JPH1131838A - Light-collecting type solar cell apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide at all times efficient power generation independently of the set attitude of a power generation unit. SOLUTION: In each of power generation units 1A and 1B, a condenser lens and a solar cell, wherein solar light collected with the condenser lens is detected to generating electricity are housed, and the solar cell is moved relative to the condenser lens by a drive motor. The output current of the power generation units 1A and 1B is detected with current detecting resistors 51 and 52, while a computer 81 adjusts relative position between the condenser lens and the solar cent in each or power generation units 1A and 1B, so that a detected output current is maximum.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a concentrating solar cell device, and more particularly to a solar cell device which is always positioned near a focal point of a converging lens by changing a relative position between the converging lens and the solar cell. The present invention relates to a concentrating solar cell device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Japanese Patent Application No. 8-357896 proposes a concentrating solar cell device capable of efficiently condensing light on a solar cell by a simple mechanism instead of a conventional tracking mechanism. This device always positions the solar cell near the focal point of the condenser lens by changing the relative position of the condenser lens and the solar cell according to the movement of the sun by the driving mechanism provided in the power generation unit. It is like that.

[0003]

When a power generation unit is installed on a roof of a house or the like, it is often the case that the power generation unit is not placed in a predetermined posture due to an error at the time of installation or the like. Therefore, even if the relative position between the condenser lens and the solar cell is changed according to a pre-programmed procedure by estimating the solar altitude of the installation location or the like, the solar cell may not always come near the focal point of the condenser lens. Therefore, in the above-mentioned prior application, a detection lens having the same shape as the condensing lens is provided, and the position of the condensed spot by the detecting lens is detected by a position sensor or the like having a photodiode arranged in a plane, and the detection result is obtained. The relative position between the condensing lens and the solar cell is corrected according to. However, if the relative position between the condenser lens and the detection lens fluctuates or the detection accuracy of the position sensor is not sufficient, the solar cell may not be able to be reliably positioned at the focal position of the condenser lens. It is necessary to provide a detection lens in addition to the optical lens.

Accordingly, the present invention solves such a problem, and a concentrating solar cell capable of constantly and efficiently generating power without providing a detecting lens or the like regardless of the installation posture of the power generation unit. It is intended to provide a device.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, a condensing lens (6) and a solar cell (4) for generating electricity by receiving sunlight condensed by the condensing lens (6) are provided. ) And a moving drive means (2A, 2A,
2B) and a power generation unit (1A, 1B) incorporating the power generation unit (1A, 1B).
1B) means (51, 52) for detecting the output current, and a power generating unit (1A, 1B) for maximizing the output current.
And a position adjusting means (81) for adjusting the relative position between the condensing lens (6) and the solar cell (4) by the movement driving means (2A, 2B). In addition, the code | symbol in the parenthesis of each said means shows the correspondence with the concrete means described in embodiment mentioned later.

In the present invention, the relative position between the condenser lens and the solar cell in the power generation unit is adjusted so as to maximize the output current, so that even if the installation posture of the power generation unit deviates from the expected posture. Regardless of this, efficient power generation is always performed. Further, since it is not necessary to provide a detection lens or the like other than the condensing lens, it is not necessary to secure an installation space for this and to take the trouble of installation.

[0007] After the relative position between the condenser lens and the solar cell is changed by a procedure programmed in advance by estimating the solar altitude of the installation location and the like, the relative position between the condenser lens and the solar cell is maximized so as to maximize the output current. It is good also as composition which further corrects and adjusts a position.

[0008]

FIG. 1 is a cutaway plan view of a power generation unit 1, and FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II-II of FIG. The power generation unit 1 has a container-like casing 11 which is open upward in a rectangular shape in plan view, and has a rectangular storage chamber 12 formed in the center of the bottom wall thereof in plan view. Storage room 1
2 is surrounded by a rectangular side wall, the bottom wall of which is a casing 11
2 is stepped down from the bottom wall (FIG. 2), and a part thereof is opened downward to form a wiring port 121. The storage room 12 is closed with a top plate 122 liquid-tightly covered on the side wall,
An X-axis motor 2A and a Y-axis motor 2B which constitute a driving mechanism as a moving driving means are disposed therein. These motors 2A and 2B are pulse motors or DC motors.

One end of a threaded shaft 22 is coupled to the Y-axis motor 2B by a coupling 21 at its output shaft projecting downward in FIG. Threaded shaft 22
Extends in the up-down direction (Y-axis direction) in FIG. 1, and both ends thereof are supported by bearings 25 and are positioned parallel to the bottom wall of the casing 11 (FIG. 2). A travel nut 26 is provided on the threaded shaft 22. The travel nut 26 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape. The lower surface of the travel nut 26 is slidably in contact with the bottom wall of the casing 11, and the threaded shaft 22 penetrates a female screw portion formed at the lower end. A guide shaft 261 penetrates the travel nut 26 in a direction perpendicular to the threaded shaft 22 (X-axis direction). When the Y-axis motor 2B is rotated forward and backward, the travel nut 26 moves forward and backward in the Y-axis direction along the threaded shaft 22.

