 2', 2") have a respectively different color, the color being substantially responsible for the respectively different thermal absorption property and/or wherein the strips (1) with the lower thermal absorption property are made with a material composition comprising hollow microspheres (3) and/or heat reflective fillers (4) and/or wherein the strips (2, 2' 2") with the higher thermal absorption property are made with a material composition comprising heat absorptive fillers (5).
  3. The synthetic decking (100) according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the strips (2, 2') with the relatively higher thermal absorption property have a width smaller than the strips (1) with the relatively lower thermal absorption property and/or wherein the strips (2') with the relatively higher thermal absorption property are arranged sufficiently deeper than the strips (1) with the relatively lower thermal absorption property such as to avoid contact with the deeper strips (2') upon walking on the synthetic decking (100).
  4. The synthetic decking (100) according to any of the preceding claims wherein the adjacent strips (1, 2, 2', 2") are either extruded jointly together or welded together or a combination of both.
  5. The synthetic decking (100) according to any of the preceding claims wherein the decking panel (113") is made as a single layer (113"- A) and the thermopile (120) is printed directly on a bottom side of the single layer (113"- A) or wherein the decking panel (111', 111", 111‴, 111"", 113') is made as a multilayer comprising at least a top layer (111'- A, 111"-A, 111‴- A, 111""- A, 113'- A) and a bottom layer (111'-B, 111"-B, 111"'-B, 111""- B, 113'- B), wherein the bottom layer (111'- B, 111"-B, 111‴- B, 111""- B, 113'- B ) is made of the same or different material(s) of the top layer (111'- A, 111"- A, 111‴- A, 111""- A, 113'- A ), and wherein the thermopile (120) is printed directly either on a bottom side of the top layer or on a top side of the bottom layer (111'- B, 111"- B, 111‴- B, 111""- B, 113'- B ) or on an intermediate layer (111"- C, 111‴- C ) of the same or different material(s) of the top layer(111'- A, 111"-A, 111"'-A, 111""- A, 113'- A) and/or bottom layer (111'- B, 111"- B, 111'"- B, 111""- B, 113'- B ) and then sandwiched between the top layer (111'- A, 111"- A, 111'"- A, 111""- A, 113'- A ) and the bottom layer (111'- B, 111"- B, 111‴- B, 111ʺʺ- B, 113'- B ) comprising alignment and joining of all layers such that the thermopile (120) is embedded at least partly in the inside of the decking panel (111', 111", 111‴, 111"", 113') between the bottom layer (111'- B, 111"- B, 111‴- B, 111""-B, 113'-B) and the top layer (111'- A, 111"-A, 111‴- A, 111""-A, 113'-A).
  6. The synthetic decking (100) according to claim 5 wherein the different material for the bottom layer (111‴- B) or the intermediate layer (111"- C, 111‴- C) is a flexible polyimide film.
  7. The synthetic decking (100) according to claim 5 or 6 wherein the thermopile (120) is printed by dispenser or inkjet printing or screen printing or any other suitable printing technique using respectively inks, screen printable pastes or mixes comprising thermoelectric materials mixed with a suitable binder and/or solvent.
  8. The synthetic decking (100) according to any of the preceding claims wherein the decking panel (111, 112, 113) comprises electrical connectors or terminals (131, 132) for connecting the at least one thermopile (120) of a decking panel (111) to at least another thermopile (120) of another decking panel (112, 113) and/or to an electric circuit (11) connected to an electrical energy receiving and/or storage unit (10).
  9. A marine vessel (200) comprising a synthetic decking (100) according to any of the claims 1 to 8 and an electrical energy receiving and/or storage unit (10) connected to the synthetic decking (100) via an electric circuit (11).
