JP2012079607A - Dryer and drying method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent a photoelectric conversion element from being deteriorated due to water.SOLUTION: An absorbent 302 is provided between a photoelectric conversion element 301 and an external container 303, and a sensor 304 is provided in a part of the absorbent 302. A sensor 305 is provided on an outer side face of the external container 303. A shutter 306 is provided on a side face of the external container 303. The dryer is configured so that airtightness within the external container 303 is kept while the shutter 306 is closed. On the other hand outer, air comes into the external container 303 when the shutter 306 is opened. When difference of humidity between the sensor 304 and the sensor 305 exceeds a prescribed threshold, the shutter 306 is opened to introduce the outer air so that the absorbent 302 is reproduced. This invention is applicable to a dye-sensitized photoelectric conversion element.

Description

  The present invention relates to a drying apparatus and method, and more particularly, to a drying apparatus and method capable of preventing deterioration of a photoelectric exchange element.

  Solar cells, which are photoelectric conversion elements that convert sunlight into electrical energy, use sunlight as an energy source, and therefore have very little influence on the global environment, and are expected to become more widespread. Conventionally, crystalline silicon solar cells using single crystal or polycrystalline silicon and amorphous silicon solar cells are mainly used as solar cells.

  On the other hand, the dye-sensitized solar cell proposed by Gretzell et al. In 1991 can obtain high photoelectric conversion efficiency, and unlike a conventional silicon-based solar cell, it does not require a large-scale device for production, and has a low It is attracting attention because it can be manufactured at low cost.

  The general structure of this dye-sensitized solar cell includes a dye-sensitized porous semiconductor layer in which a photosensitizing dye is supported on a porous semiconductor layer such as titanium oxide formed on a transparent conductive substrate, a platinum layer, etc. The outer electrode is sealed with a sealing material, and an electrolyte containing oxidation / reduction species such as iodine and iodide ions is filled between both electrodes. is there.

  Not only dye-sensitized solar cells but also solar cells deteriorate when moisture enters them. In Patent Document 1, a hygroscopic agent is enclosed in an external container that encloses a solar cell. In other words, the hygroscopic agent is obtained by enclosing the solar cell and the hygroscopic agent in the external container. It is proposed to absorb moisture and prevent moisture from entering the solar cell. Further, Patent Document 2 proposes that a hygroscopic agent is regenerated by placing the hygroscopic agent in a sealed container and heating the hygroscopic agent with a heater.

JP 2005-174713 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-201641

  However, according to Patent Document 1, since there is no means for regenerating the hygroscopic agent, the hygroscopic amount of the hygroscopic agent increases with time, and as a result, the hygroscopic performance deteriorates. When the moisture absorption performance deteriorates, it becomes impossible to absorb moisture, water enters the solar cell, and the solar cell cannot be prevented from deteriorating.

  According to Patent Document 2, a heater for regenerating the hygroscopic agent is required, and energization for heating the heater is required. For example, by putting a solar cell in a sealed container to which Patent Document 2 is applied, moisture can be absorbed and water can be prevented from entering the solar cell, but the power for heating the heater is relatively low Since it is large, it is not desirable to require a large amount of electric power while generating power with a solar cell, and it is desired that the moisture absorption effect is efficiently absorbed with power saving and the moisture absorption effect continues.

  This invention is made | formed in view of such a condition, and makes it possible to suppress the water | moisture content which enters in a solar cell.

  The drying device according to one aspect of the present invention is provided with a first container containing a photoelectric conversion element and a hygroscopic agent, a first shutter provided on a side surface of the first container, and an inner side of the container. A first sensor that measures humidity or temperature, and controls opening and closing of the first shutter based on the humidity or temperature measured by the first sensor.

  Control that opens the first shutter when the humidity or temperature measured by the first sensor is greater than or equal to a threshold value, and closes the opened first shutter when the humidity or temperature is less than or equal to the threshold value. Can be done.

  A second sensor that is provided outside the first container and measures humidity or temperature, and further includes a difference value of the humidity or temperature measured by each of the first sensor and the second sensor. However, when the value is equal to or greater than the threshold value, the first shutter is opened, and when the value is equal to or less than the threshold value, the opened first shutter may be closed.

  A second container enclosing the first container; and a second shutter provided on a side surface of the second container; and based on the humidity or the temperature measured by the first sensor. The opening and closing of the first shutter and the second shutter can be controlled.

  The air in the space provided between the first container and the second container is further provided with a heat absorption part for heating by absorbing sunlight, and the air heated by the heat absorption part is The opening and closing of the first shutter can be controlled based on the humidity or the temperature measured by the first sensor so as to be supplied to the hygroscopic agent.

  When the humidity or temperature measured by the first sensor is equal to or higher than a threshold value, the first shutter is closed and the second shutter is opened. When the humidity or temperature is equal to or lower than the threshold value, the first sensor is closed. The first shutter can be opened, and the opened second shutter can be closed.

  A second sensor that is provided outside the second container and measures humidity or temperature, and further includes a difference value of the humidity or temperature measured by each of the first sensor and the second sensor. Is greater than or equal to a threshold value, the first shutter is closed and the second shutter is opened, and when the threshold value is less than or equal to the threshold value, the closed first shutter is opened and the first shutter is opened. It is possible to perform control for closing the shutter No. 2.

  The portion of the second container where the heat absorbing portion is present may be black.

  A condensing lens may be provided in a portion of the second container where the heat absorbing portion is provided.

  The hygroscopic agent can be colored black.

  A drying method according to one aspect of the present invention includes a container containing a photoelectric conversion element and a hygroscopic agent, a shutter provided on a side surface of the container, and a sensor that is provided inside the container and measures humidity or temperature. The drying method of the drying apparatus provided includes a step of controlling opening and closing of the shutter based on the humidity or the temperature measured by the sensor.

  In the drying apparatus and method according to one aspect of the present invention, the container containing the photoelectric conversion element and the hygroscopic agent is provided with a shutter and a sensor for measuring the humidity or temperature of the hygroscopic agent on the side surface, and is measured by the sensor. When the humidity or temperature is higher than a predetermined value, the outside air is introduced by opening the shutter, and the regeneration of the hygroscopic agent is promoted.

  According to one aspect of the present invention, moisture can be prevented from entering a photoelectric conversion element.

  According to one aspect of the present invention, it is possible to maintain the moisture absorption effect with power saving. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the photoelectric conversion element from deteriorating due to the intrusion of moisture into the photoelectric conversion element, and the lifetime of the photoelectric conversion element can be improved.

It is a figure explaining the structure of a photoelectric conversion element. It is a figure explaining the structure of a photoelectric conversion element. It is a figure explaining the structure of a photoelectric conversion element. It is a figure for demonstrating arrangement | positioning of a hygroscopic porous membrane. It is a figure explaining the structure of a photoelectric conversion element. It is a figure which shows the structure of one Embodiment of the external container to which this invention is applied. It is a flowchart for demonstrating control of a shutter. It is a figure which shows the other structure of one Embodiment of the external container to which this invention is applied. It is a flowchart for demonstrating control of a shutter. It is a figure which shows the structure of one Embodiment of the external container to which this invention is applied. It is a figure for demonstrating how to install an external device. It is a flowchart for demonstrating control of a shutter. It is a figure for demonstrating making a part of external device black.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The present invention can be applied to, for example, an external container including a photoelectric exchange element, and the external container includes a hygroscopic agent having a hygroscopic function, and is applied to a drying apparatus having a function of regenerating by drying the hygroscopic agent. it can. First, the photoelectric conversion element contained in such an external container will be described.

[Configuration of photoelectric conversion element]
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a dye-sensitized photoelectric conversion element as a photoelectric conversion element. A photoelectric conversion element 10 shown in FIG. 1 includes a glass 11 with a transparent conductive film, a dye electrode 12, an electrolytic solution 13, a counter electrode 14, and a glass 15 with a transparent conductive film.

