KR101277764B1 - Sensor for tracking solar position, photovoltaic power generating apparatus and method for tracking solar position - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a solar position tracking sensor that can improve the photovoltaic power generation efficiency by continuously detecting the sun floating position by allowing the solar panel to follow the sun, and a photovoltaic device having the same and a solar position tracking method. . The solar position tracking sensor according to the present invention includes a plurality of side sensors arranged in parallel with the solar cell panel and configured to have a constant angle with the front sensor on the edge side of the front sensor for detecting sunlight and detecting the sunlight. Include. The plurality of side sensors have the same angle with each area and front sensor. The solar position tracking sensor according to the present invention can track the position of the sun efficiently and precisely with a simple structure.

Description

Sensor for tracking solar position, photovoltaic power generating apparatus and method for tracking solar position}

The present invention relates to a photovoltaic device, and more particularly, a solar position tracking sensor capable of improving photovoltaic power generation efficiency by continuously detecting a sun floating position and allowing a solar panel to follow the sun. It relates to a photovoltaic device and a solar location tracking method.

Recently, as various problems of fossil energy emerge, interest in alternative energy is increasing. In particular, research is being actively conducted in the field of solar energy that can be used indefinitely without pollution.

Solar power generation is a semiconductor element and the control part is an electronic component, so there is no mechanical vibration or noise, and the life of the solar cell is longer than several decades, and the semi-automation or automation of the power generation system is possible. There is an advantage that can minimize the cost. In addition, photovoltaic power generation has the advantage that it can be installed and used at home because it can be generated in small scale without requiring large-scale power generation facilities.

In general, since the photovoltaic device generates electricity by using incident sunlight, the amount of power generated increases as the amount of incident light increases. Therefore, in order to make the amount of power generated by the position change of the sun relatively uniform and maximize the amount of power generation, it is necessary to configure the solar panel to follow the sun. However, since the time and location of the sun's floating change according to the location, terrain, weather, and date of installing the solar panel, it is not easy for the solar panel to follow the sun, and various techniques for overcoming this are proposed. have.

For example, Korean Patent No. 732397 (registered on June 20, 2007) discloses an apparatus and a method of tracking the position of the sun by photographing the sun with a camera. The solar position tracking apparatus and method disclosed in the above publication track the position of the sun by analyzing the brightness characteristics of the sun by using the principle that the light generated from the light source is lowered as it moves away from the light source.

However, the above-described conventional sun position tracking device should have a filter in which a camera for photographing the sun is disposed in front of the lens to protect the lens. The filter for protecting the lens reduces the transmittance of sunlight incident on the lens, which causes a limitation in tracking the position of the sun, such as distortion due to the inconsistency of the brightness difference in cloudy or cloudy days.

In addition, in the conventional solar position tracking device, if the thickness of the filter is thinned to increase the transmittance of sunlight, the life of the filter and the camera module is shortened when exposed to sunlight for a long time, and thus the maintenance cost increases due to frequent replacement or repair of parts. have.

The present invention is to solve the problems of the prior art, an object of the present invention is to provide a solar position tracking sensor having excellent efficiency and precision of the solar position tracking, and can be manufactured at a simple structure and low cost, and a photovoltaic device having the same It is to provide a location tracking method.

The solar position tracking sensor according to the present invention for achieving the above object is disposed in parallel with the solar cell panel and the front side sensor for detecting the sunlight and arranged to form a constant angle with the front side sensor on the edge side of the front side sensor and the sunlight It includes a plurality of side sensors for detecting, wherein the plurality of side sensors are the same in each area and the angle formed with the front sensor.

In the solar position tracking sensor according to the present invention, the front sensor may be formed in a square shape, and the plurality of side sensors may be disposed on each side of the front sensor to have a hexahedron shape.

The front sensor and the plurality of side sensors may be formed of a solar cell panel.

The solar cell apparatus according to the present invention for achieving the above object, a solar cell panel, a rotating frame to which the solar cell panel is tiltably coupled, a fixed frame to which the rotating frame is rotatably coupled, rotate the rotating frame Rotating device, an angle adjusting device for tilting the solar cell panel, a front sensor disposed in parallel with the solar cell panel and detecting solar light, and disposed at an edge of the front sensor so as to form a constant angle with the front sensor. A solar position tracking sensor having a plurality of side sensors for detecting the, receiving the detection signal from the solar position tracking sensor and the rotational device and the angle adjusting device so that the amount of light of the sunlight detected by the plurality of side sensors are equal It includes a control device for controlling the position of the solar panel by controlling The. The solar tracking sensor is coupled to the solar panel so as to move with the solar panel, and the plurality of side sensors are the same in each area and the angle formed with the front sensor.

