System

Abstract

To provide a system capable of protecting solar panels when power generation by the solar panels is not performed, and to provide a system for preventing sun light from being shielded by the other solar panel in a part of a solar panel even in the case of using a plurality of solar panels.SOLUTION: A system can cover top parts of solar panels, open the top parts of the solar panels and change the height of the solar panels with the top parts of the solar panels opened. The system includes a first solar panel and a second solar panel. In the case that a side on which light receiving surfaces of the first solar panel and the second solar panel is arranged at a front and that a side on which back surfaces of the light receiving surfaces is arranged at a back, the second solar panel is behind the first solar panel, the second solar panel is located at a position higher than the first solar panel, or can be located at a position higher than the first solar panel.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a system capable of generating electricity using a solar panel.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, a portable solar power generation device has been proposed as a power source to be used in situations or locations where commercial power sources such as emergency power sources during disasters cannot be used (for example, Patent Document 1). Patent Document 1 discloses a disaster recovery trailer in which solar panels are attached to the upper surface and side surfaces of the trailer. However, in areas with heavy snowfall, facilities for storing the trailer and additional devices for removing the effects of snowfall are required.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] A first object of the present invention is to provide a system capable of protecting a solar panel when power generation by the solar panel is not being performed. A second object of the present invention is to provide a system that can suppress or prevent sunlight from being blocked by other solar panels in a part of the solar panels even when a plurality of solar panels are used.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] The object of the present invention is [1] A system including a solar panel capable of generating electricity by sunlight, capable of covering the upper part of the solar panel, capable of opening the upper part of the solar panel, and capable of changing the height of the solar panel in a state where the upper part of the solar panel is open; [2] The system according to [1], which is capable of covering the upper part and the side part of the solar panel; [3] The system according to [1] or [2], which is capable of changing the angle of the solar panel; [4] The system according to [1] or [2], comprising a control unit for controlling the height of the solar panel and a power generation means for supplying power to the control unit; [5] A system comprising a first solar panel and a second solar panel, with the side where the light-receiving surfaces of the first solar panel and the second solar panel are located being the front and the side where the back surfaces of the light-receiving surfaces are located being the rear, wherein the second solar panel is behind the first solar panel and the second solar panel is at a position higher than the first solar panel or can be set at a position higher than the first solar panel; [6] The system according to [5], which is capable of changing the angle of the first solar panel and / or the second solar panel; is achieved by.

Advantages of the Invention

[0006] According to the present invention, the solar panel can be protected when power generation by the solar panel is not being performed. Further, according to the present invention, even when a plurality of solar panels are used, it is possible to suppress or prevent sunlight from being blocked by other solar panels in a part of the solar panels.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0007]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0008] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described. However, the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments as long as it does not contravene the gist of the present invention.

[0009] (System) FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a system according to an embodiment of the present invention viewed from the side. FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the system according to the embodiment of the present invention viewed from above and from the front. FIG. 2(a) is a schematic view seen from above the system, and FIG. 2(b) is a schematic view seen from the front of the system.

[0010] The system 1 includes, for example, a solar panel 2, an upper covering portion 3a, side portions 3b, a pedestal 4, a mounting portion 5, and a rotating mechanism 6. The system 1 may include a control unit 7 as shown in FIG. 2(a). Further, the system 1 may include a solar panel 8 for the control unit and an anemometer 9 as shown in FIG. 2(b).

[0011] (Solar Panel) The system 1 can include a solar panel 2a and / or 2b capable of converting solar energy into electricity. The solar panel 2 can be attached at the mounting portion 5 and connected to the pedestal 4. As will be described later, it is possible to adjust the vertical angles of the solar panels 2a and 2b using the rotating mechanism 6. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, when the system 1 is installed on a horizontal plane and the light-receiving surfaces of the solar panels 2a and 2b are adjusted to be perpendicular to the horizontal plane, the direction perpendicular to the light-receiving surface is defined as the front-rear direction. In this case, the side with the light-receiving surface can be regarded as the front, and the side with the back of the light-receiving surface (that is, the mounting portion 5 side) can be regarded as the rear. Therefore, the solar panel 2a is located in the front, and the solar panel 2b is located in the rear.

[0012] In FIG. 1, two solar panels 2a and 2b are arranged in the front-rear direction, but the number of solar panels 2 arranged in the front-rear direction may be one, or may be three or more. The number of solar panels 2 arranged in the front-rear direction can be appropriately designed so that the total power generation amount can achieve a desired power generation amount, or according to the size of the land where the system 1 is installed.

