Shading power generation device for plant cultivation and cultivation facility equipped with the same

Abstract

To provide a shading power generation device for plant cultivation and a cultivation facility that simplifies wiring around solar panels, preventing tangled wiring and other issues that may hinder work, and also facilitates replacement and maintenance of solar panels.SOLUTION: A shading power generation device A for plant cultivation includes: a power transmission cable 10 that is rotatably tensioned and wound in a loop from one end of the upper part of a support frame H to the other end using a pulley member 11 fixed to the support frame H; a winding motor M configured to be able to rotate forward and reverse around a winding shaft m1 around which the power transmission cable 10 is wound; multiple solar panels P that are arranged at predetermined intervals on the power transmission cable 10; and a storage battery that receives and stores the power generated by the power transmission cable 10. The device is configured so that when the winding motor M rotates the winding shaft m1 forward and backward, the power transmission cable 10 wound around the winding shaft m1 rotates depending on the direction of rotation and that the multiple solar panels P move forward and backward horizontally.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a shading power generation device for plant cultivation that has a shading function and a power generation function using solar panels, and to a cultivation facility equipped with the same. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, a shading power generation device for plant cultivation that has a shading function and a power generation function using solar panels, and a cultivation facility equipped with the same have been known. For example, Patent Document 1 describes a shading curtain formed by arranging a plurality of plate-shaped shading sections horizontally and connecting them with wires, and the shading curtains are stacked in three layers, each of which can be wound up around a winding shaft by motor drive, and the shading sections may be composed of solar panels. According to the shading power generation device described in Patent Document 1 and the cultivation facility equipped with the same, the degree of overlap of the shading sections of the three-layer shading curtains (or the size of the gaps between the shading sections) can be adjusted by controlling the motor, thereby making it possible to adjust the amount of light shading for plants and the amount of power generation. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2023-28600 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, in the shading power generation device for plant cultivation described in Patent Document 1 and the cultivation facility equipped with the same, the wiring around the solar panels becomes complicated, which can cause the wiring to become tangled and interfere with work. This problem becomes more pronounced the more solar panels are used in the device. In addition, replacing and maintaining the solar panels is complicated.

[0005] Therefore, the present invention aims to provide a shading power generation device for plant cultivation that solves these problems, simplifies the wiring around solar panels, prevents the wiring from becoming tangled or interfering with work, and makes it easy to replace and maintain solar panels, as well as a cultivation facility equipped with the same. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to achieve the above object, the first invention provides: a power transmission cable that is rotatably tensioned and wound in a loop shape from one end side to the other end side of an upper portion of the support frame by a pulley member fixed to the support frame; the power transmission cable is wound around a take-up motor configured to rotate a take-up shaft in both forward and reverse directions; a plurality of solar panels arranged at predetermined intervals on the power transmission cable; and a storage battery that receives and stores electric power generated by the plurality of solar panels and transmitted from the power transmission cable, When the winding motor rotates the winding shaft forward or backward, the power transmission cable wound around the winding shaft rotates according to the direction of rotation, and the plurality of solar panels move back and forth horizontally.

[0007] According to the first aspect of the present invention, the power generated by multiple solar panels can be transmitted via a power transmission cable, and by attaching multiple solar panels to the power transmission cable and winding the power transmission cable using a winding motor, the multiple solar panels can be moved (advance and retreat) horizontally. This simplifies the wiring around the solar panels and effectively prevents the wiring from becoming tangled or interfering with work.

[0008] The second invention has the same configuration as the first invention, but also: a detachment mechanism for attaching and detaching the solar panel to and from the power transmission cable; the attachment / detachment mechanism includes a first terminal box provided on a lower surface of the solar panel and a second terminal box provided on the power transmission cable, The first terminal box has a fitting hole and a first connector that is wired and connected to the solar panel. a second connector connected to the power transmission cable is disposed in the second terminal box so as to protrude upward; When the second connector is inserted into the fitting hole, the first terminal box is fixed to the second terminal box, and the first connector and the second connector are connected, enabling power to be transmitted from the solar panel to the power transmission cable.

[0009] According to the second aspect of the present invention, the solar panel can be attached to and detached from the power transmission cable by the attachment / detachment mechanism, which makes it extremely easy to replace and maintain the solar panel.