The photovoltaic device according to the present invention may further include a sensor support coupled to an edge of the solar panel so as to be parallel to the solar panel to support the solar tracking sensor.

The solar cell apparatus according to the present invention may further include a communication device for transmitting a control signal of the control device for controlling the rotating device and the angle adjusting device to the outside.

The solar position tracking method according to the present invention for achieving the above object, (a) the front sensor disposed in parallel with the solar cell panel and detects sunlight and arranged to form a constant angle with the front sensor on the edge side of the front sensor. And a plurality of side sensors for detecting sunlight, wherein the plurality of side sensors are configured to receive a solar detection signal from a solar tracking sensor having a same area and a respective angle formed by the front sensor, (b Determining whether the intensity of each of the detection signals generated by the plurality of side sensors is the same; (c) the intensity of each of the detection signals generated by the plurality of side sensors is not the same; And tilting the solar cell panel so that the intensity of the detection signal is the same.

The method of tracking the sun position according to the present invention further includes the step of comparing the intensity of the detection signal generated by the front sensor and the reference light intensity after step (b), wherein the intensity of the detection signal generated by the front sensor is the reference. Step (c) may be performed only when the light intensity is greater than or equal to the intensity.

According to the present invention, the method for tracking the sun position may further include, after step (b), determining whether the current time is the day time zone and moving the solar panel to the initial position if the current time is not the day time zone. .

The solar position tracking sensor according to the present invention can track the position of the sun efficiently and precisely with a simple structure.

In addition, the photovoltaic device according to the present invention can increase the power generation efficiency of the solar cell module and maximize the amount of power generation by moving the solar cell module in accordance with the position of the sun by precisely tracking the position of the sun with a simple solar position tracking sensor. have.

1 is a perspective view showing a photovoltaic device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
2 is a side view showing a photovoltaic device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
3 is a block diagram showing a part of a photovoltaic device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
4 is a perspective view showing some components including a solar position tracking sensor of the photovoltaic device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
5 is a plan view showing a partial configuration including a solar position tracking sensor of the photovoltaic device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
6 shows another embodiment of a solar tracking sensor.
7 is a control flowchart of the solar cell apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
8 schematically shows a photovoltaic power generation facility having a photovoltaic device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings, a solar position tracking sensor according to the present invention, a photovoltaic device having the same and a solar position tracking method will be described in detail.

In describing the present invention, the sizes and shapes of the components shown in the drawings may be exaggerated or simplified for clarity and convenience of explanation. In addition, terms that are specifically defined in consideration of the configuration and operation of the present invention may vary depending on the intention or custom of the user or operator. These terms are to be construed in accordance with the meaning and concept consistent with the technical idea of the present invention based on the contents throughout the present specification.

1 is a perspective view showing a photovoltaic device according to an embodiment of the present invention, Figure 2 is a side view showing a photovoltaic device according to an embodiment of the present invention, Figure 3 is an embodiment of the present invention Is a block diagram showing a part of a photovoltaic device.

As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the solar cell apparatus 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention, the solar cell module 110, the solar cell module 110 is rotatable coupled to the tiltable 120 ), The angle adjusting device 130 for tilting the solar cell module 110, the fixed frame 140 is rotatably coupled to the rotating frame 120, the rotating device 150 for rotating the rotating frame 120 In addition, the sun position sensor 160 for tracking the position of the sun to receive the sun light, the angle control device 130 and a control device 170 for controlling the operation of the rotating device 150. Photovoltaic device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention, the control unit 170 receives the detection signal from the solar tracking sensor 160 to move the solar cell module 110 toward the sun Despite the change in the position of, the power generation can be made relatively uniform and the power generation efficiency can be increased.

The solar cell module 110 includes a plurality of solar cell panels 111 that generate electricity by receiving sunlight. The plurality of solar cell panels 111 are arranged to lie on the same plane so that the solar cell module 110 has a flat plate shape with a constant thickness. The support panel 115 is coupled to the rear surface of the solar cell module 110. The support panel 115 is tiltably coupled to the hinge device 123 provided in the rotating frame 120.

As shown in FIG. 2, the angle adjusting device 130 applies a force to the support panel 115 to tilt the support panel 115. As the support panel 115 is tilted, the angle of the solar cell module 110 may be variously changed. The angle adjusting device 130 includes a cylinder 131 and an actuating rod 132 coupled to the cylinder 131 in a retractable manner. The cylinder 131 is fixed to the holder 135 coupled to the rotating frame 120, the end of the operating rod 132 is hinged to the hinge device 117 coupled to the back of the support panel 115.

