JP2007132730A - Pyrheliometer having photo catalyst layer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a pyrheliometer that is less likely to have observation errors generated, even if the pyrheliometer is installed in an outdoor space, or the like over a long term, and that reduces the number of maintenance times. <P>SOLUTION: The pyrheliometer comprises a substrate, a sensor arranged on the substrate, a diffusion plate arranged on the sensor, and a glass dome that is positioned on the diffusion plate and covers the substrate, the sensor, and the diffusion plate. In this case, a photocatalyst, which is hydrophilized according to photoexcitation, is provided on the surface of the glass dome. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an improved pyranometer having a glass dome, and more particularly to a pyranometer having a photocatalytic layer provided on the glass dome.

  The pyranometer is a measuring instrument in which sunlight rays that have passed through a glass dome provided on the top thereof are incident on the sensing part and the thermal energy is converted into a voltage. This pyranometer is known to have very large spectral and observation errors when the solar light distribution and the spectral characteristics of the sensor do not match, particularly when a thermal sensor is used.

  For the purpose of eliminating spectral errors, a pyranometer using at least two quantum sensors instead of a thermal sensor and having different photosensitive wavelength ranges is disclosed (for example, see Patent Document 1).

  However, pyranometers are often installed outdoors and are often used for observation. Therefore, it is always exposed to rain and wind, and dirt is deposited on the surface of the glass dome. In this case, since the light transmittance of the glass dome is reduced and the sensitivity of the pyranometer is reduced, it is difficult to solve the observation error problem of the pyranometer only by using at least two quantum sensors.

In addition, pyranometers used in weather observation devices are often installed in places where maintenance is difficult, such as mountains and rooftops of buildings. In addition, automation and unmanned observations have progressed, and it is required to reduce the number of maintenance of the pyranometer.
JP 2002-54627 A

  An object of the present invention is to provide a pyranometer that is less likely to cause observation errors even when installed outdoors for a long period of time and that has a reduced number of maintenance.

  Therefore, the present inventors diligently studied a pyranometer that is unlikely to cause an observation error, and obtained the knowledge that the above problem can be solved by providing a photocatalyst layer on the glass dome of the pyranometer. The present invention has been completed.

  That is, in the present invention, the substrate, the sensor disposed on the substrate, the diffusion plate disposed on the sensor, and the diffusion plate are located on the substrate, covering the substrate, the sensor, and the diffusion plate. A solar radiation meter comprising a glass dome, wherein a photocatalytic layer that becomes hydrophilic in response to photoexcitation is provided on a surface of the glass dome, that is, a surface in contact with the outside.

  According to such a configuration, the dirt attached to the pyranometer glass dome is decomposed by the action of the photocatalyst, and is then washed away by rain, wind, or the like, so that the sensitivity of the pyranometer is less likely to occur.

In a preferred embodiment of the solar radiation meter according to the present invention, the photocatalyst layer is hydrophilic selected from the group consisting of TiO ₂ , ZnO, SrTiO ₃ , WO ₃ , Bi ₂ O ₃ , Fe ₂ O ₃ , SnO ₂ and SiO _2. Contains sexual materials.

  By using such a photocatalyst layer, it becomes possible to accelerate the decomposition of dirt adhering to the surface of the glass dome.

  In a preferred embodiment of the solar radiation meter according to the present invention, the solar radiation meter is a spectroscopic solar radiation meter, an ultraviolet radiometer, an infrared radiometer, an infrared radiometer using a silicon dome, a rotary solarimeter, a direct solar radiation meter, or a solar cell. It is selected from the group consisting of a solar radiation meter, a radiation balance meter, and a temperature and humidity meter with a radiation shield.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, even if it installs outdoors for a long period of time, the pyranometer with few observation errors is provided. Moreover, according to this invention, the frequency | count of a maintenance of the pyranometer installed in the unmanned observation place can also be reduced.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The following embodiment is an example for explaining the present invention, and is not intended to limit the present invention only to this embodiment. The present invention can be implemented in various forms without departing from the gist thereof.

  FIG. 1 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a pyranometer in one embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the pyranometer 10 according to the present invention includes a substrate 20, a sensor 30 disposed on the substrate 20, a filter 40 disposed on the sensor 30, and the filter 40. A diffusion plate 50 disposed on the glass dome, a glass dome 60 disposed so as to cover the substrate 20, the sensor 30, the filter 40, and the diffusion plate 50, and a surface of the glass dome. A photocatalyst layer 70.

  The material of the substrate 10 used in the present invention is not particularly limited, but is preferably composed of glass, plastic, or the like that does not generate deformation due to heat.

  Examples of the sensor 30 used in the present invention include a thermal sensor, a silicon (Si) sensor, and a quantum type sensor such as InGaAs or GaAsP. In particular, as a sensor, a quantum Si diode that is an optoelectronic element, has little change with time, and has high conversion efficiency into an electric signal is suitable. Further, if necessary, the photosensitive wavelength can be selected via the filter 40. Specific examples of the filter 40 used in the present invention include a cut-off filter or a filter that limits a transmitted wavelength range.