[0010] A third aspect of the present invention provides a cultivation facility in which the shaded power generation device according to the first aspect of the present invention is installed.

[0011] According to the third aspect of the present invention, the power generated by the multiple solar panels can be transmitted via the power transmission cable, and the multiple solar panels can be moved horizontally (forward and backward) by attaching the multiple solar panels to the power transmission cable and winding the power transmission cable with a winding motor. This simplifies the wiring around the solar panels, and provides a cultivation facility that can effectively prevent the wiring from becoming tangled or interfering with work.

[0012] The fourth invention, in addition to the configuration of the third invention, The light-blocking power generation device is characterized in that a plurality of the light-blocking power generation devices are arranged on the support frame with the heights of the plurality of solar panels being different from each other.

[0013] According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the effects of the third aspect of the present invention, By arranging the shading power generation device in multiple units on the support frame with the solar panels at different heights, the amount of shading can be finely adjusted, allowing plants to grow optimally. [Effects of the Invention]

[0014] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a shading power generation device for plant cultivation that simplifies the wiring around solar panels, preventing the wiring from becoming tangled or interfering with work, and also makes it easy to replace and maintain solar panels, as well as a cultivation facility equipped with the same. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0015] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a shaded power generation device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention and a cultivation facility equipped with the device. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic front view of the shaded power generation device of FIG. 1 and a cultivation facility equipped with the same. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a schematic front view of the sun-shielded power generation device of FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view of the shaded power generation device of FIG. [Figure 5] 5 is a perspective view of the main part around the winding motor in FIG. [Figure 6] 6(a) to 6(c) are explanatory diagrams for explaining the operation of the shaded power generation device. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of the wiring configuration of the sun-shielded power generation device of FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a schematic perspective view showing the configuration of the solar panel and the attachment / detachment mechanism of FIG. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a schematic front view showing the configuration of the solar panel and the attachment / detachment mechanism of FIG. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a configuration diagram of the shading power generation device of FIG. 1 and the control system of the cultivation facility equipped with it. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a schematic perspective view of a cultivation facility according to another embodiment. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a schematic front view showing the configuration of the periphery of a solar panel according to another embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0016] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. First, the overall configuration of a cultivation facility 1 in which a shaded power generation device A according to an embodiment of the present invention is disposed will be described with reference to Fig. 1. In the following description, the positive direction of the X axis shown in Fig. 1 is defined as the front, the negative direction of the X axis as the rear, the positive direction of the Y axis as the right, and the negative direction of the Y axis as the left, and the X axis direction is defined as the front-to-back direction, the Y axis direction as the left-to-right direction, and the Z axis direction as the up-down direction, but the definitions of these directions themselves do not limit the present invention.

[0017] <1. Overall structure of the cultivation facility> FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a shaded power generation device A according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention and a cultivation facility 1 equipped with the device, and FIG. 2 is a schematic front view of FIG. As shown in FIG. 1, the cultivation facility 1 according to this embodiment is a building (such as a plastic greenhouse, a vinyl greenhouse, or a glass greenhouse) formed by covering the outside of a frame constructed of steel or other framework with a translucent material, and is capable of introducing external (outdoor) sunlight U into the building. However, the cultivation facility 1 does not necessarily have to be an enclosed space inside, and may be constructed of a breathable wooden greenhouse or the like. The cultivation facility 1 may also be part of a building (a room-like structure such as a sunroom). The plants G cultivated in the cultivation facility 1 are crops that undergo photosynthesis, such as agricultural crops such as tomatoes, but are not limited thereto and may also be, for example, cedar seedlings.

[0018] The cultivation facility 1 includes a support frame H arranged indoors, the support frame H being formed by joining and fixing wooden rod-shaped framework members h into a cubic frame shape. The support frame H may also have walls and a floor. The interior space of the support frame H is equipped with a plurality of shading power generation devices A (A1-A3) that perform shading and generate electricity, a supplementary light W that irradiates crops with LED light, and an irradiance sensor S that detects irradiance. Plants G to be cultivated are planted in pots or the like. The plants G can be placed anywhere on the floor within the support frame H, and may even be grown elevated. An overall control device Q is also arranged indoors, controlling the operation of each device, including the shading power generation devices A, arranged in the interior space of the support frame H. The irradiance sensor S is arranged at an appropriate location suitable for detecting irradiance on the plants G, and is attached, for example, by being fixed to the support frame H.

