Solar battery device and coating member applied thereto

Abstract

To provide a solar battery device and a coating member applied thereto in which a structure of connector connection between solar battery modules can be simplified and the connection can be strengthened so that the solar battery device can be easily attached / detached, an internal terminal thereof can be protected against an external environment, and the solar battery device can be adopted in various environments.SOLUTION: A coating member 201 having a structure for sealing from the outside a first connector 90a and a second connector 90b connected to each other includes two removable coating members, an upper coating member 210a and a lower coating member 210b.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a solar cell device and a connector covering member applied thereto, and more particularly to a solar cell device with an improved connection structure and a connector covering member applied thereto. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, interest in alternative energy sources has been growing due to the predicted depletion of existing energy resources such as oil and coal. Solar cells have attracted attention as a next-generation battery that can convert solar energy into electricity.

[0003] A solar panel equipped with solar cells is connected to a junction box, and the junction box is connected to a DC-AC inverter via a DC output cable drawn from the junction box. For example, DC voltage or current transmitted via the (+) terminal output cable and the (-) terminal output cable drawn from the junction box is converted into AC voltage or AC current by the DC-AC inverter. In this case, multiple solar panels may be used simultaneously by connecting one solar panel to an adjacent solar panel, or various solar panel types may be connected and used as needed.

[0004] In this case, the outputs of the multiple solar panels are connected in series by connecting the output cable of the (+) terminal of the connection box of the solar panel in series with the output cable of the adjacent (-) terminal, and then connected to the DC-AC inverter, so that AC power can also be output.

[0005] The connection of the output cables described above, which are configured to connect the outputs of the connection boxes of adjacent solar panels in series with each other, can be made in various ways, such as male-female connections or socket connections.

[0006] The terminals of the two output cables connected as described above are exposed to various external environments.

[0007] For example, corrosion and electrical damage caused by moisture due to exposure to the external environment become a problem, and the device cannot withstand various external physical shocks.

[0008] That is, there is a risk of various climate changes such as strong winds, cold waves, and snowfall, as well as the risk of physical collisions from outside.

[0009] To prevent this, various protective devices have been proposed.

[0010] A typical protector has a plastic body that surrounds two connected terminals and is attached with a sealing adhesive to protect the terminals.

[0011] However, this type of protective equipment is fixed with adhesive and cannot be removed, making partial replacement impossible and maintenance in the event of a malfunction difficult.Furthermore, because adhesive is required, assembly is difficult.

[0012] Furthermore, Korean Patent Publication No. 10-1158500 discloses a sealing cover that surrounds the connection portion 90 of two terminals. In the case of the sealing cover described above, after joining the two terminals, the connection portion can be protected again by providing a separate sealing cover that screws onto the outer surfaces of the terminals.

[0013] However, in view of the above-described conventional technology, although it is possible to prevent corrosion of the connection portion due to moisture or the like, there is a problem in that it is difficult to protect the entire terminal from damage due to physical impact or the like. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0014] [Patent Document 1] Korean Patent Publication No. 10-1158500 (registered June 14, 2012) Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0015] The present disclosure aims to provide a solar cell module having a simple structure, adjacent solar cell modules and / or inverters, which allows for a simplified connection structure, and a solar power generation device including the same.

[0016] The present disclosure is intended to provide a covering member that strengthens the connection between adjacent solar cell modules and / or inverters, is easy to disassemble and assemble, and thus can provide protection from the outside.

[0017] The present disclosure also contemplates providing a connector covering member that is manufactured in separate upper and lower halves and then fastened by joining, thereby enabling easy removal and fastening, repairability, and an extended service life while improving mechanical reliability. [Means for solving the problem]

[0018] A solar power generation device according to some embodiments of the present disclosure includes a plurality of solar cell modules including at least a first solar cell module and a second solar cell module adjacent to each other, and a covering member that protects a connection electrically connecting the first solar cell module and the second solar cell module. Each of the plurality of solar cell modules includes a solar cell panel, a frame fixed to a peripheral edge of the solar cell panel, and a junction box including a DC output cable connected to the solar cell panel, receiving a DC output, and transmitting the received DC output to an external device. When the DC output cable of the first solar cell module and the DC output cable of the second solar cell module are connected to each other with a connector to realize the connection, the covering member seals and protects the connection.

[0019] In one or more embodiments, the covering member may include a lower covering member that covers a lower portion of the connection portion, and an upper covering member that covers an upper portion of the connection portion and is coupled to the lower covering member to seal the connection portion.

[0020] In one or more embodiments, the lower covering member may be the same shape as the upper covering member.

[0021] In one or more embodiments, the lower covering member may include a recess that accommodates the connection portion and a flange portion that extends around the recess and abuts the upper covering member.

[0022] In one or more embodiments, the lower covering member may have cable portions disposed on both ends of the recess, the cable portions accommodating the DC output cables connected from the connection portions.

[0023] In one or more embodiments, the connector of the first solar cell module and the connector of the second solar cell module are connected to each other to form a connection portion that is housed in a recess, and a DC output cable connected to one end of the connector is housed in a cable recess of the cable portion.

[0024] In one or more embodiments, the flange portion may further include a sealing portion that surrounds the recess and seals the recess from the outside.

[0025] In one or more embodiments, the seal may protrude from the flange at a predetermined height.

[0026] In one or more embodiments, the seal may have a lower hardness than the flange and recess.

[0027] In one or more embodiments, the lower covering member may further include a plurality of locking portions that protrude upward from the edge of the flange portion and join with the upper covering member.

[0028] In one or more embodiments, the multiple locking portions are spaced apart from one another and arranged in a staggered manner around the recess.

[0029] In one or more embodiments, the flange portion may further include a protrusion that protrudes downward at a position facing the locking portion.

[0030] In one or more embodiments, the locking portion may be coupled to the protrusion on the upper and lower shielding members that are arranged to accommodate the connecting portion.