  In the glass 11 with a transparent conductive film, a transparent electrode is provided on one main surface of a transparent substrate, and a dye electrode 12 is provided on the transparent electrode. The dye electrode 12 functions as a semiconductor layer. Similarly to the glass 11 with a transparent conductive film, the glass with a transparent conductive film 15 is provided with a transparent conductive layer on one main surface of a transparent substrate, and a counter electrode 14 is provided on the transparent conductive layer. An electrolyte solution 13 is filled between the dye electrode 12 and the counter electrode 14. And the outer peripheral part of the glass 11 with a transparent conductive film and the glass 15 with a transparent conductive film is sealed with the sealing material (not shown).

  The dye electrode 12 as a semiconductor layer typically uses a porous film obtained by sintering semiconductor fine particles, and Z907 and the dye A as photosensitizing dyes are adsorbed on the surface of the semiconductor fine particles. As a material for the semiconductor fine particles, an elemental semiconductor typified by silicon, a compound semiconductor, a semiconductor having a perovskite structure, or the like can be used. These semiconductors are preferably n-type semiconductors in which conduction band electrons become carriers under photoexcitation and generate an anode current.

Specifically, for example, titanium oxide (TiO ₂ ), zinc oxide (ZnO), tungsten oxide (WO ₃ ), niobium oxide (Nb ₂ O ₅ ), strontium titanate (SrTiO ₃ ), tin oxide (SnO ₂ ). Such semiconductors are used. The types of semiconductors are not limited to these, and two or more types of semiconductors can be mixed or combined as needed. Further, the shape of the semiconductor fine particles may be any of granular, tube-like, rod-like and the like.

As the electrolytic solution 13, an electrolytic solution or a gel or solid electrolyte can be used. Examples of the electrolytic solution include a solution containing a redox system (redox _couple ). Specifically, a combination of iodine I ₂ and a metal or organic iodide salt, bromine Br ₂ and a metal or organic bromide salt. A combination with is used. The cations constituting the metal salt are lithium Li ⁺ , sodium Na ⁺ , potassium K ⁺ , cesium Cs ⁺ , magnesium Mg ²⁺ , calcium Ca ²⁺ and the like. Further, as the cation constituting the organic salt, tetraalkylammonium ions, pyridinium ions, imidazolium ions, quaternary ammonium ions, and the like are suitable, and these may be used alone or in combination of two or more. It can be used by mixing.

  In addition to the above, the electrolyte constituting the electrolyte solution 13 includes metal complexes such as a combination of ferrocyanate and ferricyanate, a combination of ferrocene and ferricinium ion, sodium polysulfide, alkylthiol and alkyl A sulfur compound such as a combination with disulfide, a viologen dye, a combination of hydroquinone and quinone, or the like can also be used.

  As the solvent constituting the electrolytic solution, generally, water, alcohols, ethers, esters, carbonate esters, lactones, carboxylic acid esters, phosphate triesters, heterocyclic compounds, nitriles , Ketones, amides, nitromethane, halogenated hydrocarbons, dimethyl sulfoxide, sulfolane, N-methylpyrrolidone, 1,3-dimethylimidazolidinone, 3-methyloxazolidinone, in this dye-sensitized photoelectric conversion element In particular, 3-methoxypropionitrile (MPN), hydrocarbons and the like are used.

  The transparent substrate constituting the glass with transparent conductive film 11 may be of any material and shape that easily transmits light, and various substrate materials can be used, and in particular, a substrate material having a high visible light transmittance is used. It is preferable to use it. In addition, a material that has a high blocking performance for blocking moisture and gas from entering the photoelectric conversion element 10 from the outside and that is excellent in solvent resistance and weather resistance is preferable.

  Specifically, the transparent substrate materials include transparent inorganic materials such as quartz and glass, polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene naphthalate, polycarbonate, polystyrene, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyphenylene sulfide, polyvinylidene fluoride, acetyl cellulose, brominated phenoxy, Transparent plastics such as aramids, polyimides, polystyrenes, polyarylates, polysulfones and polyolefins are used. The thickness in particular of a transparent substrate is not restrict | limited, It can select suitably considering the light transmittance and the performance which interrupts | blocks the inside and outside of the photoelectric conversion element 10. FIG.

A transparent conductive layer is used as the transparent electrode constituting the glass 11 with a transparent conductive film. This transparent conductive layer is more preferable as the sheet resistance is smaller. The material for forming the transparent conductive layer is indium-tin composite oxide (ITO), fluorine-doped tin oxide (IV) SnO ₂ (FTO), tin oxide (IV) SnO ₂ , zinc oxide (II) ZnO, Indium-zinc composite oxide (IZO) or the like is used. However, the material which forms a transparent conductive layer is not limited to these, It can also use combining 2 or more types.

  As a material for the substrate constituting the glass 15 with a transparent conductive film, plastic, ceramic, metal or the like may be used in addition to opaque glass, or a transparent material such as transparent glass or plastic may be used. Moreover, as a transparent conductive layer which comprises the glass 15 with a transparent conductive film, the thing similar to the transparent conductive layer used for the transparent electrode of the glass 11 with a transparent conductive film can be used.

  Any material can be used as the material of the counter electrode 14 as long as it is a conductive substance. However, if a conductive layer is formed on the side of the insulating material facing the electrolyte solution 13, this can also be used. Is possible. As the material of the counter electrode 14, it is preferable to use an electrochemically stable material. Specifically, it is desirable to use platinum, gold, carbon, a conductive polymer, and the like.

  Further, in order to improve the catalytic action for the reduction reaction at the counter electrode 14, a fine structure is formed on the surface of the counter electrode 14 in contact with the electrolytic solution 13 so that the actual surface area is increased. Preferably, for example, platinum is formed in a platinum black state, and carbon is formed in a porous carbon state. Platinum black can be formed by anodization of platinum or chloroplatinic acid treatment, and porous carbon can be formed by a method such as sintering of carbon fine particles or firing of an organic polymer.

[Operation of photoelectric conversion element]
Next, the operation of this photoelectric conversion element will be described. When light enters the photoelectric conversion element 10, it operates as a battery having the counter electrode 14 as a positive electrode and the conductive layer of the glass 11 with a transparent conductive film as a negative electrode. The principle is as follows. Here, it is assumed that FTO is used as the material of the conductive layer of the glass 11 with a transparent conductive film, TiO ₂ is used as the material of the dye electrode 12, and redox species of I ⁻ / I ₃ ⁻ is used as the redox pair. However, the present invention is not limited to this.

  When the photosensitizing dye that couples the photon transmitted through the conductive layer of the glass 11 with transparent conductive film and the dye electrode 12 to the dye electrode 12 is absorbed, the electrons in the photosensitizing dye are excited from the ground state to the excited state. . The electrons in the excited state are drawn out to the conduction band of the dye electrode 12 and reach the conductive layer of the glass 11 with a transparent conductive film through the dye electrode 12.

On the other hand, the dye electrode 12 that has lost electrons receives electrons from the reducing agent in the electrolyte layer 7, such as I ^−, by the following reaction, and oxidants such as I ₃ ⁻ (I ₂ and I ⁻ and A combination of
2I ⁻ → I ₂ + 2e ^{−
_{I 2 + I - → I 3}} -
The oxidant thus generated reaches the counter electrode 14 by diffusion, receives electrons from the counter electrode 14 by the reverse reaction of the above reaction, and is reduced to the original reducing agent.
_{^{I 3 - → I 2 + I}} -
I ₂ + 2e ^- → 2I ^-

  The electrons sent from the conductive layer of the glass 11 with transparent conductive film to the external circuit return to the counter electrode 14 after performing electrical work in the external circuit. In this way, light energy is converted into electrical energy without leaving any change in the photosensitizing dye or the electrolyte solution 13.

