JP2001091818A - Sunlight follower - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enhance the power generation efficiency, etc., of a sunlight power generation system by allowing solar panels to follow the sunlight only with the electric power for driving a small-capacity compressor. SOLUTION: The sunlight follower which moves the solar panel 1 to receive the sunlight at a plane to follow up the sun according to its movement includes an air mat 20 and/or 30 which supports the solar panel 10 and is expanded by the supply of the compressed air by the compressor C to elongate in a prescribed direction and is shrunk by the discharge of the compressed air to shrink in a prescribed direction so as to incline the solar panel 10 east and west and/or north and south according to the movement of the sun.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a solar tracking device, and more particularly to a solar tracking device used in a solar power generation system using a solar cell for converting solar energy into electric power.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a solar tracking device uses a shape memory spring that is mechanically connected to a heat receiving device that generates heat by irradiating a heat receiving plate with sunlight, and that is mechanically deformed by a change in temperature. (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H11-125765) or a working fluid expanded in a heat receiving tank is guided to a piston through an oil supply pipe. In which the other side of the solar panel supporting the rotating shaft is tilted by the operation of a piston (JP-A-06-301)
No. 420) is disclosed.

[0003]

However, in the above-mentioned prior art, the solar panel is inclined by the deformation of the shape memory spring due to the heat received by solar heat and the operation of the piston through the working fluid. , Shape memory springs, supports, heat insulators, or many additional structures such as heat receiving tanks, oil feed pipes, pistons, and rotating shafts.
Therefore, the installation space, weight, and price of the photovoltaic power generation system are increased, and there is a problem that the installation is inappropriate in terms of building strength and construction efficiency, especially when installing at a high place such as a roof.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to use an air bag such as an air mat which can be constructed to be lightweight and thin without requiring an additional structure having a large installation space and weight, and to use electric power for driving a small capacity compressor. It is an object of the present invention to provide a solar tracking device capable of improving the power generation efficiency and the like of a solar power generation system by causing a solar panel to track sunlight by simply performing the same.

[0005]

The present invention has the following arrangement to achieve the above object. That is, the present invention
In a solar tracking device that follows a light receiving panel that receives sunlight in a plane according to the movement of the sun, the light receiving panel is supported, and the light receiving panel is tilted east-west and / or north-south according to the movement of the sun. In addition, it expands by the supply of compressed air by the compressor and expands in a predetermined direction,
An air bag is provided which contracts by discharging the compressed air and contracts in a predetermined direction.

[0006] Further, the air bag for tilting the light receiving panel in the north-south direction and the air bag for tilting the light receiving panel in the east-west direction are arranged in a stacked state, so as to meet the conditions at the time. In addition, the light receiving plane of the light receiving panel can be appropriately directed to the sun.

In addition, the air bag is constituted by a plurality of air chambers so that the angle of the light receiving panel can be changed in a plurality of steps, so that the light receiving plane of the light receiving panel can be adjusted to suit the season and time conditions. Can be suitably directed.

[0008] Further, air bladders for inclining the light receiving panel in the east-west direction are laminated, and a gantry for defining an initial angle of the light receiving panel with respect to the east-west direction is formed of a foldable air bladder. The light tracking device can be folded flat, and can be suitably retracted in a strong wind or the like.

The light receiving panel is a solar cell panel for a photovoltaic power generation system. Since the solar cell panel is lightweight, it can be easily formed without complicating the entire apparatus or increasing the weight. be able to. Further, the air bag is an air mat that receives and supports substantially the entire surface of the light receiving panel with the air pressure of the compressed air, so that the light receiving panel can be reliably and suitably supported.

[0010]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. (First Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically illustrating an embodiment (first embodiment) of a sunlight tracking device according to the present invention. In the first embodiment, a solar cell panel (hereinafter, referred to as a “solar panel”), which is an example of a light receiving panel that receives sunlight in a plane, follows the movement of the sun to track sunlight in a solar power generation system. Device.

