JP2005039148A - Sun tracking apparatus for solar generator - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a sun tracking apparatus which can deal in a simple structure with the changes of its azimuth angle and elevation angle and the seasonal change of the sun altitude. <P>SOLUTION: Two pole-braces for supporting a solar battery module are provided. The azimuth angle of the solar battery module is changed by rotating a first pole-brace. The elevation angle of the solar battery module is changed by a second pole-brace raising or lowering the generation module while moving along a circular-arc-form rail having a relief in response to the rotation of the first pole-brace. Further, a length adjusting mechanism is so provided in the second pole-brace as to be able to deal with the seasonal change of the sun altitude. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a solar tracking device used in a solar power generation device.

  In a power generation device using sunlight, it is desirable in terms of power generation efficiency that the light receiving surface of the solar cell module is always directed to the sun so as to follow the movement of the sun. Then, the following invention is made | formed as a solar tracking apparatus in a solar power generation device.

Following the daily operation of the sun, one equipped with azimuth angle control means for moving the light receiving surface of the solar cell module from the east to the west (see, for example, Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2), the sun Equipped with elevation control means to move the solar cell module's light-receiving surface in the elevation direction following the change in altitude of the sun from low altitude sunrise to high altitude and again low altitude sunset (For example, refer to Patent Document 3), and further, those having both azimuth angle control means and elevation angle control means (for example, refer to Patent Document 4 and Patent Document 5) are known. Further, there is a computer and a sensor that are combined to calculate the angle of the solar cell module, and an actuator that directs the light receiving surface in the direction in which the power generation efficiency is optimal (for example, see Patent Document 6).
Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 60-144254 Registered Utility Model No. 3086861 JP-A-7-86628 Registered Utility Model No. 3059899 JP 2001-217447 A JP 2001-217445 A

  The sun tracking device using a computer and a sensor controls the direction of rotation by calculating the best light reception efficiency based on conditions such as the annual movement of the sun calculated in advance and the state of sunlight detected by the sensor. Thus, the light receiving surface of the solar cell module can be directed in an appropriate direction. Photovoltaic power generation using such high-tech equipment can be expected to have high power generation efficiency, but on the other hand, many of the equipment that constitutes the equipment is expensive, and it requires complicated repairs in the event of a failure. It is not suitable as a solar power generation device installed by ordinary individuals.

  In addition, in order to track the azimuth and elevation of the sun at the same time, it is necessary to control the light receiving surface of the solar cell module in two axes, so the conventional solar tracking device has a complicated configuration and is heavy in weight. . This requires a limited installation location and large-scale installation work, and causes a large amount of expenses in terms of cost.

  Therefore, the problem to be solved by the present invention is that the solar power generation apparatus of the type that supports the solar power generation module with the support column has both the azimuth angle control means and the elevation angle control means, and further changes in the solar altitude due to the season (to the summer solstice). It is to realize a solar tracking device that can cope with the highest and the lowest during the winter solstice with a simple structure.

  A solar tracking device according to claim 1 includes a gantry for mounting a solar cell module, a first support column that supports the back of the gantry so that the back surface of the gantry can be rotated at the upper end, and the lower end is erected on the base, And a rail having an undulation arranged in an arc shape around the support column, and a second support column rotatably supported at the upper end of the back of the front stand and having a lower end movably attached to the front rail. , Having a drive source for rotating the first column, displacing the azimuth angle of the gantry by rotating the first column, and moving the second column along the preceding rail with the rotation; The elevation angle of the gantry is displaced by moving the second column up and down by the undulation of the rail.

  When the first support column rotates, the supported frame rotates in the horizontal direction, so that the light receiving surface of the solar cell module attached to the frame changes its azimuth. At the same time, the second column moves up and down according to the undulations of the rail while moving along the rail arranged in an arc around the first column by the rotation of the frame, and raises and lowers the frame at the support point. The elevation angle of the solar cell module attached to the mount is changed.

  The front rail is arranged in an arc shape with the first support column as the center in plan view, and the shape of the undulation differs depending on the direction in which the rail is arranged. Control the vertical movement of the column.

  For example, if the rail is arranged in an arc shape starting from the east side of the first column and passing through the south side to the west side, the rail has the highest shape in the south direction, the lowest in the east side and the west side, and the east side. The part from the south to the south has an upward slope, and the part from the south to the west has a downward slope. In this case, with the light-receiving surface of the solar cell module facing south, the positional relationship between the first column and the second column is that the first column is located on the north side and the second column is located on the south side. It becomes.

