Solar charging system

Abstract

To provide a solar charging system capable of optimizing processing efficiency for power generation and heat dissipation performance against heat generation in a configuration using multiple solar panels.SOLUTION: A solar charging system is a system that uses multiple solar panels. The multiple solar panels include first solar panels and second solar panels in which the output for a predetermined amount of solar radiation is higher than the first solar panels. The solar charging system includes: a first power converter that converts the power generated by the first solar panels with the first efficiency; and a second power converter that converts the power generated by the second solar panels with a second efficiency that is higher than the first efficiency.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a solar charging system using multiple solar panels. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a solar charging system that uses multiple solar panels mounted on a vehicle. The solar charging system acquires the amount of power generated by each of the multiple solar panels and the amount of power required by the power supply destination, and appropriately controls the operation of multiple power converters provided corresponding to the multiple solar panels based on the acquired results. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2020-141545 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] When installing multiple solar panels in a limited space, they can be stacked or installed flat even if the conditions (angle, area, etc.) are slightly worse. However, when multiple solar panels are installed in this way, the amount of power generated and the amount of heat generated will differ. For this reason, if a power converter with the same performance and configuration is used to control the power of multiple solar panels, the processing efficiency for power generation and the heat dissipation performance for heat generation of each solar panel will not be optimized, which may result in unevenness.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide a solar charging system that can optimize the processing efficiency for power generation and the heat dissipation performance for heat generation in a configuration using multiple solar panels. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above problems, one aspect of the disclosed technology is a solar charging system using multiple solar panels, where the multiple solar panels include a first solar panel and a second solar panel that has a higher output for a given amount of solar radiation than the first solar panel, and the solar charging system is equipped with a first power converter that converts the power generated by the first solar panel at a first efficiency, and a second power converter that converts the power generated by the second solar panel at a second efficiency that is higher than the first efficiency. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the solar charging system of the present disclosure, a power converter with efficiency according to the output capacity of each solar panel is assigned to each of the multiple solar panels, thereby optimizing the processing efficiency for power generation and the heat dissipation performance for heat generation. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a solar charging system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] A diagram showing an example of multiple solar panels mounted on a vehicle in a multi-system structure [Figure 3] A diagram showing an example of multiple solar panels mounted on a vehicle in a multi-junction structure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] The solar charging system disclosed herein assigns a power converter to each of multiple solar panels, with efficiency (loss, heat generation, etc.) corresponding to the output capacity of each solar panel, thereby optimizing the processing efficiency of the solar panels for power generation and the heat dissipation performance for heat generation. Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0010] <Embodiment> [composition] 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a solar charging system 10 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The solar charging system 10 shown in FIG. 1 includes a first solar panel 11, a second solar panel 12, a first power converter 21, a second power converter 22, and a battery 30.

[0011] The solar charging system 10 can be installed in vehicles such as hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), and battery electric vehicles (BEVs).

[0012] The first solar panel 11 and the second solar panel 12 are devices capable of generating power according to the amount of sunlight irradiated thereon, and are typically an assembly of solar cells. While Fig. 1 shows an example in which there is one first solar panel 11 and one second solar panel 12, the number of each panel is not limited to this.

[0013] The first solar panel 11 and the second solar panel 12 have different power generation capacities. In this embodiment, the power generation capacity of the second solar panel 12 is set relatively higher than the power generation capacity of the first solar panel 11.

[0014] When first solar panel 11 and second solar panel 12 are installed side by side in different locations on a plane, for example, a solar panel with a large panel area or a solar panel whose surface receiving solar radiation is often perpendicular to the direction of the sun may become second solar panel 12 with a relatively large power generation capacity, and other solar panels may become first solar panel 11 with a relatively small power generation capacity. Whether an installed solar panel falls into the first or second category may be determined based on a predetermined criterion (such as a threshold value).

[0015] 2 shows an example of an image of a case where first solar panel 11 and second solar panel 12 are installed in a plane on vehicle 100 (multi-system structure). In the example of FIG. 2, the solar panel with a large panel area installed on the roof of vehicle 100 has a large power generation capacity and is therefore designated as second solar panel 12. In addition, the solar panels with a small panel area installed on the back door and front hood of vehicle 100, respectively, have a small power generation capacity and are therefore designated as first solar panel 11-a and first solar panel 11-b.

[0016] Furthermore, when the first solar panel 11 and the second solar panel 12 are installed three-dimensionally in the same location, for example, the solar panel placed on the top surface (hereinafter referred to as the "top layer panel"), which can directly receive solar radiation from the sun and increase the amount of power generation, can become the second solar panel 12, which has a relatively high power generation ratio to solar radiation, and the other solar panel (hereinafter referred to as the "bottom layer panel"), which indirectly receives solar radiation from the sun through the top layer panel, can become the first solar panel 11, which has a relatively low power generation ratio to solar radiation.