[0031] In one or more embodiments, the multiple locking portions of the lower covering member may be spaced apart from each other and face each other with the recess at the center.

[0032] In one or more embodiments, the upper shielding member may include a plurality of protrusions that protrude upward to correspond to the plurality of locking portions of the lower shielding member.

[0033] Furthermore, some embodiments of the present disclosure provide a solar cell device connector covering member configured to protect a connection portion electrically connecting adjacent solar cell modules, and including a lower covering member that covers a lower portion of the connection portion, and an upper covering member that covers an upper portion of the connection portion and is coupled to the lower covering member to seal the connection portion.

[0034] In one or more embodiments, the lower covering member or the upper covering member may include a main body portion including a recess formed to accommodate the connection portion and a cable recess formed to protrude from both ends of the recess and accommodate a DC output cable connected to the connection portion, and a flange portion extending around the recess and the cable recess and abutting against the upper covering member or the lower covering member.

[0035] In one or more embodiments, the connector of one solar cell module and the connector of another solar cell module contact each other to form a connection that is accommodated in the recess, and a DC output cable is connected to one end of the corresponding connector and accommodated in the cable recess.

[0036] In one or more embodiments, the flange portion may further include a sealing portion that surrounds the recess and protrudes at a predetermined height to seal the recess from the outside, and the sealing portion is integrally formed with the cable recess.

[0037] In one or more embodiments, the lower covering member may further include a plurality of locking portions that protrude upward from the edge of the flange portion and join with the upper covering member, and a plurality of protrusions that protrude downward at positions facing the plurality of locking portions.

[0038] Technical effects

[0039] The above technical means can provide a connector connection and a covering member that can strengthen the connection while ensuring a simple structure for connecting the connectors between solar cell modules.

[0040] Furthermore, the connector covering member can be easily disassembled and reassembled, and can protect the internal terminals from the outside, making it applicable to a variety of environments.

[0041] Furthermore, the connector covering member can be manufactured in separate upper and lower halves, which can then be joined and fastened, making it easy to remove and fasten, and repairable. Furthermore, since the separation can be performed without additional tools or equipment, it is possible to improve mechanical reliability and extend the service life.

[0042] Furthermore, the upper and lower parts of the covering member may be realized with the same shape for ease of manufacturing and transportation.

[0043] In addition, to simplify manufacturing and improve sealing, the housing and the sealing portion of the covering member can be realized simultaneously by using two different materials in a common injection molding mold, thereby protecting the internal connector. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0044] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view illustrating a solar module according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view showing the solar cell module of FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line III-III′ in FIG. [Figure 4] 2 is a perspective view showing a solar power generation device formed by connecting the solar cell module of FIG. 1 to an adjacent solar cell module. FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is an enlarged exploded perspective view of the connection portion of FIG. 4. [Figure 6] 6 is a front view of the lower covering member of the covering member shown in FIG. 5, taken along the X-axis. [Figure 7] 6 is a view of the covering member shown in FIG. 5 as seen from above along the Z axis. [Figure 8] 6 is an enlarged view of the locking portion of the covering member shown in FIG. 5. [Figure 9] FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of a sealing portion of the covering member shown in FIG. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a state in which a connector connected to a lower covering member is installed. [Figure 11] 6 is a cross-sectional view of a state in which the covering member of FIG. 5 accommodates the connecting portion. [Figure 12] 10 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the structure of a covering member according to some other embodiments of the present disclosure. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0045]

[0023] The present disclosure will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the present disclosure is not limited to such embodiments and various modifications are possible.

[0046] In order to clearly and concisely describe the present disclosure, parts that are not relevant to the description are omitted in the accompanying drawings, and the same reference numerals are used for the same or very similar parts throughout the specification. In addition, in order to make the description clearer, thicknesses, widths, etc. are shown enlarged or reduced in the accompanying drawings, and the thicknesses, widths, etc. in the present disclosure are not limited to those shown in the accompanying drawings.

[0047] Furthermore, throughout this specification, when a portion is referred to as "comprising" another portion, the other portion is not excluded and may be included unless otherwise specified. Also, when a portion of a layer, film, region, panel, etc. is referred to as being "on" another portion, it includes not only being "directly on" the other portion, but also having the other portion located therebetween. When a portion of a layer, film, region, panel, etc. is referred to as being "directly on" another portion, it means that there is no other portion located therebetween.

[0048] Solar cell modules and solar power generation devices using the same according to some embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0049] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a solar cell module according to some embodiments of the present disclosure, FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the solar cell module of FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line III-III' of FIG. 1, and FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a solar power generation device formed by connecting the solar cell module of FIG. 1 to an adjacent solar cell module.

[0050] 1 to 3, a solar cell module 100 according to some embodiments includes a solar cell panel 10 including solar cells 12, and a junction box 30 connected to the solar cell panel 10 and including a DC output cable 38. The solar cell module 100 may include a frame 20 that fixes the peripheral edge of the solar cell panel 10. A sealing member (not shown) for sealing and bonding may be disposed between the solar cell panel 10 and the frame 20.

[0051] The solar cell panel 10 and the frame 20 will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3, and the connection structure of the solar cell module 100 for connecting a plurality of solar cell modules will be described with reference to FIG.

[0052] Solar panel 10 includes at least one solar cell 12. Solar panel 10 may further include an encapsulation layer 14 that surrounds and encapsulates solar cell 12, a front substrate 16 on one side of encapsulation layer 14 and on the front side of solar cell 12, and a back substrate 18 on the other side of encapsulation layer 14 and on the back side of solar cell 12.