[Configuration of photoelectric conversion element having moisture removal function]
As described above, the photoelectric conversion element 10 is configured. As described above, the photoelectric conversion element 10 is sealed with a sealing material (not shown) not shown. Although it is configured so that moisture does not enter the photoelectric conversion element 10 by being sealed, moisture that completely enters the photoelectric conversion element 10 cannot be prevented. When moisture enters the photoelectric conversion element 10, the dye electrode 12 is attacked, and the characteristics may be deteriorated.

  Since the photoelectric conversion element shown below can be configured to remove moisture that has penetrated into the photoelectric conversion element 10, it can prevent the characteristics from deteriorating. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a photoelectric conversion element having a moisture removal function. The basic configuration of the photoelectric conversion element 100 illustrated in FIG. 2 is the same as that of the photoelectric conversion element 10 illustrated in FIG. 1, and the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted as appropriate.

  The photoelectric conversion element 100 shown in FIG. 2 is configured to include a hygroscopic porous film 101 in the electrolytic solution 13. The hygroscopic porous membrane 101 is a membrane having a function of absorbing moisture. The hygroscopic porous membrane 101 is preferably made of a material having a property of selectively capturing only water without taking in an electrolyte component. The hygroscopic porous membrane 101 is a membrane made of, for example, cellulose, zeolite, molecular sieve, silica gel, activated carbon, or the like. The hygroscopic agent constituting the hygroscopic porous membrane 101 is not limited to one type, and may be composed of a plurality of types. In addition, although a film is described here, it may be a layer or a multilayer.

  That is, the photoelectric conversion element 100 is filled with an electrolytic solution between an electrode formed on the glass 11 with a transparent conductive film and an electrode (the dye electrode 12 and the counter electrode 14) formed on the glass 15 with a transparent conductive film. At the same time, an object having a moisture absorption performance composed of a film or a layer is sandwiched.

  Among these materials, for example, cellulose is easy to produce and can prevent a short circuit between electrodes. Therefore, a dehydrated hygroscopic separator (cellulose) can be used as the hygroscopic porous membrane 101. In addition, the molecular sieve can selectively capture only a predetermined component by selecting the size of the pores, and can be used for the hygroscopic porous membrane 101 by using the predetermined component as water. Can do.

  In the photoelectric conversion element 100 shown in FIG. 2, the electrolyte solution 13 is arranged above and below the hygroscopic porous film 101. Is not necessarily required to have a configuration in which the electrolytic solution 13 is disposed above and below the hygroscopic porous membrane 101. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, each of the dye electrode 12 and the counter electrode 14 is in contact with the hygroscopic porous film 101, and the hygroscopic porous film 101 is disposed between the dye electrode 12 and the counter electrode 14. It is also good. Since the hygroscopic porous membrane 101 is filled with the electrolytic solution 13, although not shown in FIG. 3, the hygroscopic porous membrane 101 and the electrolytic solution 13 are arranged at the same position. Yes.

  As shown in FIG. 4A, when the photoelectric conversion element 100 is viewed from above, the hygroscopic porous film 101 has the same area as the dye electrode 12 and the counter electrode 14, and the hygroscopic porous film 101 has the photoelectric conversion element 100. It may be arranged inside. Further, as shown in FIG. 4B, a hygroscopic porous film 101 may be disposed in a part smaller than the area of the dye electrode 12 and the counter electrode 14. In the example shown in FIG. 4B, the hygroscopic porous film 101 is arranged so as to go around the edge portion (inner peripheral portion) of the dye electrode 12. Further, the hygroscopic porous membrane 101 may be arranged in a lattice shape, and the shape and size thereof are not limited.

  However, the hygroscopic porous film 101 is disposed in the photoelectric conversion element 100 in a position, size, and shape that do not deteriorate the function of the electrolytic solution 13.

  In this way, by arranging the hygroscopic porous film 101 that absorbs moisture in the photoelectric conversion element 100, even if moisture enters the photoelectric conversion element 100, the hygroscopic porous film 101 absorbs moisture. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the dye electrode 12 from being attacked by moisture and deteriorating.

  In addition, unlike a configuration in which a hygroscopic agent is provided outside the photoelectric conversion element 100, the hygroscopic agent is included in the photoelectric conversion element 100. Therefore, it is not necessary to provide a space for doing so, and an external container that contains only the photoelectric conversion element 100 can be provided, so that the size can be reduced. Accordingly, a large number of photoelectric conversion elements 100 can be arranged in a small installation space, and the amount of power generation can be improved.

  The applicant conducts an experiment to prove this, and the results are described below. In the experiment, the photoelectric conversion element 10 shown in FIG. 1 was compared with the photoelectric conversion element 100 shown in FIG. As the hygroscopic porous membrane 101, a dehydrated cellulose separator was used. In addition, the photoelectric conversion element 10 and the photoelectric conversion element 100 after the initial activation were each held in a constant temperature and humidity chamber at a temperature of 85 ° C. and a relative humidity of 85% for 400 hours, and power generation characteristics were measured.

The result of the measurement is shown as a deterioration rate. The deterioration rate is calculated by the following formula.
Deterioration rate (%) = {1- (Power generation conversion efficiency after deterioration ÷ Power generation exchange efficiency before deterioration)} × 100
“Power conversion efficiency after degradation” refers to the power generation exchange efficiency of the photoelectric conversion element 10 (photoelectric conversion element 100) after being held in a constant temperature and humidity chamber for 400 hours. "" Refers to the power generation exchange efficiency of the photoelectric conversion element 10 (photoelectric conversion element 100) after the initial activation before being placed in the constant temperature and humidity chamber.

  The deterioration rate of the photoelectric conversion element 10 illustrated in FIG. 1 is 27%, and the deterioration result of the photoelectric conversion element 100 illustrated in FIG. 2 is 23%. It shows that there is so little degradation that the numerical value of a degradation rate is small. Therefore, from such experimental results, it was confirmed that the photoelectric conversion element 100 including the hygroscopic porous film 101 did not deteriorate as compared with the photoelectric conversion element 10 not including the hygroscopic porous film 101.

  In addition, since this experimental result is a result when installing in a comparatively high temperature container of 80 degreeC as above-mentioned, it is thought that it is a result also including degradation by heat. It is considered that deterioration due to heat is the same (no significant difference) between the photoelectric conversion element 100 including the hygroscopic porous film 101 and the photoelectric conversion element 10 not including. Therefore, in consideration of deterioration due to heat, it is further proved that the photoelectric conversion element 100 including the hygroscopic porous film 101 does not deteriorate more than the photoelectric conversion element 10 not including the hygroscopic porous film 101. It can be said that there is.

  For example, if the deterioration due to heat is 20%, 7% and 3% obtained by subtracting the deterioration rate due to heat are the comparison targets. That is, the photoelectric conversion element 10 shown in FIG. 1 is deteriorated by 7% due to the influence of water, whereas the photoelectric conversion element 100 shown in FIG. 2 is only deteriorated by 3% due to the influence of water. . Thus, it becomes possible to prevent degradation of a photoelectric conversion element by setting it as the structure which equips the inside of a photoelectric conversion element with the hygroscopic porous film 101. FIG.

  This experimental result is an example, and it is possible to further prevent deterioration by appropriately designing the material, amount, shape, etc. of the hygroscopic porous membrane 101.

[Other structure of photoelectric conversion element having moisture removing function]
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating another configuration of a photoelectric conversion element having a moisture removal function. The basic configuration of the photoelectric conversion element 200 shown in FIG. 5 is the same as that of the photoelectric conversion element 10 (100) shown in FIG. 1 or FIG. Description is omitted.

