Portable cogeneration system incorporating renewable energy sources

1. A system for power generation having a plurality of energy sources, comprising:

a power generation unit;

a thermal energy generation unit coupled to the power generation unit, wherein the thermal energy generation unit converts heat energy from the power generation unit into electrical energy;

at least one renewable energy conversion unit including a light sensing unit and a renewable energy conversion unit programmable control unit configured to calculate an amount of power available from the renewable energy conversion unit based at least in part on a signal from the light sensing unit;

a power distribution unit configured to receive and distribute power from the power generation unit, the thermal energy generation unit and the renewable energy conversion unit; and

a master programmable control unit configured to:

determine a combined amount of calculated available power, wherein determining the combined amount of calculated available power includes:

receiving a signal from the renewable energy conversion unit programmable control unit, the signal including a calculated amount of power available from the renewable energy conversion unit; and

calculating an amount of power available from the thermal energy generation unit;

modify an amount of power produced by the power generation unit based on the combined amount of calculated available power, wherein the modification to the amount of power produced by the power generation unit is such that the power generation unit continues to produce power at a first modified level; and

the master programmable control unit is configured to subsequently:

determine a combined amount of provided power, wherein determining the combined amount of provided power includes:

determining an amount of power provided from the at least one renewable energy conversion unit; and

determining an amount of power provided from the thermal energy generation unit; and

modify, by the power distribution unit, the amount of power produced by the power generation unit based on the combined amount of provided power, wherein the modification to the amount of power produced by the power generation unit is such that the power generation unit continues to produce power at a second modified level.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising an environmental unit which includes (1) a cooling unit including a compressor which is mechanically coupled to the power generation unit, (2) a heating unit thermally coupled to the power generation unit and (3) a fan unit electrically coupled to the power generation unit.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein heat produced by the power generation unit is transferred to the heating unit by the thermal coupling.

4. The system of claim 2 , wherein the power generation unit mechanically drives the compressor.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein heat from the power generation unit is transferred to the thermal energy generation unit.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein excess heat from the power generation unit is transferred from the thermal energy generation unit to a heating unit thermally coupled to the power generation unit.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the renewable energy conversion unit is a solar panel.

8. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of renewable energy conversion units.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein at least one of the plurality of renewable energy conversion units is a solar panel.

10. The system of claim 8 , wherein at least one of the plurality of renewable energy conversion units is a wind turbine.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the entire system is mounted on a portable skid.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the dimensions of the system together with the portable skid is approximately 82″L×36″W×59″H.

13. The system of claim 1 , wherein the thermal energy generation unit is thermally coupled to the power generation unit.

14. The system of claim 1 , wherein the thermal coupling is a heat transfer device.

15. The system of claim 1 further comprising an environmental unit which includes (1) a cooling unit including a compressor which is electrically driven, (2) a heating unit thermally coupled to the power generation unit and (3) a fan unit electrically coupled to the power generation unit.

16. A method of controlling a system for power generation having a plurality of energy sources, comprising:

determining a combined amount of calculated available power, wherein determining the combined amount of calculated available power includes:

receiving a signal from a renewable energy conversion unit programmable control unit, the signal including a calculated amount of power available from a renewable energy conversion unit; and

calculating an amount of power available from a thermal energy generation unit, wherein a power generation unit provides thermal energy to the thermal energy generation unit;

transmitting a first signal to the power generation unit instructing the power generation unit to modify an amount of power produced by the power generation unit, wherein the modification to the amount of power produced by the power generation unit is such that the power generation unit continues to produce power at a first modified level, wherein the amount of the modification to the amount of power produced by the power generation unit is based on the combined amount of calculated available power;

subsequently determining a combined amount of provided power, wherein determining the combined amount of provided power includes:

determining an amount of power provided from the thermal energy generation unit; and

determining an amount of power provided from the renewable energy conversion unit; and

transmitting a second signal to the power generation unit instructing the power generation unit to modify the amount of power produced by the power generation unit, wherein the modification to the amount of power produced by the power generation unit is such that the power generation unit continues to produce power at a second modified level, wherein the amount of the modification to the amount of power produced by the power generation unit is based on the combined amount of provided power.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the amount of power available from the renewable energy conversion unit is based on at least one environmental condition and the amount of power available from the thermal energy generation unit is based on at least one operating parameter of the power generation unit.

18. The method of claim 16 , wherein at least one of the first signal and the second signal to the power generation unit instructs the power generation unit to reduce the amount of power generated by the power generation unit when the amount of power needed by the system is less than the total amount of power available from the renewable conversion unit, the thermal energy generation unit, and the power being generated by the power generation unit.

19. The method of claim 16 , wherein at least one of the first signal and the second signal to the power generation unit instructs the power generation unit to increase the amount of power generated by the power generation unit when the amount of power needed by the system is more than the total amount of power available from the renewable conversion unit and the thermal energy generation unit and the power being generated by the power generation unit.

20. The method of claim 16 , further comprising:

determining the electrical load connecting to the system, and

adjusting the power output of the system to meet the connected electrical load.

21. The method of claim 16 , further comprising:

continuously adjusting the power produced by the power generator based on the actual power provided by the renewable energy conversion unit and the thermal energy generation unit, and

adjusting the power output of the cogeneration system to meet a connected electrical load.

22. The method of claim 16 , further comprising monitoring the renewable energy conversion unit and the thermal energy generation unit.

23. The method of claim 22 , wherein monitoring comprises:

comparing at least one historical monitoring point value with a current monitoring point value;

wherein when a current monitoring point value varies from a historic monitoring point value in excess of a threshold value, a maintenance request is transmitted.

24. The method of claim 22 , wherein monitoring comprises:

comparing at least one historical monitoring point value with a current monitoring point value;

wherein when a current monitoring point value varies from a historic monitoring point value in excess of a threshold value, a repair routine is determined.