  As another example of the undulation shape of the rail, if the rail is arranged in an arc shape starting from the west side of the first support column and passing through the north side to the east side, it becomes the lowest in the north direction, the highest in the east side and the west side, When going from the west side to the north side, it becomes a downward slope, and at the part from the north side to the east side, it becomes an upward slope. In this case, with the light-receiving surface of the solar cell module facing south, the positional relationship between the first column and the second column is that the first column is positioned on the south side and the second column is positioned on the north side. It becomes.

  The rail may have a wall-like shape having a thickness and an inclined upper surface arranged in an arc shape, or a portion other than a portion for fixing a rod-shaped rail formed in an arc shape floats from the base. You may arrange in the state.

  Furthermore, in the solar tracking device of the present invention, by preparing a plurality of rails with different undulation shapes and replacing them appropriately for each season, the change in solar altitude due to the difference in season (highest in the summer solstice, lowest in the winter solstice) Can be).

  The invention according to claim 2 is the solar tracking device according to claim 1, wherein the second support column has a length adjusting mechanism of the support column.

  By changing the length by appropriately adjusting the length adjusting mechanism of the second support column, it becomes possible to cope with changes in solar altitude due to the difference in season. In this case, it is not necessary to replace the rail arranged in the arc shape, but it is possible to further increase the displacement of the elevation angle by combining with the replacement of the rail, and in some cases, to replace the adjustment mechanism and the rail.

  The invention according to claim 3 has a three-phase motor as a drive source for rotating the first support column and two 24-hour timer switches, and the two-phase motors are turned on and off by the two 24-hour timer switches. The solar tracking device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein rotation and driving time are controlled.

  A three-phase motor can rotate in reverse if the two phases of the three-phase current are reversed. Therefore, combining a three-phase motor and two 24-hour timer switches, the phase of the current is switched at a predetermined time, the first column is rotated to track the sun during the day, and the motor is switched at night. The first support column is reversely rotated by reversing the rotation so that the light receiving surface of the solar cell module returns in the east direction.

  When reversing the rotation of the motor, it is desirable to slightly shift the switching timings of the two 24-hour timers so that no current flows so that the reversal is performed smoothly.

  Further, since two 24-hour timers are used, it is possible to control the driving time of the motor in accordance with the change in the sunshine time.

  The invention according to claim 4 is characterized in that the rotation of the three-phase motor is transmitted to the first column through a reduction gear using at least one multi-stage pulley. It is a tracking device.

  Since the rotation of the motor is high as it is, it is necessary to reduce the number of rotations per unit time by a speed reducer. The speed reducer is configured by combining one or more multi-stage pulleys so as to obtain a target rotation. The first support column is rotated by the rotation thus obtained. In this case, the rotation speed of the first support column is set to 1 rotation / day.

  The solar tracking device according to claim 1 tracks the sun by simultaneously displacing the light receiving surface of the solar cell module attached to the gantry in the two directions of the azimuth and elevation directions, and a rail arranged in an arc shape. By replacing it, it is possible to respond to changes in the solar altitude due to the season.

  The solar tracking device according to claim 2 tracks the sun by simultaneously displacing the light receiving surface of the solar cell module attached to the gantry in the two directions of the azimuth direction and the elevation direction by the rotation of the first support column. By changing the length of the second column, it is possible to cope with changes in solar altitude due to the season.

  Furthermore, the solar tracking device according to claim 3 automatically controls the daily sun tracking operation by controlling the forward / reverse rotation of the first column with a combination of a three-phase motor and two 24-hour timers. Can do.

  In the solar tracking device according to claim 4, the reduction gear used for reducing the rotation of the motor to the rotation speed for rotating the first support column has a simple structure using a multi-stage pulley, so that maintenance is easy. is there.

  According to these inventions, it is possible to provide a solar tracking device that has a simple structure, has both an azimuth angle control means and an elevation angle control means, and can cope with a change in solar altitude due to the season. In addition, the simple structure reduces the weight of the solar power generation device and expands the range of installation locations, while reducing costs for installation, repair, and maintenance. It also contributes to the widespread use of equipment.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the present invention relates to a solar tracking device used in a solar power generation device that supports a gantry 1 to which a solar power generation module 2 is attached by a first support column 10 and a second support column 11. It is.