  The photoelectric conversion element 200 illustrated in FIG. 5 has a configuration in which the electrolytic solution 13 is a hygroscopic agent-dispersed electrolytic solution 201 including a hygroscopic agent, as compared with the photoelectric conversion element 10 illustrated in FIG. The hygroscopic agent-dispersed electrolytic solution 201 is an electrolytic solution in which a solid (powder) or liquid hygroscopic agent is dispersed and mixed, and is an electrolytic solution in which the hygroscopic agent is diffused. That is, the photoelectric conversion element 200 includes an electrode in which an object having moisture absorption performance is formed on the glass 11 with a transparent conductive film, and an electrode (the dye electrode 12 and the counter electrode 14) formed on the glass 15 with a transparent conductive film. The electrolyte solution is dispersed between and filled with such an electrolyte solution.

  As the hygroscopic agent mixed in the hygroscopic agent dispersed electrolyte 201, as in the hygroscopic porous film 101 of the photoelectric conversion element 100 shown in FIG. 2, only water is selectively captured without taking in the electrolyte component. A material having various properties is used. Specific examples include cellulose, zeolite, molecular sieve, silica gel, activated carbon and the like. One type of hygroscopic agent contained in the hygroscopic agent-dispersed electrolytic solution 201 may be used, or a plurality of types of hygroscopic agents may be used.

  As described above, even when the hygroscopic agent is dissolved in the electrolytic solution, the dissolved hygroscopic agent absorbs moisture that has entered the photoelectric conversion element 200, so that the dye electrode 12 is attacked by moisture and deteriorates. Such a situation can be prevented, and deterioration of the photoelectric conversion element 200 can be prevented.

  In addition, unlike a configuration in which a hygroscopic agent is provided outside the photoelectric conversion element 200, the hygroscopic agent is included in the photoelectric conversion element 200. Therefore, it is not necessary to provide a space for doing so, and an external container that contains only the photoelectric conversion element 200 can be provided, so that downsizing can be achieved. Accordingly, a large number of photoelectric conversion elements 200 can be arranged in a small installation space, and the amount of power generation can be improved.

[Still another configuration of photoelectric conversion element having moisture removal function]
Still another structure of the photoelectric conversion element having a moisture removing function will be described. As still another configuration of the photoelectric conversion element, the electrolytic solution itself may be configured to have an electrolytic solution function and a moisture absorption function. For example, a flame retardant that can be made non-flammable by adding it to the electrolyte at a predetermined ratio can be expected to have an effect of adsorbing moisture in addition to the effect of making it non-flammable. However, such a material may be used instead of the electrolytic solution 13.

  That is, the electrolytic solution 13 itself has a hygroscopic performance, and as an object having such a hygroscopic performance, an electrode formed on the glass 11 with a transparent conductive film and an electrode formed on the glass 15 with a transparent conductive film The photoelectric conversion element may be configured to be filled as an electrolytic solution between the dye electrode 12 and the counter electrode 14.

  In this way, the electrolyte filled between the electrodes contains a solid (film or layer) hygroscopic agent, mixed with a solid or liquid hygroscopic agent, or the electrolyte itself also functions as a hygroscopic agent. By using such an electrolytic solution, a photoelectric conversion element that can prevent deterioration due to moisture can be configured. In addition, a photoelectric conversion element in which useless space is reduced can be manufactured.

  In the above-described embodiment, the configuration of the dye-sensitized photoelectric conversion element has been described as an example of the photoelectric conversion element, but the present invention can also be applied to photoelectric conversion elements other than the dye-sensitized photoelectric conversion element.

[About the first embodiment]
The photoelectric conversion element is installed in a predetermined place in a state where it is protected by being placed in an external container for the purpose of reducing the influence of dust and moisture from the outside. For example, by adopting the configuration of the photoelectric conversion element 100 as shown in FIG. 2 as described above, it is possible to capture moisture entering the photoelectric conversion element 100 and prevent the dye electrode 12 from being attacked. It becomes. However, in order to prevent moisture from entering the photoelectric conversion element 100 itself, the outer container itself that contains the photoelectric conversion element 100 is configured to further prevent moisture from entering which causes the photoelectric conversion element 100 to deteriorate. To do. A description will be given of such an external container.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a configuration of an embodiment of a system including a drying apparatus to which the present invention is applied as an external container. The system illustrated in FIG. 7 includes a photoelectric conversion element 301, a hygroscopic agent 302, an external container 303, a sensor 304, a sensor 305, a shutter 306, and a control unit 320.

  The photoelectric conversion element 301 is one of the photoelectric conversion element 10 shown in FIG. 1, the photoelectric conversion element 100 shown in FIG. 2 (FIG. 3), the photoelectric conversion element 200 shown in FIG. 5, or a combined photoelectric conversion. It is an element. As will be described later, the system including the drying apparatus to which the present invention is applied as an external container is configured to remove moisture that may enter the photoelectric conversion element 301, and thus the photoelectric conversion element 301 itself. It is possible to reduce the amount of moisture that enters the water. Therefore, even if the photoelectric conversion element 301 itself does not have a moisture absorption function, the photoelectric conversion element 301 can be prevented from being deteriorated by moisture. However, if the photoelectric conversion element 301 itself has a moisture absorption function, the photoelectric conversion element 301 can be further reduced by moisture. It becomes possible to prevent the deterioration.

  A hygroscopic agent 302 is installed on the outer peripheral portion of the photoelectric conversion element 301 and on the inner peripheral portion of the outer container 303. As the hygroscopic agent 302, a hygroscopic agent used in the hygroscopic porous membrane 101 or the hygroscopic agent-dispersed electrolytic solution 201 can be used. The hygroscopic agent 302 has a function of capturing moisture, of course, but has a function of releasing the captured moisture when touching dry air, and a function of regenerating. Is preferred.

  A hygroscopic agent 302 is installed between the photoelectric conversion element 301 and the external container 303, and a sensor 304 is installed in a part of the hygroscopic agent 302. In FIG. 6, the sensor 304 is provided on the inner side surface of the outer container 303, but the installation position is between the photoelectric conversion element 301 and the outer container 303, that is, the portion where the hygroscopic agent 302 is installed. Is done. The sensor 304 is a sensor that measures the humidity or temperature of the hygroscopic agent 302 (the space in which the hygroscopic agent 302 is installed).

  A sensor 305 is installed on the outer side surface of the outer container 303. The sensor 305 is a sensor that measures the humidity and temperature outside the external container 303, and may be installed anywhere in the external container 303 as long as the humidity and temperature of the outside air can be measured. The sensor 305 is not limited to the side surface of the outer container 303 and may be installed at a position away from the outer container 303.

  The shutter 306 is provided on the side surface of the outer container 303. When the shutter 306 is closed, airtightness in the outer container 303 is maintained, and when the shutter 306 is opened, outside air enters the outer container 303. The shutter 306 is configured to be opened when the moisture absorbent 302 is dried by taking in outside air. The configuration of the shutter 306 itself is configured to be opened and closed by sliding in the left-right direction in FIG. 6, or configured to be opened and closed by sliding in the up-down direction. The shutter 306 may be configured to be opened and closed by a method other than sliding. As described above, airtightness is maintained when the shutter 306 is closed, and outside air is opened when the shutter 306 is opened. As long as it is configured so that can be introduced.

  Although FIG. 6 shows a configuration in which the outer container 303 is provided with only one shutter 306, a configuration in which two shutters, an intake shutter and an exhaust shutter, may be provided. Of course, any number of shutters other than two may be used.

  Each of the sensor 304, the sensor 305, and the shutter 306 is connected to a control unit 320 configured with a computer or the like. In the control unit 320, the processing described below is executed, whereby the humidity or temperature information from the sensors 304 and 305 is acquired and processed, and the opening and closing of the shutter 306 is controlled based on the acquired information. . The control unit 320 can be used in common with a device having a function of measuring the power generation amount of the photoelectric conversion element 301 and notifying the user.

