JP2014007272A - Photovoltaic power generation system and method for controlling the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a photovoltaic power generation system in which a cleaning effect in cleaning a solar cell module using rainfall can be improved, and a method for controlling the photovoltaic power generation system.SOLUTION: A photovoltaic power generation system includes: a solar cell module; and a tilt angle control section variably controlling a tilt angle relative to the horizontal direction of the solar cell module according to whether or not the rain is falling.

Description

  The present invention relates to a photovoltaic power generation system.

  In the conventional photovoltaic power generation system, it is common to arrange a plurality of solar cell modules on an array.

  Here, as a purchase system for electric power generated by solar power generation, introduction of a total purchase system in which all generated electric power is once purchased by an electric power company and electric power for self-consumption is separately provided by system power is being considered. In the future, if a full purchase system is introduced, profits will generally increase as the amount of power generated by solar cells increases.

  Therefore, in recent years, the solar cell modules are arranged so as to be as close to each other as possible by reducing the inclination angle with respect to the horizontal direction of the solar cell modules so that the shadow portion formed by the solar cell modules is reduced. There is a tendency to increase the number of installed battery modules.

JP 59-150484 A Special table 2010-502022 gazette JP 2008-21683 A Utility Model Registration No. 3171758

  However, when the inclination angle of the solar cell module is reduced as described above, there is a problem that the cleaning action of the module surface due to rain is reduced, dust and the like are easily collected on the module surface, and the power generation output is reduced.

  In Patent Document 1, dirt on the light receiving surface of a solar cell panel is automatically detected using light, an automatic valve of a cleaning water pipe is operated, and cleaning water is received from a nozzle provided in the pipe. In such a case, it is possible to automatically clean the light receiving surface by ejecting the liquid. However, it does not relate to cleaning using rainfall.

  Patent Document 2 discloses a solar facility that has a flow facility for forming a liquid film formed on the light receiving surface of a solar cell module, thereby preventing dirt from adhering to the light receiving surface. . However, it does not relate to cleaning of the light receiving surface using rain. Further, Patent Document 2 discloses a means for adjusting the inclination angle of the solar cell module with respect to the horizontal direction. However, the adjustment means is for increasing power generation efficiency by following the sun. It is not intended for cleaning.

  Further, in Patent Document 3, when it is detected that the amount of power generation attenuation by solar power generation is large, the deposit deposited on the solar cell panel is controlled by controlling the elevation angle of the solar cell panel to be 0 ° or less. What is dropped is disclosed. However, it does not relate to cleaning using rainfall.

  Patent Document 4 discloses that a water spray nozzle that effectively removes ash is provided at an upper portion of a solar cell panel, but it does not relate to cleaning using rainfall.

  In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a photovoltaic power generation system and a control method thereof that can improve the cleaning effect in cleaning a solar cell module using rainfall.

In order to achieve the above object, the photovoltaic power generation system of the present invention
A solar cell module;
An inclination angle control unit that variably controls the inclination angle of the solar cell module with respect to the horizontal direction depending on whether it is raining, or
It is set as the structure provided with.

  According to such a configuration, it is possible to secure a power generation amount when it is not raining, and to improve the cleaning effect in cleaning the solar cell module using rain when it is raining.

  In the above configuration, when the direction of the inclination angle when it is not raining is positive, the inclination angle when it is raining is controlled to a positive value larger than the inclination angle when it is not raining, Or it is desirable to control to a negative value smaller than a negative value corresponding to the inclination angle when it is not raining.

  In the above configuration, the inclination angle in the case of rain is preferably + 10 ° or more and + 90 ° or less, or −10 ° or less and −90 ° or more. This is because the cleaning effect in cleaning the solar cell module using rainfall can be further enhanced.

Further, in any of the above-described configurations, a rain determination unit that determines whether or not it is raining is provided.
The tilt angle control unit may variably control the tilt angle according to a determination result of the rain determination unit.

In the above configuration, a moisture sensor is provided,
The rainfall determination unit may determine whether or not it is raining based on a detection signal output from the moisture sensor.

In any of the above configurations, a network interface is provided,
The tilt angle control unit may variably control the tilt angle based on weather information acquired from a network via the network interface. Here, the weather information includes weather forecast information.

  In order to achieve the above object, a method for controlling a photovoltaic power generation system according to the present invention includes a step of variably controlling the inclination angle of the solar cell module with respect to the horizontal direction depending on whether it is raining or not.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, it becomes possible to improve the washing | cleaning effect in washing | cleaning of the solar cell module using rainfall.