Referring to FIG. 2, when the operating rod 132 is advanced, the support panel 115 rotates counterclockwise around the hinge device 123 of the rotating frame 120 to the ground of the solar cell module 110. The angle to make becomes large. On the contrary, when the operation rod 132 is retracted, the support panel 115 rotates in a clockwise direction so that the angle formed with the ground of the solar cell module 110 becomes small. When the angle of the solar cell module 110 is adjusted by the angle adjusting device 130, the solar cell module 110 can follow the sun whose altitude changes with time.

The fixed frame 140 is fixed to the ground to rotatably support the rotating frame 120. The rotating frame 120 is rotatably coupled to the top of the fixed frame 140. A rotating device 150 is installed between the fixed frame 140 and the rotating frame 120. The rotating device 150 provides a rotating force to the rotating frame 120 to rotate the rotating frame 120. Rotating the solar cell module 110 with the rotating device 150 may allow the solar cell module 110 to follow the sun whose azimuth changes with time.

In the present invention, the coupling structure of the solar cell module 110 and the rotating frame 120, the coupling structure of the rotating frame 120 and the fixed frame 140, the structure of the angle adjusting device 130 or the rotating device 150 May be changed in various ways. That is, as the angle adjusting device 130 or the rotating device 150, various actuators or motors capable of tilting or rotating the solar cell module 110 or the rotating frame 120 may be used, and the angle adjusting device 130 may be used. The coupling structure of the solar cell module 110 and the rotating frame 120 or the coupling structure of the rotating frame 120 and the fixed frame 140 may be changed according to the structure of the rotating device 150.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the solar tracking sensor 160 is coupled to a sensor support 119 provided at one edge of the solar cell module 110 to move together with the solar cell module 110. In this way, the solar tracking sensor 160 is coupled to the sensor support 119 parallel to the solar cell module 110, so that the solar position tracking sensor 160 has the same incident angle as that of the solar light incident on the solar cell module 110. Incident. Of course, the sensor support 119 is not disposed on the same plane as the solar cell module 110, but may be disposed parallel to the solar cell module 110 while being stepped with the solar cell module 110. In addition, the sensor support 119 may be disposed on the solar cell module 110.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the solar position tracking sensor 160 includes a sensor body 161 having a hexahedron shape, a front sensor 162 and a sensor body 161 provided on an upper surface of the sensor body 161. Four side sensors 163, 164, 165, 166 disposed on four sides. The solar tracking sensor 160 is coupled to a pedestal 168 fixed to the sensor support 119, and is covered and protected by a transparent cover 169 coupled to the pedestal 168. The front sensor 162 and the four side sensors 163, 164, 165, and 166 are various photovoltaic devices capable of detecting the amount of sunlight by being irradiated with sunlight such as solar panels, photodiodes, and phototransistors. It may be made of.

The front sensor 162 of the solar tracking sensor 160 is disposed in parallel with the solar cell module 110. The four side sensors 163, 164, 165, and 166 are all formed in the same shape with the same area so as to receive sunlight under the same conditions, and the front sensor 162 and the edge of the front sensor 162. It is arranged to achieve a constant angle. That is, the plurality of side sensors 163, 164, 165, and 166 are disposed perpendicular to the front sensor 162.

When sunlight is incident perpendicularly to the front sensor 162, the amount of sunlight incident on each side sensor 163, 164, 165, 166 is the same and each side sensor 163, 164, 165 is the same. The intensity of the detection signal generated at 166 is also the same. On the other hand, when sunlight is incident on the solar positioning sensor 160 at an angle, a difference occurs in the amount of light of the sunlight incident on each side sensor 163, 164, 165, 166. The intensity of the detection signal generated at 164, 165, and 166 also appears differently. Therefore, analyzing the magnitude of the detection signal generated by each of the side sensors 163, 164, 165, and 166, it is possible to determine whether sunlight is incident on the solar cell module 110 vertically or at an angle. .

In the present invention, the structure of the solar tracking sensor 160 is not limited to the illustrated and may be variously changed. 6 shows a modification of the solar position tracking sensor.

