Solar charging system for ship

Abstract

To provide a solar charging system for a ship capable of inexpensively preventing the overcharging or deterioration of a battery in a solar charging system for a ship.SOLUTION: A solar charging system for a ship comprises a solar panel, a battery, a battery charger, a switching device, and a battery monitoring device. The solar panel is attached to the ship. The battery charger is connected to the battery. The switching device is separate from the battery charger. The switching device is connected to the battery charger and the solar panel. The switching device switches the charging on / off to the battery according to the battery condition. The battery monitoring device monitors the battery condition and controls the switching device according to the battery condition.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a solar charging system for a marine vessel. [Background technology]

[0002] A solar charging system for a ship is known that charges a battery with power generated by a solar panel on the ship. For example, in Patent Document 1, the battery and the solar panel are connected via a charger. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Utility model registration No. 3150986 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the solar charging system described above, the charger converts DC power from the solar panel into AC power and supplies it to the battery to charge it. In this case, there is a concern that the battery may be overcharged or deteriorated. While some chargers have the function of monitoring the battery status to prevent overcharging or deterioration, they are expensive. The object of the present invention is to inexpensively prevent battery overcharging or deterioration in a solar charging system for a boat. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] A solar charging system for a boat according to one aspect of the present invention includes a solar panel, a battery, a charger, a switching device, and a battery monitoring device. The solar panel is attached to the boat. The charger is connected to the battery. The switching device is separate from the charger. The switching device is connected to the charger and the solar panel. The switching device switches charging of the battery on / off depending on the state of the battery. The battery monitoring device monitors the state of the battery and controls the switching device depending on the state of the battery. [Effects of the Invention]

[0006] According to the present invention, the battery monitoring device monitors the state of the battery, and the switching device is controlled to switch the charging of the battery on and off depending on the state of the battery. This prevents overcharging or deterioration of the battery. Furthermore, the switching device is separate from the charger. Therefore, overcharging or deterioration of the battery can be prevented inexpensively without using an expensive charger. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view of a vessel equipped with a solar charging system according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a solar charging system. [Figure 3] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the configuration of a solar charging system according to another embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0008] A solar charging system according to an embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a boat 100 equipped with a solar charging system 1 according to an embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the boat 100 includes a hull 2 ​​and an outboard motor 3. The outboard motor 3 is attached to the hull 2. The outboard motor 3 generates thrust to propel the boat 100. The outboard motor 3 includes an engine 4, a propeller 5, and a generator 6. The engine 4 generates driving force to rotate the propeller 5. The generator 6 generates electricity using the driving force of the engine 4.

[0009] Fig. 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of the solar charging system 1. As shown in Fig. 2, the solar charging system 1 includes a solar panel 11, a battery 12, a battery management system (hereinafter referred to as BMS) 13, a charger 14, a switching device 15, and a battery monitoring device 16. The solar panel 11 is attached to the ship 100. The solar panel 11 generates electricity using sunlight.

[0010] The battery 12 is charged with power generated by the solar panel 11. The battery 12 is a secondary battery such as a lithium-ion battery. The BMS 13 is connected to the battery 12. The BMS 13 detects the state of charge (SOC) of the battery 12. The charger 14 is connected to the battery 12. The charger 14 is connected to the solar panel 11 via a switching device 15. The charger 14 steps down the power generated by the solar panel 11.

[0011] The switching device 15 is separate from the charger 14. The switching device 15 is connected to the charger 14 and the solar panel 11. The switching device 15 switches the charging of the battery 12 on and off depending on the state of the battery 12. In detail, the switching device 15 includes a positive charging input terminal 21, a negative charging input terminal 22, a charging output terminal 23, a charging ground terminal 24, a power output terminal 25, a control input terminal 26, a control ground terminal 27, a charging monitor terminal 28, a power supply circuit 29, and a relay 30.