Reference numeral 20 denotes an air mat for tilting the north-south direction. The air mat 20 supports the solar panel 10 and compresses the air with a compressor so as to tilt the solar panel 10 north-south according to the seasonal movement of the sun (change in elevation). Is an example of an air bag that expands in a predetermined direction by being supplied with air, and contracts in a predetermined direction by discharging compressed air. Reference numeral 30 denotes an east-west tilting air mat which supports the solar panel 10 and expands by supplying compressed air by a compressor so as to tilt the solar panel 10 east-west according to the movement of the sun. FIG. 2 is an example of an air bag that extends in a predetermined direction, contracts by discharging compressed air, and contracts in a predetermined direction.

Further, on the air mat 20 for the north-south inclination,
The air mats 30 for east-west inclination are arranged in a stacked state. The solar panel 10 is fixed on the east-west tilting air mat 30. Therefore, the solar panel 10 is supported by both the north-south tilt air mat 20 and the east-west tilt air mat 30. Note that the vertical relationship in which the north-south tilting air mat 20 and the east-west tilting air mat 30 are stacked is not limited to this embodiment, and the same effect can be obtained even when the air mats 20 are stacked upside down. . According to the above configuration, the solar panel 10 can adjust the north-south angle in accordance with the sun angle (elevation angle) of each season, and change the east-west angle in accordance with the movement of the sun in one day. , The light receiving plane can be suitably directed to the sun.

To stabilize the angle of the solar panel 10 by following the shrinkage of each of the air mats 20 and 30,
It is sufficient to provide an urging means for constantly urging each of the air mats 20 and 30 in the contraction direction. According to this, the pressure of the compressed air supplied to each of the air mats 20 and 30 acts against the urging force of the urging means, so that the solar panel 10 can be supported in a stable state. As the urging means, a spring using elasticity such as a coil spring, a load means (weight) using gravity, or a means using fluid pressure can be used.

Next, in order to describe in detail the operation of the air mat 30 for east-west inclination and the air mat 20 for north-south inclination, the configuration and operation of both will be described separately with reference to FIGS. FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a mechanism for adjusting an angle in the east-west direction of the solar tracking apparatus according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 2, the solar panel 10
The solar panel 10 is laid on the east-west inclination air mat 30 so that the east-west inclination of the solar panel 10 is changed by receiving the supply of compressed air with one side on the east side as a fulcrum 32.

The air mat 30 for east-west inclination
Are laid on an air mat 40 for the gantry. The air mat 40 for the gantry, when compressed air is supplied,
The solar panel 10 acts as a mount that defines an initial angular position in the east-west direction. That is, since the gantry is formed by an air mat (air bag), it can be folded flat when it is not suitable for use at night or in a strong wind. When such a folding function is not required, an inclined member having no air bag function may be used as a mount instead of the mount air mat 40.

In some cases, the air mat 20 for tilting the north and south as described above may be provided so as to be arranged in the south direction so as to be substantially perpendicular to the sunlight. However, the air mat 30 for east-west inclination and the gantry (the air mat 40 for gantry) may be directly laid on an appropriate south-sloping roof.

Next, the operation of the configuration for changing the inclination in the east-west direction shown in FIG. 2 will be described. At the start of the photovoltaic power generation, first, the air mat 40 for the gantry is inflated by a small capacity compressor C with one side of the west as a fulcrum 42, and the upper surface of the air mat 40 itself for the gantry faces the west (maximum westward angle). Keep it. Then, the air mat 30 for tilting east and west receiving the supply of compressed air from the small capacity compressor C started by the timer is expanded so that the solar panel 10 faces the maximum eastward angle, and the supply of compressed air is stopped.

After that, from the noon to the sunset, the exhaust side of the compressed air is adjusted by the throttle valve 60 so that the angle of the solar panel 10 gradually tilts to the west as time passes. To automatically change the inclination angle of the solar panel 10 from east to west,
Follow the sun. Since the flow rate adjustment by the throttle valve 60 has good linearity, the solar panel 10 is directed substantially in the direction of the sun throughout the entire daylight hours, and the energy conversion efficiency can be improved.

