DE102018002404A1 - Sonnennachführeinheit - Google Patents

Abstract

Sun tracking unit for a solar generator having a sun position sensor and an evaluation and control unit on a carrier plate with conductors and electrical connection contacts and a flexible supply and signal cable, wherein the sun position sensor, a sensor carrier, an optical body with a convex surface and a semiconductor body with at least three light sensors each having a receiving surface, the optical body is non-positively and / or materially connected to the receiving surfaces of the light sensors, the semiconductor body is electrically connected to the sensor carrier, the sensor carrier of the sun position sensor, the evaluation and control unit and the electrical connection contacts with the conductor tracks of the carrier plate are electrically interconnected and the Sonnennachführeinheit is at least partially enclosed by a potting compound, the potting compound has an aperture, the first surface area of the optical body is enclosed by the aperture and protrudes through the aperture of the potting compound, the signal cable is at least partially led out of the potting compound.

Description

The invention relates to a sun tracking unit.

From "Design and Manufacturing of a High-Precision Sun Tracking System Based on Image Processing" by Kianoosh Azizi and Ali Ghaffari, International Journal of Photoenergy, Volume 2013, ID 754549, a sun tracking device for a photovoltaic system is known, which is an array of four photoresistors combined with a camera, wherein in a first mode, an approximation of the photovoltaic system is carried out by means of the photoresistors and then an optimization of the alignment based on camera data and image processing methods is performed.

From the US 8,592,738 B1 a detector unit for ascertaining the position of the sun is known, which has a convex surface at one end and a light detector at an opposite end.

In particular, for so-called CPV photovoltaic systems, a sun tracking unit for exact tracking to increase the efficiency is particularly important so that the solar radiation is preferably exactly perpendicular to the Fresnel mirror of the CPV modules.

Against this background, the object of the invention is to provide a device which further develops the prior art.

The object is achieved by a sun position sensor with the features of patent claim 1. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject of dependent claims.

According to the subject invention, a sun tracking unit is provided comprising a sun position sensor, an evaluation and control unit, e.g. a microcontroller.

Furthermore, the sun tracking unit comprises a motor control unit, a first line for a power supply of the sun tracking unit and in particular the evaluation and control unit, and a third line for transmitting a motor current or a motor signal.

Preferably, the evaluation and control unit and / or the motor control unit and / or the sun position sensor are arranged on a common printed circuit board.

The printed circuit board has a plurality of conductor tracks. The evaluation and control unit and / or the motor control unit and / or the sun position sensor are each electrically connected to the conductor tracks of the printed circuit board.

The at least two lines are also electrically connected to the tracks of the circuit board.

The sun position sensor has a sensor carrier, an optical body and a sensor unit with at least three receiving surfaces.

The sensor carrier of the sun position sensor is positively connected to the printed circuit board.

The optical body has a convexly formed and transparent surface area and is frictionally and / or materially connected to the receiving surfaces over the entire surface, so that sunlight formed by the convex, transparent surface region of the optical body forms a focal spot on at least one of the receiving surfaces of the sensor unit.

It should be noted that the at least two lines are preferably made flexible. In the present case, the term line is understood to mean a single line or at least one line pair.
It is understood that in the embodiment as a single line, the ground terminal of the first line and the third line is formed in common.

Furthermore, it should be noted that the Sonnennachführeinheit is rigidly connected to a solar generator or a sun mirror.

The sun position sensor preferably has a compact stacked construction.

The sunlight is imaged by means of the optical body on the receiving surfaces and on the basis of an intensity distribution between the at least three receiving surfaces, the angle of incidence of the sunlight can be determined.

With the evaluation and control unit, the measured values of the light sensors of the sun position sensor are evaluated.

In addition, the sun tracking unit according to the invention comprises the engine control unit, which controls or operates by means of a control signal or a motor current, at least one motor, preferably exactly two motors, for tracking the solar generator or a sun mirror.