[0053] For example, the solar cell 12 may be formed in or on a semiconductor substrate (e.g., a single-crystal semiconductor substrate or a single-crystal silicon wafer) and include a first conductive region and a second conductive region having opposite conductivity types, and a first electrode and a second electrode connected to each other. Here, the semiconductor substrate may be lightly doped p-type or n-type. One of the first conductive region and the second conductive region may be p-type and the other n-type. Furthermore, the first conductive region or the second conductive region may be configured as a doped region formed by doping a portion of the semiconductor substrate with a dopant, or may be formed by a semiconductor layer separately formed on the semiconductor substrate and doped with a dopant. Alternatively, multiple solar cells 12 may be provided, and the first electrode of one solar cell 12 and the second electrode of an adjacent solar cell 12 may be connected via a solder strip 122 or the like to form a solar cell string. The structure of the solar cell 12 and the connection structure of multiple solar cells 12 may be various known structures.

[0054] As described above, an example is taken in which a silicon single crystal semiconductor solar cell is used as the solar cell 12. However, the present disclosure is not limited to this, and solar cells of various structures, such as thin-film solar cells, dye-sensitized solar cells, tandem solar cells, and compound semiconductor solar cells, can be used as the solar cell 12. Also, although a plurality of solar cells 12 are provided as an example, in some embodiments, only one solar cell 12 may be provided.

[0055] The encapsulation layer 14 may include a first encapsulation layer 14a located between the solar cells 12 and the front substrate 16, and a second encapsulation layer 14b located between the solar cells 12 and the rear substrate 18 and bonded to the first encapsulation layer 14a. The encapsulation layer 14 surrounds and seals the solar cells 12, blocking moisture or oxygen that may adversely affect the solar cells 12. The components that make up the solar cell module 100 (i.e., the front substrate 16, the solar cells 12, and the rear substrate 18) are chemically bonded together. The rear substrate 18, the second encapsulation layer 14b, the solar cells 12 or solar cell strings, the first encapsulation layer 14a, and the front substrate 16 may be sequentially stacked and integrated, for example, by lamination in which they are bonded together by application of heat and / or pressure.

[0056] The first sealing layer 14a and the second sealing layer 14b may be made of ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer resin (EVA), polyvinyl butyral (PVB), silicone resin, ester-based resin, olefin-based resin, or the like. In this case, the first sealing layer 14a and the second sealing layer 14b may be made of the same material or different materials. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. Therefore, the first sealing layer 14a and the second sealing layer 14b may be formed using various other materials and by methods other than lamination.

[0057] The front substrate 16 is positioned on the first encapsulation layer 14a and forms the front surface of the solar cell panel 10. The front substrate 16 may be made of a material that is strong enough to protect the solar cells 12 from external impacts and translucent enough to transmit light such as sunlight. As an example, the front substrate 16 may be made of a glass substrate. In this case, the front substrate 16 may be made of a tempered glass substrate to improve its strength, or may be made of various additional materials to improve various other properties. In some other embodiments, the front substrate 16 may be a sheet or film made of resin or the like. That is, the present disclosure is not limited to the material of the front substrate 16, and the front substrate 16 may be made of various materials.

[0058] The rear substrate 18 is on the rear surface of the solar cells 12 and functions as a layer on the second encapsulation layer 14b that protects the solar cells 12, and the rear substrate 18 may have waterproof, insulating and ultraviolet blocking functions.

[0059] The rear substrate 18 may have sufficient strength to protect the solar cells 12 from external impacts and may be light-transmitting or light-reflective depending on the desired structure of the solar cell panel 10. For example, in a structure in which light is incident through the rear substrate 18, the rear substrate 18 may be made of a light-transmitting material. In a structure in which light is reflected through the rear substrate 18, the rear substrate 18 may be made of a non-light-transmitting or light-reflective material. For example, the rear substrate 18 may be in the form of a substrate such as glass, or may be formed as a film or sheet. For example, the rear substrate 18 may be a polyvinyl fluoride composite film (TPT, Tedlar / PET / Tedlar) type, or may be made of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) resin formed on at least one side of polyethylene terephthalate (PET). As a polymer having a (CHCF) structure, PVDF has excellent mechanical properties, weather resistance, and UV resistance due to its difluorine molecular structure. The present disclosure is not limited to the material of the rear substrate 18.

[0060] As described above, in order to stably fix the solar cell panel 10 made up of multiple layers, a frame 20 may be arranged to fix the peripheral portion of the solar cell panel 10. Although the drawings show a situation in which the peripheral portion of the solar cell panel 10 is integrally fixed to the frame 20, the present disclosure is not limited to this. Therefore, various modifications are possible in which the frame 20 fixes only a portion of the edge of the solar cell panel 10.

[0061] In some embodiments, the frame 20 may include a panel insert 22 into which at least a portion of the solar panel 10 is inserted, and an extension 24 extending outward from the panel insert 22 .

[0062] For example, the panel insert 22 may connect a front portion 222 on the front side of the solar panel 10, a side portion 224 on the side of the solar panel 10, and a rear portion 226 on the rear side of the solar panel 10 to each other, thereby enclosing the solar panel 10 inside. As an example, the first frame 141 may have a "U" cross-sectional shape or a "U" shape bent twice so that the edge of the solar panel 10 is located inside. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and any or some of the front portion 222, the side portion 224, and the rear portion 226 may not be disposed. Various other modifications are possible.

[0063] The extension portion 24 extending rearward from the panel insert 22 may include a first portion 242 extending rearward from the panel insert 22 and formed parallel to the side portion 224 (or formed flush with the side portion 224), and a second portion 244 bending and extending from the first portion 242 and spaced a predetermined distance from the rear surface or back portion 226 of the solar panel 10. The second portion 244 may be formed parallel to the rear surface or back portion 226 of the solar panel 10, or may be formed at an angle. Thus, the extension portion 24 may be in an "L" shape or an "L" cross-sectional shape formed by bending once to form a space between the extension portion 24 and the back portion 226.

[0064] The extension portion 24 described above functions as a portion that improves the strength of the frame 20, and is fixed to the frame, the support, the bottom surface, etc., and a hole (not shown) for a fastening member (not shown) for fastening to the frame, the support, or the bottom surface may be formed in the extension portion 24. As described above, a fastening member or the like is fastened to the second portion 244 separated from the solar cell panel 10, and therefore, damage to the solar cell panel 10 can be prevented when the solar cell module 100 is arranged using a fastening member.