  Also, a power unit that opens and closes the shutter 306, for example, a motor, is required depending on the configuration of the shutter 306, but power to the power unit (not shown) is supplied from the control unit 320. This power is necessary when the shutter 306 is opened / closed, but large power is not necessary, and for example, power generated by the photoelectric conversion element 301 can be used.

  With reference to the flowchart of FIG. 7, processing related to opening / closing of the shutter 306 of the control unit 320 will be described. As a premise, the control unit 320 acquires humidity or temperature information from the sensor 304 and the sensor 305 constantly or at predetermined intervals. In the following description, the description is continued assuming that the sensor 304 and the sensor 305 are sensors for measuring humidity, but the basic processing is the same even for a sensor for measuring temperature.

  In step S11, it is determined whether or not the humidity difference is equal to or greater than a threshold value. The control unit 320 calculates the difference between the humidity information acquired from the sensor 304 (referred to as the first humidity) and the humidity information acquired from the sensor 305 (referred to as the second humidity), and the difference value is calculated. It is determined whether or not a predetermined threshold value is reached. Here, since the condition is that the first humidity> the second humidity, the difference is calculated by subtracting the second humidity from the first humidity. This is because when the humidity inside the external container 303 becomes higher than the humidity outside the external container 303, the hygroscopic agent 302 is regenerated by flowing outside air having low humidity into the external container 303.

  In step S11, the determination in step S11 is repeated until it is determined that the difference in humidity is equal to or greater than the threshold value. If it is determined in step S11 that the humidity difference is equal to or greater than the threshold, the process proceeds to step S12. In step S12, the shutter 306 is opened. By opening the shutter 306, low-humidity air flows, the hygroscopic agent 302 is dried, and regeneration of the hygroscopic agent 302 is promoted. Therefore, the humidity difference at which regeneration of the hygroscopic agent 302 can be expected is set as the threshold value used in the determination in step S11.

  In step S13, it is determined whether or not the humidity difference has become equal to or less than a threshold value. When the outside air having low humidity flows into the external container 303 and the moisture absorbent 302 releases the trapped moisture, the humidity of the space in which the moisture absorbent 302 is installed gradually decreases. In other words, the humidity measured by the sensor 304 gradually decreases. As a result, when the difference from the humidity measured by the sensor 305 is equal to or less than a predetermined value, the shutter 306 is closed because the regeneration of the hygroscopic agent 302 cannot be promoted even if outside air is introduced. Therefore, the difference in humidity at which regeneration of the hygroscopic agent 302 cannot be expected may be set as the threshold value used in the determination in step S13.

  In order to perform such control, in step S13, it is determined whether or not the difference in humidity is equal to or less than a threshold value, and the shutter 306 is kept open until it is determined that the difference is equal to or less than the threshold value. If it is determined in step S13 that the difference in humidity is equal to or less than the threshold value, the process proceeds to step S14 and the shutter 306 is closed.

  As described above, when the humidity outside the outer container 303 is lower than the inner humidity, the moisture absorbent 302 is regenerated with the low humidity air, and when the humidity inside the outer container 303 is lower than the outer humidity. The opening and closing of the shutter 306 is controlled so that humidity, dust, etc. do not enter from the outside. By controlling the shutter 306 in this way, the hygroscopic agent 302 is regenerated, so that the performance of the hygroscopic agent 302 is prevented from being deteriorated, moisture enters the photoelectric conversion element 301, and the photoelectric conversion element 301. Can be prevented from deteriorating.

  In the above-described embodiment, the case where the two sensors of the sensor 304 and the sensor 305 are provided has been described as an example, but a configuration including only the sensor 304 may be used. With two sensors, it is possible to control the opening and closing of the shutter 306 more finely and appropriately, but even with one sensor, for example, when the humidity exceeds a predetermined humidity, the shutter 306 is opened and the predetermined humidity is reached. In the following cases, it is possible to perform control such as closing the opened shutter 306, and by performing such control, regeneration of the moisture absorbent 302 can be promoted, and as such, the external container It is also possible to configure 303.

  In the embodiment described above, the shutter 306 is controlled using humidity. However, the shutter 306 may be controlled using temperature. Even at the same humidity (%), the higher the temperature, the greater the amount of water vapor in the air, and the opening / closing of the shutter 306 may be controlled from the temperature difference. For example, when the sensor 304 and the sensor 305 are temperature sensors, and the temperature difference measured by each of the sensor 304 and the sensor 305 becomes a temperature difference suitable for prompting the regeneration of the moisture absorbent 302, the shutter 306 is set. Control may be performed such that the shutter 306 is closed when the temperature difference is not suitable for opening and promoting the regeneration of the hygroscopic agent 302.

[Second Embodiment]
Next, another embodiment of a system including a drying apparatus to which the present invention is applied as an external container will be described. The system including the drying apparatus to which the present invention is applied as shown in FIG. The control unit 420 is configured.

  The system shown in FIG. 8 differs from the system shown in FIG. 5 in that the outer container has a double structure. That is, the system shown in FIG. 8 is different from the system shown in FIG. 5 in that an external container 403 and an external container 406 are provided. In the following description, points different from the system shown in FIG. 5 will be described, and description of the same parts will be omitted as appropriate.

  The photoelectric conversion element 401 is one of the photoelectric conversion element 10 shown in FIG. 1, the photoelectric conversion element 100 shown in FIG. 2 (FIG. 3), the photoelectric conversion element 200 shown in FIG. 5, or a combined photoelectric conversion. It is an element. A hygroscopic agent 402 is installed on the outer peripheral portion of the photoelectric conversion element 401 and on the inner peripheral portion of the outer container 403. As the hygroscopic agent 402, a hygroscopic agent used in the hygroscopic porous membrane 101 or the hygroscopic agent-dispersed electrolytic solution 201 can be used.

  A moisture absorbent 402 is installed between the photoelectric conversion element 401 and the external container 403, and a sensor 404 is installed in a part of the moisture absorbent 402. A sensor 404 is provided on the outer side surface of the outer container 403. The sensor 404 is provided inside the outer container 406. That is, the sensor 404 is installed in a space created by the external container 403 and the external container 406, and is a sensor that measures the humidity or temperature of the space. Here, it is assumed that the sensor 404 is a sensor that measures humidity. The sensor 407 is similarly described as a sensor that measures humidity.

  The sensor 404 may be installed in any position as long as it is in a space between the external container 403 and the external container 406 and the humidity of the space can be measured.

  The shutter 405 is provided on the side surface of the outer container 403. When the shutter 405 is closed, airtightness in the outer container 403 is maintained, and when the shutter 405 is opened, outside air enters the outer container 403. The outside air in this case is air between the outer container 403 and the outer container 406, and this air is air taken into the outer container 406 when the shutter 408 is opened as will be described later. It is. The shutter 405 is configured to be opened when the moisture absorbent 402 is dried by taking in outside air.

  A shutter 408 is provided on a side surface of the outer container 406. When the shutter 408 is closed, the airtightness in the external container 406 is maintained, and when the shutter 408 is opened, the external air enters the external container 406.

  A sensor 407 is installed on the outer side surface of the outer container 406. The sensor 407 is a sensor that measures the humidity outside the external container 406, and may be installed anywhere in the external container 406 as long as the humidity of the outside air can be measured. The sensor 407 is not limited to the side surface of the outer container 406 and may be installed at a position away from the outer container 406.

  Each of the sensor 404, the shutter 405, the sensor 407, and the shutter 408 is connected to a control unit 420 configured with a computer or the like.