[0012] The positive charging input terminal 21 and the negative charging input terminal 22 are connected to the solar panel 11 via harnesses 31 and 32, respectively. The charging output terminal 23 and the charging ground terminal 24 are connected to the charger 14 via harnesses 33 and 34, respectively. The power output terminal 25, the control input terminal 26, the control ground terminal 27, and the charging monitor terminal 28 are connected to the battery monitoring device 16 via harnesses 35-38, respectively.

[0013] The switching device 15 includes a charging input circuit 41 and a charging ground circuit 42. The positive charging input terminal 21 is connected to the power supply circuit 29 and the relay 30 via the charging input circuit 41. The negative charging input terminal 22 is connected to the charging ground terminal 24 via the charging ground circuit 42. The charging input circuit 41 is connected to the charging ground circuit 42 via a varistor ZNR.

[0014] The switching device 15 includes a power output circuit 43 and a switching control circuit 44. The power supply circuit 29 is connected to a power output terminal 25 via the power output circuit 43. The control input terminal 26 is connected to the power supply circuit 29 and the relay 30 via the switching control circuit 44. The switching control circuit 44 is connected to a Zener diode ZD1, resistors R1-R5, capacitors C1 and C2, and transistors Q1 and Q2.

[0015] The switching device 15 includes a charge output circuit 45 and a charge monitor circuit 46. The charge output terminal 23 is connected to the relay 30 via the charge output circuit 45. The charge monitor terminal 28 is connected to the charge output circuit 45 via the charge monitor circuit 46. The charge monitor circuit 46 is connected to a Zener diode ZD2, resistors R6 and R7, a capacitor C3, a transistor Q3, and a diode D2.

[0016] The power supply circuit 29 uses power generated by the solar panel 11 to supply drive power for driving the battery monitoring device 16 to the battery monitoring device 16. The relay 30 is a semiconductor relay such as an SSR (Solid State Relay). The relay 30 can be switched between an ON state and an OFF state. When the relay 30 is in the ON state, it connects the charging input circuit 41 and the charging output circuit 45. When the relay 30 is in the OFF state, it disconnects the charging input circuit 41 and the charging output circuit 45. The relay 30 includes a drive circuit 47. When a voltage is applied to the drive circuit 47, the relay 30 is in the ON state. When no voltage is applied to the drive circuit 47, the relay 30 is in the OFF state.

[0017] The battery monitoring device 16 is separate from the charger 14. The battery monitoring device 16 is separate from the switching device 15. As described above, the battery monitoring device 16 is connected to the power output terminal 25, the control input terminal 26, the control ground terminal 27, and the charge monitor terminal 28 of the switching device 15 via harnesses 35-38. The battery monitoring device 16 is also connected to the BMS 13 via a communication network such as a Controller Area Network (CAN) of the ship 100. The battery monitoring device 16 monitors the state of the battery 12 and controls the switching device 15 in accordance with the state of the battery 12. The charge control of the battery 12 performed by the battery monitoring device 16 will be described below.

[0018] When solar panel 11 generates power using sunlight, the generated power from solar panel 11 is input to power supply circuit 29 from charging input terminal 21 via charging input circuit 41. However, if solar panel 11 is not receiving enough sunlight and the voltage of the generated power from solar panel 11 is lower than the threshold, power supply circuit 29 does not supply drive power to battery monitoring device 16 and does not start battery monitoring device 16.

[0019] When the voltage of the power generated from the solar panel 11 exceeds a threshold value due to effective solar radiation on the solar panel 11, the power supply circuit 29 supplies driving power to the battery monitoring device 16 via the power output circuit 43 and the power output terminal 25, thereby starting up the battery monitoring device 16.

[0020] After the battery monitoring device 16 is started, the battery monitoring device 16 detects the voltage at the charging monitor terminal 28. The battery monitoring device 16 determines whether the solar charging system 1 is normal based on the voltage at the charging monitor terminal 28. For example, if the voltage at the charging monitor terminal 28 is a high impedance, the battery monitoring device 16 determines that the solar charging system 1 is normal.