[0065] Second portion 244 may be formed to have an area equal to or greater than the area of ​​spine 226 (i.e., a width equal to or greater than the width of spine 226) so that a fastening member or the like can be stably fixed. Furthermore, various known structures may be used for the fastening member or the like. The present disclosure is not limited thereto, and extension portion 24 may have various other shapes.

[0066] The frame 20 may be fixed to the solar cell panel 10 in various ways. As one example, a portion that forms the peripheral edge of the solar cell panel 10 is formed by an elastic portion (for example, an elastic band), and the solar cell panel 10 can be inserted into the panel insertion portion 22 by utilizing this elastic portion. However, the present disclosure is not limited to this, and various modifications are possible, such as assembling and joining parts that form the frame 20 to the peripheral edge of the solar cell panel 10.

[0067] Furthermore, in some embodiments, a junction box 30 connected to the solar cells 12 of the solar panel 10 may be provided. As an example, the junction box 30 may be located on the back surface of the solar panel 10 or adjacent to the upper end of the solar panel 10. In this case, the thickness T1 of the junction box 30 may be equal to or less than the height H1 of the extension portion 24 of the frame 20 (e.g., the height of the first portion 242). Here, the height H1 of the extension portion 24 may be defined as the distance from the back surface of the solar panel 10 to the outer surface of the second portion 24 of the extension portion 24. Therefore, the junction box 30 may have a thickness that does not protrude from the outer surface of the second portion 244. In other words, the back surface of the junction box 30 (the surface positioned away from the solar panel 10) may be positioned in the same plane as the outer surface of the second portion 244 or may be positioned closer to the solar panel 10. Furthermore, the rear surface of a portion of the junction box 30 inside the extension portion 24 (the surface that is positioned away from the solar cell panel 10) may be positioned at the same height as the outer surface of the second portion 244 or closer to the solar cell panel 10 so that it can be easily positioned inside the extension portion 24. This allows the volume of the solar cell module 100 to be minimized and the space behind the solar cell panel 10 to be used effectively. It also minimizes the problem of mutual impact when multiple solar cell modules 100 are stacked for transportation after manufacture, etc. Furthermore, in some embodiments, the junction box 30 may be joined to the extension portion 24 of the frame 20 adjacent to the upper end of the solar cell panel 10 and / or attached to the rear surface of the solar cell panel 10.

[0068] The junction box 30 according to some embodiments may be integrally formed with the terminals and / or bypass diodes.

[0069] In the connection box 30, a terminal connected to a solar cell (indicated by reference numeral 12 in FIG. 3, the same applies hereinafter) (or a solar cell panel 10, the same applies hereinafter) and a bypass diode located between the terminal and the inverter may be electrically connected via a circuit pattern.

[0070] The terminals are connected to solder strips 122 drawn from the solar cells 12 to be electrically connected to the solar panel, and receive the DC voltage or DC current generated in the solar panel 10 and transmit it to the bypass diode.

[0071] The terminals to which the solder strips 122 are connected are located adjacent one side of the circuit board.

[0072] A plurality of terminals may be formed according to the number of solder strips 122 so as to correspond one-to-one with the solder strips 122. In some embodiments, the terminals may have a structure that allows the solder strips 122 to be detachable.

[0073] The bypass diodes connected to the terminals are disposed within the circuit board via circuit patterns extending from the terminals. The number of bypass diodes (n-1) is set to be one less than the number of terminals (n). Corresponding bypass diodes may be connected to the two terminals by a circuit pattern between the two terminals. The bypass diodes serve to divert current to protect areas that are shaded by the solar panel 10 or that are unable to generate power due to a malfunction. The structure of the bypass diodes may be applied to various known structures.

[0074] The junction box 30 may further include a current sensor that detects the presence or absence of an abnormality or malfunction in the current supplied from the bypass diode, thereby stopping the operation of the capacitor, the DC-DC converter, etc. In some embodiments, the bypass diode and the current sensor may be connected within the same housing by a circuit pattern formed on a circuit board.

[0075] In addition, a capacitor may be connected to the current sensor to store the direct current passing through the current sensor and transmit the current of a predetermined voltage to the DC-DC converter. In some embodiments, the current sensor and the capacitor may be connected within the same housing via a circuit pattern formed on a circuit board.

[0076] The capacitor-balanced current may be transmitted to a DC-DC converter for conversion to another DC voltage of a predetermined level. In some embodiments, multiple DC-DC converters may be provided.

[0077] A DC output (for example, a DC current or a DC voltage) from the DC-DC converter is transmitted to the outside via an output cable 38. For example, the DC output is connected to another solar cell module 100 via the output cable 38, or is transmitted to an external DC-AC inverter 400 or the like.

[0078] Various known structures may be applied to the current sensor, capacitor, and DC-DC converter. Furthermore, various components such as control components and communication components may be arranged on the circuit board.

[0079] The DC-AC inverter 400 may be formed outside the solar panel 10 to receive and convert the DC output from the plurality of solar cell modules 100 into an AC output.

[0080] Here, "integrated" refers to all situations in which the components can be recognized as a single part, item, object, or component when fixed to the solar panel 10 and / or frame 20 during or after construction. For example, "integrated" may also mean being arranged together in the same housing and integrated by the same housing, or being fixed by being inserted into or attached to the same component and integrated by the same component, or being formed together within the same component to form part of the same component, or being surrounded or fixed by the same component. Conversely, connection via a separate output cable or the like cannot be interpreted as being integrated. In this case, the terminal and the bypass diode may be removably integrated, which also facilitates maintenance and replacement.

[0081] The junction box 30 according to some embodiments allows the terminals and the bypass diodes to be formed together on a circuit board by a circuit pattern (or current or wiring). Therefore, the terminals and the bypass diodes are considered to be integrated through the circuit board. The circuit board on which the terminals and the bypass diodes are formed may be disposed in the same housing. Therefore, the terminals and the bypass diodes may be considered to be integrated by the same housing.