By means of the rigidly connected to a solar generator Sonnenaufführeinheit the orientation of the sun or the solar generator of the sun is tracked, this is a regulation. The reference variable here is the deviation of the angle of incidence from an optical axis of the sun sensor.

The control is designed to minimize the deviation of the solar generator or the sun mirror from the vertical axis of incidence. In the present case, a vertical incidence is understood as an incidence of the sunlight along the optical axis.

It should be noted that the term solar generator means a device which converts the incident sunlight into another form of energy, for example by means of solar cells into electrical energy.

It is understood that the term focal spot refers to an area on the receiving surface of the solar cells. Sunlight, that incident on this surface region along an optical axis of the convex, transparent surface area incident on this surface region preferably forms a focal spot extending over at least two receiving surfaces. Particularly preferably, the focal spot of perpendicularly incident light extends to all receiving surfaces.

An advantage of the sun tracking unit according to the invention is the compact and simple construction.

Preferably, the sun tracking unit is attached directly to the solar generator. In other words, the sun tracking unit is rigidly connected to the solar generator. Thanks to their compact and cost-effective design, smaller solar generator units individually tracked by the sun are possible, which can also be flexibly installed on smaller areas without heavy equipment.

Another advantage is that the efficiency, for example, of a photovoltaic system (PV system) increases in a simple and reliable manner by optimally tracking each solar generator independent of a neighboring solar generator the sun. In contrast to previous systems in the field, in which the individual solar generators are usually rigidly coupled together, now eliminates a complex alignment of adjacent solar generators to each other.

Another advantage is that, for example, in a solar system no longer a plurality of modules to each other consuming rigidly coupled. Due to the individual control of the solar generator can consist of a few pre-assembled modules or even only a single module. Due to the adjusted pre-assembly, the cost of installing a PV system is considerably reduced and the efficiency of the entire system in the field increases.

According to a first embodiment, the Sonnennachführeinheit is arranged in a housing, wherein the housing is formed of a potting compound or of a plurality of walls and the leads are led out of the housing.

The housing has a light entry opening, wherein an optical axis of the convex, transparent surface area of the optical body extends through the light entry opening, so that an incidence of sunlight on the convex, transparent surface area is possible.

The optical axis preferably runs concentrically through the light inlet opening. The light entry opening is arranged, for example, above the convexly formed transparent surface area, or the convexly formed transparent surface area protrudes partially or completely through the light entry opening.

The light inlet opening is formed either as an opening or through hole in a housing wall or in the potting compound, so that the convex, transparent surface area adjacent to the ambient air.

Alternatively, the light inlet opening is formed as a window, that is, a region formed by a transparent material in a housing wall or the potting compound.

The housing serves on the one hand to protect the enclosed components and on the other hand as an optical aperture, i. the circumference of the light entrance opening limits the range of possible light incidence to the optical body.

The size of the convex surface area preferably completely fills the light entry opening.

In a further embodiment, the sensor unit has a semiconductor body with an upper side and a lower side, wherein at least three solar cells each comprising one of the receiving surfaces are arranged on the upper side of the semiconductor body and the semiconductor body is non-positively connected and electrically connected to the sensor carrier.

According to a development, the receiving surfaces of the solar cells are planar and the solar cells each have a first electrical connection contact and a common second electrical connection contact.

In another embodiment, the optical body of the sun position sensor comprises or consists of transparent materials with a refractive index of at least 1.1.

According to a development, the sun tracking unit is arranged on a carrier plate, wherein the motor control unit is thermally conductively connected to the carrier plate.

According to a development, the carrier plate is part of the housing.

In another embodiment, the sun tracking unit has attachment means for attachment to a solar generator.

According to a development, the fastening means comprise screws and / or springs. Thus, the orientation of the Sonnennachführeinheit or the light sensors is easily and precisely tuned to the position or orientation of the receiving surfaces of the sun generator. Preferably, the fastening means allow adjustment about two axes.