The solar position tracking sensor 160 ′ shown in FIG. 6 has a hexahedral sensor body 161 ′ whose width gradually decreases toward the upper direction, and a front sensor 162 provided on an upper surface of the sensor body 161 ′. And four side sensors 163 ', 164', 165 'and 166' disposed on four sides of the sensor body 161 '. The four side sensors 163 ', 164', 165 'and 166' have the same shape with the same area, and all the angles formed with the front sensor 162 'are the same. Therefore, when sunlight is incident perpendicularly to the front sensor 162 ', the amount of light of the sunlight incident on each of the side sensors 163', 164 ', 165' and 166 'is the same, and each side sensor 163 is the same. The intensity of the detection signal generated at 164 ', 165' and 166 'is the same.

In addition, the structure of the solar tracking sensor can be changed in various ways. That is, the shape of the solar position tracking sensor may be changed to other shapes other than a hexahedron, and the number or arrangement interval of the side sensors, the angle between the front sensor and each side sensor may be variously changed.

The detection signal generated from the front sensor 162 and each side sensor 163, 164, 165, 166 of the solar tracking sensor 160 is transmitted to the controller 170, and the controller 170 is The solar cell module 110 is moved to control the angle adjusting device 130 and the rotating device 150 based on these detection signals so that solar light is incident on the solar cell module 110 vertically. The specific operation of this control device 170 is as shown in FIG.

The control unit 170 receives a detection signal from the front sensor 162 and each side sensor 163, 164, 165, 166 of the solar position tracking sensor 160 (S10), and each side sensor 163. It is determined whether the intensity (LS1), LS2, LS3, and LS4 of the amount of light output by the 164, 165, and 166 are the same (S20). When the light intensity (LS1) (LS2) (LS3) (LS4) of the amount of light output from each side sensor (163) (164) (165) (166) is the same, sunlight is the front sensor (162) and the solar cell module ( It can be seen that the incident perpendicular to 110. Therefore, in this case, the control device 170 does not operate the angle adjusting device 130 or the rotating device 150 so that the solar cell module 110 maintains the current state.

On the other hand, if the intensity (LS1) (LS2) (LS3) (LS4) of the amount of light output from each side sensor (163, 164, 165, 166) is not the same and there is a difference, the control unit 170 is the front It is determined whether the intensity LC of the amount of light output from the sensor 162 is equal to or greater than the reference intensity LR (S30). In this case, the reference light intensity LR may be set to a minimum light intensity at which the solar cell module 110 can generate power. When the intensity LC of the light quantity output by the front sensor 162 is smaller than the reference intensity LR, it may be regarded as a night time zone or when the weather is very cloudy.

If the intensity LC of the amount of light output from the front sensor 162 is less than the reference intensity LR, the controller 170 determines whether the current time is a daytime time zone (S40). If the current time is daytime, the weather is very cloudy. At this time, the amount of power generation of the solar cell module 110 is almost absent, so there is no gain to move the solar cell module 110. Therefore, the control device 170 receives the detection signal from the sun position tracking sensor 160 again and repeats the above-described steps. If the current time is not the daytime zone, the sun is low at night, so the controller 170 controls the rotating device 150 and the angle adjusting device 130 to move the solar cell module 110 to an initial position (S50). .

On the other hand, the intensity (LS1) (LS2) (LS3) (LS4) of the quantity of light output by each side sensor (163, 164, 165, 166) is not the same, and the intensity of the quantity of light output by the front sensor (162). If the LC is equal to or greater than the reference light intensity LR, the controller 170 calculates how much the solar cell module 110 should be rotated and tilted to face the sun. That is, the control device 170 is the solar cell module 110 from the sun from the intensity (LS1) (LS2) (LS3) (LS4) of the amount of light output from each side sensor (163) (164) (165) (166). The degree of inclination in which direction is analyzed, and the solar cell module 110 calculates the rotation angle and the tilting angle of the solar cell module 110 to face the sun (S60).

After the rotation angle and the tilting angle of the solar cell module 110 are calculated, the controller 170 controls the rotating device 150 and the angle adjusting device 130 to control the solar cell module 110 by the calculated rotation angle. At the same time as the rotation and tilted by the calculated tilting angle (S70). At this time, solar light is incident on the solar cell module 110 vertically, and thus the power generation efficiency of the solar cell module 110 is improved. Since the sun changes its position over time, the control unit 170 receives the detection signal from the solar tracking sensor 160 continuously while the sun is floating to determine the position of the sun and the solar cell module 110 The position of the solar cell module 110 is adjusted to face the sun.

As described above, the solar cell apparatus 100 according to the present invention can efficiently track the position of the sun using the solar position tracking sensor 160 having a simple structure, and the solar cell module 110 according to the position of the sun. By increasing the power generation efficiency of the solar cell module 110 can be maximized.