[0019] In this embodiment, three sun-shaded power generation devices A (A1 to A3) are arranged in different upper and lower positions within a support frame H, and each sun-shaded power generation device A is equipped with a power transmission cable 10 for transmitting power generated by a solar panel P, a winding motor M capable of winding up the power transmission cable 10, and a housing B that houses a storage battery 43 (see Figure 7) that stores the power transmitted by the power transmission cable 10, etc.

[0020] <2. Basic configuration of the shading power generation device> Next, the basic configuration of the shaded power generation device A will be described with reference to FIGS. Fig. 3 is a schematic front view of the sun-shading power generation device A in Fig. 2, and Fig. 4 is a schematic perspective view of the sun-shading power generation device A in Fig. 2. Note that hereinafter, the rate at which sunlight U is blocked by the sun-shading power generation device A is referred to as the shading rate, and the amount of sunlight blocked is referred to as the shading amount.

[0021] As shown in Figures 2 to 4, the shading power generation device A is configured to be located on top of a support frame H above crops G, and is composed of a plurality of solar panels P arranged at regular intervals in the horizontal direction and a pair of power transmission cables 10, 10 supporting the solar panels P, and is configured to perform shading and power generation by the plurality of solar panels P. Each solar panel P has two long sides and two short sides, and is formed in the shape of a roughly rectangular plate (rectangular plate) in a plan view.

[0022] Each of the pair of power transmission cables 10, 10 is rotatably tensioned by being wound in a loop (ring shape) from one end to the other end of the support frame H (framework h) by a pulley member (iron frame pulley) 11 fixed to the support frame H. The pair of power transmission cables 10, 10 are further folded back downward by the pulley member 11 at one end and connected at their starting and ending ends to the housing B via winding motors M, M2. The winding motors M, M2 are each fixed to an appropriate position on the support frame H (framework h). Although not shown in detail, a plurality of pulleys are provided on the support frame H (framework h) at appropriate positions along the longitudinal direction of the pair of power transmission cables 10, 10 to maintain tension in the pair of power transmission cables 10, 10 and prevent slack.

[0023] The solar panels P are detachably mounted on the pair of power transmission cables 10, 10 by means of an attachment / detachment mechanism K. The attachment / detachment mechanism K will be described later. As will be described in detail later, the power transmission cables 10, 10 are configured to rotate when the winding shafts m1, m3 of the winding motors M, M2 rotate. In the illustrated example, a winding motor M and a winding motor M2 that is paired with the winding motor M (in the front-to-rear direction) are shown corresponding to the pair of power transmission cables 10, 10. The winding shaft m1 of the winding motor M and the winding shaft m3 of the winding motor M2 are connected by a connecting shaft m2 that connects the pair of winding shafts m1, m3 to each other, so that the pair of winding shafts m1, m3 rotate synchronously. The winding motor M2, which is disposed on the far side of the paper in FIG. 4, can receive rotational force from the winding motor M, which is disposed on the near side of the paper, via the connecting shaft m2. Therefore, it does not necessarily have to function as a drive source, and may simply be configured as a bearing for the winding shaft m3. Furthermore, the power transmission cable 10 at the rear of the page, which is wound around the winding shaft m3 of the winding motor M2 at the rear of the page, can also be made of a synthetic fiber rope, since the power transmission function can be performed by the power transmission cable 10 at the front of the page.

[0024] In this embodiment, as an example, the left-right width L1 of the sun-shaded power generation device A (the horizontal length of the power transmission cable 10 stretched on the support frame H) is approximately 450 cm, the front-rear width L2 (the longitudinal length of the solar panel P) is approximately 200 cm, and the short-side length of one solar panel P is approximately 30 cm. Also, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, in this embodiment, three sun-shaded power generation devices A are arranged, an upper row (A1), a middle row (A2), and a lower row (A3), and accordingly, the solar panels arranged in the horizontal direction are Because the panels P have a three-layer structure consisting of an upper layer (A1), a middle layer (A2), and a lower layer (A3), the horizontal spacing between the solar panels P is designed to be approximately 60 centimeters (cm), which is the width of two solar panels P. This creates gaps (slits) of approximately 60 centimeters (cm) between the solar panels P in the horizontal direction. As a result, when the three layers of solar panels P are moved so that they do not overlap one another, sunlight U passing through the gaps (slits) can be blocked depending on the width of the overlap. Furthermore, if the solar panels P are formed in two layers, it is preferable that the horizontal spacing between the solar panels P be the width of one solar panel P. Furthermore, in this embodiment, from the perspective of optimizing the installation space, the sun-shaded power generation device A on the middle layer (A2) is arranged in a left-right reversed orientation relative to the sun-shaded power generation devices A on the upper layer (A1) and the lower layer (A3).