It is a figure which shows schematic structure of the solar energy power generation system which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart regarding the inclination angle adjustment control of the solar cell module according to the first embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows schematic structure of the solar energy power generation system which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart regarding the inclination angle adjustment control of the solar cell module according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

<First Embodiment>
An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of the photovoltaic power generation system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  A solar power generation system 10 illustrated in FIG. 1 includes a solar cell module 1, a mount 2, a hydraulic cylinder 3, a moisture sensor 4, and a control unit 5. In addition, the solar cell module 1, the mount frame 2, and the hydraulic cylinder 3 are illustrated as side views in FIG.

  A plurality of units including the solar cell module 1, the gantry 2, and the hydraulic cylinder 3 are arranged on the roof R of the building in an array. The roof R is, for example, a roof of a factory, a solar power plant such as a mega solar, or a general home.

  The solar cell module 1 has a rectangular light receiving surface, and generates power upon receiving sunlight. One end of the mount 2 for installing the solar cell module 1 is fixed so as to be rotatable with respect to the roof R. The hydraulic cylinder 3 is supported on the roof R and includes an extendable bar 3a that can be expanded and contracted from the main body. One end of the telescopic bar 3 a is connected to the back surface of the gantry 2. When the hydraulic cylinder 3 is driven and the telescopic rod 3a expands and contracts, the solar cell module 1 rotates together with the gantry 2, so that the inclination angle θ with respect to the horizontal direction of the solar cell module 1 is variable.

  The moisture sensor 4 is a sensor that detects rainfall, and is installed outdoors such as on the roof R. Various known configurations can be adopted for the moisture sensor 4. For example, a configuration for detecting a change in capacitance between comb-type electrodes using the dielectric constant of water can be adopted.

  The control unit 5 is composed of a microcomputer or the like, and drives and controls the hydraulic cylinder 3.

  Next, the inclination angle adjustment control of the solar cell module 1 according to the weather performed by the solar power generation system 10 will be described using the flowchart shown in FIG.

  The flowchart shown in FIG. 2 is performed periodically. If the flowchart of FIG. 2 is started, the control part 5 will determine whether it is raining now based on the detection signal which the moisture sensor 4 outputs in step S1.

  If it is not raining (No in Step S1), the process proceeds to Step S2, and the control unit 5 drives the hydraulic cylinder 3 so that the inclination angle θ of the solar cell module 1 with respect to the horizontal direction becomes a predetermined value θ1. Control. After step S2, the process is completed (end).

  Here, θ1 is desirably a small positive value, for example, + 5 ° when the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 1 is positive. If the inclination angle of the solar cell module 1 is reduced, the shadow portion formed by the solar cell module 1 can be reduced, and the solar cell modules 1 can be brought as close as possible, and the number of solar cell modules 1 installed in the same installation area. Can be increased. Therefore, it is possible to increase the power generation amount when it is not raining.

  On the other hand, when it is raining (Yes in step S1), the process proceeds to step S3, and the control unit 5 determines that the inclination angle θ of the solar cell module 1 with respect to the horizontal direction is a predetermined positive value larger than θ1. The hydraulic cylinder 3 is driven and controlled so that After step S3, the process is completed (end).

  Thereby, when it is raining, since the inclination angle of the solar cell module 1 is set large, it is possible to enhance the cleaning effect of the surface of the solar cell module 1 due to rain. Therefore, it is possible to suppress a decrease in power generation output of the solar cell module 1 due to dust or the like.

  Further, if the inclination angle of the solar cell module 1 is small when it rains, the rain does not flow from the solar cell module 1 and is likely to remain. Therefore, dirt that remains in the rain when dried is left on the module surface. It tends to occur. If the inclination angle is increased when it rains as in the present embodiment, rainwater on the module can easily flow and does not remain on the module, so that the above-described contamination is less likely to occur.

  As the value of θ2, if the value is + 90 ° or less, an arbitrary value can be expected to improve the cleaning effect. However, it is particularly preferable to set it to + 10 ° or more from the viewpoint of the cleaning effect.

  It should be noted that the above-described effect can be obtained even if the value of θ2 is smaller than a negative value corresponding to θ1 (−5 ° in the case of θ1 = + 5 °) and is −90 ° or more. In this case, it is particularly desirable that the angle is −10 ° or less from the viewpoint of the cleaning effect. In the case of adopting such an embodiment, the position of the hydraulic cylinder 3 may be appropriately changed from FIG.

