JP2005216964A - Solar battery module - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a solar battery module which has a simple and inexpensive mechanism for melting snow, to solve the problem wherein snowing on a solar battery module installed on the roof of a building prevents light from reaching the battery module, resulting in making the battery module incapable of generating power. <P>SOLUTION: The solar battery module to be provided is formed by fitting a frame on the outer periphery of a solar battery panel. Heaters are arranged inside the frame, where the heaters are supplied with commercial power to melt snow covering the frame. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a solar cell module, and more particularly to a solar cell module having a snow melting function.

  The solar cell element is manufactured using, for example, a single crystal silicon substrate or a polycrystalline silicon substrate. Therefore, the solar cell element is vulnerable to physical impact, and when the solar cell element is attached outdoors, it is necessary to protect it from rain.

  Furthermore, since the electric output generated by one solar cell element is small, it is necessary to connect a plurality of solar cell elements in series and parallel so that a practical electric output can be taken out. Therefore, a plurality of solar cell elements are connected, and the solar cell elements are sealed with a light-transmitting substrate and a filler mainly composed of ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA) to produce a solar cell panel. Usually, a solar cell module is produced by fixing a frame around a battery panel.

  Such a frame is made of a metal material such as aluminum to ensure the mechanical strength and weather resistance required for the solar cell module, and the frame and solar cell panel for installing the solar cell module outdoors. It is also used to connect and fix between.

  For example, such solar cell modules are often used side by side on the roof of a building such as a general house. If the solar cell module installed on the roof of this building is covered with snow in the winter, there is a problem that light does not reach the solar cell module and cannot generate power.

  In addition, in order to prevent deformation and breakage of the solar cell module due to snow accumulation, it is necessary to increase the mechanical strength of the solar cell module and the frame on which the solar cell module is installed, which increases the cost. .

For this reason, it has been devised to apply a bias voltage to the solar cell module to heat the solar cell element, thereby melting the snow on the solar cell module. (For example, see Patent Document 1)
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-271860

However, in the method of applying a bias voltage to the solar cell elements in the above-described solar cell module by external power and heating the solar cell element, thereby melting the snow on the solar cell module, an AC voltage that is commercial power is applied. Since it is necessary to convert it to a DC voltage, there is a problem that the device becomes complicated and expensive.

  In addition, this method has a problem that the translucent substrate and the filler of the solar cell panel are inefficient because heat is not easily transmitted.

  Furthermore, the snow melted by the heat generation of the solar cell element becomes water, flows on the surface of the solar cell module, enters the gap between the solar cell panel and the frame, freezes and expands in this gap, and the frame and The solar cell panel may be deformed or damaged.

  The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and an object thereof is to provide a solar cell module having a snow melting function of a simple and inexpensive mechanism.

  Another object of the present invention is to prevent deformation and breakage of the solar cell module by preventing freezing of water that has entered the gap between the solar cell panel and the frame.

  The solar cell module of the present invention is a solar cell module in which a frame is attached to the outer periphery of a solar cell panel, and a heater is provided inside the frame.

  In another solar cell module of the present invention, the heater has an elongated shape.

  In addition, another solar cell module of the present invention is characterized in that an elongate holding portion for holding the heater is provided inside the frame.

  Furthermore, another solar cell module of the present invention is characterized in that the heater is disposed only on one side of the solar cell panel.

  According to the solar cell module of the present invention, a solar cell module in which a frame is attached to the outer peripheral portion of the solar cell panel, and by providing a heater inside the frame, the heater is brought to an appropriate voltage. Snow on the frame can be melted by connecting to controlled commercial power.

  The voltage connected to the heater can be AC, so there is no need to convert AC of commercial power into DC, and the apparatus can be simple and inexpensive.

  In addition, since the heater is provided inside the frame, the heater can be protected from rain, snow, wind, sunlight, etc., and its durability performance is improved.

  Moreover, since the frame is made of a metal such as aluminum or stainless steel, it has a good thermal conductivity and is efficient.

  In addition, according to another solar cell module of the present invention, since the heater has an elongated shape, it is possible to quickly melt snow accumulated on the solar cell module.

  Moreover, according to another solar cell module of the present invention, the elongated heater can be reliably held by providing the elongated holding portion for holding the heater inside the frame. The reliability of the solar cell module can be increased.

  Furthermore, according to another solar cell module of the present invention, the solar cell module is attached to an inclined roof such as a general house by arranging the heater only on one side of the solar cell panel. In this case, only the frame located below the slope of the solar cell module is a frame provided with this heater, thereby preventing freezing of water that has entered the gap between the solar cell panel and the frame, The deformation and breakage of the solar cell module can be prevented, and snow can be urged by melting snow on the lower side (eave side) of the roof slope, and power consumption can be further reduced.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view showing the structure of a solar cell panel of a solar cell module according to the present invention.

  In the figure, 1 is a translucent member, 2 is a light receiving surface side filler, 3 is a solar cell element, 4 is a back surface side filler, 5 is a back member, and 6 is a connection tab.

  As the translucent substrate 1, a substrate made of a synthetic resin material such as a glass material or a polycarbonate resin is used.