[0025] <3. Winding motor configuration> FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the main part around the winding motor M of FIG. The winding motor M is an electric motor capable of rotating a winding shaft m1 in both forward and reverse directions, and is driven and controlled by a control unit C (described later). When the output shaft of the winding motor M rotates forward or backward, the winding shaft m1 connected thereto also rotates forward or backward. Depending on the direction of rotation, the power transmission cable 10 wound around the winding shaft m1 rotates, and as a result, the solar panel P disposed on the power transmission cable 10 moves (advances and retreats) horizontally. The winding motor M receives a supply of driving power from a power conditioner 41 in the housing B, and is driven and controlled by receiving a control signal from the control unit C. Therefore, the winding motor M is connected by wiring to the power conditioner 41 and the control unit C in the housing B (see FIGS. 7 and 10). Note that the wiring can be further simplified by configuring the control signal to be sent from the control unit C to the winding motor M by wireless communication means.

[0026] The power transmission cable 10 is fixed to the circumferential surface of the take-up shaft m1 by a fixing device m4. When viewed from the take-up motor M2 side of the take-up shaft m1, one side of the power transmission cable 10 has a wound portion 10a wound clockwise with respect to the fixing device m4, and the other side has a wound portion 10b wound counterclockwise. The power transmission cable 10 also has a hanging portion 10c extending further downward from the fixing device m4, and the lower end of the hanging portion 10c is connected to a power conditioner 41 (see FIG. 7) inside the housing B. When the take-up motor M rotates forward (in the direction F1), the power transmission cable 10 wound around the take-up shaft m1 rotates in one direction (moves in the direction F2). As a result, the solar panel P moves to the right (see FIG. 2). Furthermore, when the winding motor M rotates in the reverse direction (opposite to the direction F1), the power transmission cables 10, 10 rotate in the opposite direction (moving in the opposite direction to the direction F2). As a result, the multiple solar panels P arranged on the power transmission cable 10 move to the left (see FIG. 2). In this way, when the winding motor M rotates the winding shaft m1 forward or backward, the power transmission cables 10, 10 wound around the winding shaft m1 rotate according to the direction of rotation, and the multiple solar panels P move forward or backward in the horizontal direction. Note that the above-described method of winding the power transmission cable 10 is an example and is not limited to the above.

[0027] <4. Operation of the shading power generation device> 6(a) to 6(c) are explanatory diagrams for explaining the operation of the shaded power generation device A. FIG. As described above, the sun-shaded power generation device A is configured so that, when the winding motor M is driven to rotate forward or backward, the power transmission cable 10 is wound in the forward direction (direction F2 in FIG. 2) or the reverse direction depending on the amount of rotation of the winding motor M, and the multiple solar panels P move horizontally. Furthermore, as will be described later, the multiple sun-shaded power generation devices A each receive a control command from an overall control device Q, which will be described later, and operate synchronously as a whole, thereby adjusting the shading rate (amount) of the multiple sun-shaded power generation devices A (A1 to A3) as a whole.

[0028] An example of the operation of the shaded power generation device A will be described below. In the illustrated example of FIGS. 6(a) to 6(c), each of the sun-shaded power generation devices A (A1 to A3) includes five solar panels P. As described above, the width L1 of the sun-shaded power generation device A (the horizontal length of the power transmission cable 10 stretched across the support frame H) is approximately 450 cm, and the short-side length of each solar panel P is approximately 30 cm. The gaps (slits) between the solar panels P are approximately 60 cm. For convenience, the sun-shaded surface of each of the sun-shaded power generation devices A (A1 to A3) can be divided into 15 sections, each approximately 30 cm wide, as shown in the figures. Each solar panel P of the sun-shaded power generation device A is controlled by the overall control device Q to move horizontally within a range equivalent to three solar panels P (three sections), as indicated by the arrow L4 in FIG. 6(a).

