JP2013143246A - Photovoltaic power generation system and lightning protection mechanism for use therein - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve such a problem of conventional photovoltaic power generation system that a lightning protection mechanism could not be used as a thunderbolt countermeasure because of the factors that shadow occurs, the output decreases, and the like.SOLUTION: The inventive photovoltaic power generation system includes a plurality of solar cell modules installed on a frame and arranged at predetermined intervals, and a lightning protection mechanism having a lightning capturing section provided so as to avoid direct lightning stroke to the solar cell modules. The lightning protection mechanism is configured telescopically.

Description

  The present invention relates to a photovoltaic power generation system that generates power using sunlight, and more particularly to a technique for preventing output from being reduced by shadows generated on the surface of a solar cell module.

  In a general photovoltaic power generation system, after converting solar energy into DC power by a solar cell module (string), each string voltage is connected in series by a connection box etc. for each string and then combined into one. The obtained direct current power is converted into alternating current power by a power conditioner system (hereinafter referred to as “PCS”).

  That is, the photovoltaic power generation system generates direct-current power by generating light by irradiating light such as sunlight to cells provided in the solar cell module, converted into alternating-current power by the PCS, and power to the power system. It is grid-connected to supply In order to secure the amount of power generation, a plurality of solar cell modules are connected and laid.

  In particular, in a so-called mega solar system that generates power of 1 megawatt or more, a solar cell module is installed over a wide area in a wide area.

  However, when each solar cell module is shaded on the surface (surface with cells to generate electricity), only the string of the corresponding solar cell module falls compared to other strings, so when installing it, The solar cell module on the light receiving side is taken into consideration so as not to be shaded.

  On the other hand, in such a photovoltaic power generation system, the following measures are taken against lightning strikes.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 8, the direct strike lightning A falling on the transmission line 101 becomes a high voltage and is guided to the solar power generation system 105 through the columnar portion 103, and the solar power generation system 105 etc. by so-called induced lightning. In order to prevent such damage, lightning arresters 113, 115, 117 are provided upstream of the circuit breaker 107, upstream of the transformer 109, or upstream of the power conditioner system 111 (hereinafter referred to as “PCS”).

  As a result, the high voltage of the power transmission line 101 due to lightning is guided to the ground via the lightning arresters 113, 115, 117, thereby preventing damage to peripheral devices such as the PCS 111 and the solar power generation system 105.

  However, measures against induced lightning have been taken against lightning strikes, but there are many cases where measures against direct lightning have not been taken.

  It is necessary to install a lightning rod for direct lightning strikes, but the Building Standards Law requires that a lightning rod be installed when the height is 20 m or more. When installed in an area, the height is rarely 20 m, and as described above, if the surface of the solar cell module is shaded, the output may be reduced.

  By the way, the angle of protection of the lightning rod varies depending on the height. For example, in the new JIS, it is 55 degrees in the case of 20 m, and based on this, it is installed at a predetermined interval. For this reason, the lightning protection mechanism is positioned higher than the photovoltaic power generation system, and it is not possible to cover the entire area by installing it only at the end of the photovoltaic power generation system. Must be installed between the front and rear solar cell modules.

  Even when such an imbalance of output voltage values occurs between the strings, for example, a photovoltaic power generation system as disclosed in Patent Document 1 is known as one that stably extracts generated power from each string. ing.

JP2011-8348A (FIG. 2)

  However, in the technique according to Patent Document 1, even when a solar cell module is shaded, an attempt is made to produce an output as much as possible, and there has been no idea to suppress an output decrease.

  In order to achieve the above object, in the photovoltaic power generation system of the present invention, a plurality of solar cell modules installed on a gantry or the like and arranged at a predetermined interval are provided so as to avoid direct lightning strikes on the solar cell modules. And a lightning protection mechanism having a lightning receiving portion, wherein the lightning protection mechanism is configured to be extendable or contractible.

It is the figure which showed the example of installation of the solar energy power generation system of this invention. It is a top view in the photovoltaic power generation system of the present invention. It is an expansion side view in the solar energy power generation system of this invention. It is the figure which showed the internal structure at the time of the shrinkage | contraction of the lightning protection mechanism in the solar energy power generation system of this invention. It is the figure which showed the state which the lightning protection mechanism in the solar energy power generation system of this invention extended | stretched. It is a block diagram in the solar energy power generation system of this invention. It is a block diagram in the solar energy power generation system of this invention. 1 shows a general configuration from the power system of the present invention to a solar power generation system.

  Examples of the present invention will be described below.