Second Embodiment
Next, FIG. 3 shows a schematic configuration of a photovoltaic power generation system according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The solar power generation system 20 shown in FIG. 3 includes a control unit 11 and a network interface 12 as a difference from the first embodiment (FIG. 1), and can be connected to the Internet 30.

  The control unit 11 is configured by a microcomputer or the like, and can drive and control the hydraulic cylinder 3 and can be connected to the Internet 30 via the network interface 12.

  The inclination angle adjustment control of the solar cell module 1 according to the weather performed by the solar power generation system 20 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

  When the flowchart shown in FIG. 4 is started, in step S11, the control unit 11 requests weather forecast information from the server 40 via the network interface 12 and the Internet 30, and from the server 40 via the Internet 30 and the network interface 12. To get weather forecast information.

  Next, in step S12, the control unit 11 determines whether or not it is likely to rain soon based on the acquired weather forecast information.

  For example, in the weather forecast information, if it is a rain forecast at a time close to the current time, it is determined that it is likely to rain soon, and a forecast other than rain (cloudy, sunny, etc.) at a time close to the current time If it is, it will be judged that it will not rain soon.

  If it is not likely to rain soon (No in Step S12), the process proceeds to Step S13, and the control unit 11 turns the hydraulic cylinder 3 so that the inclination angle θ with respect to the horizontal direction of the solar cell module 1 becomes a predetermined value θ1. Drive control. After step S13, the process is completed (end). The value of θ1 is the same as that in the first embodiment.

  On the other hand, if it is not likely to rain soon (Yes in step S12), the process proceeds to step S14, and the control unit 11 causes the inclination angle θ of the solar cell module 1 to the horizontal direction to be a predetermined θ2 larger than the above θ1. The hydraulic cylinder 3 is driven and controlled. After step S14, the process is completed (end). The value of θ2 is the same as that in the first embodiment.

  According to such an embodiment, if it is likely to rain soon, the inclination angle of the solar cell module 1 is set to be large, so that the cleaning effect on the surface of the solar cell module 1 can be enhanced when there is rain. .

  As a modification of the present embodiment, when the control unit 11 receives information indicating that it is raining from the external Internet 30 via the network interface 12, the control unit 11 controls the inclination angle of the solar cell module 1 to θ2, Similarly, when information indicating that it is not raining from the external Internet 30 is received, the inclination angle of the solar cell module 1 may be controlled to θ1.

  The embodiment of the present invention has been described above, but the embodiment can be variously modified within the scope of the gist of the present invention.

  For example, in the above embodiment, the hydraulic cylinder 3 is used as a mechanism for adjusting the inclination angle of the solar cell module 1, but the present invention is not limited to this, and various other mechanisms may be employed.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Solar cell module 2 Mounting frame 3 Hydraulic cylinder 3a Telescopic rod 4 Moisture sensor 5 Control part 10 Solar power generation system 11 Control part 12 Network interface 20 Solar power generation system 30 Internet 40 Server

Claims (7)

A solar cell module;
An inclination angle control unit that variably controls the inclination angle of the solar cell module with respect to the horizontal direction depending on whether it is raining, or
A photovoltaic power generation system comprising:   When the direction of the tilt angle when it is not raining is positive, the tilt angle when it is raining is controlled to a positive value larger than the tilt angle when it is not raining, or when it is not raining It is controlled by the negative value smaller than the negative value corresponding to an inclination angle, The solar energy power generation system of Claim 1 characterized by the above-mentioned.   The solar power generation system according to claim 2, wherein an inclination angle in the case of rain is + 10 ° or more and + 90 ° or less, or -10 ° or less and -90 ° or more. It has a rain judgment part that judges whether it is raining,
The solar power generation system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the tilt angle control unit variably controls the tilt angle according to a determination result of the rain determination unit. It has a moisture sensor,
The solar power generation system according to claim 4, wherein the rainfall determination unit determines whether or not it is raining based on a detection signal output from the moisture sensor. With a network interface,
The said inclination | tilt angle control part variably controls the said inclination | tilt angle based on the weather information acquired via the said network interface from the network, The any one of Claims 1-5 characterized by the above-mentioned. Solar power system.   A method for controlling a photovoltaic power generation system, comprising the step of variably controlling an inclination angle of the solar cell module with respect to a horizontal direction depending on whether it is raining or not.

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