  10. A method of manufacturing a synthetic decking (100) for marine vessel decks (210) comprising manufacturing at least one decking panel (111, 112, 113, 111', 111", 111‴, 111ʺʺ, 113', 113" ) comprising extruding jointly at least two adjacent strips (1, 2, 2', 2") and/or welding together at least two extruded adjacent strips (1, 2, 2', 2") imitating planks (1) separated by caulking (2, 2') or planks (1, 2") directly adjacent to each other, the method comprising using alternately different extrudable material compositions for the adjacent strips (1, 2, 2', 2") having respectively different thermal absorption properties such that strips (1) with a relatively lower thermal absorption property alternate to strips (2, 2', 2") with a relatively higher thermal absorption property, thereby resulting in a temperature difference between adjacent strips (1, 2, 2', 2") when the decking panel (111, 112, 113, 111', 111", 111‴, 111ʺʺ, 113', 113" ) is exposed to solar radiation, the method further comprising integrating at least one thermopile (120) into the decking panel (111, 112, 113, 111', 111", 111'", 111"", 113', 113" ) comprising a series of thermocouples (123) having junctions (121, 122) alternately arranged in thermal contact with either of the at least two adjacent strips (1, 2, 2', 2") such as to generate an output voltage and an electric current based on the thermoelectric Seebeck effect caused by the temperature difference between the adjacent strips (1, 2, 2', 2").
  11. The method according to claim 10 comprising using material compositions for the adjacent strips (1, 2, 2', 2") having respectively different colors, the color being substantially responsible for the respectively different thermal absorption property, and/or using a material composition for the strips (1) with the relatively lower thermal absorption property comprising hollow microspheres (3) and/or heat reflective fillers (4) and/or using a material composition for the strips (2, 2', 2") with the relatively higher thermal absorption property comprising heat absorptive fillers (5).
  12. The method according to claim 10 or 11 comprising manufacturing the strips (2, 2') with the relatively higher thermal absorption property with a width smaller than the strips (1) with the relatively lower thermal absorption property and/or arranging the strips (2') with the relatively higher thermal absorption property sufficiently deeper than the strips (1) with the relatively lower thermal absorption property such as to avoid contact with the deeper strips (2') upon walking on the synthetic decking (100).
  13. The method according to any of the claims 10 to 12 wherein integrating the at least one thermopile (120) into the decking panel (111, 112, 113, 111', 111", 111‴, 111ʺʺ, 113', 113") comprises manufacturing the decking panel (113") as a single layer (113"-A) and printing the thermopile (120) directly on a bottom side of the single layer (113"-A) or manufacturing the decking panel (111', 111", 111'", 111"", 113') as a multilayer comprising at least a top layer (111'- A, 111"- A, 111‴- A, 111""- A, 113'- A ) and a bottom layer (111'- B, 111"- B, 111'"- B, 111""- B, 113'- B ), wherein the bottom layer (111'- B, 111"- B, 111‴- B, 111""- B, 113'- B ) is made of the same or different material(s) of the top layer (111'- A, 111"- A, 111‴- A, 111ʺʺ- A, 113'- A), and printing the thermopile (120) directly either on a bottom side of the top layer or on a top side of the bottom layer (111'- B, 111"- B, 111‴- B, 111ʺʺ- B, 113'- B ) or on an intermediate layer of the same or different material(s) of the top layer (111'- A, 111"- A, 111'"- A, 111""- A, 113'- A ) and/or bottom layer (111'- B, 111"- B, 111'"- B, 111""- B, 113'- B ) and then sandwiching the intermediate layer between the top layer (111'- A, 111"- A, 111'"- A, 111""- A, 113'-A) and the bottom layer (111'- B, 111"- B, 111‴- B, 111""-B, 113'- B ) comprising aligning and joining all layers thereby embedding the thermopile at least partly in the inside of the decking panel between the bottom layer (111'- B, 111"- B, 111‴- B, 111""-B, 113'- B ) and the top layer (111'- A, 111"- A, 111‴-A, 111""-A, 113'-A ).
  14. The method according to claim 13 comprising printing the thermopile (120) by dispenser or inkjet printing or screen printing or any other suitable printing technique using respectively inks, screen printable pastes or mixes comprising thermoelectric materials mixed with a suitable binder and/or solvent.