[0021] If the battery monitoring device 16 determines that there is an abnormality in the solar charging system 1, it stops charging control of the battery 12. In this case, the battery monitoring device 16 may output a warning. For example, the battery monitoring device 16 may turn on a warning light. Alternatively, the battery monitoring device 16 may display a warning message on a display of the boat 100.

[0022] If it is determined that the solar charging system 1 is normal, the battery monitoring device 16 receives a signal from the BMS 13 indicating whether or not it is possible to charge the battery 12. For example, if the battery 12 is overcharged, the BMS 13 transmits a signal to the battery monitoring device 16 indicating that it is not possible to charge the battery 12.

[0023] When the battery monitoring device 16 receives a signal from the BMS 13 indicating that the battery 12 is available for charging, it switches the relay 30 of the switching device 15 to the ON state. Specifically, the battery monitoring device 16 applies a Hi voltage to the control input terminal 26. This causes a base current to flow through the transistor Q1 of the switching control circuit 44, bringing the collector and emitter of the transistor Q1 into conduction. This causes a base current to flow through the transistor Q2, bringing the collector and emitter of the transistor Q2 into conduction. As a result, a drive voltage is applied to the drive circuit 47 of the relay 30, turning the relay 30 into the ON state.

[0024] When relay 30 is turned on, the power generated by solar panel 11 is output from charging input terminal 21, via charging input circuit 41 and charging output circuit 45, and from charging output terminal 23. As a result, the power generated by solar panel 11 is supplied to battery 12 via charger 14, and charging of battery 12 begins.

[0025] When charging of the battery 12 begins, a base current flows through transistor Q3 in the charging monitor circuit 46, and the collector and emitter of transistor Q3 become conductive. The battery monitoring device 16 detects the voltage at charging monitor terminal 28. Based on the voltage at charging monitor terminal 28, the battery monitoring device 16 determines whether the solar charging system 1 is normal. For example, if the voltage at charging monitor terminal 28 is high impedance or low impedance, the battery monitoring device 16 determines that there is an abnormality in the solar charging system 1.

[0026] If the battery monitoring device 16 determines that there is an abnormality in the solar charging system 1, it switches the relay 30 to the OFF state. The battery monitoring device 16 also switches the relay 30 to the OFF state when it receives a charging stop command from the BMS 13. For example, the BMS 13 transmits a charging stop command to the battery monitoring device 16 when the battery 12 is fully charged or when there is an abnormality in the battery 12. If the battery monitoring device 16 determines that there is an abnormality in the solar charging system 1 or receives a charging stop command from the BMS 13, it reduces the voltage to the control input terminal 26 to a Lo voltage. This turns off the transistors Q1 and Q2, and switches the relay 30 to the OFF state. This stops charging of the battery 12.

[0027] When the solar panel 11 no longer receives effective solar radiation and the voltage of the power generated by the solar panel 11 falls below the threshold, the power supply circuit 29 stops supplying drive power to the battery monitoring device 16 and stops the battery monitoring device 16. As a result, no voltage is applied to the control input terminal 26 and the relay 30 is turned off. With the relay 30 in the off state, the power generated by the solar panel 11 is not supplied to the charger 14 and charging of the battery 12 is stopped. When effective solar radiation returns to the solar panel 11, the switching device 15 and battery monitoring device 16 execute the above-mentioned process again and charging of the battery 12 is resumed.

[0028] According to the solar charging system 1 of this embodiment described above, the battery monitoring device 16 monitors the state of the battery 12, and the switching device 15 is controlled to switch on / off charging of the battery 12 depending on the state of the battery 12. This prevents overcharging or deterioration of the battery 12. Furthermore, the switching device 15 is separate from the charger 14. Therefore, even if the charger 14 is an inexpensive device such as a simple converter that does not have a charge control function such as voltage control or current control, it is possible to prevent overcharging or deterioration of the battery 12.

[0029] Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications are possible without departing from the gist of the invention.