[0013] System 1 can also arrange a plurality of solar panels 2a side by side in the left - right direction. The number of solar panels 2a arranged side by side left and right is not particularly limited. Similarly, System 1 can also arrange a plurality of solar panels 2b side by side in the left - right direction. The number of solar panels 2b arranged side by side left and right is not particularly limited. Here, the left - right direction is a direction parallel to the horizontal plane and perpendicular to the front - back direction. The number of solar panels 2 arranged side by side in the left - right direction can be appropriately designed so that the total power generation amount can achieve the desired power generation amount or according to the size of the land where System 1 is installed.

[0014] The shapes of the solar panels 2a and 2b are not particularly limited, and examples include a square, a rectangle, a polygon, a circle, a sector, etc.

[0015] The types of the solar panels 2a and 2b are not particularly limited, and any of silicon - based solar panels made of single - crystal silicon, poly - crystal silicon, amorphous silicon, etc., compound - based solar panels such as CIS, CIGS, CdTe, and organic - based solar panels can be adopted.

[0016] Fig. 2(a) shows an embodiment in which the first pedestal 4a is provided with three solar panels 2a, the second pedestal 4b is provided with three solar panels 2b, and a total of six solar panels are provided.

[0017] Although not shown in the figure, System 1 may be provided with a charging device for charging the electric power generated by the solar panel 2 and supplying power to a load. In this case, the electric power charged in the charging device can be supplied to the load via an AC / DC converter. The charging device may be connected to the solar panel 2 via a charge controller to prevent overcharging.

[0018] The load that receives power supply from the solar panel 2 or the charging device is not particularly limited. For example, this power can be supplied to homes, offices, communication facilities, etc. Even when supplying power to homes or offices, it may be used as a power source for normal use, or it can also be used as an emergency power source. These powers can function as a power source in areas without power supply facilities or as a power source until the power infrastructure is restored during a disaster.

[0019] (Upper covering part) The solar panel 2 and the pedestal 4 that supports it, etc. can be stored in a storage case, for example. The upper covering part 3a provided on the storage case can cover the upper part of the solar panel 2. That the upper covering part 3a covers the upper part of the solar panel 2 means that when the system 1 is viewed from above, the upper covering part 3a exists at a position overlapping at least a part of the solar panel 2. By providing the system 1 with the upper covering part 3a, the solar panel 2, the pedestal 4 and / or the rotation mechanism 6, etc. can be protected from snowfall, salt damage, etc.

[0020] Also, the storage case can open the upper part of the solar panel 2. For example, by removing the upper covering part 3a from the storage case, the upper part of the solar panel 2 can be opened. In addition, in the upper covering part 3, the upper part of the solar panel 2 may be made openable by using a single-opening door, a double-opening door, a shutter, a blind, etc. That the upper part of the solar panel 2 is opened means that when the system 1 is viewed from above, there is no part where the upper covering part 3a overlaps the solar panel 2, and as will be described later, even if the height position of the solar panel 2 is changed, it does not contact the upper covering part 3a.

[0021] The covering or opening of the upper part of the solar panel 2 by the upper covering part 3a may be controlled according to a control signal transmitted from the control unit 7 to the upper covering part 3a. The covering or opening of the upper part of the solar panel 2 by the upper covering part 3a can be remotely operated by a controller. In this case, a signal is transmitted from the controller to the control unit 7, and a control signal is transmitted from the control unit 7 to the upper covering part 3a, whereby the covering or opening of the upper part of the solar panel 2 by the upper covering part 3a is executed.

[0022] The system 1 can, for example, cover not only the upper part but also the side surfaces of the solar panel 2b with a storage case and the side portions 3b. By isolating the upper part and the side surfaces of the solar panel 2 from the outside, the solar panel 2, the pedestal 4, and / or the rotation mechanism 6, etc. can be protected from snowfall, salt damage, etc.

[0023] The storage case for storing the solar panel 2, the pedestal 4, etc. can be transported using a truck or a trailer.

[0024] (Change in the height of the solar panel) The solar panel 2 can change its height. As a method for changing the height of the solar panel 2, a known method can be used and is not particularly limited. The height of the solar panel 2 may be manually changeable, or may be automatically changeable by an elevating function by operating a controller or the like. By changing the height of the solar panel 2 and positioning the solar panel 2 at a position higher than the height of the side portion 3b, the solar panel 2 can receive sunlight without being blocked by the side portion 3b. When power generation by the solar panel 2 is not performed, such as during bad weather, by setting the height of the solar panel 2 to be below the height of the side portion 3b, the solar panel 2 can be housed in the storage case using the upper covering portion 3a and can be protected from the external environment.