  A first embodiment of the photovoltaic power generation system according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall outline of a photovoltaic power generation system.

  In the solar power generation system 1, a plurality of solar cell modules 3 are divided and arranged every predetermined number (for example, 20). The solar cell module 3 is installed on the gantry 5 so as to be located at a predetermined height (for example, 2 m) above the ground and at a predetermined angle (for example, 20 degrees).

  The predetermined height is used in consideration of snow accumulation, maintainability, and the like. Moreover, the installation inclination angle of the solar cell module 3 is an angle at which sunlight can be optimally received throughout the year.

  The plurality of solar cell modules 3 are connected in series by wiring 7 so as to have a predetermined voltage, thereby forming a string. Further, a plurality of strings are configured so as to obtain desired generated power.

  In the present embodiment, the solar cell modules adjacent to each other are connected in series.

  FIG. 2 is a top view of the photovoltaic power generation system of the present invention.

  Sunlight S indicates the irradiation direction of sunlight.

  The plurality of solar cell modules 3 installed at an inclination are arranged so that the sunlight S can be received on the entire surface during fine weather.

  Reference numeral 13 is a lightning protection mechanism in the photovoltaic power generation system 1 of the present invention.

  Reference numeral 14 is a lightning protection mechanism, and is arranged at the end of the photovoltaic power generation system 1.

  The solar cell modules 3 form strings by being connected in series, and a predetermined number of strings are bundled by being connected in parallel to the connection box 9. A plurality of similar connection boxes 9 are also received, and the plurality of connection boxes 9 are connected to a power conditioner system 11 (hereinafter referred to as “PCS”). The number of strings and the number of parallel connections are set within the rated voltage and rated current of the PCS to be connected.

  FIG. 3 is a side view of the photovoltaic power generation system of the present invention.

  A lightning protection mechanism 13 is arranged behind the divided front solar cell module (3A in the figure), and the adjacent solar cell module 3 (3B in the figure) is adjacent to the front solar cell module 3 as a shadow. It is arranged so that sunlight can be received on the entire surface with a predetermined interval so as not to become.

  At this time, the lightning protection mechanism 13 is in a contracted state (a state in which the height is the lowest), and the lightning protection mechanism 13 including the lightning receiving portion 15 provided at the tip of the lightning protection mechanism 13 has a shadow on the rear solar cell module. It is said that it should not be high.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the internal structure when the lightning arresting mechanism is contracted in the photovoltaic power generation system of the present invention.

  As shown in the figure, the lightning arresting mechanism 13 is composed of a lightning receiving part 15, a conducting wire 17 and a grounding electrode 19 in order to allow a high voltage of a direct lightning due to the generated lightning to flow safely to the ground.

  Moreover, the cylindrical part 22 holding the lightning-receiving part 15 is provided so that the lightning-receiving part 15 can be extended to a predetermined height. The cylindrical portion 22 includes an outermost first cylindrical portion 23, a second cylindrical portion 25 provided therein, a third cylindrical portion 27, a fourth cylindrical portion 29, and an innermost fifth portion. The cylindrical part 31 is comprised. In the present embodiment, the lightning receiving portion 15 is supported by the fifth cylindrical portion.

  The cylindrical part 22 is provided above the base part 21 installed on the ground.

  In the base portion 21, a control unit 33, a receiving unit 35, a driving unit 37 that raises or lowers the cylindrical unit 22, and a winding unit 39 are disposed.

  The conducting wire 17 is wound around the winding portion 39. One end of the conducting wire 17 constitutes a ground electrode 19 and is buried in the ground, and the other end is connected to the lightning receiver 15.

  When the cylindrical portion 22 is raised by the drive portion 37, the second cylindrical portion 25 is raised, and when the rising portion is divided, the third cylindrical portion 27 is raised while maintaining the raised state of the second cylindrical portion 25. Similarly, the fourth cylindrical portion 29 and the fifth cylindrical portion 31 are configured to rise.

  When the cylindrical portion 22 is lifted, the conducting wire 17 connected to the lightning receiving portion 15 is pulled up in conjunction with the rising of the lightning receiving portion 15 and the winding wire 17 wound around the winding portion 39, and the lightning protection mechanism 13 is extended. However, it is configured to be electrically connected to the lightning receiver 15 and the grounding electrode 19.

  When the cylindrical portion 22 is lowered, the controller 33 controls the drive shaft 40 to drive in the direction in which the winding portion 39 winds the conducting wire 17 in synchronization with the lowering of the cylindrical portion 22 and the drive portion 37. It has become.

  FIG. 6 is a block diagram of the photovoltaic power generation system of the present invention.