[0030] The configuration of the outboard motor 3 is not limited to that of the above embodiment and may be modified. For example, the outboard motor 3 may be equipped with an electric motor instead of the engine 4. The configuration of the solar charging system 1 is not limited to that of the above embodiment and may be modified. For example, the circuit configuration of the switching device 15 is not limited to that of the above embodiment and may be modified. The relay 30 is not limited to an SSR and may be another type of relay, such as a mechanical relay.

[0031] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the configuration of a solar charging system 10 according to another embodiment. In the solar charging system 10 shown in FIG. 3, a charger 14 is connected to a solar panel 11 and a generator 6 via a switching device 15. The switching device 15 includes a first relay 51, a second relay 52, and a connection circuit 53. The first relay 51 is switchable between a first state and a second state. In the first state, the first relay 51 connects the connection circuit 53 to the solar panel 11. In the second state, the first relay 51 connects the connection circuit 53 to the generator 6. The second relay 52 is switchable between a connection state and a disconnection state. In the connection state, the second relay 52 connects the connection circuit 53 to the charger 14. In the disconnection state, the second relay 52 disconnects the connection circuit 53 from the charger 14.

[0032] When the battery monitoring device 16 determines that the battery 12 is normal, it connects the second relay 52. ​​The battery monitoring device 16 selectively switches the first relay 51 between a first state and a second state depending on the state of the solar panel 11 or the generator 6. For example, when charging using the solar panel 11 is possible, the battery monitoring device 16 sets the first relay 51 to the first state. This connects the solar panel 11 to the charger 14 via the switching device 15, and the battery 12 is charged with power generated by the solar panel 11. In this case, the power generated by the generator 6 may be charged into a second battery 54 separate from the battery 12. Note that charging control of the battery 12 in this case is similar to that in the above-described embodiment.

[0033] When charging by the solar panel 11 is not possible and the generator 6 is being driven, the battery monitoring device 16 sets the first relay 51 to the second state. This connects the generator 6 to the charger 14 via the switching device 15, and the battery 12 is charged by the power generated by the generator 6. As described above, the charger 14 may selectively switch between charging the battery 12 from the solar panel 11 and charging the battery 12 from the generator 6.

[0034] Furthermore, when the battery monitoring device 16 determines that the battery 12 is abnormal, it turns off the second relay 52. ​​This stops charging of the battery 12 by the solar panel 11 and the generator 6. [Industrial Applicability]

[0035] According to the present invention, overcharging or deterioration of a battery can be prevented inexpensively in a solar charging system for a boat. [Explanation of symbols]

[0036] 3: Outboard motor 6: Generator 11: Solar panel 12: Battery 14:Charger 15: Switching device 16: Battery monitoring device 29: Power supply circuit

Claims

1. A solar charging system for a marine vessel, a solar panel mounted on the vessel; A battery, a charger connected to the battery; a switching device that is separate from the charger, is connected to the charger and the solar panel, and switches on / off charging of the battery depending on the state of the battery; a battery monitoring device that monitors the state of the battery and controls the switching device in accordance with the state of the battery; A solar charging system.

2. The battery monitoring device is separate from the charger. The solar charging system according to claim 1 .

3. the battery monitoring device is separate from the switching device; The solar charging system according to claim 1 .

4. the switching device includes a power supply circuit; the power supply circuit supplies driving power for driving the battery monitoring device to the battery monitoring device using power generated by the solar panel; The solar charging system according to claim 1 .

5. the power supply circuit supplies the drive power to the battery monitoring device to start up the battery monitoring device when the voltage of the power generated from the solar panel becomes equal to or higher than a threshold value at which the battery can be charged; The solar charging system according to claim 4.

6. When the voltage of the power generated from the solar panel is lower than the threshold value, the power supply circuit does not supply the driving power to the battery monitoring device and stops the battery monitoring device. The solar charging system according to claim 4.

7. Further equipped with a generator, the charger is connected to the solar panel and the generator via the switching device; The solar charging system according to claim 1 .

8. The charger selectively switches between charging the battery from the solar panel and charging the battery from the generator. The solar charging system according to claim 7.

9. an outboard motor attached to the watercraft; The generator is mounted on the outboard motor. The solar charging system according to claim 8.

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