JP2004047753A - Solar cell with condensing element - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a solar cell provided with a built-in condensing element that is inexpensive and simple in structure, and is capable of guiding most of the sunlight incident on the plane of incidence to the solar cell. <P>SOLUTION: The solar cell 2 is fitted to the one end face of the condensing element 1. The condensing element 1 is formed of a light-transmitting member 3, having a profile shape nearly corresponding to a solid composed of a parabola rotating on its center axis n, and the large-diameter end face of the light-transmitting member 3 is made to serve as the plane of incidence 4 for the sunlight s, and a small-diameter end face of the light-transmitting member 3 is made to serve as the mounting end face 5, where the solar cell 2 is mounted. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a solar cell with a light-collecting element, and proposes a technique for improving the light-collecting efficiency with a particularly simple and inexpensive structure.
[0002]
[Prior art]
As condensing devices for solar cells, those using reflecting mirrors such as trough-shaped plane mirrors and trough-shaped compound parabolic mirrors, as well as those using lenses such as convex lenses and Fresnel lenses have been widely used. I have.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, it was still difficult to concentrate sunlight on the solar cell with a sufficiently high efficiency by such a conventional device.
Therefore, the present invention provides a solar cell with a light-collecting element, in which a light-collecting element having a simple and inexpensive structure is installed, which can efficiently guide most of the solar rays incident on the incident surface to the solar cell. provide.
[0004]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The solar cell with a light-collecting element according to the present invention has a solar cell attached to one end face of the light-collecting element, and the light-collecting element has an outer contour substantially corresponding to a parabolic rotator around a central axis. The light-transmitting member is formed of a parabolic light-transmitting member, preferably a colorless and transparent member. The light-transmitting member has a large-diameter end used as a solar light incident surface and a small-diameter end used as a solar cell mounting surface.
[0005]
Here, the light transmitting member is, for example, polystyrene, styrene / methyl methacrylate copolymer, acrylic resin, polymethylpentene, allyl glycol carbonate resin, spirane resin, amorphous polyolefin, polycarbonate, polyamide, polyarylate, polysulfone, polyallylsulfone. , Polyethersulfone, polyetherimide, polyimide, diallyl phthalate, fluorocarbon resin, polyester carbonate, norbornene resin, alicyclic acrylic resin, silicone resin, acrylic rubber, silicone rubber, etc. In addition to being configured with the above combinations, it can also be configured with glass or the like.
[0006]
In such a solar cell, the solar light incident on the incident surface of the light transmitting member is efficiently reflected by the outer contour surface thereof and condensed on the solar cell attached to the small-diameter end, thereby making it simple and inexpensive. Under the light-collecting element structure, solar rays can be used much more efficiently for generating electromotive force than the prior art.
[0007]
Also, in this solar cell having a circular cross-sectional profile orthogonal to the central axis, a plurality of the solar cells are arranged for alignment in the same plane, and the leaked light passing between the light-collecting elements is used for lighting. be able to.
[0008]
Here, as the solar cell, a single crystal silicon solar cell, an amorphous silicon solar cell, a compound semiconductor solar cell, an organic semiconductor solar cell, or the like can be used. Among them, an organic semiconductor solar cell is used for cost reduction. It is particularly preferable to use a dye-sensitized solar cell for high conversion efficiency.
[0009]
Another solar cell with a light-collecting element according to the present invention is also one in which a solar cell is attached to one end surface of the light-collecting element, and the light-collecting element is formed of a parabolic light-transmitting member and a wedge-shaped light transmitting member. The parabolic light-transmitting member has an outer contour substantially corresponding to the parabolic rotator around the central axis, and the large-diameter end of the light-transmitting member is formed in a wedge-shaped light-transmitting member. The wedge-shaped light-transmitting member has a substantially right-angled triangular shape, while the small-diameter end is used as a mounting surface for the solar cell. One surface is used as a solar light incident surface, the other surface is used as a connection surface with a parabolic light-transmitting member, and the remaining inclined surface is used as a reflection surface for the incident solar light.
