JP2011003625A - Condenser and solar battery including the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a condenser which is use properly in a photovoltaic power generation system, and which is compact and for which attitude control is facilitated.SOLUTION: The condenser 10 includes a first transparent electrode 11a and a second transparent electrode 11b with a plurality of micro-electrodes arranged; and a transparent spherical member 13, rotatably carried between the transparent electrodes and comprising a first section which is positively charged and a second section negatively charged. By applying a voltage to at least either the first transparent electrode or the second transparent electrode, the attitude of the transparent spherical member is controlled by the action of the electric field from the electrode, and thereby light beams from different directions can be condensed to a desired position, without having to make the overall condenser operate.

Description

  The present invention relates to a light collecting device, more specifically, a light collecting device suitably used as a light collecting mechanism of a solar power generation device.

  In recent years, solar power generation using solar cells has attracted attention as a power generation system with a low environmental load. As a solar power generation device, a non-condensing fixed type flat plate structure in which solar cell elements are spread without gaps is generally used. However, if the solar cell element is simply disposed, depending on the position of the sun, the amount of light taken into the solar cell element is reduced due to the reflection of sunlight from the surface of the solar cell element. In addition, high efficiency solar cell elements are very expensive, and since it is difficult to manufacture a large solar cell element, sunlight is concentrated on a relatively small solar cell element, Technologies for increasing the power generation efficiency of battery elements have been proposed.

  For example, by collecting sunlight radiated over a wide area using an optical lens or a reflector, and irradiating a relatively small solar cell element with high energy density sunlight, It has been proposed to increase the generated power. Thereby, while improving the efficiency of a solar cell, reducing the usage-amount of a solar cell element and reducing the price of a solar cell module is proposed by making a solar cell element small.

  On the other hand, the position of the sun changes from moment to moment, but in order for sunlight to be efficiently collected on the solar cell element, it is necessary to track the sun so that it is always received in front. For this reason, a solar cell power generation device with a high concentration factor is generally provided with a mechanism for tracking the sun. (For example, Patent Document 1)

JP-A-11-53914

  However, the conventional high-concentration magnification solar cell power generation device has a very large condensing device such as a condensing lens or a reflecting mirror, and the concentrating device used for solar power generation is as the sun moves. It is necessary to control the attitude of the concentrator so that the focal point for concentrating sunlight is the position of the solar cell panel, but in order to control the attitude of the large concentrator, the attitude controller However, there was a problem that a relatively large power was required. In addition, a very precise tracking mechanism is required to move the entire large concentrator and concentrate sunlight on a relatively small solar cell element, and the solar cell power generator is installed outdoors. In general, external forces such as wind often act on the solar cell device, and it is difficult to accurately collect the concentrated sunlight on the solar cell. There was also a point.

  The light collecting device according to the present invention includes a first transparent electrode and a second transparent electrode in which a plurality of microelectrodes are arranged, a first portion positively charged that is rotatably held between the transparent electrodes, A transparent ball-shaped member composed of a negatively charged second portion, and a voltage is applied to at least one of the first transparent electrode and the second transparent electrode to control the posture of the transparent ball-shaped member Thus, the configuration is such that light rays from different directions can be condensed at an arbitrary position. In one aspect of the present invention, the transparent ball-shaped member is made of a transparent resin having a different refractive index for each of the first part and the second part, and a total reflection surface and / or a light refracting surface is formed at the interface. . In another aspect of the present invention, a metal vapor deposition film is formed at the interface between the first portion and the second portion.

  When the condensing device configured as described above is used, it is possible to provide a condensing device that is very small and requires very little electric power for tracking the sun as compared with a conventional condensing device. In addition, since sunlight can be collected without controlling the attitude of the entire tracking device, unlike conventional light collecting devices, it is less affected by wind and can stably collect sunlight. A condensing device that can be provided can be provided. Furthermore, since it is possible to change the location where sunlight is collected by adjusting the voltage applied to the electrodes, it is not necessary to accurately align the tracking system and the photovoltaic power generation element as in the past. A condensing device that can stably collect sunlight can be provided.

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of the light collecting device of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the twist ball in the light collecting device of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a method of controlling spherical particles in the light collecting device of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a sunlight collecting method by the light collecting device of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a sunlight tracking method by the light collecting device of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a conceptual diagram of the entire light collecting device of the present invention.