  With reference to the flowchart of FIG. 9, processing related to opening / closing of the shutter 405 and the shutter 408 of the control unit 420 will be described. As a premise, the control unit 420 obtains humidity information from the sensors 404 and 407 constantly or at predetermined intervals. In the normal state (initial state), it is assumed that the shutter 405 is opened and the shutter 408 is closed.

  Since the shutter 405 is vacant, the space between the outer container 403 and the outer container 406 (referred to as space A) and the space where the hygroscopic agent 402 is provided (referred to as space B). Thus, the air can go back and forth. In such a state, the sensor 404 measures the humidity in the space A, and the humidity is almost the same as the humidity in the space B. At this time, since the shutter 408 is in a closed state, the space A and the space B are in a sealed state in a state where outside air does not enter.

  In step S31, it is determined whether the humidity difference is equal to or greater than a threshold value. The control unit 420 calculates the difference between the humidity information acquired from the sensor 404 (referred to as the first humidity) and the humidity information acquired from the sensor 407 (referred to as the second humidity), and the difference value is calculated. It is determined whether or not a predetermined threshold value is reached. Here, since the condition is that the first humidity> the second humidity, the difference is calculated by subtracting the second humidity from the first humidity. This is because when the humidity in the external container 403 (humidity in the space B) becomes higher than the humidity outside the external container 406, the outside air having a low humidity flows into the space B in the external container 406. This is because the moisture absorbent 402 is regenerated.

  In step S31, the determination in step S31 is repeated until it is determined that the difference in humidity is equal to or greater than the threshold value. If it is determined in step S31 that the humidity difference has become equal to or greater than the threshold, the process proceeds to step S32. In step S32, the inner shutter is closed and the outer shutter is opened. The inner shutter is the shutter 405, and the outer shutter is the shutter 408. Therefore, the shutter 405 is closed from the opened state, and the shutter 408 is opened from the closed state.

  When the shutter 408 is opened, the low humidity air flows into the outer container 406 (in the space A), and the high humidity air in the space A comes out. In addition, since the shutter 405 is in a closed state, the outside air does not directly touch the hygroscopic agent 402, so that it is possible to prevent dust from adhering to the hygroscopic agent 402. Thus, when the shutter 405 is closed and the shutter 408 is opened, the air in the space A between the outer container 403 and the outer container 406 is exchanged.

  In step S33, it is determined whether or not the humidity difference has become equal to or less than a threshold value. When the outside air with low humidity flows into the outer container 406, the air in the space A is replaced, and the humidity in the space A gradually decreases. In other words, the humidity measured by the sensor 404 gradually decreases. As a result, when the difference from the humidity measured by the sensor 407 is less than or equal to a predetermined value, the air has been sufficiently replaced, and the shutter 408 is closed.

  In order to perform such control, in step S33, it is determined whether or not the difference in humidity is equal to or less than a threshold value. The shutter 405 is closed and the shutter 408 is opened until it is determined that the difference is equal to or less than the threshold value. State is maintained. If it is determined in step S33 that the difference in humidity is equal to or less than the threshold value, the process proceeds to step S34, the inner shutter (shutter 405) is opened, and the outer shutter (shutter 408) is closed.

  When the shutter 405 is opened and the shutter 408 is closed, relatively dry air in the space A flows into the space B where the hygroscopic agent 402 is installed. When the moisture absorbent 402 touches such air and releases moisture trapped by the moisture absorbent 402, the humidity in the space A and the space B increases. As the humidity in the space A increases, it is determined in step S31 that the humidity difference has become equal to or greater than the threshold value, and the above-described processing is repeated.

  Thus, when the outside humidity of the external container 406 is lower than the inside humidity, the low humidity air is taken in, and after taking in, the hygroscopic agent 402 is regenerated, and relatively dry air is taken in from the outside. The opening and closing of the shutters 405 and 408 are controlled so that dust and the like do not enter. By controlling the shutter 405 and the shutter 408 in this way, the hygroscopic agent 402 is regenerated, so that the performance of the hygroscopic agent 402 is prevented from deteriorating, moisture enters the photoelectric conversion element 401, and the photoelectric It is possible to prevent the conversion element 401 from being deteriorated.

  In steps S32 and S34, the opening / closing control of the shutter 405 and the shutter 408 is performed. However, the shutter 405 and the shutter 408 are not opened / closed at the same timing, but may be performed at different timings. . For example, the shutter 405 may be closed and the shutter 408 may be controlled to open after a predetermined time has elapsed. As described above, the outer container has a double structure, and the shutters are provided in the respective outer containers, so that the opening and closing of the shutters is finely controlled, and the moisture absorbent 402 is regenerated in a state in which dust and the like are prevented from entering. It becomes possible.

  In the above-described embodiment, the case where two sensors of the sensor 404 and the sensor 407 are provided has been described as an example, but a configuration including only the sensor 404 may be used. If two sensors are provided, the opening / closing of the shutter 405 and the shutter 408 can be controlled more finely and appropriately, but even with one sensor, for example, when the humidity exceeds a predetermined humidity, the shutter 405 is closed, When the shutter 408 is opened and the humidity falls below a predetermined humidity, it is possible to perform control such as opening the closed shutter 405 and closing the opened shutter 408, and by performing such control, The regeneration of the moisture absorbent 402 can be promoted, and the external container 303 can be configured as such.

  In the above-described embodiment, the shutters 405 and 408 are controlled using humidity, but may be controlled using temperature. For example, the opening / closing of the shutters 405 and 408 may be controlled based on the temperature difference. For example, when the sensor 404 and the sensor 407 are temperature sensors, and the temperature difference measured by each of the sensor 404 and the sensor 407 becomes a temperature difference suitable for prompting the regeneration of the moisture absorbent 402, the shutter 408 is set. Control may be performed such that the shutter 408 is closed when the temperature difference is not suitable for opening and promoting the regeneration of the moisture absorbent 402.

  Further, since the photoelectric conversion element 401 is installed, for example, in a place where it is exposed to sunlight, and when the shutter 408 is closed, the outer container 406 is hermetically sealed. A (space B) is a state in which the temperature easily rises. Some hygroscopic agents tend to release trapped water when the temperature is high. Therefore, conventionally, the hygroscopic agent has been regenerated by warming the hygroscopic agent with a heater. Considering this, when the temperature in the space B rises and the temperature measured by the sensor 404 becomes a predetermined temperature or more, moisture is easily released by the moisture absorbent 402, and the space It may be determined that the humidity in B has increased, and the shutter 408 is opened so that warm air containing moisture is released to the outside.

  Next, an embodiment for efficiently performing this will be described.

[About the third embodiment]
Next, still another embodiment of a system including a drying apparatus to which the present invention is applied as an external container will be described. A system including the drying apparatus to which the present invention is applied as shown in FIG. 509, the heat absorption part 510, and the control part 520 are comprised.

  The system shown in FIG. 10 has a configuration in which a shutter 509 and a heat absorption unit 510 are added to the system shown in FIG. In the following description, differences from the system shown in FIG. 8 will be described, and description of the same parts will be omitted as appropriate.

  The external container 506 shown in FIG. 10 is configured to be larger than the external container 406 shown in FIG. 8, and therefore, the capacity of the space A created between the external container 506 and the external container 503 is small. It has a large capacity. This space A is a heat absorption part 510. The heat absorption unit 510 is a space provided so that the air in the space is heated by sunlight and becomes air having a relatively high temperature. The heat that is absorbed by the heat absorption unit 510 and heated to warm the air is supplied to the hygroscopic agent 502 when the shutter 505 is open.

  By supplying high-temperature air to the hygroscopic agent 502, the hygroscopic agent 502 is warmed, and the trapped moisture is easily released, and regeneration of the hygroscopic agent 502 can be promoted. This is equivalent to the case where the moisture absorbent 502 is warmed with a heater and the regeneration of the moisture absorbent 502 is promoted. However, since the system shown in FIG. 10 can be realized without using a heater, the power for heating the heater is not required, and the cost for installing the heater itself can be reduced.