[0082] The housing may have various structures and shapes that can provide a space in which the integrated terminals and bypass diodes are disposed and can be stably fixed to the solar panel 10 and / or frame 20.

[0083] The connection box 30 may have two output cables 38 (38a, 38b) exposed to the outside, and the two output cables 38 (38a, 38b) may be connected to the output cables 38 (38a, 38b) of adjacent solar cell modules 100, or may be connected to a DC-AC inverter 400 so as to be connected to a power grid, power system, etc.

[0084] In some embodiments, the output cables 38 are connected to merge with output cables 38 configured to connect to other solar modules 100, a power grid, or a power system.

[0085] The output cable 38 includes two cables that output currents or voltages with polarities different from each other.

[0086] The (+) output cable 38a includes a first cable portion 38a that extends out from the junction box 30, and a first connector 90a at the end of the first cable portion 38a.

[0087] The (-) output cable 38b includes a second cable portion 38b that extends out from the junction box 30, and a second connector 90b at the end of the second cable portion 38b.

[0088] If a second connector 90b is provided, the second connector 90b has an end that connects with the first connector 90a.

[0089] Here, by joining the first connector 90a and the second connector 90b, the second connector 90b may form a series connection between two adjacent solar cell modules 100 as part of the first connector 90a that joins with the adjacent solar cell module 100.

[0090] One of the first connector 90a and the second connector 90b may have a male connector structure, and the other may have a female connector structure into which the male connector structure is inserted. As an example, since the first connector 90a has a female connector structure and the second connector 90b has a male connector structure, the first connector 90a and the second connector 90b can be easily connected and merged by inserting the second connector 90b into the first connector 90a. However, the present disclosure is not limited to this.

[0091] The first connector 90a merges with the second connector 90b of the adjacent solar cell module 100, allowing the adjacent solar cell modules 100 to be connected to each other or to a power grid or power system via an inverter 400, as shown in FIG.

[0092] Referring to FIG. 4 , multiple solar cell modules 101 and 102 can be easily connected by joining the first connector 90a of one solar cell module 101 to the second connector 90b of the adjacent solar cell module 102. Specifically, the solar cell modules 101 and 102 are provided with their own respective connection boxes 30, and each solar cell module 101 has a first connector 90a and a second connector 90b arranged to connect to the adjacent solar cell module 102. Therefore, after the multiple solar cell modules 101 and 102 are arranged, the multiple solar cell modules 101 and 102 can be easily connected by joining the first connector 90a and the second connector 90b. Furthermore, when disconnecting the solar cell modules 100, the solar cell modules 100 can be individually removed by disconnecting the first connector 90a from the second connector 90b. This facilitates disconnection. Furthermore, if any of the connection boxes 30 has a malfunction, only that connection box 30 may be replaced.

[0093] By disposing both the first connector 90a and the second connector 90b as described above, if a malfunction occurs in one part, it is possible to replace only the defective part and continue to use the other parts as they are.

[0094] For clarity and simplicity, Figure 4 shows the solar cell module 100 as including two solar cell modules (a first solar cell module 101 and a second solar cell module 102 adjacent to each other), however, in some other embodiments, more than three solar cell modules 100 may be provided.

[0095] As shown in FIG. 4, in some embodiments, adjacent first and second solar cell modules 101, 102 are connected to each other via a connection between a first output cable 90a of the first solar cell module 101 and a second output cable 90b of the second solar cell module 102.

[0096] More specifically, the output cable 38 of the connection box 30 of the first solar cell module 101 is connected to the first connector 90a of the first solar cell module 101 and the second connector 90b of the output cable 38 of the connection box 30 of the second solar cell module 102.

[0097] By sequentially connecting the first connector 90a and the second connector 90b, the DC output cables 38 of the connection boxes 30 of the solar cell modules 100 can be connected in series via the first connector 90a and the second connector 90b.

[0098] The second connector 90b of the last solar cell module 103 among the plurality of solar cell modules 100 connected in series as described above may be connected to the connector 410a of the DC-AC inverter 400 formed externally to convert all DC output into AC output.

[0099] When the portion where the first connector 90a and the second connector 90b of adjacent solar cell modules 101 and 102 are connected is defined as the connection portion 90 as described above, it also includes a covering member 200 configured to protect the first connector 90a and the second connector 90b connected as described above from the outside.

[0100] Hereinafter, with reference to FIGS. 5 to 11, the covering member 200 configured to protect the connection portion 90 where the two connectors 90a and 90b are connected will be described in detail.

[0101] 5 is an enlarged exploded perspective view of the connection portion of FIG. 4, FIG. 6 is a front view of the lower covering member 200 of the covering member 200 shown in FIG. 5 along the X-axis, FIG. 7 is a view of the covering member 200 shown in FIG. 5 from above along the Z-axis, FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of the locking portion 220 of the covering member 200 shown in FIG. 5, FIG. 9 is an enlarged view of the sealing portion 250 of the covering member 200 shown in FIG. 5, FIG. 10 is a view showing the state in which a connector connected to the lower covering member 200 is installed, and FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the covering member of FIG. 5 accommodating the connection portion.

[0102] 5-11, a covering member 200 configured to protect a connection 90 according to some embodiments of the present disclosure includes two removable covering members 200. In the embodiment shown in FIG.

[0103] In some embodiments, the two removable covering members 200 have a connecting portion 90 in the center of their length, and include an upper covering member 210a positioned above the connecting portion 90 and a lower covering member 210b positioned below the connecting portion 90.

[0104] The upper covering member 210a and the lower covering member 210b accommodate the upper and lower parts of the connection part 90 and are joined together, so that the interior thereof is structured to seal the connection part 90 from the outside.

[0105] In this case, the upper covering member 210a and the lower covering member 210b can have the same shape by using the covering member 200 of Fig. 5. The following description will be based on the lower covering member 210b.