[0010]
Here, it is preferable that both the parabolic light-transmitting member and the wedge-shaped light transmitting member are colorless and transparent members, and both of them are joined together afterwards or formed into a continuous structure by an integral structure. be able to. By the way, when the two translucent members are joined afterwards, in order to prevent light from leaking outside due to refraction of light at the joint interface, etc., an acrylic, epoxy, urethane or other light It is preferable to use a colorless and transparent adhesive such as a curable resin or a thermosetting resin. In the latter case in which the two are integrally formed, in the above-described solar cell, the interconnecting surfaces of the respective light-transmitting members exist as virtual lines.
[0011]
In this solar cell with a light-collecting element, this also sufficiently condenses the solar light incident on the incident surface of the wedge-shaped light-transmitting member under a simple and inexpensive structure of the light-collecting element, The light is further condensed by the parabolic light-transmitting member and incident on the solar cell, whereby the energy supplied thereto can be increased, and the electromotive force of the cell can be greatly increased.
[0012]
When a plurality of V-shaped grooves extending in the width direction of the reflecting surface of the wedge-shaped light-transmitting member are provided as a whole, the inclination angle of the reflecting surface with respect to the incident surface is selected as required. In other words, it is possible to significantly improve the reflection efficiency of the incident solar rays, and consequently the light collection efficiency, while securing a sufficiently large incident surface area.
[0013]
Further, when a see-through type solar cell is mounted on the inclined surface serving as the reflecting surface, light leaked from the reflecting surface also occurs regardless of whether or not a V-shaped groove is provided on the reflecting surface. It can be used effectively for generating electric power, and the utilization efficiency of sunlight can be further enhanced. Moreover, in this case, by making the solar cell a see-through type, light leaked from the reflecting surface can be used for lighting.
[0014]
When a solar cell is mounted on an inclined surface as a reflecting surface, and a reflecting layer that can be a coating layer, an adhesive layer, a vapor deposition layer, or the like is provided on the inclined surface, the However, it is possible to effectively prevent the light from leaking from the reflection surface, and to further improve the light collection efficiency.
[0015]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the present invention, in which 1 denotes a light-collecting element, and 2 denotes a solar cell mounted on one end surface thereof.
[0016]
Here, the light-condensing element 1 is constituted by a parabolic solid translucent member 3 having an outer contour substantially corresponding to a parabolic rotator about the central axis n, preferably a colorless solid transparent member. The large-diameter end functions as the sunlight incident surface 4 and the small-diameter end functions as the mounting surface 5 of the solar cell 2.
[0017]
The translucent member 3 here can be made of the above-described polymer material, glass, or the like, and the solar cell 2 is a single-crystal silicon solar cell, an amorphous silicon solar cell, or a compound semiconductor solar cell. It can be any of a battery, an organic semiconductor solar cell, and the like.
[0018]
As described above, the attachment of the solar cell 2 to the attachment surface 5 is performed by using a colorless and transparent adhesive such as acrylic, epoxy, or urethane, and refracting light at the joint interface. Is preferably performed in order to prevent the incident loss of the light beam into the solar cell 2 and the leakage of the light beam to the outside.
[0019]
According to the solar cell 6 with the light-collecting element configured as described above, the sunlight rays s incident from the incident surface 4 of the light-collecting element 1 are reflected by the parabolic outer contour surface of the light-collecting element 1, By efficiently concentrating a large part of the light on the solar cell 2, the utilization efficiency of the solar rays s can be greatly increased.
[0020]
FIG. 2 shows an example of a module 7 in which a plurality of the above-described solar cells 6 with light-collecting elements are arranged in the front-rear and left-right directions in the drawing with the incident surface 4 being flush.
When manufacturing, assembling, and the like are performed using such a module 7 as a unit, various costs can be advantageously reduced.
