Protection device and photovoltaic power generation system

Abstract

To sufficiently protect a solar panel.SOLUTION: The support member 121 is provided on the light receiving surface of the solar panel 11. The end portion of the support member 121 on the side (the positive direction of the y-axis) opposite to the light receiving surface supports the protection member 122, the protection member 123, and the rotation mechanism 124. Each of the protection member 122 and the protection member 123 has one end portion supported by a support member 121, and is rotatable about an axis that passes through the end portion and is parallel to the light receiving surface.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The disclosed embodiments relate to a protection device and a solar power generation system. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, a method of protecting a solar panel with a protective sheet has been known (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2018-107954 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Conventional technologies may not provide sufficient protection for solar panels.

[0005] Texas in the United States receives a lot of sunlight and is well suited to solar power generation. However, large hailstones over 5 cm in size can fall in Texas and destroy solar panels. In such locations, it is desirable for solar panels to generate electricity for as long as possible when there is no hail, and to quickly switch to a protected state when there is hail.

[0006] For example, Patent Document 1 describes covering a solar panel by unwinding a protective sheet wound by a winder. However, with the method described in Patent Document 1, the time it takes for the solar panel near the winder to transition to a protected state differs from the time it takes for the solar panel on the opposite side of the winder to transition to a protected state. In particular, it is difficult for the solar panel at a position far from the winder to transition to a protected state quickly.

[0007] The present invention has been made in view of the above, and has an object to provide a protection device and a solar power generation system that can adequately protect a solar panel. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] A protection device according to one aspect of the embodiment is characterized by having a support member provided on the light receiving surface of a solar panel, and a protection member having one end supported by the support member and capable of rotating around an axis passing through the end and parallel to the light receiving surface. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to one aspect of the embodiment, the solar panel can be sufficiently protected. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a solar power generation system. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a protection device. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the protection device. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the effect of the protection device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of a protection device and a solar power generation system disclosed in the present application will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments.

[0012] Furthermore, in the embodiments, expressions such as "parallel," "perpendicular," and "plumb" do not necessarily mean that these conditions are strictly met. These expressions allow for deviations due to the influence of manufacturing precision, etc.

[0013] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a solar power generation system. As shown in FIG. 1, the solar power generation system 1 has a solar panel 11 and a protection device 12. There may be one or more protection devices 12. The distance d between the protection devices 12 is, for example, 2 inches. When multiple rod-shaped or plate-shaped protection devices 12 are lined up as shown in FIG. 1, they form a comb-like shape.

[0014] For the sake of explanation, the figure shows a Cartesian coordinate system including the x-axis, y-axis, and z-axis. The x-axis and z-axis are both perpendicular to the y-axis. The x-axis and z-axis are also perpendicular to each other. The light receiving surface of the solar panel 11 is perpendicular to the y-axis and parallel to the x-axis and z-axis. The Cartesian coordinate system is not horizontal or vertical, but changes depending on how the solar panel 11 is installed.

[0015] 1, the upper surface (positive direction of the y-axis) of solar panel 11 is the light-receiving surface and is in contact with protection device 12. If solar panel 11 is installed so that the light-receiving surface is parallel to a horizontal plane, the positive direction of the y-axis is vertically upward, and the x-axis and z-axis are parallel to the horizontal plane.

[0016] The direction in which the light receiving surface of the solar panel 11 faces is determined by the direction of sunlight and other factors.

[0017] 1, the protection devices 12 are rod-shaped. If hail with a diameter smaller than the distance d between the protection devices 12 falls in this state, it will collide with the light-receiving surface, which may damage the solar panel 11.

[0018] In response to this, the protection device 12 can be modified to protect the light receiving surface of the solar panel 11 from hail. The protection device 12 will be described in detail with reference to Figs.

[0019] 2 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the protection device 12. As shown in FIG. 2, the protection device 12 includes a support member 121, a protection member 122, a protection member 123, and a rotation mechanism .

[0020] Support member 121 is provided on the light-receiving surface of solar panel 11. The end of support member 121 opposite the light-receiving surface (positive direction of the y-axis) supports protective members 122, 123, and rotation mechanism .