Also, when the compressed air is supplied from the compressor C automatically started by the timer only at the start of the solar power generation and the air mat 30 for east-west inclination is expanded to the maximum, thereafter, the throttle valve is used. The air mat is gradually contracted by the exhaust, and the inclination angle of the solar panel 10 in the east-west direction is automatically changed so that the sun can be tracked. That is, the compressor C can be operated only at the start in principle, and the operating energy required for tracking the sunlight can be reduced, so that the running cost can be reduced. In addition, since the mount is made of an air mat 40 for the mount and the compressed air is exhausted with one side of the west as a fulcrum, the entire photovoltaic power generation system can be stored in a plane. It can be a countermeasure in the event of a strong wind that may damage the system itself.

FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a mechanism for adjusting the angle in the north-south direction of the solar tracking apparatus according to the present invention. The air mat 20 for tilting north and south shown in FIG. 3 is provided below the air mat 30 for tilting east and west which tilts the solar panel 10 in east and west directions. The air chamber 20a is tilted in two stages so as to tilt in north and south directions. , 20b. According to this, in the summer, air is exhausted from both of the two-stage air chambers 20a and 20b constituting the air mat 20 for the north-south tilt, the elevation angle of the solar panel 10 is increased, and only one stage is expanded in the spring and autumn. Also, in winter, both stages are expanded and the elevation angle is reduced, so that it follows the movement of sunlight in the north-south direction, and the heat receiving efficiency of sunlight is further improved. Further, with this configuration, the air mat 20 for the north-south tilt can basically be operated by the compressor C in a short time when adjusting the angle three times a year for each season unless there is an air leak. , The operating energy may be small.

As in the summer, one side of the south side
2) By exhausting the compressed air E, the entire photovoltaic power generation system can be stored in a plane, which is a countermeasure against strong winds that could damage the building where the system is installed or the system itself. obtain. The air mat 20 for the north-south inclination is a two-stage air chamber 20a, 20b.
The angle is not limited to this, and if more stages are provided, it is a matter of course that more appropriate angle adjustment can be performed. By the way, in the embodiment of FIG. 3, the third-stage air mat is provided as a gantry air mat 24 that is inclined in the north-south direction. According to this, the initial angle in the north-south direction can be suitably defined, and the air can be stored in a planar manner by discharging the air. In addition, the provision of the air in multiple stages is not limited to the air mat 20 for the north-south inclination, but may be used for the air mat 30 for the east-west inclination. In this case, the light receiving plane of the solar panel 10 can be appropriately directed toward the sun.

Next, another embodiment according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. (Second Embodiment) As shown in FIG. 4, the present embodiment is different from the first embodiment only in the direction in which the air mat 40 for the gantry and the air mat 30 for east-west inclination are mounted.
The operation of the air mat 30 for east-west inclination is different. That is, when the gantry air mat 40 is inflated, the upper surface is provided so as to face east. Then, the air mat 30 for east-west inclination gradually receives the supply of compressed air from the compressor and expands gradually, so that the solar panel 1
The inclination angle of 0 is changed from east to west with the passage of time to track the sunlight. As described above, even with the configuration in which the inclination angle is changed by installing the compressor in the opposite direction to the first embodiment and gradually supplying air by the compressor, the compressor can always be operated by appropriately using a check valve or the like. Is not necessary, and the sun can be appropriately tracked similarly to the first embodiment, and the energy conversion efficiency of sunlight can be improved.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view for explaining another installation state of the air mat 20 for north-south inclination. In this embodiment,
The air mat 20 for tilting north and south of the first embodiment is mounted opposite to the north and south. According to this, in winter, the two-stage air chambers 20a and 20a constituting the air mat 20 for the north-south inclination are provided.
Air can be exhausted E from both of the b and the elevation angle of the solar panel 10 can be reduced, and only one stage can be expanded in spring and autumn, and both stages can be expanded in summer to increase the elevation angle. In this way, it is possible to follow the movement of sunlight in the north-south direction due to the change of the season, and to improve the heat receiving efficiency of sunlight.