A pair of left and right output shafts protrude from the X-axis motor 2A located at the center in the longitudinal direction of the storage chamber 12, and one end of a threaded shaft 23, 24 is connected to each output shaft by a coupling 21. . Each of the threaded shafts 23 and 24 extends in the X-axis direction, and both ends are supported by bearings 25. Travel nuts 27 and 28 having the same shape and the same structure as the travel nut 26 are mounted on the threaded shafts 23 and 24, respectively.
71 and 281 penetrate in the Y-axis direction. X axis motor 2
When A is rotated forward and backward, the left and right travel nuts 27, 2
8 moves forward and backward by the same amount in the same direction of the X axis along the threaded shafts 23 and 24.

In the inner space of the casing 11, a square resin support plate 3, which is slightly smaller, is provided.
On the lower surface of the support plate 3, engaging pieces 31A, 31B, 32A, 32B, 33A, 3
3B, 34A, 34B, 35A, 35B, 36A, 36
B is provided. These engagement pieces 31A to 36B are paired and extend downward in parallel (FIG. 2), are fitted to the respective guide shafts 261 to 281 from above, and their inner surfaces are in contact with the side surfaces of the guide shafts 261 to 281. Is engaged. Each of the engagement pieces 31A to 36B is a travel nut 26 to
When the travel nut 26 is moved in the Y-axis direction along the threaded shaft 22 by the Y-axis motor 2B, the guide shaft 26
The engaging pieces 31A to 32B on the lower side engaging with 1 move integrally therewith, and the support plate 3 moves as a whole in the Y-axis direction. On the other hand, each travel nut 2 is driven by the X-axis motor 2A.
When the guide shafts 7 and 28 are moved in the X-axis direction along the threaded shafts 23 and 24, the respective guide shafts 271 and 28
The engaging pieces 33A to 36B on the left and right sides that engage with 1 move integrally therewith, and the support plate 3 moves in the X-axis direction as a whole.

A large number of solar cells 4 are provided on the support plate 3 at intervals. An open portion of the casing 11 is covered with a cover plate 13, and a large number of Fresnel lenses 6 as condensing lenses are provided in the cover plate 13 so as to correspond to the respective solar cells 4. The parallel sunlight reaching the Fresnel lens 6 from above (in the direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. 1) is converged by each Fresnel lens 6 to a focal point immediately above each solar cell 4, and then within the light receiving surface of the solar cell 4. Incident on the solar cell 4 as a condensed spot having a size that can be accommodated. The respective solar cells 4 are connected to each other by printed wiring formed on the support plate 3, and the generated current is taken out of the support plate 3 to the outside of the power generation unit 1 by a lead wire (not shown).

In FIG. 1, cam followers 37 project from the lower surface of the support plate 3 at positions inside the four corners. The cam follower 37 is a tapered conical body, and its tip is located on the cam surface of the cam body 7 provided on the bottom wall of the casing 11 to support the support plate 3. The cam body 7 has a cylindrical shape and is fixed on a square base. The cam surface of the cam body 7 has a curved shape and is inclined downward from the outer peripheral part to the center part, and the cam body 7 is in the shape of a circular die as a whole. The support plate 3 supported by the cam follower 37 is connected to each of the motors 2 described above.
When the support plate 3 is moved in the X-axis direction or the Y-axis direction by A and 2B, the support plate 3 moves vertically upward along the cam surface of the cam body 7 according to the moving distance from the center of the cam surface of the cam body 7 (see FIG. 1). (Vertical direction of the paper).

1 and 2, a water supply / drainage pipe 14 is branched and connected to the side wall of the casing 11, and
Is supplied with water. With this water, the solar cells 4 on the support plate 3 are radiated and cooled, and buoyancy acts on the support plate 3 so that the cam follower 37 lifts vertically upward.

A plurality (for example, twelve) of the power generation units 1 having the above-described configuration are usually provided. FIG. 3 shows the power generation unit 1A,
The case where two 1B are provided is shown. These power generation units 1
A and 1B positive output leads are connected to relay 5
The common power supply line 56 is connected to the DC-AC inverter 55 via the contacts c and a of the terminals 3 and 54, while the negative output lead wire is connected to the DC-AC inverter by the common power supply line 57. The coils 531 and 541 of the relays 53 and 54 are connected to a relay driving circuit 8 in the control device 8.
7, the magnetizing operation is performed as described later. Current detecting resistors 51 and 52 are provided between the contact points b of the relays 53 and 54 and the power supply line 57, respectively, and the terminal voltages of the current detecting resistors 51 and 52 are connected to the current detecting circuit 8 in the control device 8.
4, and is converted into a digital signal by the A / D converter 85. The digital signal is input to the CPU 811 of the computer 81 via the input interface 814.