[0106] The lower covering member 210b includes a housing 201 that is long in the X-axis direction, and the housing 201 includes a recess 202 that is recessed downward to accommodate the lower part of the connection part 90.

[0107] The recess 202 is recessed downward to form an elongated shape that conforms to the shape of the housing 201, and the cross section of the housing 201 cut vertically along the x-axis is semicircular to form the recess 202, and the overall shape is cylindrical cut in the longitudinal direction.

[0108] Therefore, the lower portion of the elongated connecting portion 90 may be accommodated in the recess 202, and the upper portion that is not accommodated may have a shape that protrudes upward relative to the lower covering member 210b as shown in FIG.

[0109] The upper part of the connection part 90 protrudes upward relative to the lower covering member 210b, and the upper covering member 210a is placed on the lower covering member 210b, and the lower covering member 210b is joined to the upper covering member 210a, sealing the internal connection part 90.

[0110] Therefore, when viewed from above and below as shown in FIG. 9, the recess 202 forms a space equivalent to a semi-cylinder.

[0111] The housing 201 surrounds the recess 202 and includes a flange portion 203 that abuts against the upper covering member 210a.

[0112] That is, a flange portion 203 having a predetermined width is formed around the periphery of a recessed portion 202 of a housing 201 .

[0113] The flange portion 203 is formed with a predetermined width along the y-axis and abuts against the flange portion 203 of the upper covering member 210a.

[0114] The predetermined width of the flange portion 203 may be formed in the range of 5 mm to 15 mm, but is not limited to this.

[0115] The housing 201 formed as described above may be formed from a material having a uniform thickness such that the flange portion 203 is integrally formed surrounding the recess 202 in the central region.

[0116] The housing 201 may be made of high-hardness plastic, or may be made of a material such as polycarbonate resin.

[0117] In addition, the housing 201 of the lower covering member 210b includes a cable portion 204 at both ends of the housing 201, which is formed long in the longitudinal direction (x-axis direction), and which accommodates cables 38a and 38b connected to both ends of the connection portion 90, respectively.

[0118] That is, cable portion 204 is formed so as to protrude from the central region of housing 201 where recess 202 is formed to both ends in the length direction.

[0119] As shown in FIGS. 6 and 9, the cable portion 204 is configured to include a cable recess 205 recessed downward (z-axis) from the flange portion 203, and the cable recess 205 is also recessed to form a cylindrical shape.

[0120] In this case, the cross section of the cable recess 205 is formed as a semicircle with a smaller radius than the recess 202 .

[0121] Therefore, the cable recess 205 recessed from the flange portion 203 and the recess 202 may be connected with a difference corresponding to the terminal, and the connection of the cable recess 205 is formed from the recess 202 with a gentle curvature.

[0122] In this case, the flange portion 203 further includes a sealing portion 250 in the area close to the recess 202 .

[0123] The sealing portion 250 may surround the periphery of the recess 202 and may be formed on the flange portion 203, and the sealing portion 250 may be made of a resin having a predetermined elasticity.

[0124] For example, sealing portion 250 may be formed of a low-hardness resin such as liquid silicone, liquid silicone rubber (LSR), polypropylene (PP), or thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), and may be formed to have a predetermined width. In this case, the width of sealing portion 250 may be formed integrally and uniformly in the central region of housing 201, or may be formed to fill 1 / 4 to 1 / 2 of the width of flange portion 203.

[0125] In addition, the sealing portion 250 may be formed closer to the center line of the flange portion 203 than the edge region toward the recess 202, or may be formed spaced a first distance d1 away from the recess 202 in the bending region that bends from the recess 202 to form the flange portion 203.

[0126] In this case, the first distance d1 may be in the range of 1 mm to 3 mm, but is not limited to this.

[0127] In addition, the sealing portion 250 may be formed to protrude upward from the plane of the flange portion 203 by a predetermined thickness, and the height h4 of the sealing portion 250 as described above may be determined according to the locking portion 220 described later.

[0128] As an example, the sealing portion 250 may be formed to have a thickness h4 in the range of 0.1 mm to 5 mm, but is not limited to this.

[0129] Alternatively, the seal 250 may be integrally formed within the cable recess 205 .

[0130] The seal 250 in the cable recess 205 may be formed to cover the entire cable recess 205, but in some other embodiments may be formed except for a predetermined distance between both ends.

[0131] As shown in FIG. 9, the seal 250 in the cable recess 205 may include at least one water blocking structure.

[0132] The at least one water-blocking structure includes at least one groove 256 recessed in the sealing portion 250 in the y-axis direction.

[0133] The groove 256 may be formed to have a predetermined width, or may be formed in an arc shape that follows the shape of the cable recess 205 .

[0134] In this case, the groove 256 may be formed uniformly along the arc of the cable recess 205 from the flange portion 203 on one side to the flange portion 203 on the other side.

[0135] The grooves 256 formed as described above can function to prevent moisture or rainwater from entering the connecting portion 90 in the central region when moisture or rainwater enters from the outside.

[0136] At least one groove 256 as described above may be formed in the cable recess 205 at one end, and as shown in FIG. 9, more than two parallel grooves 256 may be formed according to the particular design.

[0137] In this case, injection grooves 257 for injecting the insert can be formed in the regions between the grooves 256 in FIG. 9, and the injection grooves 257 as described above can also function as a water-blocking structure.

[0138] The injection groove 257 is formed in a circular shape, but is not limited to this and may be implemented in various shapes.

[0139] By insert injection, the housing 210 and the sealing portion 250 that constitute the lower covering member 210b can be manufactured simultaneously.

[0140] Furthermore, for the purpose of a watertight structure, the lower end of the groove 256 may include a protruding portion 256a that protrudes outward more than the upper end.

[0141] That is, as shown in FIG. 9, a protrusion 256a protruding toward the cable 38a is formed on at least one wall of the groove 256 along the groove 256 so as to fix the cable 38a positioned in the cable recess 205.