[0029] FIG. 6(a) shows an example of operation when a plurality of shading power generation devices A are controlled to maximize the shading rate (amount) (in other words, an example of the arrangement of solar panels P). As shown in FIG. 6(a), when maximizing the shading rate (amount), solar panels P are arranged in each of 15 sections so that they can block sunlight without any gaps in the vertical direction. When this shading rate (amount) is maximized (complete shading state), the amount of power generated by the solar panels P is maximized. For example, it is preferable to control the solar panels to be in a complete shading state when the plants G receive sufficient sunlight in a day or at night, etc.

[0030] FIG. 6(b) shows an example of operation when controlling the solar panels P so that some of the solar radiation passes through the gaps (slits) between them. In the example of FIG. 6(b), the shading rate of the shading surfaces of the shading power generation devices A (A1 to A3) is set to approximately 66%, allowing some (approximately one-third) of the solar radiation to pass through (semi-shading state). In this semi-shading state, the size of the gaps in the vertical direction can be adjusted by moving each solar panel P horizontally to adjust its position, thereby adjusting the shading rate (amount). This makes it possible to adjust the solar radiation (illuminance) to a level favorable for the growth of plants G. For example, when the solar irradiance is above a predetermined value during the day (detected by the irradiance sensor S), it is preferable to control the solar panels to the semi-shading state in order to reduce the amount of solar radiation that is too much for plants G.

[0031] FIG. 6(c), like FIG. 6(b), shows an example of operation when the solar panels P are controlled to allow some solar radiation to pass through the gaps (slits) between them. In the example of FIG. 6(c), the area where the solar panels P overlap each other in the vertical direction is maximized, thereby allowing the maximum amount of solar radiation (approximately two-thirds) to pass through (minimum shading state). For example, when the irradiance falls below a predetermined value during the day (detected by the irradiance sensor S), it is preferable to control the solar panels to enter this minimum shading state. In other words, the multiple shading power generation devices A are appropriately controlled by the overall control device Q so that the position of each solar panel P is optimal for the growth of plants G depending on conditions such as the time and irradiance.

[0032] <5. Wiring for the shading power generation device> FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of the wiring configuration of the sun-shielded power generation device of FIG. As shown in Fig. 7, the start and end of the power transmission cable 10 are connected to a power conditioner 41 in a housing B. The power transmission cable 10 is formed in a loop shape, and by connecting the female connector 23 and male connector 24 on the solar panel P side to the male connector 33 and female connector 34 on the power transmission cable 10 side using a detachable mechanism K described below, power generated by the solar panel P is transmitted to the power transmission cable 10. Furthermore, when the solar panel P is detached from the power transmission cable 10, current flows through the bypass diode 10d.

[0033] The power conditioner 41 is an inverter device that converts DC power supplied from the solar panel P into AC power, and is connected by wiring to a DCDC converter 42 that boosts the input DC power, and the power boosted by this DCDC converter 42 is charged into a storage battery 43. The power conditioner 41 also controls the opening and closing of a switch 41a, and when the switch 41a is closed, it extracts power from the storage battery 43 and transmits it to the power distribution side. The power conditioner 41 is powered by power supplied from an external power source Bcp, but is also configured to be able to be powered by power from the storage battery 43.

[0034] The storage battery 43 is a secondary battery (battery) used in the cultivation facility 1. For example, the storage battery 43 is charged with power supplied from a power grid CP or power generated by a solar panel P. The storage battery 43 may be any battery that can store electricity by charging and can be used by repeatedly charging and discharging. For example, various storage batteries such as a lithium ion battery, a lead battery, or a nickel-metal hydride battery may be appropriately selected as the storage battery 43 depending on the purpose.