  The outer container 506 is provided with a shutter 508 and a shutter 509 on the side surfaces. One shutter functions for intake, and the other shutter functions for exhaust. For example, as shown in FIG. 11, considering the case where the external container 506 is installed at an angle, the intake shutter is the shutter 509, and the exhaust shutter is the shutter 508.

  The outer container 506 shown in FIG. 11 has a surface on which the shutter 509 is provided on the lower side and a surface on which the shutter 508 is provided on the upper side. Warm air rises from below to above. By utilizing this, the surface on which the shutter 509 is provided, that is, the heat absorption unit 510 is on the lower side, and the air heated by the heat absorption unit 510 rises and is efficiently exhausted from the exhaust shutter 508. In addition, the air intake shutter 509 is configured to be efficiently inhaled and installed.

  In the system having such a configuration, when the shutter 505 is opened and the shutter 508 and the shutter 509 are closed, the air in the space of the heat absorption unit 510 is warmed and the hygroscopic agent is passed through the shutter 505. 502 is supplied. When the hygroscopic agent 502 is heated and moisture is released from the hygroscopic agent 502, the humidity of the air in the heat absorbing portion 510 also increases. When the sensor 504 senses such a change in humidity, the shutter 505 is closed and the shutter 508 and the shutter 509 are opened.

  By opening the shutter 508 and the shutter 509, the air in the heat absorption unit 510 is efficiently exchanged. When the humidity of the air in the heat absorption unit 510 decreases due to the exchange of air, the sensor 504 detects such a change in humidity, the shutter 505 is opened, and the shutter 508 and the shutter 509 are closed.

  In this way, the air in the heat absorption unit 510 is warmed, and the moisture absorbent 502 is regenerated by the air, and the air in the heat absorption unit 510 is efficiently exchanged.

  With reference to the flowchart of FIG. 9, processing relating to opening / closing of the shutter 505, the shutter 508, and the shutter 509 of the control unit 520 will be described. As a premise, the control unit 520 acquires humidity information from the sensors 504 and 507 at all times or at predetermined intervals. In the normal state (initial state), it is assumed that the shutter 505 is opened and the shutter 508 and the shutter 509 are closed.

  Since the shutter 505 is vacant, there is no air between the heat absorption part 510 provided between the external container 503 and the external container 506 and the space (referred to as space B) in which the hygroscopic agent 502 is installed. Will be able to go back and forth. In such a state, the sensor 504 measures the humidity of the heat absorption unit 510, and the humidity is almost the same as the humidity of the space B.

  In step S51, it is determined whether the humidity difference is equal to or greater than a threshold value. The control unit 520 calculates the difference between the humidity information acquired from the sensor 504 (referred to as the first humidity) and the humidity information acquired from the sensor 507 (referred to as the second humidity), and the difference value is calculated. It is determined whether or not a predetermined threshold value is reached. Here, since the condition is that the first humidity> the second humidity, the difference is calculated by subtracting the second humidity from the first humidity. This is because when the humidity in the external container 503 (humidity in the space B) becomes higher than the humidity outside the external container 506, the low-humidity outside air flows into the space B in the external container 506. This is because the moisture absorbent 502 is regenerated.

  Further, in the third embodiment, as described above, the configuration including the heat absorption unit 510 and the external container 506 are provided, so that the humidity in the external container 506 is easily increased. Therefore, compared with the first embodiment (FIG. 6), the second embodiment (FIG. 8), etc., it is considered that the difference between the sensor 504 and the sensor 507 is likely to appear. Therefore, in step S51, the number of times that the difference in humidity (temperature) is determined to be greater than or equal to the threshold value is increased, and the hygroscopic agent 502 is frequently regenerated.

  In step S51, the determination in step S51 is repeated until it is determined that the difference in humidity is equal to or greater than the threshold value. If it is determined in step S51 that the difference in humidity is equal to or greater than the threshold value, the process proceeds to step S52. In step S52, the inner shutter is closed and the outer shutter is opened. The inner shutter is the shutter 505, and the outer shutters are the shutter 508 and the shutter 509. Therefore, the shutter 505 is closed from the opened state, and the shutter 508 and the shutter 509 are opened from the closed state.

  By opening the shutter 508 and the shutter 509, the low humidity air flows into the outer container 506 (heat absorption unit 510), and the high humidity air in the heat absorption unit 510 exits from the shutter 509. It will be. In addition, since the shutter 505 is closed, the outside air does not directly touch the hygroscopic agent 502, so that it is possible to prevent dust from adhering to the hygroscopic agent 502.

  In step S53, it is determined whether or not the humidity difference has become equal to or less than a threshold value. When outside air with low humidity flows into the outer container 506, the air in the heat absorption unit 510 is replaced, and the humidity in the heat absorption unit 510 gradually decreases. In other words, the humidity measured by the sensor 504 gradually decreases. As a result, when the difference from the humidity measured by the sensor 507 is equal to or less than a predetermined value, the air has been sufficiently exchanged, so that the shutter 508 and the shutter 509 are closed.

  In order to perform such control, in step S53, it is determined whether or not the difference in humidity is equal to or lower than the threshold value. The shutter 505 is closed until it is determined that the humidity difference is equal to or lower than the threshold value, and the shutter 508 and the shutter 509 are moved. An open state is maintained. If it is determined in step S53 that the difference in humidity is equal to or less than the threshold value, the process proceeds to step S54, the inner shutter (shutter 505) is opened, and the outer shutters (shutter 508 and shutter 509) are opened. Closed.

  When the shutter 505 is opened and the shutter 508 is closed, relatively dry air in the heat absorption unit 510 flows into the space B in which the hygroscopic agent 502 is installed. The flowing air is gradually warmed by sunlight. When the moisture absorbent 502 touches such air and releases moisture captured by the moisture absorbent 502, the humidity in the heat absorbing portion 510 increases. When the humidity in the heat absorption unit 510 increases, it is determined in step S51 that the humidity difference has become equal to or greater than the threshold value, and the above-described processing is repeated.

  In this way, when the outside humidity of the outer container 506 is lower than the inside humidity, the low-humidity air is taken in, and after taking in, the hygroscopic agent 502 is regenerated, and relatively dry air is taken in from the outside. The opening and closing of the shutter 505, the shutter 508, and the shutter 509 are controlled so that dust and the like do not enter. In addition, control is performed so that air of a relatively high temperature comes into contact with the hygroscopic agent 502 and the hygroscopic agent 502 is efficiently regenerated. By controlling the shutter in this way, the hygroscopic agent 502 is regenerated, so that the performance of the hygroscopic agent 502 is prevented from being deteriorated, moisture enters the photoelectric conversion element 501, and the photoelectric conversion element 501 is It is possible to prevent the deterioration.

  In step S52 and step S54, the opening / closing control of the shutter 505, the shutter 508, and the shutter 509 is performed, but these shutters are not opened / closed at the same timing, but at different timings. May be. For example, the shutter 505 and the shutter 509 may be controlled to be opened after a predetermined time has elapsed after the shutter 505 is closed. As described above, the outer containers are double-structured, and the shutters are provided in the respective outer containers, so that the opening / closing of the shutters is finely controlled, and the moisture absorbent 502 is regenerated in a state where dust does not enter. It becomes possible.

  In the above-described third embodiment, the shutters 505, 508, and 509 are controlled using humidity, but may be controlled using temperature. For example, the opening / closing of the shutters 505, 508, and 509 may be controlled based on the temperature difference. For example, when the sensor 504 and the sensor 507 are temperature sensors, and the difference in temperature measured between the sensor 504 and the sensor 507 is a temperature difference suitable for prompting the regeneration of the moisture absorbent 502, the shutters 508 and 509 are used. When the temperature difference becomes unsuitable for prompting the regeneration of the moisture absorbent 502, the shutters 508 and 509 may be closed.