[0142] The protrusion 256a as described above may be located at the upper end of the groove 256, and as shown in Figure 9, the upper part has a shape that extends from the wall of the groove 256, while the lower part has an asymmetric shape that slopes down and abuts the sealing portion 250 again.

[0143] As described above, the housing 201 includes cable recesses 205 formed at both ends of the central region from the recess 202 that accommodates the connection portion 90 to the cable portion 204, and flange portions 203 are formed around each recess 202.

[0144] As described above, a plurality of locking portions 220 protrude from the edge of the flange portion 203 toward the z-axis.

[0145] The corresponding locking portions 220 have the same configuration, and the following description will be given based on one locking portion 220.

[0146] Referring to FIG. 8, the locking portion 220 has a shape that protrudes upward in the z-axis direction from the edge region of the flange portion 203 and protrudes toward the upper covering member 201a.

[0147] The locking portion 220 includes a protruding main body portion 221 having a predetermined width, and a hook portion 223 that protrudes at a predetermined height h1 from the main body portion 221 along the y-axis to a central region where the recess 202 is formed.

[0148] As shown in FIG. 8, the hook portion 223 may have the same width as the main body portion 221 and may be formed laterally across the main body portion 221, and the lower surface of the hook portion 223 may be formed parallel to the plane of the flange portion 203, while the upper surface thereof may have a shape that is inclined from the inner wall of the main body portion 221.

[0149] Thus, the upper and lower surfaces may meet on one side and are shaped so that the cross section forms a right triangle with the inner wall of the body portion 221 .

[0150] In this way, when the thickness of hook portion 223 of engaging portion 220 is thin, the elastic force of hook portion 223 can be improved when hook portion 223 moves from the inner wall of main body portion 221 to the outside, and when a user hooks or removes engaging portion 220 onto or from upper covering member 200, it can be removed with a small force, preventing malfunctions caused by a large force.

[0151] In addition, the hook portion 223 may protrude at a predetermined height h1, and the height of the hook portion 223 may be the same as the thickness of the upper covering member 210a, or may be the same as the thickness of the hook portion protrusion 230 relative to the upper covering member 210a.

[0152] FIG. 5 shows that the above-described locking portions 220 are arranged alternately with respect to the two flange portions 203 formed long on the x-axis.

[0153] That is, when two locking portions 220 are formed on the flange portion 203 on one side, the flange portion 203 on the other side may be arranged in a zigzag pattern so that they are alternately arranged relative to the flange portion 203 on the one side.

[0154] The locking portion 220 as described above may be formed on the cable portion 204, and when one locking portion 220 is formed on the left flange portion 203 of the cable portion 204 at one end, one locking portion 220 is formed diagonally on the right flange portion 203 of the cable portion 204 at the other end.

[0155] As described above, the locking portion 220 is formed so that the left flange portion 203 and the right flange portion 203 do not face each other in the longitudinal direction. Therefore, when joining the upper covering member 210a and the lower covering member 210b with the locking portion 220, or when releasing the lock of the locking portion 220 and removing them, they can be joined or removed without applying strong force.

[0156] In the case of covering member 200 made from a plastic material, if a strong force is applied to bend housing 201 in order to join or release engaging portion 220, the plastic forming housing 201 is very hard and housing 201 may be damaged.

[0157] Therefore, as described above, the locking portions 220 on both sides may be formed so as not to face each other, forming a structure that can be removed without applying a strong force.

[0158] Furthermore, a hook projection 230 that projects downward may be formed on the opposite side of the flange 203 from the locking portion 220, but is not limited to this.

[0159] When the hook protrusion 230 is configured to have a predetermined height h2, the height H1 of the hook 223 of the locking portion 220 is formed to be the same as the sum of the thickness of the covering member 200 and the protruding height h2 of the hook protrusion 230.

[0160] When forming the hook protrusion 230 as described above, the longer the length of the main body 221 of the locking portion 220, the greater the elastic force when joining and removing the locking portion 220, and the smaller the force required to remove the locking portion 220.

[0161] The configuration of the lower covering member 210b as described above may be the same as that of the upper covering member 210a, and if the configurations of the two covering members 210a and 210b are the same as described above, this is preferable in terms of manufacturing, transportation, and storage.

[0162] As shown in FIG. 5, when the connection portion 90 to which the connectors 90a and 90b of two cables are connected is placed between two covering members 200 of the same configuration facing each other, the upper covering member 210a and the lower covering member 210b of the same configuration can have the locking portions 220 arranged in opposite positions from left to right, so that the locking portion 220 of the upper covering member 210a is positioned corresponding to the hook protrusion 230 of the lower covering member 210b.

[0163] Therefore, as shown in FIG. 11, the two covering members 210a and 210b are completely joined by hooking the hook portions 223 of the corresponding locking portions 220 and the hook protrusions 230 together, and the connecting portion 90 is sealed by being joined within the cylindrical recess 202 formed on the inside as described above.

[0164] The sealing of the connection portion 90 as described above may be performed by pressing the sealing portion 250 by joining the two covering members 210a and 210b, thereby completely blocking moisture or air from the outside.

[0165] The sealing portion 250 as described above seals the recess 202 between the two covering members 210a and 210b, thereby preventing the inflow of impurities, contaminants, etc. from the outside, and improving sealing and waterproofing properties.

[0166] In some embodiments, protruding structures are provided to secure cables 38a and 38b to cable portion 204, while in some other embodiments, the cables may be secured by elastic components such as O-rings or rubber.

[0167] In the present disclosure, coupling by multiple locking portions 220 is achieved without the addition of external physical fastening components such as additional bolts or screws.

[0168] As described above, the lack of the need for additional external physical fastening components reduces stresses caused by long-term fastening, thereby extending the useful life of the covering members 210a and 210b and further helping to protect the internal connections from cracking and the like.

[0169] Some other embodiments of the present disclosure are described below with reference to FIG.