  Hereinafter, a light collecting device of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the light collecting device 10 according to the present invention includes a first transparent electrode 11a, a second transparent electrode 11b, a transparent resin 12, and a plurality of twists arranged between the transparent electrodes 11a and 11b. It has a ball 13. The plurality of twist balls 13 are preferably arranged in a matrix as shown in FIGS. 4 and 6 described later. As the transparent electrodes 11a and 11b, for example, a conventionally known one such as an indium oxide-based ITO transparent conductive film used for a liquid crystal display element such as a notebook computer or a mobile phone or electronic paper may be used. Moreover, according to the kind of solar cell element used with the condensing apparatus 10 of this invention, you may use the electrode which permeate | transmits the light of the frequency band in which electric power generation of a solar cell element is performed efficiently. As shown in FIG. 1, the transparent electrodes 11 a and 11 b are configured by arranging a plurality of electrodes corresponding to the twist balls 13. With such a configuration, by selecting an electrode to which a voltage is applied, the posture of each twist ball 13 can be controlled as will be described later.

  A gap between the transparent electrodes 11a and 11b and the twist ball 13 is filled with a transparent resin 12, and the transparent resin 12 serves as a binder to bond the twist ball 13. Further, a transparent member such as a protective film or a protective plate may be disposed outside the transparent electrodes 11a and 11b. The transparent member such as the transparent resin 12, the protective film and the protective plate is preferably made of a material having a high light transmittance, such as methacrylic resin, acrylic resin, polycarbonate resin, polyester resin, and vinyl chloride resin. it can. In particular, methacrylic resins are optimal because of their high light transmittance, heat resistance, mechanical properties, and molding processability. Such a methacrylic resin is a resin mainly composed of methyl methacrylate, and preferably has a methyl methacrylate content of 80% by weight or more.

  (Twist Ball) As shown in FIG. 2, the twist ball 13 includes a transparent ball-shaped member rotatably supported in a transparent microcapsule 25. Here, a structure in which spherical particles 20 are included as a transparent ball-like member will be described. A light-transmitting liquid 24 such as silicone oil is filled between the microcapsules 25 and the spherical particles 20, and each spherical particle 20 is freely rotatable in the microcapsule 25. The translucent liquid 24 is not limited to silicone oil as long as the spherical particles can be rotatably supported. In addition, as the translucent liquid 24, it is preferable to use a material having a refractive index close to that of the transparent resin 12 described above and a transparent member such as a protective film or a protective plate. For example, when a methacrylic resin is used for the transparent resin 12 or the like, the silicone oil is preferably used as the translucent liquid 24 because the refractive index of the silicone oil is relatively close to the refractive index of the methacrylic resin. Further, a transparent lubricating film or the like may be used in place of the translucent liquid 24.

  In the spherical particle 20, one hemispherical portion (first portion) is made of a transparent resin 21a, and the other hemispherical portion (second portion) is made of a transparent resin 21b. When the transparent resin 21a and the transparent resin 21b have different refractive indexes as shown in FIG. 2A, the incident sunlight 41 can be totally reflected or refracted at the interface between the transparent resin 21a and the transparent resin 21b. It is. Further, even when the transparent resin 21a and the transparent resin 21b are the same resin as shown in FIG. 2B, the object of the present invention may be achieved by providing a metal vapor deposition surface at the interface and reflecting light.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the spherical particle 20 is charged in a dipole state, for example, one hemisphere portion has a negative charge and the other hemisphere portion has a positive charge. For this reason, by applying a voltage between the transparent electrodes 11a and 11b installed so as to sandwich the twist ball 13, the orientation of the spherical particles 20 can be controlled in various directions depending on the direction of the generated electric field. . As the material constituting the spherical particles 20, it is preferable to use two or more materials having high transparency and different refractive indexes, and conventionally known transparent conductive resins and the like can be used. For example, a hemispherical portion is composed of a positively charged transparent resin material having an amino group derived from a quaternary ammonium salt, and the other hemispherical portion is composed of a negatively charged resin material having a carboxylic acid or a fluorine atom. The spherical particles 20 may be configured. Moreover, magnet powder, metal powder, etc. may be mixed in transparent resin, and you may comprise so that each hemisphere part may have an electric charge. The spherical particles 20 do not have to be completely spherical, and may be substantially spherical, substantially elliptical such as rugby ball or spindle, or polyhedral.

  Below, the condensing effect | action of the condensing device based on this invention is demonstrated. When no voltage is applied as shown in FIG. 3A, each spherical particle 20 is in a state of being freely rotatable in the microcapsule 25. For example, as shown in FIG. When a voltage is applied so that an electric field is generated in a direction from directly above to directly below, the spherical particle 20 has its positively charged hemisphere side facing the same direction as the electric field, that is, the positively charged hemisphere side is directed downward and negative. The hemisphere is charged and rotated so that the hemisphere side faces upward. Further, as shown in FIG. 3 (c), when a voltage is applied so that an electric field is generated in a direction inclined from a direction perpendicular to the plane of the device through the center of the spherical particle 20, the spherical particle 20 is positively charged. It is rotated and fixed so that the hemisphere side faces the same direction as the electric field.