  As for the glass plate, white plate glass, tempered glass, double tempered glass, heat ray reflective glass and the like are used. Generally, a white plate tempered glass having a thickness of about 3 mm to 5 mm is used.

  On the other hand, when a substrate made of a synthetic resin material such as polycarbonate resin is used, a substrate having a thickness of about 5 mm is often used.

  The light-receiving surface side sealing material 2 and the back surface side sealing material 4 are made of an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (hereinafter, this ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer is abbreviated as EVA), and has a thickness of 0.4 to 1 mm. About a sheet-like form is used.

  The light-receiving surface side sealing material 2 and the back surface side sealing material 4 are fused and integrated with other members by heating and pressurizing under a reduced pressure with a laminating apparatus.

  EVA may contain titanium oxide, pigment, etc., and may be colored white. However, in the light-receiving surface side sealing material 2 according to the present invention, the amount of light incident on the solar cell element 3 is reduced by being colored, and the power generation efficiency tends to be reduced. It is desirable to

  Moreover, EVA used for the back surface side sealing material 4 may be either transparent or colored. When coloring, a titanium oxide, a pigment, etc. are contained according to the installation environment around a solar cell module, and it is colored white.

  The solar cell element 3 is made of single crystal silicon or a polycrystalline silicon substrate having a thickness of about 0.3 to 0.4 mm as described above.

  A PN junction is formed inside such a silicon substrate, electrodes are provided on the light receiving surface and the back surface, and an antireflection film is provided on the light receiving surface.

  As for the size of the solar cell element 3, if it is a polycrystalline silicon solar cell, the size of one side is about 100 to 150 mm in many cases.

  For example, when connecting in series, the connection tab 6 electrically connects the electrodes on the light receiving surface side and the electrodes on the back surface side of the adjacent solar cell elements 3 alternately. Usually, a copper foil having a thickness of about 0.1 mm to 0.3 mm and a width of about 2 mm, which is solder-coated, is cut into a predetermined length and soldered to the electrode of the solar cell element 3 for use.

  For the back member 5, a fluorine resin sheet having weather resistance in which an aluminum foil is sandwiched so as not to transmit moisture, a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) sheet having alumina or silica deposited thereon, or the like is used.

  In manufacturing the solar cell module, the light receiving surface side filler 2 is placed on the translucent member 1. The solar cell element 3 connected by the connection tab 6 is placed on the light receiving surface side filler 2, and the back surface side filler 4 and the back member 5 are sequentially laminated thereon. In such a state, it is set on a laminator and heated at 100 to 200 ° C., for example, for 15 minutes to 1 hour while being pressed under reduced pressure to integrate them to produce a solar cell panel.

  FIG. 2 is a plan view showing an example of the appearance on the light receiving surface side of the solar cell module according to the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically showing a state in which a heater is installed in the frame of the solar cell module according to the present invention. is there.

  In FIG. 2, 10 is a solar cell panel, 11 is a frame body, 12 a, 12 b, 12 c, and 12 d are heaters arranged inside the frame body 11.

  In FIG. 3, 12 is a heater, and 30 is a clasp for fixing the heater 12 to the frame.

  As shown in FIG. 2, one heater is installed in the approximate center of each of the four frames of the solar cell module 10.

  These heaters 12a, 12b, 12c, and 12d are formed by forming a heating element such as a nickel alloy resistance wire to a diameter of about 1 to 3 mm using an insulating material such as silicon rubber.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the heater 12 is being fixed to the side wall of the frame 11 with the four clasps as an example.

  In addition, for example, a heater ON / OFF switch is provided in a building where a solar cell module is installed (not shown), and when snow accumulates on the solar cell module, the heater switch is pressed and the heater 12 generates heat. Heat is transmitted through the metal frame, raising the temperature of the entire solar cell module and melting snow.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example in which the shape of the heater of the solar cell module according to the present invention is an elongated shape, and FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing an example of a corner portion of the solar cell module according to the present invention. The state of a panel and a frame is shown.

  In FIG. 4, elongated heaters 12 a, 12 b, 12 c, and 12 d are arranged in a holding portion that holds the heater inside the frame 11 according to the present invention.

  In FIG. 5, 15 is a frame, 16 is a frame attached to the other side, 17 is a solar cell panel, 18a and 18b are screw holes, 19 is a frame through hole, 20 is a screw (or screw), and 21 is an elongated shape. The holding portion 22 is an opening for leading out the heater wire.

  The frame 15 and the frame 16 attached to the other side are made of a metal material such as aluminum or stainless steel in consideration of the strength required for the solar cell module. For example, it is made by extrusion molding of an aluminum metal material. And the frame through-hole 19 and the opening part 21 for heater wire derivation | leading-out are produced by machining. Further, it is desirable that the surface of the frame 15 and the frame 16 attached to the other side is subjected to anodizing, clear coating, or the like in order to improve the weather resistance.

  The solar cell panel 17 has the above-described structure, and is fitted into a U-shaped fitting portion provided on the frame body 15 and the frame body 16.