According to a further embodiment, the optical body of the sun-position sensor consists entirely of at least predominantly, i. greater than 50% of a transparent polymer, e.g. Silicone or entirely of a fused silica compound, e.g. a convex lens, or the optical body comprises a quartz glass compound, e.g. a lens, and at least one transparent polymer, e.g. as a cylindrical layer between a convex lens and the receiving surfaces of the light sensors.

According to a development, the optical body consists of at least one polymer or comprises at least one polymer and the polymer completely encloses the sensor carrier and the sensor unit except for electrical leads led out of the optical body.

In a further development, the sensor carrier has contact pins, e.g. a pin header with pins or pins, and the pins are electrically connected to the tracks of the carrier plate.

According to another development, the sun-position sensor has at most four or at most ten or at most one hundred light sensors in order to ensure rapid and precise evaluation.

According to a further embodiment, the sensor carrier has a leadframe or is designed as a printed circuit board with at least four interconnects.

In another embodiment, the potting compound has a length, a width and a height, wherein the length and / or the width and / or the height amount to at most 3 cm or at most 10 cm.

In a further development, a second, preferably flexible, cable is provided for signal transmission to the evaluation and control unit. By means of the second line for a signal transmission to the evaluation and control unit, an on / off signal or enable signal for switching the sun tracking unit on and off is preferably provided or interrogated by the evaluation and control unit.

In one embodiment, the power supply via the first flexible line is made by direct current with a voltage of less than 80 volts.

• 1 eine Ansicht einer ersten erfindungsgemäßen Ausführungsform eines Sonnennachführeinheit,
• 2 eine Aufsicht auf die erfindungsgemäße Ausführungsform der Sonnennachführeinheit der 1,
• 3 eine Ansicht einer zweite erfindungsgemäße Ausführungsform einer Sonnennachführeinheit,
• 4 eine Ansicht einer dritte erfindungsgemäße Ausführungsform einer Sonnennachführeinheit.

The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the drawings. Here similar parts are labeled with identical names. The illustrated embodiments are highly schematic, ie the distances, the lateral and the vertical extensions are not to scale and, unless otherwise stated, also have no derivable geometric relations to each other. Show in it that:

• 1 a view of a first embodiment of a sun tracking unit according to the invention,
• 2 a plan view of the inventive embodiment of the sun tracking unit of 1 .
• 3 a view of a second embodiment of a sun tracking unit according to the invention,
• 4 a view of a third embodiment of a sun tracking unit according to the invention.

The 1 and 2 show a schematic sectional view and a schematic plan view of a first embodiment of a Sonnennachführeinheit invention 100 for a solar generator.

The sun tracking unit 100 has a sun position sensor 10 consisting of a sensor carrier 12 , an optical body 14 and a sensor unit configured as a semiconductor body 16 with four solar cells 160.1 . 160.2 . 160.3 and 160.4 on.

The four solar cells 160.1 . 160.2 . 160.3 and 160.4 are formed on an upper surface of the semiconductor body and each have a surface having a receiving surface 18.1 . 18.2 . 18.3 and 18.4 for incident sunlight and a first electrical connection contact 20.1 . 20.2 . 20.3 and 20.4 on. On the upper side of the semiconductor body is also a common second electrical connection contact 22 the four light sensors 160.1 . 160.2 . 160.3 and 160.4 arranged and each with a bottom of each light sensor 160.1 . 160.2 . 160.3 . 160.4 electrically connected.

The semiconductor body is frictionally connected to the underside of the sensor carrier 12 connected. The sensor carrier 12 consists of an electrically insulating substrate and on the substrate arranged conductor tracks and contact surfaces. The first electrical connection contacts 20.1 . 20.2 . 20.3 and 20.4 and the common second electrical connection contact 22 are with the tracks of the sensor carrier 12 connected.

The optical body 14 is as a convex lens with a first convex surface 14.1 , a subsequent side surface 14.2 and one of the convex surface 14.1 opposite and to the side surface 14.2 subsequent bottom 14.3 educated. The bottom 14.3 of the optical body 14 is by means of a transparent adhesive with the receiving surfaces 18.1 . 18.2 . 18.3 and 18.4 as well as with an upper side of the sensor carrier 12 positively connected.