[0017] 3 shows an example of an image of a first solar panel 11 and a second solar panel 12 installed three-dimensionally (multi-junction structure) on a vehicle 100. In the example of FIG. 3, of the multiple-layer panels installed on the roof of the vehicle 100, the top layer panel is proportioned to generate electricity with 70% of the solar radiation and serves as the second solar panel 12. Also, of the multiple-layer panels installed on the roof of the vehicle 100, the bottom layer panel that indirectly receives solar radiation from the sun through the top layer panel is proportioned to generate electricity with 30% of the solar radiation and serves as the first solar panel 11.

[0018] The first power converter 21 and the second power converter 22 are provided corresponding to the first solar panel 11 and the second solar panel 12, respectively, and are configured to independently control the power generation of the first solar panel 11 and the second solar panel 12. While Fig. 1 shows an example in which there is one each of the first power converter 21 and the second power converter 22, the present invention is not limited to this, and a plurality of converters may be provided according to the number of the first solar panels 11 and the second solar panels 12.

[0019] The first power converter 21 typically includes a DC-DC converter that receives the power generated by the first solar panel 11, converts the received power to a predetermined voltage, and outputs the converted power. The second power converter 22 typically includes a DC-DC converter that receives the power generated by the second solar panel 12, converts the received power to a predetermined voltage, and outputs the converted power.

[0020] The first power converter 21 and the second power converter 22 have different efficiencies (loss, heat generation) for converting the power generated by the first solar panel 11 and the power generated by the second solar panel 12 into predetermined power. In this embodiment, the efficiency of the second power converter 22 (second efficiency) is set relatively higher than the efficiency of the first power converter 21 (first efficiency). The high-efficiency second power converter 22 is connected to the second solar panel 12, which has a higher power generation capacity than the first solar panel 11. The first power converter 21, which has a standard efficiency lower than that of the second power converter 22, is connected to the first solar panel 11. The outputs of the first power converter 21 and the second power converter 22 are supplied in parallel to the battery 30.

[0021] The battery 30 is a secondary battery configured to be rechargeable, such as a lithium-ion battery or a lead-acid battery. The battery 30 is connected to a first power converter 21 and a second power converter 22, and is configured to be able to be charged with power generated by the first solar panel 11 via the first power converter 21, and to be able to be charged with power generated by the second solar panel 12 via the second power converter 22.

[0022] <Effects> According to the solar charging system 10 according to the embodiment of the present disclosure described above, a high-efficiency power converter (second power converter 22) is assigned to a solar panel (second solar panel 12) that has a large power generation capacity, a large amount of power generation, or a high output relative to the amount of solar radiation, and a low-efficiency power converter (first power converter 21) is assigned to a solar panel (first solar panel 11) that has a small power generation capacity, a small amount of power generation, or a low output relative to the amount of solar radiation. In other words, a power converter having an efficiency according to the output capacity of each solar panel is assigned to each of the multiple solar panels.

[0023] This allocation method avoids problems such as high power processing by a high-loss power converter, resulting in excessive heat generation, or the wasteful use of a high-efficiency power converter for a panel with low power generation. This reduces temperature variations and uneven heat generation during power conversion using multiple solar panels, reducing the load on components. In other words, the solar charging system 10 according to this embodiment optimizes the processing efficiency of the solar panels for power generation and the heat dissipation performance for heat generation. [Industrial Applicability]

[0024] The solar charging system of the present disclosure can be used in vehicles equipped with multiple solar panels. [Explanation of symbols]

[0025] 10 Solar charging system 11, 11-a, 11-b First solar panel 12 Second Solar Panel 21 First power converter 22 Second power converter 30 Battery 100 vehicles

Claims

1. A solar charging system using multiple solar panels, the plurality of solar panels include a first solar panel and a second solar panel having a higher output for a predetermined amount of solar radiation than the first solar panel; a first power converter that converts power generated by the first solar panel at a first efficiency; a second power converter that converts the power generated by the second solar panel at a second efficiency that is higher than the first efficiency, Solar charging system.

2. The plurality of solar panels are mounted on a vehicle, the second solar panel is a panel installed on the roof of the vehicle, The first solar panel is a panel installed on at least one of a front hood and a back door of the vehicle. The solar charging system according to claim 1 .

3. the second solar panel is a panel installed on the top layer of a multi-layer panel formed by stacking two or more solar panels; The first solar panel is a panel installed on a lower surface layer other than the uppermost surface layer of the multi-layer panel. The solar charging system according to claim 1 .

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