[0035] The storage battery 43 includes a BMU 44. The BMU 44 is a battery management unit (BMU) that has a self-diagnosis function for detecting abnormalities within the storage battery 43. For example, the BMU 44 measures and monitors the voltage of each cell and the temperature of the storage battery 43. The BMU 44 also detects overcharging and over-discharging during charging and discharging of the storage battery 43. The BMU 44 notifies the power conditioner 41 of the detected state of the storage battery 43. Upon receiving the notification, the power conditioner 41 turns off the relay 41a to cut off the power supply path before the storage battery 43 reaches a state where it cannot be charged. Turning off the relay 41a stops the supply of standby power from the storage battery 43 to the power conditioner 41. This prevents the storage battery 43 from being over-discharged due to the supply of standby power, thereby suppressing deterioration of battery performance.

[0036] The distribution board 45 is a device that distributes electricity among the wiring within the cultivation facility 1. For example, the distribution board 45 includes various devices such as a ground fault circuit interrupter and a molded case circuit breaker. The distribution board 45 is connected to the power conditioner 41 and supplies power from the power grid CP and the storage battery 43 to the control unit C, the winding motor M, and each of the loads 46 in the cultivation facility 1. The control unit C is a microcontroller (MCU) disposed within the housing B, is connected to the communication unit t3, and is configured to receive control commands (in other words, control signals) from an overall control device Q (described later). The control unit C controls the driving of the winding motor M based on the control commands received from the overall control device Q. The loads 46 are, for example, various devices that consume power, such as a fill light W.

[0037] <6. Solar panel attachment / detachment mechanism> Fig. 8 is a schematic perspective view showing the configuration of the solar panel P and the attachment / detachment mechanism K of Fig. 1, and Fig. 9 is a schematic front view. As shown in Fig. 8, the attachment / detachment mechanism K is configured to include a first terminal box 20 provided on the underside of one end of the solar panel P, and a second terminal box 30 provided on the power transmission cable 10.

[0038] The first terminal box 20 is provided with a pair of first fitting holes 25, 25. As shown in Fig. 9, the first terminal box 20 also houses a junction box 21 that extracts the power generated by the solar panel P, and a female connector 23 and a male connector 24 that are connected to the junction box 21 by wiring 22. The female connector 23 and the male connector 24 are arranged so that their connection portions face the first fitting holes 25, 25, respectively.

[0039] When the male connector 33 and female connector 34, which are arranged to protrude upward from the second terminal box 30, are inserted into the pair of first fitting holes, they fit into the first fitting holes 25, 25, the first terminal box 20 is fixed to the second terminal box 30, and the respective connectors are connected to the mating female connector 23 and male connector 24 on the first terminal box 20 side, enabling the transmission of power from the solar panel P to the power transmission cable 10. Note that when the solar panel P is attached to the power transmission cable 10 by the attachment / detachment mechanism K, the solar panel P can be removed from the power transmission cable 10 by pulling the solar panel P upward. In this state, as shown in FIG. 9 , a bypass diode 10d arranged in the second terminal box 30 allows the current I to flow in one direction without passing through the solar panel P.

[0040] The attachment / detachment mechanism K is configured to include the first terminal box 20, the second terminal box 30, a third terminal box 20a provided on the underside of the other end of the solar panel P, and a fourth terminal box 30a provided on the power transmission cable 10, which are paired in the front-to-rear direction. The third terminal box 20a is provided with a pair of second fitting holes 25a, 25a. The fourth terminal box 30a is provided with connectors 33a, 34a, and when these are inserted into the second fitting holes 25a, 25a, the connectors 33a, 34a fit into the second fitting holes 25a, 25a, and the third terminal box 20a is fixed to the fourth terminal box 30a. Note that the third terminal box 20a and the fourth terminal box 30a can be provided mainly for the purpose of fixation and do not necessarily need to have a power transmission function like the first terminal box 20 and the second terminal box 30. In this way, the attachment / detachment mechanism K allows the solar panel P to be attached to and detached from the power transmission cable 10.

[0041] <7. Control system configuration> FIG. 10 is a configuration diagram of the control system for the shaded power generation device A of FIG. 1 and the cultivation facility 1 equipped with it. The overall control device Q is an information processing device that is configured with a CPU, memory, programs stored in the memory, etc., and is capable of executing various control-related processes. As shown in Fig. 10, a sunlight sensor S and an operation unit S1 that accepts user operations are connected to the input side of the control device C. The overall control device Q is, for example, a personal computer, tablet, smartphone, server device, etc., and the operation unit S1 is, for example, a keyboard, touch panel, etc. The user can input various setting information, etc., into the overall control device Q by operating the operation unit S1.