Along one edge of the sensor carrier 12 is a pin header with five L-shaped pins 24 arranged, with the contact pins 24 are electrically connected to the tracks.

The sun tracking unit 100 also has a printed circuit board 30 , an evaluation and control unit designed as a microcontroller 40 and a motor control unit 42 on.

The carrier plate 30 has a top with multiple electrical traces 32 on. The sensor carrier 12 is by means of the L-shaped contact pins 24 with the circuit board 30 positively connected and with the tracks 32 the circuit board 30 electrically interconnected.

The microcontroller 40 as well as the engine control unit 42 are non-positive with the circuit board 30 connected and with the tracks 32 the circuit board 30 electrically interconnected.

The tracks 32 the circuit board 30 are with at least three flexible cables 34 . 36 . 38 for the energy supply of the sun tracking unit 100 , electrically connected for an externally supplied control signal and for the transmission of a motor current. The flexible cables 34 . 36 . 38 are in a common harness 50 summarized. It is understood that preferably the flexible lines 34 . 35 . 38 at least in pairs are formed.

The sun tracking unit 100 is almost entirely of a housing consisting of potting compound 60 is enclosed, the wiring harness 50 with the flexible cables 34 . 36 . 38 from the potting compound 60 led out. In addition, the potting compound 60 a light entrance opening 62 on, wherein the convex transparent surface area 14.1 of the optical body 14 from the light entrance opening 62 is enclosed and through the light entrance opening 62 from the potting compound 60 protrudes. The light entry opening 62 thus forms an aperture, so an opening restricting the light entrance.

In the picture of the 3 is another embodiment of the sun tracking unit 100 shown. The following are just the differences to the illustrations of 1 and 2 explained.

The sun tracking unit 100 is on a top of a backing plate 70 arranged, wherein the engine control unit 42 on a bottom of the circuit board 30 arranged and by means of a thermal paste thermally conductive with the top of the carrier plate 70 connected is.

The carrier plate 70 also serves for adjustable attachment to a plate 80 a sun generator. For this purpose, the carrier plate 70 as well as the plate 80 of the solar generator at least three through holes. Through each through hole of the plate 80 the sun generator is a screw 82 guided and with a nut 84 attached. On every nut 84 is a spring 86 around the respective screw 82 arranged. The further support plate 70 is with a bottom on the springs 86 hung up with the screws 82 each through one of the through holes of the carrier plate 70 pass through. On the end of each screw 82 is another nut 88 screwed so far that the spring collar of the spring 86 the carrier plate 70 against the other nut 88 suppressed.

By means of the four screws 82 with feathers 86 and nuts 88 is the relative orientation the carrier plate 70 relative to the plate 80 of the Sonnengerators adjustable by two axes.

In the picture of the 4 is another embodiment of the sun tracking unit 100 shown in a sectional drawing. The following are just the differences to the illustrations of 1 . 2 or 3 explained.

The sensor carrier 12 is designed as a leadframe. The optical body 14 consists entirely of a transparent polymer and encloses the sensor carrier 12 at least partially. The sensor carrier 12 is by means of an adhesive frictionally with the circuit board 30 connected. The circuit board 30 is by means of an adhesive frictionally with the carrier plate 70 connected.

The carrier plate 70 forms a bottom of the housing 60 which encloses the sun tracking unit with further side walls and an upper side. The light entry opening 62 is in the top of the case 60 above the convex transparent surface 14.1 of the optical body 14 Trained and with a transparent window 64 (dashed lines) completely covered.