  Regarding the frame body 15 and the frame body 16, the solar cell panel 17 is fitted into a predetermined position and then brought into contact with each other at its end portion, and this portion is fixed by the screw 20. This screwing is performed by aligning the frame through hole 19 provided in the frame 15 with the screw holes 18 a and 18 b provided in the frame 16, and fastening with the screw 20.

  Furthermore, in the frame body 15 according to the present invention, an elongated holding portion 21 is provided. The elongated holding portion 21 is provided so as to penetrate the frame body in the longitudinal direction of the frame body.

  The size of the elongated holding portion 21 is made about 1 to 3 mm larger than that of the elongated shape used in the diameter.

  Such a long and narrow holding portion 21 can be manufactured by machining. However, it is possible to manufacture the frame 15 by extrusion molding of aluminum as described above, depending on the mold at the time of extrusion molding. A hole penetrating from end to end of the frame body such as the holding portion 21 is desirable because it can be easily produced.

  The elongated heater described above is inserted into the elongated holding portion 21. Furthermore, the heater lead wire is taken out of the frame 15 through the heater wire lead-out opening 22 and connected to external commercial power or the like.

  If such a long and narrow holding portion 21 is made as close as possible to the solar cell panel of the frame 15, heat from the elongated heater is less dissipated in the frame and more in the solar cell panel. It is efficient because it is transmitted.

  Further, in the frame having screw holes 18a and 18b, the screw holes 18a and 18b are formed from the end to the end of the frame. However, the screw 20 at the end is screwed into the portion used as the screw hole. It is also possible to insert a long and narrow heater into a portion other than the screw 20 to be screwed in. In this case, it is possible to provide two notches by machining in a portion other than the screw 20 of the screw holes 18a and 18b to be screwed, and insert an elongated heater from this portion.

  By providing a heater inside the frame of the solar cell module as in the above example, it is possible to melt snow on the frame by connecting the heater to commercial power controlled to an appropriate voltage during snowfall. .

  The amount of heat output from the heater, the voltage to be applied, and the like may be optimally determined in consideration of the size of the solar cell module and the winter temperature at the installation location.

  Furthermore, since the frame is made of a metal such as aluminum or stainless steel, it has good heat conduction, so that it is possible to efficiently melt snow on the solar cell panel.

  Said heater can be comprised about the frame of each outer peripheral part side of a solar cell module.

  Moreover, by making the shape of the heater elongated and arranging this elongated heater along the outer periphery of the solar cell module, the entire solar cell module can be heated in a short time, and the volume on the solar cell module is increased. The snow can be melted quickly.

  Furthermore, if a long and narrow holding portion for holding the heater is provided on the frame of the outer peripheral portion of the solar cell module, the reliability of the solar cell module can be improved even when the heater is used for a long period of time.

  It is also possible to produce a solar cell module in which the frame provided with this heater is provided on only one side of the solar cell panel and a conventional frame is attached to the other side.

  Thus, the frame provided with the heater is provided only on one side of the solar cell panel, and the other side is provided with the conventional solar cell module with a frame on the inclined roof of a general house or the like. When the solar cell module is attached to the solar cell module, the solar cell module and the frame are arranged by arranging the solar cell module so that the frame located on the lower side (eave side) of the solar cell module is a frame provided with this heater. By preventing freezing of water that has entered the gaps of the solar cell module, it is possible to prevent deformation and breakage of the solar cell module and to promote snow sliding by melting the snow on the lower side of the roof (eave side). This makes it possible to effectively melt and remove snow with less power.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, Many corrections and changes can be added to the said embodiment within the scope of the present invention. For example, the solar cell element is not limited to a crystalline solar cell such as a single crystal or polycrystalline silicon, but can be applied to a solar cell module using a thin film solar cell element or the like.

  Furthermore, not only square or rectangular solar cell modules but also trapezoidal or triangular solar cell modules can be applied to solar cell modules having a frame.

The structure of the solar cell panel which concerns on this invention is shown. It is a figure which shows an example of the external appearance by the side of the light-receiving surface of the solar cell module which concerns on this invention. It is a figure which shows an example which installed the heater in the frame of the solar cell module which concerns on this invention. It is a figure which shows the example whose shape of the heater of the solar cell module which concerns on this invention is an elongate shape. It is a perspective view which shows an example of the corner | angular part of the solar cell module which concerns on this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1; Translucent member 2; Light-receiving surface side filler 3; Solar cell element 4; Back surface side filler 5; Back member 6; Connection tabs 10, 17; Solar cell panels 11, 15, 16; 12b, 12c, 12d; Elongated shapes 18a, 18b; Screw holes 19; Frame through holes 20; Screws 21; Elongated holding portions 22; Heater wire outlet openings 30;

Claims (4)

A solar cell module in which a frame is attached to an outer peripheral portion of a solar cell panel, wherein a heater is provided inside the frame. The solar cell module according to claim 1, wherein the heater has an elongated shape. The solar cell module according to claim 2, further comprising an elongated holding portion for holding the heater inside the frame. The solar cell module according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the heater is disposed only on any one side of the solar cell panel.

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