  In the above-described third embodiment, the two sensors of the sensor 504 and the sensor 507 are provided. However, a configuration including only the sensor 504 may be used. Since the sensor 504 is provided at a position where the humidity and temperature in the heat absorption unit 510 can be measured, the shutters 505, 508, and 509 may be controlled by the humidity or temperature of the heat absorption unit 510. For example, when the humidity (temperature) measured by the sensor 504 becomes equal to or higher than a predetermined humidity (temperature), the shutter 505 is closed, the shutters 508 and 509 are opened, and the humidity (temperature) measured by the sensor 504 is used. When the temperature becomes equal to or lower than a predetermined humidity (temperature), the shutter 505 may be opened and the shutters 508 and 509 may be closed.

  Note that the outer container 503 shown in FIG. 10 is configured to include only the shutter 505, but similarly to the outer container 506, it may be configured to include two shutters for intake and exhaust. When the outer container 503 includes two shutters, one of the shutters functions as an intake air and the other shutter functions as an exhaust air. Therefore, the inside of the hygroscopic agent 502 can be efficiently ventilated. The regeneration of the agent 502 can be performed efficiently.

  In addition, as described above, it is preferable that the air in the heat absorption unit 510 can be efficiently warmed so that the moisture absorbent 502 can be easily regenerated by warming the air in the heat absorption unit 510. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 13, the portion of the outer container 506 corresponding to the portion of the heat absorbing portion 510 may be blackened so that heat absorption can be promoted. Further, blackening a part of the external container is not limited to the third embodiment, but can be applied to the first and second embodiments.

  In the first embodiment, the portion other than the portion corresponding to the photoelectric conversion element 301 of the outer container 303 shown in FIG. 6 may be blackened. In this case, since the portion of the outer container 303 corresponding to the portion where the hygroscopic agent 302 is disposed becomes black, it becomes possible to warm the hygroscopic agent 302 itself and promote the regeneration of the hygroscopic agent 302 more efficiently.

  Similarly, in the second embodiment, the portion other than the portion corresponding to the photoelectric conversion element 401 of the outer container 406 shown in FIG. 8 may be blackened. In this case, the outer container 406 corresponding to the portion where the hygroscopic agent 402 is disposed may be blackened, or the outer space corresponding to the space (space A) between the outer container 403 and the outer container 406 may be blackened. The portion of the container 406 may be blackened. Also in this case, it is possible to warm the hygroscopic agent 402 itself and to promote the regeneration of the hygroscopic agent 402 more efficiently.

  Further, in the third embodiment, as shown in FIG. 13, only the portion of the outer container 506 corresponding to the portion of the heat absorption unit 510 may be blackened or other than the portion corresponding to the photoelectric conversion element 501. May be blackened.

  In the first to third embodiments, the hygroscopic agents 302, 402, 502 themselves may be colored black. Further, the lower surface on which the hygroscopic agent is spread may be blackened.

  In addition, a portion that is blackened by the external container described above may be a condensing lens. The condensing lens is sometimes used to efficiently collect sunlight and increase the power generation efficiency of the photoelectric conversion element. In such a use, the condensing lens is provided on the photoelectric exchange element. However, in this embodiment, it is provided not only on the photoelectric conversion element but also on the parts such as the hygroscopic agents 302, 402, 502 and the heat absorption unit 510. In other words, a configuration may be adopted in which a condensing lens is provided on the entire surface of the outer containers 303, 406, and 506 that are exposed to sunlight. By collecting sunlight with the condenser lens, the air in the external container can be warmed more efficiently and the regeneration of the hygroscopic agent can be promoted.

  Furthermore, it is possible to use a combination of a condensing lens and a configuration in which a part of the outer container is blackened.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to regenerate the hygroscopic agent by using sunlight (natural energy) without using a heater or the like. Therefore, it is possible to reduce power and manufacturing costs. In addition, since the hygroscopic agent can be regenerated, the hygroscopic function can be maintained, and moisture can be prevented from entering the photoelectric conversion element. Since it becomes possible to prevent moisture from entering the photoelectric conversion element, the lifetime of the photoelectric conversion element can be extended.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Photoelectric conversion element, 11 Glass with transparent conductive film, 12 Dye electrode, 13 Electrolytic solution, 14 Counter electrode, 15 Glass with transparent conductive film, 100 Photoelectric conversion element, 101 Hygroscopic porous film, 200 Photoelectric conversion element, 201 Hygroscopic agent dispersion Electrolytic solution, 301 photoelectric conversion element, 302 hygroscopic agent, 303 external container, 304 sensor, 305 sensor, 306 shutter, 320 control unit, 401 photoelectric conversion element, 402 hygroscopic agent, 403 external container, 404 sensor, 405 shutter, 406 external Container, 407 sensor, 408 shutter, 420 control unit, 501 photoelectric conversion element, 502 moisture absorbent, 503 outer container, 504 sensor, 505 shutter, 506 outer container, 507 sensor, 508 shutter -, 509 shutter, 510 heat absorption unit, 520 control unit

Claims (11)

A first container containing a photoelectric conversion element and a hygroscopic agent;
A first shutter provided on a side surface of the first container;
A first sensor that is provided inside the container and measures humidity or temperature;
A drying apparatus that controls opening and closing of the first shutter based on the humidity or the temperature measured by the first sensor. Control that opens the first shutter when the humidity or temperature measured by the first sensor is greater than or equal to a threshold value, and closes the opened first shutter when the humidity or temperature is less than or equal to the threshold value. The drying apparatus according to claim 1. A second sensor that is provided outside the first container and measures humidity or temperature;
When the difference value of the humidity or the temperature measured by each of the first sensor and the second sensor is equal to or greater than a threshold value, the first shutter is opened. The drying device according to claim 1, wherein control is performed to close the first shutter. A second container containing the first container;
A second shutter provided on a side surface of the second container,
The drying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein opening and closing of the first shutter and the second shutter is controlled based on the humidity or the temperature measured by the first sensor. A heat absorption part that heats the air in the space provided between the first container and the second container by absorbing sunlight;
The opening and closing of the first shutter is controlled based on the humidity or the temperature measured by the first sensor so that the air heated by the heat absorption unit is supplied to the hygroscopic agent. 4. The drying apparatus according to 4. When the humidity or temperature measured by the first sensor is equal to or higher than a threshold value, the first shutter is closed and the second shutter is opened. When the humidity or temperature is equal to or lower than the threshold value, the first sensor is closed. The drying apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the first shutter is opened and the second shutter that is opened is controlled to be closed. A second sensor that is provided outside the second container and measures humidity or temperature;
When the humidity or temperature difference value measured by each of the first sensor and the second sensor is equal to or greater than a threshold value, the first shutter is closed, the second shutter is opened, 6. The drying device according to claim 4, wherein when the threshold value is equal to or lower than a threshold value, the first shutter that is closed is opened and the second shutter that is opened is closed. 6. The drying apparatus according to any one of claims 5 to 7, wherein a portion of the second container where the heat absorbing portion is provided is black. The drying device according to any one of claims 5 to 8, wherein a condensing lens is provided in a portion of the second container where the heat absorption unit is provided. The drying device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the hygroscopic agent is colored black. A container containing a photoelectric conversion element and a hygroscopic agent;
A shutter provided on a side of the container;
In a drying method of a drying device provided inside the container and comprising a sensor for measuring humidity or temperature,
A drying method including a step of controlling opening and closing of the shutter based on the humidity or the temperature measured by the sensor.

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