  The solar cell module 2 has a rectangular shape with a height of about 806 mm, a width of about 1248 mm, and a thickness of about 46 mm. The mount 1 for mounting the solar cell module 2 forms a frame with an angle of about 50 mm and becomes the back side. Put several strips 3 as reinforcing material in the part. The first support column 10 is attached to a position that is appropriately separated from the center of the back surface of the gantry 1 in the upper frame direction so as to be rotatable by a bearing, and the support column is erected on the base. At this time, the mount is attached to the first support column so that the light receiving surface of the attached solar cell module faces the east direction. The light-receiving surface of the solar cell module faces the south while tracking the sun during the day due to the rotation of the first column, and faces the west at sunset.

  In order to suppress the swing of the solar power generation device due to the rotation of the first support column 10 or the weather phenomenon, the arm 12 is attached to a fixed object or the like that is assembled at about two places in the first support column with a wall or angle of the building. It is desirable to support by. In this case, the arm 12 is supported on the first support column side by a bearing so as not to prevent the rotation of the support column, and the other end is fixed and supported by a fixed object such as a wall of a building or an angle.

  The upper end of the second support column 11 is attached to the gantry 1 so as to be able to rotate in the elevation direction at an appropriate distance from the first support column, and the lower end of the support column 11 is centered on the first support column. Attached to the arcuate rail 20 arranged in an arc shape.

  The first support column 10 and the second support column 11 are connected by the gantry 1, and the second support column moves in the lateral direction as the first support column rotates. In order to efficiently transmit the rotation of the first column to the second column, it is desirable to pass the arm 13 from the first column to the second column. In this case, the arm 13 is configured to hold the support column rotatably on the second support column side and to be fixed to the support column on the first support column side. Further, the arrangement relationship between the first support column and the second support column is such that when the light receiving surface of the solar cell module 2 faces the south side, the first support column is positioned on the north side and the second support column is positioned on the south side. It is.

  FIG. 4 is a plan view showing the arched rail 20 arranged in an arc shape around the first support column 10, and FIG. 5 shows a state in which the second support column 11 moves along the arched rail 20. ing. Both ends of the rail are fastened to the base, but the middle of the arched rail 20 is in a state of floating from the base. When the sun is positioned in the south direction, the rail is installed so that the second support column is positioned at the highest position of the arched rail 20. The second column 11 moves up the slope until the sun goes south along the rail, and moves down the slope from the south to the middle. At this time, the base moves up and down at the support point of the base. By this vertical movement, the elevation angle of the gantry, that is, the light receiving surface of the solar power generation module is displaced in the elevation angle direction.

    The arched rail 20 arranged on the base may have a groove or a guide mechanism on the rail. However, for ease of processing, a reinforcing bar having a predetermined thickness (preferably D13 or more) is formed in an arc shape. And use it. In addition, when a groove is arranged on the rail, it is conceivable to attach a rotating body to the lower end of the second support column and move along the groove. In the case of a rail having a guide mechanism, for example, a method is conceivable in which a sliding body is provided inside a U-shaped guide rail and the second support column is attached to the sliding body. However, in these cases, it is not easy to process in an arc shape compared to the case of using a reinforcing bar.

  FIG. 6 shows a state in which the lower end of the second column 11 is attached to the arched rail 20. The rail is sandwiched vertically between the recessed portions of the two drum-shaped rotating bodies 21, and the shaft passing through the rotating shaft of the rotating body is supported by the lower portion of the support column. By sandwiching the rail from above and below by the two drum-shaped rotating bodies 21, it becomes difficult for the second support column to come off from the rail and the second support column can be moved smoothly. In addition, the structure sandwiching the rails also functions to suppress shaking of the gantry when the gantry is beaten by wind or the like.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the second column 11 has a turnbuckle 14 as a length adjusting mechanism. As the season changes, the turnbuckle is adjusted to change the length of the second column 11, so that the distance between the rail 20 and the gantry 1 changes and the elevation angle of the gantry changes. can do.

  FIG. 7 is a wiring diagram for controlling the rotation of the three-phase motor with two 24-hour timer switches. Three-phase alternating current is sent to the three wires numbered 32 in the figure. By switching the two 24-hour timer switches 33a and 33b on (current flows) and off (state no current flows), two phases of the three-phase currents are reversed to obtain forward and reverse rotation of the motor. Note that the two 24-hour timer switches are not set to be on at the same time.