  As for the receiving unit 35, the lightning information determination unit 43, which will be described later, transmits weather information 47 indicating that there is a lightning strike in or near the area where the photovoltaic power generation system 1 is installed, from the transmitting unit 49. Receive. Based on the lightning information received by the receiving unit 35, the control unit 33 controls the driving unit 37.

  Moreover, about the lightning information determination part 43, when there is a possibility of a lightning strike, for example, when the sky of the solar power generation system 1 is cloudy, the lightning protection mechanism 13 is in the extended state. For example, there may be a cloud in the sky when there is no power generation even during the daytime when sunlight is originally radiated and generating power. The extended state is not affected, and the possibility of a lightning strike cannot be denied. This is because by providing a clock function 45 and a power generation state detection means (not shown), the power generation state by the solar cell module 3 is detected in the set time zone, and when the power is not generated, the sky is cloudy. Can be estimated. Thereby, it can control to the contraction and expansion | extension state of the lightning protection mechanism 13 similarly by transmitting with the transmission part 49 from the lightning information determination part 43, and receiving with the receiving part 35.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an extended state of the lightning protection mechanism 13.

  The lightning arresting mechanism 13 raises the cylindrical portion 22 so that the lightning receiving portion 15 is positioned above the solar cell module so as to function as a lightning arrester with respect to the solar cell module 3 arranged in an inclined manner. The height of the lightning receiver 15 at this time is determined based on the protection angle method from the arrangement of the solar cell system to be protected and the installation position of the lightning protection mechanism 13.

  FIG. 7 is a block diagram when lightning information can be transmitted directly to the control unit by an administrator or the like.

  In the above description, the lightning information is based on the weather information 47 such as the Japan Meteorological Agency. However, there is a management center 41 that manages the photovoltaic power generation system 1, and the possibility of lightning depends on the situation around the manager in the management center 41. If it is determined that there is, the administrator can transmit an instruction for extending or retracting the lightning protection mechanism 13 directly to the reception unit 35 through the lightning protection mechanism height input unit 51 via the transmission unit 49.

  As described above, in the photovoltaic power generation system of the present invention, it is possible to suppress a decrease in output due to a shadow while taking measures against direct lightning strikes on peripheral devices such as solar cell modules.

  In the present embodiment, the lightning protection mechanism at the end is always in the extended state, but the lightning protection mechanism of the present invention may be used.

  Needless to say, the shape of the gantry, the installation position of the lightning protection mechanism, the number of installations, the number and shape of the cylindrical portions, and the arrangement and holding of the internal conductors are appropriately changed without departing from the spirit of the present invention. .

  Furthermore, although the lightning information is transmitted to the lightning protection mechanism wirelessly, it may be wired.

1. Solar power generation system 3, solar cell module 5, mount 7, wiring 9, connection box 11, power conditioner system (PCS)
13, lightning protection mechanism S, sunlight 15, lightning receiving part 17, conducting wire 19, ground electrode 21, base part 22, cylindrical part 23, first cylindrical part 25, second cylindrical part 27, third cylindrical part 29 , Fourth cylindrical part 31, fifth cylindrical part 33, control part 35, receiving part 37, driving part 39, winding part 41, management center 43, lightning information determination part 45, clock function 47, weather information 49, Transmitter 51, lightning protection mechanism height input unit

Claims (6)

In a photovoltaic power generation system including a plurality of solar cell modules installed on a gantry or the like and arranged at a predetermined interval, and a lightning arresting mechanism having a lightning receiving portion provided so as to avoid direct lightning strikes on the solar cell modules ,
The lightning protection mechanism is configured to be capable of extending or contracting, and is a solar power generation system.   2. The solar power generation system according to claim 1, wherein the lightning protection mechanism is capable of positioning the lightning receiving portion below the solar cell module in a contracted state.   The photovoltaic system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the lightning protection mechanism has a control unit, and the control unit is in a contracted state when there is lightning information.   The photovoltaic system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the lightning protection mechanism includes a control unit, and the control unit can be contracted by an external instruction.   5. The photovoltaic power generation system according to claim 1, wherein a lightning protection mechanism at a rear end of at least the plurality of solar cell modules is always in an extended state in the plurality of lightning protection mechanisms.     In a lightning protection mechanism including a lightning receiving portion capable of receiving a direct lightning strike, a grounding electrode to the ground, and a lead wire connecting the lightning receiving portion and the grounding electrode, the lightning receiving portion is connected to the grounding electrode. A lightning protection mechanism used in a solar power generation system, characterized in that it can be raised or lowered.

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