In addition, in this module 7, since each of the parabolic condensing elements 1 having a circular cross-sectional profile defines a gap between mutually adjacent surfaces, sunlight is leaked downward from the gap. Can be used effectively for
[0021]
FIG. 3 is a bottom perspective view showing another embodiment in which a parabolic light-transmitting member similar to the above-described light-collecting element is used as a part of the light-collecting element.
That is, the light-collecting element 11 here is constituted by a connection structure of a parabolic light-transmitting member 12 and a wedge-shaped light-transmitting member 13 that are joined or integrally formed.
[0022]
Here, the parabolic light-transmitting member 12, preferably a colorless transparent member, has an outer contour substantially corresponding to a parabolic rotator around the central axis n, like the solid light-transmitting member 3 described above. The large-diameter end serves as a connecting surface 14 with the wedge-shaped light-transmitting member 13, and the small-diameter end functions as a mounting surface 16 for the solar cell 15. The connecting surface 14 has a wedge-shaped light-transmitting member. The connection to the mounting member 13 and the attachment of the solar cell 15 to the attachment surface 16 can be performed by using a colorless and transparent adhesive such as acrylic, epoxy, or urethane as described above.
[0023]
Further, the wedge-shaped light-transmitting member 13, preferably also the colorless transparent member, can be made of the same material as the above-mentioned parabolic light-transmitting member 3, and has a substantially right-angled triangular side shape. Here, one surface of the light-transmitting member 13 that is orthogonal to the other is set as the incident surface 17 of the sun rays s, and the other surface is set as the parabolic light-transmitting member 12, directly connecting surface thereof. 14 and the remaining inclined surface is a reflecting surface 19 for the incident sunlight s. As shown in the figure, the connecting surfaces 14 and 18 of the wedge-shaped light-transmitting member 13 can be considerably larger than those of the parabolic light-transmitting member 12 as shown in the figure. In order to further improve the utilization efficiency of the sunlight s collected by the optical member 13, it is preferable that the rectangular contour of the connecting surface 18 be a rectangular shape circumscribing the circular connecting surface 14.
[0024]
In the solar cell 20 with the light-collecting element configured as described above, the sunlight rays s incident from the incident surface 17 are reflected by the reflection surface 19 to perform the first-stage condensing, and then the condensed light is parabolized. By making the light incident on the light-transmitting member 12 and reflecting the light on the parabolic outer contour surface and performing the second-stage light collection, the energy supplied to the solar cell 15 can be greatly increased.
[0025]
FIG. 4 illustrates a module 21 in which a plurality of the solar cells 20 configured as described above are arranged in the width direction and the front-rear direction of the wedge-shaped light transmitting member 13.
In this case, the number of solar cells 20 arranged can be appropriately selected.
[0026]
FIG. 5 is a side view showing a modified example of the solar cell shown in FIG. 3, which is formed on a reflecting surface 19 of the light transmitting member 13 so as to extend in the width direction of the light transmitting member 13 and has a substantially V-shaped cross section. Are formed, for example, uniformly over the whole of the V-shaped groove 22.
According to this, the intersection angle between the extension of the groove wall of each V-shaped groove 22 facing the parabolic light-transmitting member 12 side and the extension of the normal drawn on the incident surface 17 is 30 to 50 °. By setting the angle to a range, for example, approximately 45 °, the sunlight rays perpendicularly incident on the incident surface 17 can be incident on the light transmitting member 12 with excellent reflection efficiency.
[0027]
Therefore, here, by increasing the arrangement density of the V-shaped grooves 22, the amount of light incident on the solar cell 15 can be increased as required, and the expected reflection of the incident light by the groove wall surface is achieved. Can be selected as needed as long as the angle of incidence can be obtained, so that the solar cell mounting surface 16 of the translucent member 12, and thus the surface area of the solar cell itself with respect to the surface area of the solar cell itself, can be selected. By sufficiently increasing the light incident surface area, the energy supplied to the solar cell 15 can be further increased.