On the other hand, Figure 8 schematically shows a photovoltaic power plant equipped with a photovoltaic device according to the present invention. The photovoltaic power generation facility shown in FIG. 8 includes a plurality of other photovoltaic devices 200 and a central control device that do not have the photovoltaic device 100 and the solar tracking sensor 160 according to the present invention as described above. 300. The photovoltaic device 100 according to the present invention generates a control signal for the angle adjusting device 130 and the rotating device 150 from the detection signal of the solar position tracking sensor 160 to move the solar cell module 110 The control signal is transmitted to the central controller 300 through the communication line 400. The central controller 300 transmits a control signal to each photovoltaic device 100, and each photovoltaic device 200 includes a solar cell of the photovoltaic device 100 with each solar cell module 110. Each angle control device 130 and the rotation device 150 are controlled to achieve the same direction and the same angle as the module 110.

Although the drawings show that the plurality of photovoltaic devices 100 and 200 are connected by wire through the central control unit 300 and the communication line 400, the plurality of photovoltaic devices 100 and 200 and the plurality of photovoltaic devices 100 and 200 are connected. The central controller 300 may transmit and receive a signal through a wireless communication device. And the photovoltaic device 100 having the solar position tracking sensor 160 and the other photovoltaic device 100 without the solar position tracking sensor 160 by various communication devices without going through the central control unit 300 It can also be connected directly.

Thus, if the plurality of photovoltaic devices 100 and 200 are connected to each other through a communication device to enable signal transmission, all of the photovoltaic devices 100 and 200 do not have to provide a solar position tracking sensor 160. Alternatively, the solar cell modules 110 of each of the photovoltaic devices 100 and 200 may follow the sun by using the plurality of solar position tracking sensors 160. Therefore, the overall structure can be simplified, equipment costs can be reduced, and management can be convenient.

The embodiments of the present invention described above and shown in the drawings should not be construed as limiting the technical idea of the present invention. The scope of protection of the present invention is limited only by the matters described in the claims, and those skilled in the art can improve and modify the technical idea of the present invention in various forms. Accordingly, these modifications and variations are intended to fall within the scope of the present invention as long as it is obvious to those skilled in the art.

100, 200: photovoltaic device 110: solar cell module
111 solar panel 115 support panel
119: sensor support 120: rotation frame
130: angle adjusting device 140: fixed frame
150: rotating device 160: solar position tracking sensor
161: sensor body 162: front sensor
163, 164, 165, 166: side sensor 168: pedestal
169: transparent cover 170: control device
300: central control unit 400: communication line

Claims (11)

delete delete delete Solar panel;
A rotating frame to which the solar cell panel is tiltably coupled;
A fixed frame to which the rotating frame is rotatably coupled;
A rotating device for rotating the rotating frame;
An angle adjusting device for tilting the solar cell panel;
A hexahedral sensor body coupled to the solar cell panel to move together with the solar cell panel, a front sensor coupled to an upper surface of the sensor body so as to be parallel to the solar cell panel, and detecting sunlight; Four side sensors coupled to the four sides of the sensor body to form a constant angle with the front sensor on the edge of the front sensor to detect sunlight, and a transparent cover covering the sensor body, the front sensor and the four side sensors The four side sensors may include: a sun tracking sensor having an area equal to each of the area and the front sensor;
A control device which receives a detection signal from the solar position tracking sensor and controls the rotating device and the angle adjuster so that the amount of sunlight detected by the four side sensors is equal to the position of the solar cell panel; And
And a communication device for transmitting a control signal of the control device for controlling the rotating device and the angle adjusting device to the outside.
The control device receives a solar detection signal from the front sensor and the four side sensors, and compares the intensity of the detection signal generated from the front sensor with the reference light intensity, so that the intensity of the detection signal generated from the front sensor is equal to the reference. If the light intensity is greater than or equal to the intensity of each detection signal generated from the four side sensors, and if the intensity of each detection signal generated from the four side sensors are not the same each detection generated from the four side sensors After calculating the rotation angle and tilting angle of the solar cell panel so that the signal intensity is the same, the control unit is generated based on the calculated rotation angle and tilting angle of the solar cell panel, thereby generating the rotation apparatus and the angle. While controlling the control device, the control signal is transmitted to the communication device. Photovoltaic device characterized in that transmitted to the outside through.
delete The method of claim 4, wherein
The front sensor and the four side sensors are solar cells, characterized in that consisting of a solar panel.
The method of claim 4, wherein
And a sensor support coupled to an edge of the solar cell panel so as to be parallel to the solar cell panel and supporting the solar position tracking sensor.
delete delete delete delete

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