[0042] Furthermore, a communication unit 51a that performs wireless communication and an auxiliary light W are connected to the overall control device Q. The communication unit 51a is a communication device capable of wireless communication, and the overall control device Q can send and receive various information to and from other devices (for example, the sun-shaded power generation device A) via the communication unit 51a. Furthermore, the auxiliary light W can be controlled to be turned on and off.

[0043] The overall control device Q includes a shading control unit q1, which is a program that controls the operation of the shading power generation device A (A1 to A3), a supplemental light control unit q2, which is a program that controls the on / off of the supplemental light W, and a setting information storage unit q3, which is a storage area that stores various setting information. The overall control device Q also includes a timing function.

[0044] The shading control unit q1 acquires detection information of irradiance from the irradiance sensor S at predetermined time intervals and calculates the integrated illuminance. Here, the setting information storage unit q3 stores information (hereinafter referred to as index data) on an index of integrated illuminance that is preferable for the growth of plants G. This index data records, for example, the numerical value of integrated illuminance that serves as an index in chronological order, with one day as the unit. The shading control unit q1 compares the calculated integrated illuminance and information on the calculated time with the numerical value of integrated illuminance at the time that serves as the index in the index data, and if the calculated numerical value of integrated illuminance is less than the numerical value of the index, it controls the shading power generation device A (A1 to A3) to reduce the shading rate (amount). Conversely, if the calculated numerical value of integrated illuminance exceeds the numerical value of the index, it controls the shading power generation device A (A1 to A3) to increase the shading rate (amount). This makes it possible to achieve an illuminance that is preferable for the growth of plants G.

[0045] The supplemental light control unit q2 acquires detected irradiance information from the irradiance sensor S at predetermined time intervals and calculates the integrated illuminance. At the same time, it acquires index data from the setting information storage unit q3. The supplemental light control unit q2 compares the calculated integrated illuminance and the calculated time information with the integrated illuminance value at the time that serves as an index in the index data, and controls the supplemental light W to turn on if the calculated integrated illuminance value is less than the index value. Conversely, if the calculated integrated illuminance value exceeds the index value, it controls the supplemental light W to turn off. This makes it possible to achieve an illuminance that is even more favorable for the growth of plants G.

[0046] Each of the sun-shaded power generation devices A (A1 to A3) is equipped with a control unit C that processes information. The control unit C is connected to a communication unit 51b, which is a communication device capable of wireless communication with the overall control device Q, and is able to receive various control commands from the overall control device Q via the communication unit 51b. The control unit C is also connected to the power conditioner 41, the BMU 44, and the winding motor M, and is configured to control these devices.

[0047] The control unit C includes an identification information storage unit c1 that stores identification information for uniquely identifying the sun-shaded power generation device A. The sun-shaded power generation device A transmits the identification information to the overall control device Q, which enables the overall control device Q to uniquely identify and control the multiple sun-shaded power generation devices A (A1 to A3) connected thereto.

[0048] The shading power generation device A according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention and the cultivation facility 1 equipped with the same are configured as described above. The power generated by the multiple solar panels P can be transmitted via the power transmission cable 10. The multiple solar panels P are attached to and supported on the power transmission cable 10, and the multiple solar panels P can be moved horizontally when the power transmission cable 10 is wound up by driving the winding motor M. This simplifies the wiring around the solar panels P, preventing them from becoming tangled or interfering with work. Furthermore, each solar panel P is configured to be detachable from the power transmission cable 10 using the attachment / detachment mechanism K, making replacement and maintenance of the solar panels P extremely easy. Furthermore, by arranging the multiple shading power generation devices A (A1-A3) on the support frame H with the multiple solar panels P at different heights, the amount of shading can be finely adjusted, allowing for optimal plant growth.

[0049] <8. Other Embodiments> Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments and may be modified as appropriate within the scope of the technical concept. FIG. 11 is a schematic perspective view of a cultivation facility 1 according to another embodiment. In the above embodiment, an example was shown in which one support frame H was arranged in the cultivation facility 1 and various devices such as the sun-shade power generation device A were arranged in the support frame H. However, as shown in FIG. 11 , multiple support frames H can be arranged in the cultivation facility 1 and various devices such as the sun-shade power generation device A can also be arranged. In this case, each support frame H can be a room separated by a wall. Furthermore, in this other embodiment, it is possible to control all of the various devices such as the sun-shade power generation device A using a single overall control device Q.