  The diffusion plate 50 used in the present invention is a light receiving surface that receives light such as sunlight. Due to the presence of the diffusion plate, the structure satisfies the azimuth characteristics (oblique incident angle characteristics). The material of the diffusing plate 50 used in the present invention is not particularly limited as long as it satisfies the angle characteristics of the pyranometer 10 according to the present invention, but is preferably made of Teflon (registered trademark).

  The glass dome 60 used in the present invention is provided on its surface with a photocatalytic layer that becomes hydrophilic in response to photoexcitation. In this way, on the hydrophilic surface, the adhered dirt is washed away by rain or the like, and the surface of the glass dome 60 is cleaned. Therefore, even if the pyrometer according to the present invention is installed outdoors for a long period of time, even if the surface of the glass dome is soiled by mud, sand, or organic matter, the photocatalyst layer is made hydrophilic according to photoexcitation and provided on the glass dome. As a result, the dirt on the glass dome is decomposed or the dirt itself is washed away.

  In the present invention, the degree of hydrophilicity required is such that the water supplied by rain or the like spreads out, and generally the contact angle (water droplet end contact angle) is 10 ° or less, preferably 5 ° or less. More preferably, it is 3 ° or less.

The photocatalytic layer 70 according to the present invention comprises a hydrophilic material selected from the group consisting of TiO ₂ , ZnO, SrTiO ₃ , WO ₃ , Bi ₂ O ₃ , Fe ₂ O ₃ , SnO ₂ and SiO ₂ , in particular TiO _A photocatalytic layer containing ₂ is preferred. Such photocatalyst layer, a method of providing a glass dome surface for use in the solar radiation meter 10, but are not limited to, TiO _2, ZnO described _{above, SrTiO 3, WO 3, Bi} 2 O 3, Fe 2 O 3, SnO ₂ , a method of immersing in a photocatalyst solution containing a material such as SiO ₂ and attaching a photocatalyst layer to the surface of the glass dome and drying it while drying or heating, Etc.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an arithmetic unit in the pyranometer 10 according to the present invention. In many cases, the sensor in the pyranometer according to the present invention outputs the electric power output V, and is converted into a measured quantity, for example, the solar radiation intensity G through the constant K by the arithmetic unit used in the present invention. That is,
G = K * V
It is expressed. The value of K is electrically processed in the pyranometer or the arithmetic unit, and the measured quantity is directly displayed or recorded in each unit.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the output voltage from the sensor 20 is sent via a connector 80 to an arithmetic device 90 composed of a CPU and a memory, and the arithmetic unit in the device follows a predetermined calculation method. The solar radiation intensity can be calculated. In addition, although the aspect which provided the said arithmetic unit in the exterior of the pyranometer was illustrated in FIG. 2, it can be understood easily by those skilled in the art that it can also be provided in the pyranometer. If necessary, the value of the solar radiation intensity obtained by the computing device 90 is displayed on the display means 100 connected to the computing device 90. Specific examples of the display means 1100 used in the present invention are not limited to the following, but include liquid crystal display devices and the like.

  The glass dome 60 provided with the photocatalyst layer 70 used in the solar radiation meter 10 according to the present invention can be applied to a sensor light receiving surface covered with a glass dome or a glass tube, as well as a spectroscopic solar radiation meter, an ultraviolet radiometer, an infrared solar radiation. It can be applied to totals. Moreover, as a specific example of the pyranometer provided with the glass dome 60 provided with the photocatalyst layer 70 according to the present invention, it can also be applied to a rotary irradiometer and a direct solar radiation meter. Furthermore, the photocatalyst layer 70 according to the present invention is also applicable to a solar cell solar radiation meter provided with a glass tube or a glass cover. Other application examples include weather observation equipment such as an infrared radiometer using a silicon dome, a radiation balance meter, and a temperature shield with a radiation shield.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, even if it installs outdoors for a long period of time, the pyranometer with few observation errors is provided. Moreover, according to this invention, the frequency | count of a maintenance of the pyranometer installed in the unmanned observation place can also be reduced.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a pyranometer in one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an arithmetic unit in the pyranometer 10 according to the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

10: pyranometer according to the present invention, 20: substrate, 30: sensor, 40: filter, 50: diffusion plate, 60: glass dome, 70: photocatalyst layer, 80: connector, 90: arithmetic device, 100: display means

Claims (3)

A substrate,
A sensor disposed on the substrate;
A diffuser disposed on the sensor;
A pyranometer located on the diffuser plate and comprising a glass dome covering the substrate, the sensor and the diffuser plate,
A photometer, wherein a photocatalytic layer that becomes hydrophilic in response to photoexcitation is provided on the surface of the glass dome. The photocatalyst layer _{comprises TiO 2, ZnO, SrTiO 3,} WO 3, Bi 2 O 3, Fe 2 O 3, the hydrophilic material selected from the group consisting of SnO ₂ and SiO _2, of claim 1 Pyranometer. The above-mentioned pyranometers are spectrophotometers, ultraviolet radiometers, infrared radiometers, infrared radiometers using silicon domes, rotary solarimeters, direct solar radiation meters, solar cell solar radiation meters, radiation balance meters, and radiation shields. The pyranometer of Claim 1 or 2 selected from the group which consists of a thermo-hygrometer.

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