[0025] Regarding a plurality of solar panels 2, it is possible to automatically change the height individually for each, and it is also possible to change the height simultaneously. Further, the front and rear solar panels 2a, 2b can have different heights. For example, by positioning the solar panel 2b at a higher position than the front solar panel 2a, it is possible to prevent the solar panel 2a from blocking the sunlight received by the solar panel 2b. When the solar panel 2a and the solar panel 2b are positioned at the same height or approximately the same height and the light-receiving surface is inclined at the same angle with respect to the direction of gravity, depending on the inclined angle, the sunlight received by the solar panel 2b may be blocked by the solar panel 2a, or the solar panel 2b may contact the solar panel 2a or the pedestal 4a that supports it. Even in the case where the solar panels 2a and 2b are close to each other, by positioning the solar panel 2b at a higher position than the solar panel 2a, it is possible to receive sunlight without causing such problems.

[0026] The solar panels 2a, 2b are supported by pedestals 4a, 4b via a rotation mechanism 6. The pedestals 4a, 4b have a structure that can be raised and lowered or expanded and contracted in the vertical direction, and the solar panels 2a, 2b are raised and lowered by the raising and lowering / expansion and contraction. For example, among the pedestals 4, a wire is connected to a movable part that is the object of raising and lowering, and by driving a driving part to rotate a drum around which the wire is wound, the movable part is raised and lowered. The solar panel 2 is connected to the movable part via a rotation mechanism 6, and the height of the solar panel 2 can be changed. When the wire is pulled by the driving of the driving part, the movable part rises, and the solar panel 2 also rises. When the wire is loosened by the driving of the driving part, the movable part descends, and the solar panel 2 also descends.

[0027] The change in the height of the solar panel 2 may be controlled, for example, according to a control signal transmitted from the control unit 7 to the driving part. The driving part executes the raising and lowering of the movable part of the pedestal 4 according to the control signal. The change in the height of the solar panel 2 can be remotely operated by a controller. In this case, a signal is transmitted from the controller to the control unit 7, and a control signal is transmitted from the control unit 7 to the driving part.

[0028] The legs of the pedestal 4 may include a damper mechanism such as a gas pressure damper or an oil damper that suppresses speed and impact due to the resistance of the viscous body. In this case, it is possible to suppress the impact associated with the change in the height of the solar panels 2a and 2b.

[0029] (Change in the vertical angle of the solar panel) The vertical angles of the solar panels 2a and 2b can be changed. As a method for changing the angle of the solar panel 2, a known method can be used and is not particularly limited. The angle of the solar panel 2 may be manually changeable, or may be automatically changeable by operating a controller or the like. For a plurality of solar panels 2, it is possible to automatically change the angles individually, or to change the angles simultaneously. Also, different angles can be set for the front and rear solar panels 2a and 2b.

[0030] Changing the angle means changing the angle formed between an arbitrary reference line and the light-receiving surface of the solar panels 2a and 2b. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram for explaining the state of changing the height and angle of the solar panels 2a and 2b according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3(a) shows the state of changing the height of the solar panels 2a and 2b, and FIG. 3(b) shows the state of changing the angle of the solar panels 2a and 2b. The reference line may be, for example, a line parallel to the surface of the light-receiving surface when the light-receiving surfaces of the solar panels 2a and 2b are in the vertical direction with respect to the ground, as shown in FIG. 3(b).

[0031] The angle is changed by a rotation mechanism. Specifically, a rotatable attachment is provided on the pedestal 4 provided on the back side of the solar panels 2a and 2b, and the angle of the solar panel is changed by adjusting the angle of this attachment by driving of a drive unit.

[0032] The angles of the solar panels 2a and 2b can be set as appropriate. For example, the angles of the solar panels 2a and 2b can be set so that the light reception efficiency of the solar panels 2a and 2b is maximized. For example, the angles α1 and α2 of the solar panels 2a and 2b can be rotated 30 degrees from the reference line, rotated 47 degrees from the reference line, or set to a desired angle every 1 degree after the height is changed. The setting of the angle is not limited to this, and it may be possible to set it to a desired angle steplessly, such as every 0.1 degree or every 0.5 degree.

[0033] The change in the angle of the solar panel 2 may be controlled, for example, according to a control signal transmitted from the control unit 7 to the drive unit. The drive unit executes the angle change of the solar panel 2 according to the control signal. The change in the angle of the solar panel 2 can be remotely operated by a controller. In this case, a signal is transmitted from the controller to the control unit 7, and a control signal is transmitted from the control unit 7 to the drive unit.

[0034] (Power generation means) Preferably, in addition to the solar panels 2a and 2b, the system 1 includes power generation means for supplying power to the control unit 7. As this power generation means, a solar panel 8 for the control unit that can generate power by sunlight can be adopted. The shape, size, and type of the solar panel 8 for the control unit are not particularly limited. The shape, size, and type of the solar panel 8 for control may be appropriately selected so as to achieve a desired power generation amount that can operate the control unit 7. For example, a solar panel with a power generation capacity of 200w can be used.