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• US 8592738 B1 [0003]

Claims (17)

Sun tracking unit (100) comprising - a sun position sensor (10), - an evaluation and control unit (40), - a motor control unit (42), - a first flexible line (34) for a power supply of the sun tracking unit (100), - a third flexible Line (38) for a transmission of a motor current or a motor signal, characterized in that - the evaluation unit (40), the motor control unit (42) and the sun position sensor (10) arranged on a common printed circuit board (30) with conductor tracks and in each case with the conductor tracks the printed circuit board (30) are electrically interconnected, - the three flexible lines (34, 36, 38) are electrically connected to the conductor tracks of the printed circuit board (30), - the sun position sensor (10) has a sensor carrier (12), an optical body (14 ) and a sensor unit (16) having at least three receiving surfaces (18), - the sensor carrier (12) of the sun position sensor (10) with the circuit board (30) non-positively connected n is, - the optical body (14) has a convex, transparent surface area (14.1) and - the receiving surfaces (18) with the optical body (14) are connected over the entire surface non-positively and / or cohesively, - so that by the convex formed, transparent surface area (14.1) of the optical body (14) incident sunlight forms a focal spot on at least one of the receiving surfaces (18.1, 18.2, 18.3, 18.4) of the sensor unit (16). Sun tracking unit (100) after Claim 1 , characterized in that the sun tracking unit (100) is arranged in a housing (60), wherein - the housing (60) is formed from a potting compound or from several walls, - the lines (34, 36, 38) from the housing ( 60), - the housing (60) has a light entry opening (62) and - an optical axis of the convex, transparent surface area (14.1) of the optical body (14) extends through the light entry opening (62), so that an incidence of Sunlight on the convex, transparent surface area (14.1) is possible. Sun tracking unit (100) after Claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that the sensor unit (16) comprises a semiconductor body having a top side and a bottom side and at least three, each one of the receiving surfaces (18.1, 18.2, 18.3) comprehensive and arranged on the upper side of the semiconductor body solar cells (160), wherein the semiconductor body with the sensor carrier (12) positively connected and electrically connected. Sun tracking unit (100) after Claim 3 , characterized in that the receiving surfaces (18.1, 18.2, 18.3) of the solar cells (160) are planar and the solar cells (160) each having a first electrical connection contact (20) and a common second electrical connection contact (22). Sun tracking unit (100) according to one of Claims 1 to 4 , characterized in that the optical body (14) of the sun position sensor (10) comprises or consists of transparent materials with a refractive index of at least 1.1. Sun tracking unit (100) according to one of Claims 1 to 5 , characterized in that the Sonnennachführeinheit (100) on a support plate (70) is arranged, wherein the motor control unit (42) is thermally conductively connected to the carrier plate (70). Sun tracking unit (100) after Claim 6 , characterized in that the carrier plate (70) is part of the housing (60). A sun tracking unit (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sun tracking unit (100) has attachment means (82, 84, 86, 88) for attachment to a solar generator. Sun tracking unit (100) after Claim 8 , characterized in that the fastening means comprise screws and / or springs (82, 86). Sun tracking unit (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the optical body (14) of the sun position sensor (10) consists entirely of at least one transparent polymer or consists entirely of a quartz glass compound or comprises a quartz glass compound and at least one transparent polymer. Sun tracking unit (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the optical body (14) consists of at least one polymer or at least one polymer and the polymer comprises the sensor carrier (12) and the sensor unit except for the optical body (14) completely outgoing electrical connections. Sun tracking unit (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sensor carrier (12) has contact pins (24) and the contact pins (24) are electrically connected to the conductor tracks of the printed circuit board (30). Sun tracking unit (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sun position sensor (10) has at most one hundred light sensors (160). Sun tracking unit (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sensor carrier (12) has a leadframe or is designed as a printed circuit board with at least four interconnects. A sun tracking unit (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing (60) has a length, a width and a height, wherein the length and / or the width and / or the height is at most 3 cm or at most 10 cm , Sun tracking unit (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a second flexible line (36) is provided for a signal transmission to the evaluation and control unit (40). Sun tracking unit (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the power supply via the first flexible line is effected by direct current with a voltage of less than 80 volts.

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