  When the direction of the spherical particles 20 is fixed in an arbitrary direction by applying a voltage between the transparent electrodes 11a and 11b, the light reflecting surfaces 22 or the light refracting surfaces 23 formed in the spherical particles 20 at the same time. The direction also rotates and can be fixed in a predetermined direction.

  When sunlight enters the light reflecting surface 22 or the light refracting surface 23 fixed in a predetermined direction, the traveling direction of light is bent in a predetermined direction depending on the direction of the light reflecting surface 22 or the light refracting surface 23. Thus, by controlling the direction of the spherical particles 20 by applying a voltage, it is possible to arbitrarily control the traveling direction of sunlight incident on the spherical particles.

  In this condensing device 10, since each spherical particle 20 is disposed between the transparent electrodes 11a and 11b facing each other, the direction of each spherical particle 20 can be arbitrarily determined by controlling the electric field generated between the transparent electrodes. Can be controlled.

  In other words, by optimally controlling the orientation of each spherical particle 20, the sunlight 41 can be condensed at an arbitrary position as the entire light collecting device 10. Further, since the spherical particles 20 have a characteristic of maintaining the direction at the time of voltage application for a long time even after the voltage application is stopped, the sunlight 41 can be continuously collected at a certain position. .

  Further, by applying the voltage again, the orientation of each spherical particle 20, that is, the condensing position can be changed, and the orientation of each spherical particle 20 corresponds to the position of the sun 60 that changes from moment to moment. 60 can be accurately tracked.

  FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating how sunlight is collected by the light collecting device 10. The orientation of each spherical particle 20 is determined by the respective positions so that sunlight incident on each spherical particle 20 is directed to the solar battery cell 40 by total reflection or refraction. The sunlight 41 whose traveling direction is bent by each spherical particle 20 is collected on the solar battery cell 40 as a whole.

  FIG. 5A is a conceptual diagram showing the orientation of the spherical particles 20 and the traveling direction of light when sunlight 41 is incident on the light collecting apparatus 10 at an angle of 45 °. Sunlight 41 is totally reflected by the light reflecting surface 22 of each spherical particle 20 at each position, passes through the light collector 10, and is collected on the solar battery cell 40.

  FIG. 5B is a conceptual diagram showing the orientation of the spherical particles 20 and the traveling direction of light when the sunlight 41 is incident on the light collecting apparatus 10 at an angle of 90 °. Sunlight 41 is refracted by the light refracting surface 23 of each spherical particle 20 at each position, passes through the light collector 10, and is collected on the solar battery cell 40.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the control of the orientation of each spherical particle 20, that is, the control of the applied voltage between the transparent electrodes 11 a and 11 b is performed by the controller 62. The orientation of each spherical particle 20 may be determined by detecting the position of the sun 60 by the sunlight sensor 63 or the like, and also from the position of the sun calculated from the installation position (latitude, longitude) and date / time of the solar cell. You may decide.

  In addition, the condensing apparatus which concerns on this invention is not limited to the above-mentioned description, A various change may be added in the range which does not deviate from this invention.

10 Condenser 11a Transparent electrode 11b Transparent electrode 12 Transparent resin 13 Twist ball 20 Spherical particle 21a Transparent resin (n1)
21b Transparent resin (n2)
22 Light reflecting surface 23 Light refracting surface 24 Translucent liquid 25 such as silicone oil Microcapsule 40 Cell 41 Sunlight 60 Sun61 Condensed light 62 Control device 63 Sunlight sensor 70 Conventional tracking light collecting device

Claims (4)

A concentrator,
A first transparent electrode and a second transparent electrode in which a plurality of microelectrodes are arranged;
A transparent ball-shaped member that is rotatably held between the transparent electrodes and includes a positively charged first portion and a negatively charged second portion, and includes the first transparent electrode and the second at least A condensing device capable of condensing light rays from different directions at arbitrary positions by applying a voltage to one transparent electrode and controlling the posture of the transparent ball-shaped member. The condensing device according to claim 1, wherein the first portion and the second portion are made of transparent resins having different refractive indexes.   2. The light collecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transparent ball-shaped member has a total reflection surface formed between the first part and the second part. The concentrating device according to claim 1, wherein the concentrating device condenses sunlight at the arbitrary position, and the attitude of the transparent ball-shaped member is controlled according to the position of the sun. A light collecting device.