In the above embodiment, the solar panel 10
Is a solar panel for a solar power generation system,
Since it is lightweight, it can be easily configured without complicating the entire apparatus or increasing the weight. In addition,
In the present embodiment, the present invention is not limited to the solar cell panel, but can be suitably applied to other systems that receive sunlight.

The air bag is an air mat that receives and supports substantially the entire surface of the light receiving panel (solar panel 10) with the air pressure of compressed air.
0 can be reliably and suitably supported. The air bag is not limited to the air mat, and a plurality of small air bags each obtained by dividing the air mat may be used. That is, when the air bag is formed as small as the air mat of the present embodiment is divided, a large number (plural) may be used in parallel, and the air bag is formed as large as in the present embodiment. If so, a small number may be allocated.

The air bag is not limited to an air mat having a triangular cross section when inflated as in the present embodiment. For example, the air bag may have a tubular and bellows shape. As described above, the present invention has been described variously with reference to preferred embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments, and it is needless to say that many modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. That is.

[0027]

As described above, according to the present invention, since the solar panel is inclined by the deformation of the shape memory spring and the movement of the piston through the working fluid by the conventional solar heat reception, the heat reception is performed. Eliminates the need for devices, shape memory springs, supports, thermal insulation, or many additional structures such as heat receiving tanks, oil supply pipes, pistons, and rotating shafts, reducing the installation space, weight, and price of a solar tracking power generation system. When installing in high places such as roofs, the building strength and construction efficiency can be improved, the solar panels can be directed almost toward the sun, and it is possible to follow the north-south sunlight generated by the season. This has the significant effect of increasing the overall power generation efficiency of the system. If this device is made into a small unit, and a large number of small units are installed in small areas divided within the entire area, the height of the entire device can be significantly reduced, and the entire building using the tracking device can be significantly reduced in safety. This also has the effect of improving the appearance of the device.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of a sunlight tracking device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an adjustment mechanism of an angle in the east-west direction of the solar tracking apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a mechanism for adjusting an angle in the north-south direction of the solar tracking apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating another embodiment of the solar tracking apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory view showing another embodiment of the air mat for tilting the north and south according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 10 solar panel 20 air mat for north-south inclination 22 fulcrum 30 air mat for east-west inclination 32 fulcrum 40 air mat for mount 60 throttle valve C compressor E exhaust

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A sunlight tracking device for following a light receiving panel receiving sunlight in a plane according to the movement of the sun, supporting the light receiving panel and east and west and / or according to the movement of the sun. A solar tracking device comprising: an air bag that expands and expands in a predetermined direction by supplying compressed air from a compressor, and contracts and shrinks in a predetermined direction by discharging compressed air so as to incline in a north-south direction. 2. The air bag for tilting the light receiving panel in a north-south direction and the air bag for tilting the light receiving panel in an east-west direction are arranged in a stacked state. Solar tracking device. 3. The solar tracking device according to claim 1, wherein the air bag is constituted by a plurality of air chambers so that the angle of the light receiving panel can be changed in a plurality of stages. 4. An air bag for inclining the light receiving panel in the east-west direction is laminated, and a gantry for defining an initial angle of the light receiving panel with respect to the east-west direction is constituted by a foldable air bag. The sunlight tracking device according to claim 2 or 3, wherein 5. The light receiving panel according to claim 1, wherein the light receiving panel is a solar cell panel for a solar power generation system.
The solar tracking device according to 2, 3, or 4. 6. The sunlight tracking device according to claim 1, wherein the air bag is an air mat that receives and supports substantially the entire surface of the light receiving panel with the air pressure of compressed air. apparatus.