[0050] Furthermore, the multiple sun-shaded power generation devices A may be arranged with dimensions that allow a predetermined overlap when in a completely shaded state (for example, in the example shown in FIG. 6(a), if the dimension of each solar panel P is 36 cm, the overlap will be 6 cm). This allows for good shading in response to changes in the angle of sunlight during the day.

[0051] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, three of the multiple sun-shading power generation devices A are arranged on one support frame H, but the number may be other than three. For example, two, four or more may be arranged. In this case, it is preferable that each solar panel P is formed to a size that allows complete shading by the multiple sun-shading power generation devices A.

[0052] In the above-described embodiment, the multiple solar panels P of the lowest-level sun-shaded power generation device A (A3) may be fixed. Alternatively, the lowest-level sun-shaded power generation device A (A3) may be configured to supply power to the illuminance sensor S. Furthermore, as shown in Fig. 12, a small buffer battery 23a configured to allow power generated by the solar panel P to be branched off and extracted from the junction box 21 by wiring 26 may be disposed below each solar panel P (inside the first terminal box 20), and the small battery 23a and connector 27 may be connected by wiring 26, thereby enabling power to be supplied from the small battery 23a to various sensors S2, a communication module S3, and other devices (e.g., a ventilation fan) connected to the connector 27. As a result, for example, detection information detected by the various sensors S2 can be transmitted via the communication module S3 to the control unit C or to the overall control device Q, which can then record the detection information and control the shading power generation device A and the supplemental light W based on the detection information, thereby enabling detailed measurement, management, and analysis of the growth environment of the plants G within the cultivation facility 1. The connector 27 can be, for example, a connector using a USB interface or a power plug. It is also preferable that the lowest-level shading power generation device A (A3) be configured to supply power to various devices (e.g., a blower, a carbon dioxide supply device, various sensors, etc.) that can be arranged near the floor of the cultivation facility 1 via cables, connectors, etc. [Explanation of symbols]

[0053] 1. Cultivation facility 10 Power transmission cables 11 Pulley parts (iron frame pulleys) 23 Female connector (solar panel side) 24 Male connector (solar panel side) 33 Male connector (power transmission cable side) 34 Female connector (power cable side) 41 Power Conditioner 41a Switch A. Shaded power generation device B chassis C control section G plant h Frame material H Support frame K Detachable mechanism M Winding motor m1, m3 winding shaft m2 connection shaft m4 fixture P Solar panel Q Overall control device S Sunlight sensor W supplementary light

Claims

1. a power transmission cable that is rotatably tensioned and wound in a loop shape from one end side to the other end side of an upper portion of the support frame by a pulley member fixed to the support frame; the power transmission cable is wound around a take-up motor configured to rotate a take-up shaft in both forward and reverse directions; a plurality of solar panels arranged at predetermined intervals on the power transmission cable; and a storage battery that receives and stores electric power generated by the plurality of solar panels and transmitted from the power transmission cable, When the winding motor rotates the winding shaft forward or backward, the power transmission cable wound around the winding shaft rotates in accordance with the direction of rotation, causing the multiple solar panels to move back and forth horizontally.

2. a detachment mechanism for attaching and detaching the solar panel to and from the power transmission cable; the attachment / detachment mechanism includes a first terminal box provided on a lower surface of the solar panel and a second terminal box provided on the power transmission cable, The first terminal box has a fitting hole and a first connector that is wired and connected to the solar panel. a second connector connected to the power transmission cable is disposed in the second terminal box so as to protrude upward; The shaded power generation device for plant cultivation described in claim 1, characterized in that when the second connector is inserted into the fitting hole, the first terminal box is fixed to the second terminal box, and the first connector and the second connector are connected, making it possible to transmit power from the solar panel to the power transmission cable.

3. A cultivation facility in which the shading power generation device according to claim 1 is installed.

4. The cultivation facility according to claim 3, wherein the sun-shading power generation device is arranged on the support frame with the heights of the solar panels being different vertically.

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