[0021] The rotation mechanism 124 rotates the protective member 122 and the protective member 123. The rotation mechanism 124 may be realized by a motor, a hinge, or the like.

[0022] Protective members 122 and 123 have one end supported by support member 121 and are rotatable around an axis that passes through the end and is parallel to the light receiving surface. Here, protective members 122 and 123 rotate around the z-axis.

[0023] The protective members 122 and 123 may be made of aluminum, which reduces the weight of the protective members 122 and 123.

[0024] The protective members 122 and 123 may be rod-shaped members or rectangular plate-shaped members with one side parallel to the axis. In this embodiment, the protective members 122 and 123 are plate-shaped members with their longitudinal direction parallel to the z-axis and their short side parallel to the y-axis in the state shown in FIG.

[0025] 3 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the protection device. As shown in FIG. 3, protection member 122 rotates in a first direction. Furthermore, protection member 123 rotates in a direction opposite to the first direction. The first direction is the counterclockwise direction when facing the positive direction of the z axis (depth direction in the drawing). For example, protection members 122 and 123 rotate 90 degrees in their respective directions from a position parallel to support member 121.

[0026] Fig. 4 is a diagram illustrating the effect of the protection device. As shown in Fig. 4, protection members 122 and 123 in the rotated state can protect the light-receiving surface of solar panel 11 from falling hail. If the length of protection members 122 and 123 (the length in the x-axis direction in Fig. 4) is about half the distance d between protection devices 12, it becomes possible to protect the light-receiving surface without any gaps.

[0027] Furthermore, although the positive direction of the y-axis is not always vertically upward, it is believed that the protection device 10 can exhibit sufficient protection performance as long as the positive direction of the y-axis is in the range of approximately -45 degrees to 45 degrees relative to the vertically upward direction.

[0028] Furthermore, the support member 121 may be installed so that it always faces vertically upward, depending on the installation direction of the solar panel 11. For example, if the light receiving surface of the solar panel 11 is tilted 30 degrees counterclockwise from the horizontal plane when facing the positive direction of the z axis, the support member 121 may be installed so that it is tilted -30 degrees in the same direction.

[0029] According to this embodiment, the solar panel 11 quickly transitions to the protected state in just the time it takes for the protective members 122 and 123 to rotate.

[0030] When power generation is performed on a fine day, the protective members 122 and 123 are in the state shown in Fig. 3. On the other hand, when it is hailstorming, the protective members 122 and 123 transition to the state shown in Fig. 4 and act as an umbrella to protect the light receiving surface of the solar panel 11.

[0031] For example, the rotation mechanism 124 may rotate the protective members 122 and 123 in response to a detection signal from a hail sensor. Furthermore, the rotation mechanism 124 may rotate the protective members 122 and 123 at a timing corresponding to a predicted time of hail obtained from a website or the like.

[0032] Although the present invention has been described above using embodiments, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the scope described in the above embodiments. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and improvements can be made to the above embodiments. It is clear from the claims that such modifications and improvements can also be included within the technical scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0033] 1. Solar power generation system 11. Solar panels 12 Protective devices 121 Support member 122, 123 Protective members 124 Rotation Mechanism

Claims

1. a support member provided on the light receiving surface of the solar panel; a protection member having one end supported by the support member and rotatable about an axis passing through the end and parallel to the light receiving surface; A protection device comprising:

2. The protective member is a rectangular plate-like member with one side parallel to the axis. The protection device of claim 1 .

3. The protective member includes a first protective member that rotates in a first direction, and a second protective member that rotates in a direction opposite to the first direction; 2. The protection device of claim 1, comprising:

4. 2. The protection device of claim 1, wherein the protection member rotates 90 degrees from a position parallel to the support member.

5. A solar panel and a protection device are included. The protection device comprises: a support member provided on the light receiving surface of the solar panel; a protection member having one end supported by the support member and rotatable about an axis passing through the end and parallel to the light receiving surface; A solar power generation system comprising:

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