  15. The method according to any of the claims 10 to 14 comprising adding electrical connectors or terminals (131, 132) to the decking panel (111, 112, 113) for connecting the at least one thermopile (120) of a decking panel (111) to at least another thermopile (120) of another decking panel (111, 113) and/or to an electric circuit (11) connected to an electrical energy receiving and/or storage unit (10).

Description

Field of the invention The present invention is in the field of renewable energy sources for marine vessels, including the manufacturing and use of synthetic decking materials also for this purpose. Background Marine vessels rely on battery power storage for onboard instrumentation and electric appliances. Sufficient electrical power availability at all times and for all needs can be a challenge, especially for high-power demanding uses like air conditioning, heating and the like, typically requiring intense use of a combustion-based generator. Thus, more and more often marine vessels comprise one or more renewable energy sources, such as solar panels, wind turbines and hydro-generators contributing to some extent to battery recharging and sustainable onboard living. In particular, there is a trend also in the yachting industry, like in the automobile industry, towards more ecological and sustainable solutions, which are based on the gradual replacement of combustion engines with electric motors and of fuel tanks with battery packs, thus using stored battery power also for propulsion, and almost exclusively renewable energy sources for recharging the batteries. Thus, the need for more power storage, for more energy sources, for faster and more efficient recharging, and for more efficient power management is higher and higher. Some marine vessels, especially multi-hull marine vessels with a larger beam to length ratio, such as catamarans, can offer sufficient surface for installing solar panels with sufficient power output for autonomous battery recharging. Current designs manage to achieve a power output of e.g. up to 20 Kwp on a 60-feet catamaran and up to 30 Kwp on a 80-feet catamaran, with solar panels alone, which can provide unlimited cruising range at certain vessel speeds, e.g. of about 6-8 Knots, at least in summer time and sunny days. A combustion-based generator is typically provided as a backup solution for battery recharging in case of prolonged cast sky over several days or when increased speed is required over a prolonged time or during winter time and/or long night passages. Wind turbines may contribute to meet the power demand, at least in sufficiently windy conditions, when solar energy is not available or insufficient. However, wind turbines, do not typically bring a significant advantage on solar yachts, as they require additional space, they introduce injury risks and noise, and can possibly reduce the efficiency of the solar panels by casting a shadow on them. Hydro-generators can also be installed as renewable energy source on a vessel. The efficiency of a typical hydro-generator is however also comparatively low with respect to solar energy. The power output of a typical hydro-generator is e.g. about comparable to the power output of a single solar panel or less, e.g. in the range of a hundred to a few hundred W depending on size and vessel speed, for vessel speeds typically starting at 5 Knots at least, although contrary to wind and solar, which are not always available, as long as the vessel is sailing and maintaining a minimum speed, a hydro-generator can provide a stable and continuous output, e.g. also during night passages. A hydro-generator is usually fastened on the transom of a vessel, attached to a lifting bracket, or fixedly under the hull of the vessel with power connection through the hull. The performance depends on the position and the quality of water flow in that position. It should therefore be placed as far as possible from the wake of appendages, such as rudders, sail drives and keel. In general, the greater the depth, the farther the propeller will be from the wake of the hull, and the better the performance of the hydro-generator. However, the longer the lever arm is, the greater the force on the mountings and during lifting will be for the version fastened to the transom. Also, the greater the depth the greater the drag force will be, affecting vessel speed. Also, the power generated depends on the size of the propeller and on the vessel speed, the bigger the propeller and the greater the vessel speed, the greater the power output. However, with increasing propeller size and vessel speed also the drag increases, causing a loss of vessel speed. The version fastened to the transom allows easier maintenance but is bulky and can be esthetically unpleasant, especially when lifted. The system is not designed to replace the engine's alternator, in case of combustion engines. It can nevertheless be used while operating the engine. However, electrical output can be significantly disrupted depending on the location of the hydro-generator and the water turbulence caused by the engine. The hydro-generator, in the version fastened to the transom, must be lifted when reversing the vessel in order to avoid any possible damage to the leg and cradle mountings. Hydro-generators in their typical designs and operating mode, are thus typically useful, at least to some extent, only f