[0170] As shown in FIG. 12, in covering members 200 according to some other embodiments of the present disclosure, an upper covering member 210c and a lower covering member 210d have different shapes.

[0171] In the upper covering member 210c and the lower covering member 210d, the configuration of the recess 202 of the housing 201 and the cable portion 204 are the same, and the configuration of the sealing portion 250 is also the same, so detailed description will be omitted.

[0172] In this case, the lower covering member 210d does not have the locking portion 220 formed on the flange portion 203d as in the embodiment of FIG.

[0173] That is, flange portion 203d extending horizontally around recess 202 does not include a plurality of locking portions 220 protruding in the z-axis direction.

[0174] Additionally, the upper covering member 210c includes a plurality of locking portions 220c that protrude downward along the z-axis.

[0175] In this case, as shown in FIG. 12, the plurality of locking portions 220c may be formed in equal numbers on the left and right flange portions 203d, or may be formed so that the positions on both sides face each other.

[0176] In this case, the number of the locking portions 220c of the upper covering member 210c in FIG. 12 may be greater than the number of the locking portions 220 of the upper covering member 210a in FIG.

[0177] As described above, the covering member 200 according to some other embodiments has the advantage that the engaging portion 220c is formed on only one side, and therefore can be easily attached and detached.

[0178] The above-described features, structures, effects, etc. are included in at least one embodiment of the present disclosure and are not necessarily limited to only one embodiment. Furthermore, the features, structures, effects, etc. exemplified in various embodiments can also be implemented by combining or modifying other embodiments by those skilled in the art to which the embodiments belong. Therefore, the contents relating to such combinations and modifications should also be interpreted as being included in the scope of the present disclosure.

Claims

1. a plurality of solar cell modules including at least a first solar cell module and a second solar cell module adjacent to each other; a covering member configured to protect a connection portion electrically connecting the first solar cell module to the second solar cell module; A solar power generation device comprising: Each of the plurality of solar cell modules is A solar panel, a frame fixed to a peripheral portion of the solar cell panel; a connection box connected to the solar panel, receiving a DC output, and including a DC output cable for transmitting the received DC output to an external device; the covering member seals and protects the connection portion when the DC output cable of the first solar cell module and the DC output cable of the second solar cell module are connected to each other with a connector to realize the connection portion; The covering member is a lower covering member that covers a lower portion of the connection portion; an upper covering member that covers an upper portion of the connection portion and is coupled to the lower covering member to seal the connection portion; Equipped with The lower covering member or the upper covering member is a main body including a recess formed to accommodate the connection portion, and a cable recess formed to accommodate a DC output cable protruding from both ends of the recess and connected to the connection portion; a flange portion extending around the recess and the cable recess and abutting against the upper covering member or the lower covering member; Equipped with Solar power generation equipment.

2. The solar power generation device according to claim 1 , wherein the lower covering member has the same shape as the upper covering member.

3. The solar power generation device according to claim 1 , wherein the lower covering member has cable portions disposed on both ends of the recess, the cable portions accommodating the DC output cable connected to the connection portions.

4. 4. The solar power generation device according to claim 3, wherein the connector of the first solar cell module and the connector of the second solar cell module are connected to each other to form the connection portion and are housed in the recess, and the DC output cable connected to one end of the connector is housed in the cable recess of the cable portion.

5. The solar power generation device according to claim 4 , wherein the flange portion further comprises a sealing portion that surrounds the recess and seals the recess from the outside.

6. The solar power generation device according to claim 5 , wherein the sealing portion protrudes from the flange portion by a predetermined height.

7. The solar power generation device according to claim 6 , wherein the sealing portion has a lower hardness than the flange portion and the recessed portion.

8. The solar power generation device according to claim 2 , wherein the lower covering member further comprises a plurality of locking portions that protrude upward from an edge of the flange portion and are joined to the upper covering member.

9. The solar power generation device according to claim 8 , wherein the plurality of locking portions are spaced apart from one another and arranged alternately around the recess.

10. The solar power generation device according to claim 9 , wherein the flange portion further includes a protruding portion that protrudes downward at a position facing the locking portion.

11. The solar power generation device according to claim 10 , wherein the locking portion is coupled to the protrusion in the upper covering member and the lower covering member that are arranged to accommodate the connection portion.

12. The solar power generation device according to claim 8 , wherein the plurality of locking portions of the lower covering member are spaced apart from each other and face each other with the recessed portion as a center.

13. The solar power generation device according to claim 12 , wherein the upper covering member is provided with a plurality of protrusions that protrude upward and correspond to the plurality of locking portions of the lower covering member.

14. A solar cell device connector covering member, the connector covering member is configured to protect a connection portion that electrically connects adjacent solar cell modules to each other, The solar cell device connector covering member comprises: a lower covering member that covers a lower portion of the connection portion; an upper covering member that covers an upper portion of the connection portion and is coupled to the lower covering member to seal the connection portion; Equipped with The lower covering member or the upper covering member is a main body including a recess formed to accommodate the connection portion, and a cable recess formed to accommodate a DC output cable protruding from both ends of the recess and connected to the connection portion; a flange portion extending around the recess and the cable recess and abutting against the upper covering member or the lower covering member; A solar cell device connector covering member comprising:

15. 15. The connector covering member for a solar cell device according to claim 14, wherein the connector of one solar cell module and the connector of another solar cell module come into contact with each other to form the connection portion that is housed in the recess, and the DC output cable is connected to one end of the corresponding connector and housed in the cable recess.

16. the flange portion further includes a sealing portion that surrounds the recess and protrudes at a predetermined height to seal the recess from the outside, The solar cell device connector covering member according to claim 14 , wherein the sealing portion is formed integrally with the cable recess.

17. The lower covering member or the upper covering member is a plurality of locking portions that protrude upward from an edge of the flange portion and are joined to the upper covering member; a plurality of protruding portions protruding downward at positions facing the plurality of locking portions; The solar cell device connector covering member according to claim 14 , further comprising:

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