The above-described X-axis motor 2A and Y-axis motor 2B (FIG. 1) in each of the power generation units 1A and 1B correspond to an X-axis motor drive circuit 82 provided in the control device 8 corresponding to these.
And the Y-axis motor drive circuit 83 (FIG. 3 shows only the wiring to the power generation unit 1A).
X-axis motor drive circuit 82 and Y-axis motor drive circuit 83
Are output in X and Y directions with respect to the support plate 3 via the output interface 813 of the computer 81, and drive pulses are output to the X-axis motor 2A and the Y-axis motor 2B based on this. Also,
The control device 8 is provided with a data setting section 86 in which the longitude, latitude, installation azimuth, installation inclination angle, etc. of the power generation unit installation location are set, and these set values are transmitted to the computer 81 via the input interface 814. Input to CPU 811. Further, the computer 81 has a memory 812 for storing a control program and data.

In such a concentrating solar cell device,
The computer 81 supports the power generation units 1A and 1B at the power generation start time (for example, 9:00 am) based on the data such as the longitude, latitude, and installation azimuth of the power generation unit installation location set by the data setting unit 86. X direction of plate 3,
The moving coordinate positions x and y in the Y direction are calculated and output. The same value is output to both the power generation units 1A and 1B for the moving coordinate positions x and y. Thereby, each power generation unit 1
The X-axis motor 2A and the Y-axis motor 2B in A and 1B are activated, and the cam follower 37 is moved to a predetermined position on the cam surface of the cam body 7, whereby the support plate 3 moves in the three-dimensional direction. . In this way, at the start of power generation, the support plates 3 in all the power generation units 1A and 1B move greatly by the same amount, and the parallel sunlight incident on each Fresnel lens 6 at that time is appropriately condensed. Each solar cell 4 on the support plate 3 is moved near the position where the spot is formed.

Next, the computer 81 excites the coil 531 of the relay 53 via the relay drive circuit 87 to make the contacts b and c conductive. As a result, the output current of the power generation unit 1A flows through the current detection resistor 51, and a terminal voltage proportional to the output current is input to the current detection circuit 84.
The computer 81 outputs drive pulses to the X-axis motor 2A and the Y-axis motor 2B in the power generation unit 1A via the motor drive circuits 82 and 83 so that the detected current value becomes maximum. As a result, each of the solar cells 4 on the support plate 3 is corrected and moved to a position where the sunlight forms an appropriate condensed spot, and is accurately positioned to produce a maximum output. When the position adjustment of the solar cell 4 in the power generation unit 1A is completed, the computer 81 excites the coil 541 of the relay 54 instead of the coil 531 of the relay 53, and outputs the output current of the power generation unit 1B via the relay contacts b and c. The current flows to the current detection resistor 52. The computer 81 is the same as the power generation unit 1 described above.
B so that the detected current value of B becomes maximum.
Drive the X-axis motor 2A and the Y-axis motor 2B in B,
The position of each solar cell 4 on the support plate 3 is adjusted. Such position adjustment of the solar cell 4 in each of the power generation units 1A and 1B is performed, for example, every 15 minutes.

When the position of the solar cell 4 is not adjusted, the coils 531 and 541 of the relays 53 and 54 are not energized, and the contact points a and c are electrically connected to each other. Output current of 1A, 1B is DC-AC
It is output to a converter 55, where it is converted to an AC output and supplied to an unillustrated electrical device.

In the above embodiment, the solar cell is moved with respect to the Fresnel lens, but the Fresnel lens may be moved with respect to the solar cell.

[0021]

As described above, according to the concentrating solar cell device of the present invention, the relative position between the converging lens and the solar cell is adjusted so as to maximize the output current of the power generation unit.
Without providing a detection lens or the like, efficient power generation can always be performed regardless of the installation posture of the power generation unit.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cutaway plan view of a power generation unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken along line II-II of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a block wiring diagram of the solar cell device.

[Explanation of symbols]

1, 1A, 1B ... power generation unit, 2A ... X-axis motor (moving drive means), 2B ... Y-axis motor (movement drive means), 4
... Solar cell, 51, 52 ... Current detection resistor (means for detecting output current), 6 ... Fresnel lens (condensing lens), 8
1. Computer (position adjusting means).

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Shigeo Terada 41-cho, Yokomichi, Nagakute-cho, Aichi-gun, Aichi Prefecture Inside Toyota Central Research Laboratory Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Takashi Sagae Wanowari Arao-cho, Tokai-shi, Aichi No. 1 Inside Aichi Steel Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Naoki Ishikawa No. 1 Wanowari Arao-cho, Tokai City, Aichi Prefecture Inside Aichi Steel Co., Ltd.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A condensing lens, a solar cell that generates power by receiving sunlight condensed by the condensing lens, and a moving driving unit that relatively moves one of the condensing lens and the solar cell with respect to the other. A concentrating solar cell device having a built-in power generation unit, wherein a means for detecting an output current of the power generation unit and a relative position of a condensing lens and a solar cell in the power generation unit are moved so as to maximize the output current. A concentrating solar cell device comprising: a position adjusting means for adjusting by a driving means.