[0035] It is desirable to include a battery that can be charged with the power generated by the power generation means. By providing the power generation means and the battery, power can be supplied from the battery to the control unit 7 even when power generation by the solar panels 2a and 2b of the system 1 is not being performed.

[0036] (Anemometer) System 1 may be provided with an anemometer 9 shown in Fig. 2(a). The control unit 7 may control the upper covering part 3a, the height of the solar panel 2, and / or the angle of the solar panel 2 according to the wind speed data indicating the wind speed measured by the anemometer 9. For example, when the anemometer 9 detects wind speed data exceeding a preset wind speed, the angle is adjusted so that the light-receiving surface of the solar panel becomes parallel to the gravitational direction, the height of the solar panel 2 is lowered to a height at which it can be covered by the upper covering part 3a, and further control can be performed so that the solar panel 2 is covered by the upper covering part 3a.

[0037] In addition to the anemometer 9, System 1 may be provided with a device capable of acquiring external environment data. Examples of the device capable of acquiring external environment data include a pyranometer capable of acquiring solar irradiance data, a snow load detector installed on the solar panel which is a power generation means and capable of acquiring snow load data, and the like. These anemometer 9 and the device capable of acquiring external environment data may be integrally provided in System 1, or may be appropriately removably installed outside and / or externally to System 1.

[0038] When System 1 is provided with devices such as an anemometer 9 and a device capable of acquiring external environment data, it is possible to prevent the solar panel from being exposed to the external environment during bad weather.

[0039] (Expansion process) As shown in Fig. 1, the state in which the upper part of the solar panel 2 is covered by the upper covering part 3a is set as the initial state. The control unit 7 transmits a control signal to the upper covering part 3a so as to open the upper covering part 3a from the initial state.

[0040] Next, the control unit 7 transmits a control signal to the drive unit so as to change the height of the solar panels 2a and 2b. When the drive unit receives the control signal, the drive unit is driven and the height of the solar panel 2 is changed. For example, the height (from the ground to the lowest surface) of the solar panel 2a on the first pedestal 4a is set to 1 m, and the height of the solar panel 2b on the second pedestal 4b is changed to 1.5 m.

[0041] Next, the control unit 7 transmits a control signal to the drive unit so as to change the angles of the solar panels 2a and 2b, and changes the angles α1 and α2 of the solar panels 2a and 2b to the angles corresponding to the control signal in response to the drive of the drive unit. Thereby, the deployment process is completed.

[0042] The control unit 7 may appropriately acquire a wind speed meter and external environment data, and control to change the respective heights and angles of the solar panels 2a and 2b so that the power generation amount by the solar panels 2a and 2b is maximized based on the data.

[0043] Provided with a solar panel capable of generating power by sunlight, capable of covering the upper part of the solar panel, capable of opening the upper part of the solar panel, and capable of changing the height of the solar panel in a state where the upper part of the solar panel is opened, it is possible to protect the solar panel when power generation by the solar panel is not being performed.

[0044] Comprising a first solar panel and a second solar panel, when the side where the light-receiving surfaces of the first solar panel and the second solar panel are located is the front and the side where the back of the light-receiving surface is located is the rear, the second solar panel is behind the first solar panel, and the second solar panel can be at a position higher than the first solar panel or at a position higher than the first solar panel. Therefore, even when a plurality of solar panels are used, it is possible to suppress or prevent sunlight from being blocked by other solar panels in a part of the solar panel.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0045] 1 System 2 Solar Panel 3a Upper Covering Portion 3b Side Portion 4 Stand 5 Mounting Portion 6 Rotation Mechanism 7 Control Unit 8 Solar Panel for Control Unit 9 Wind Speed Meter

Claims

1. A system comprising a solar panel capable of generating electricity by sunlight, capable of covering the upper part of the solar panel, capable of opening the upper part of the solar panel, and capable of changing the height of the solar panel in a state where the upper part of the solar panel is open.

2. The system according to claim 1, capable of covering the upper part and the side parts of the solar panel.

3. The system according to claim 1 or 2, capable of changing the angle of the solar panel.

4. A control unit for controlling the height of the solar panel, and a power generation means for supplying power to the control unit, the system according to claim 1 or 2.

5. A system comprising a first solar panel and a second solar panel, with the side where the light-receiving surfaces of the first solar panel and the second solar panel are located being the front, and the side where the back of the light-receiving surface is located being the rear, the second solar panel being behind the first solar panel, and the second solar panel being at a position higher than the first solar panel or capable of being set at a position higher than the first solar panel.

6. The system according to claim 5, capable of changing the angle of the first solar panel and / or the second solar panel.

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