  As a setting example, one 24 hour timer is set so that current flows from 6 am to 5:50 pm, and another 24 hour timer is set from 6 pm to 5:50 am the next day. Set to flow. In this way, the sun is tracked by rotating the first support column (clockwise from east to west) from 6 am to 5:50 pm, and the rotation stops at 5:50 pm. Then, at 6:00 pm, the reverse rotation of the motor started, and the first support column was reversely rotated (counterclockwise from west to east) until 5:50 am, and the light receiving surface of the solar cell module was moved to the original position ( Return to the morning sun and east). The reason why the timing of switching is slightly shifted is to smoothly reverse the rotation.

  FIG. 8 is a configuration diagram of a speed reducer 50 using a multistage pulley. The rotation of the three-phase motor 30 is decelerated to a rotational speed (one rotation / day) that rotates half a day by a speed reducer configured by using one or more multi-stage pulleys. In the illustrated example, a three-phase motor of 1400 revolutions per minute is used, four multi-stage pulleys composed of a combination of a 25 mm V pulley 33 attached to the motor rotating portion, a 600 mm V pulley 40 and a 25 mm V pulley 41, and the first support column 10. A 152 mm V pulley 42 is attached to each other, and the opposite pulley is connected and interlocked by a V belt 43 (indicated by a thick line in the figure. Actually, it is entangled between the V pulleys), and is decelerated to a target rotational speed. It should be noted that the target rotational speed can be obtained by another combination of multi-stage pulleys.

  The speed reducer 50 using the three-phase motor 30 and the multi-stage pulley is placed in a single box at a position that does not hinder the movement of the second column on the base. Of course, you may arrange | position a reduction gear and a motor under the raised base surface.

  When installing a plurality of photovoltaic power generation apparatuses according to the present invention side by side, a separate pulley is attached to the first support column 10 and connected and interlocked with a belt or a wire to move the plurality of solar power generation modules all at once. You can also.

  The present invention has been made on the assumption that it is used for a solar power generation device, but can also be applied to other star tracking devices and devices that track an object moving at a constant speed. For example, application to astronomical observation equipment is conceivable.

  Of course, the above-described solar tracking device is one of the embodiments, and the configuration of the device according to the present invention is not limited to this form.

The figure which represented the state which the light-receiving surface of the solar cell module faced the south side about the solar tracking device which concerns on this invention from the east side Figure showing the state of Fig. 1 from the north The figure which represented the state which the light-receiving surface of the solar cell module turned to the east side from the north side about the solar tracking device which concerns on this invention Plan view representing an arched rail Figure of second strut moving rail Structure of the rotating body holding the rail at the lower end of the second column Wiring diagram of three-phase motor and 24-hour timer switch Reducer configuration diagram with multi-stage pulley

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Stand 2 Solar cell module 3 Band iron 4 Base 10 1st support | pillar 11 2nd support | pillar 12 Arm 13 Arm 14 Turnbuckle 20 Rail 21 Drum-shaped rotating body 30 Three-phase motor 31 Three-phase motor rotation part (25 mmV pulley)
32 AC wiring (three-phase)
33a, 33b 24-hour timer switch 40 600mmV pulley 41 25mmV pulley 42 152mmV pulley 43 V belt 50 reducer

Claims (4)

  A pedestal for mounting the solar cell module, a first support column that supports the back surface of the pedestal so that it can rotate at the upper end portion, and a lower end portion that is erected on the base, and is arranged on the base in an arc shape around the support column A rail having the undulations, a second support column rotatably supported at the upper end of the front stand and a lower end movably attached to the front rail, and a drive source for rotating the first support column And the azimuth angle of the gantry is displaced by the rotation of the first support column, and the second support column moves along the preceding rail with the rotation, and the second support column is moved by the undulation of the rail. A solar tracking device that moves the elevation angle of the gantry by moving up and down   The solar tracking device according to claim 1, wherein the second column has a length adjusting mechanism for the column.   Having a three-phase motor as a driving source for rotating the first support and two 24-hour timer switches, and controlling the forward / reverse rotation and driving time of the three-phase motor by the two 24-hour timer switches; The solar tracking device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein   The solar tracking device according to claim 3, wherein the rotation of the drive source is transmitted to the first support column via a speed reducer using at least one multi-stage pulley.

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