[0028]
The case where the solar cell 15 is provided only in the parabolic light-transmitting member 12 has been described above. However, as illustrated in FIG. 6, another solar cell 23, preferably a see-through type, is provided on the reflection surface 19 of the wedge-shaped light-transmitting member 13. According to this, regardless of whether or not the reflecting surface 19 is provided with the V-shaped groove 22, the light rays leaking from the reflecting surface 19 can also be mounted on the solar cell 23. Since it can be effectively used to generate electric power, the utilization efficiency of the solar rays s can be further enhanced. When the solar cell 23 is of a see-through type, the solar rays s transmitted therethrough can be used. It can be used for lighting purposes.
FIG. 6A shows a single solar cell 20 with a light-collecting element, and FIG. 6B shows a module obtained by combining a plurality of required solar cells.
[0029]
By the way, in the case where a reflection layer which can be formed by a coating layer, a sticking layer, a vapor deposition layer, or the like is provided on the reflection surface 19 instead of the solar cell 23, the V-shaped groove 22 is formed. Irrespective of the presence or absence, since the solar rays s can be more efficiently reflected toward the parabolic light-transmitting member side, the solar rays s can be more effectively reflected without attaching a see-through type solar cell or the like to the reflection surface 19. Can be used.
[0030]
【The invention's effect】
Thus, according to the present invention, a parabolic light-transmitting member to which a solar cell is attached, or a connection structure of a parabolic light-transmitting member and a wedge-shaped light transmitting member having a substantially right-angled triangular side surface. By constructing a light-collecting element and making each light-transmitting member function like a light-collecting lens, the light-collecting efficiency of sunlight can be reduced compared to the conventional technology under a simple and inexpensive structure. It can be greatly improved.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a solar cell module.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing another embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing another solar cell module.
FIG. 5 is a side view showing another embodiment.
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of mounting a solar cell on a reflection surface.
[Explanation of symbols]
1,11 condensing element 2,15,23 solar cell 3,12 parabolic light-transmitting member 4,17 incident surface 5,16 mounting surface 6,20 solar cell with condensing element 7,21 module 13 wedge-shaped light transmitting Members 14, 18 Connecting surface 19 Reflecting surface 22 V-shaped groove n Center axis s Sun rays

Claims (5)

A solar cell is attached to one end of the light-collecting element.
The light-collecting element is constituted by a parabolic light-transmitting member having an outer contour substantially corresponding to a parabolic rotator around the central axis, and a large-diameter end of the light-transmitting member is used as an incident surface of sunlight, and a small-diameter light-transmitting member. A solar cell with a light-collecting element whose end is the mounting surface of the solar cell. A solar cell is attached to one end of the light-collecting element.
The light-collecting element is constituted by a connection structure of a parabolic light-transmitting member and a wedge-shaped light transmitting member,
The parabolic light-transmitting member has an outer contour substantially corresponding to the parabolic rotator around the central axis, and the large-diameter end of the light-transmitting member serves as a connection surface with the wedge-shaped light-transmitting member. , The small diameter end is the mounting surface of the solar cell,
The wedge-shaped light-transmitting member has a side surface substantially in the shape of a right triangle, and one surface of the light-transmitting member which is orthogonal to the other is used as a solar light incident surface, and the other surface is used as a parabolic light-transmitting member. A solar cell with a light-collecting element, wherein the solar cell has a connection surface with an optical member, and the remaining inclined surface serves as a reflection surface for incident sunlight. The solar cell with a light-collecting element according to claim 2, wherein a plurality of V-shaped grooves extending in the width direction of the reflection surface of the wedge-shaped light-transmitting member are entirely provided. The solar cell with a light-collecting element according to claim 2 or 3, wherein a see-through type solar cell is attached to an inclined surface as a reflection surface. The solar cell with a light-collecting element according to claim 2 or 3, wherein a reflection layer is provided on an inclined surface as a reflection surface.

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