Solar power generation equipment and installation structure of solar power generation equipment

Abstract

To provide a solar power generation device that can reduce deformation of solar power generation sheets due to wind while maintaining ease of handling. [Solution] A solar power generation device comprising a solar power generation sheet and a reinforcing material fixed to the installation surface side of the solar power generation sheet, wherein the reinforcing material is straight and has a groove that crosses the reinforcing material.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a photovoltaic power generation device and an installation structure of the photovoltaic power generation device.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, rigid solar cell panels made of silicon semiconductors have been widely used as solar cells. However, since conventional solar cell panels have a certain weight, they cannot be installed on some structures with low load-bearing capacity, or even on an installation surface where they can be installed, but not on a part with low load-bearing capacity, so there is a problem that the area of the installation surface cannot be effectively utilized. Therefore, in recent years, flexible solar cells based on heat-resistant polymer materials such as polyimide and polyester, or metal foils have been attracting attention. Flexible solar cells have advantages such as ease of transportation and construction due to being thin and light, and being resistant to impact. A photovoltaic power generation sheet using a flexible solar cell can be installed along an installation surface even if the installation surface has irregularities. (For example, Patent Document 1)

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] Although such a photovoltaic power generation sheet has a great advantage of being lightweight and flexible, because it is lightweight and flexible, it is easily deformed by wind, and when the photovoltaic power generation sheet is deformed, it may lead to damage or disconnection of wiring.

[0005] To address this problem, a method has been proposed in which a plate-shaped reinforcing material is attached to the back (the side facing the installation surface) of the solar power generation sheet to suppress deformation. However, when a reinforcing material is attached to the back of the solar power generation sheet, although deformation and damage due to wind can be suppressed, the flexibility of the solar power generation sheet is lost, resulting in problems with transportation and handling.

[0006] The present invention aims to provide a solar power generation device that can maintain ease of handling while reducing deformation of solar power generation sheets due to wind. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The present invention includes the following disclosures 1 to 6. The present invention will be described in detail below. [Disclosure 1] A solar power generation device comprising a solar power generation sheet and a reinforcing member fixed to the installation surface side of the solar power generation sheet, wherein the reinforcing member is straight and has a groove that crosses the reinforcing member. [Disclosure 2] The photovoltaic power generation apparatus according to disclosure 1, characterized in that the reinforcing member has two or more grooves, and each groove is parallel to the others. [Disclosure 3] The photovoltaic power generation apparatus according to disclosure 1 or 2, characterized in that the reinforcing material consists of the groove portion and the other portion made of a single material. [Disclosure 4] The photovoltaic power generation device according to any one of disclosures 1 to 3, characterized in that the groove portion has a Young's modulus of 500 MPa or more and 4000 MPa or less. [Disclosure 5] The photovoltaic power generation device according to any one of disclosures 1 to 4, characterized in that the power generation section of the photovoltaic power generation sheet has a monolithic structure which is an aggregate of strip-shaped unit cells, and when viewed from the light-receiving surface side in a plan view, the extension direction of the unit cells and the extension direction of the grooves are perpendicular to each other. [Disclosure 6] A photovoltaic power generation device installation structure is characterized in that the photovoltaic power generation device described in any of disclosures 1 to 5 is installed on an installation surface having mutually parallel irregularities, and when viewed from the light-receiving surface side in a plan view, the extension direction of the irregularities and the extension direction of the grooves are perpendicular to each other. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a solar power generation device that can maintain ease of handling while reducing deformation of the solar power generation sheet due to wind. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] This is a schematic perspective view showing an example of the solar power generation sheet of the present invention. [Figure 2] This is a cross-sectional view illustrating an example of a monolithic structure. [Figure 3] This is a top view of Figure 2. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0010] The present invention will be described in more detail below with reference to specific embodiments, but the present invention is not limited to these embodiments.

[0011] Figure 1 shows a schematic perspective view illustrating an example of the photovoltaic power generation sheet of the present invention. The photovoltaic power generation device of the present invention comprises a photovoltaic power generation sheet 3 and a reinforcing member 1 fixed to the installation side of the photovoltaic power generation sheet 3. By providing a plate-shaped reinforcing member 1 on the back of the photovoltaic power generation sheet 3, deformation and damage to the photovoltaic power generation sheet 3 can be suppressed even when wind blows in. Furthermore, the reinforcing member 1 has a straight groove portion 2 that crosses the reinforcing member 1. By providing a straight groove portion 2 that crosses the reinforcing member 1 from end to end, the groove portion 2 can deform and follow the deformation of the photovoltaic power generation sheet 3 when it is deformed during storage or transportation. As a result, even when the reinforcing member 1 is provided to the photovoltaic power generation sheet 3, transportability and handling can be maintained. In this context, "transverse" refers to a continuous state from end to end. In other words, the groove is formed continuously from end to end of the reinforcing material.

[0012] The materials constituting the above-mentioned reinforcing material may consist of a single material for the groove portion and other parts, or different materials for the groove portion and other parts, but it is preferable that the groove portion and other parts consist of a single material. By having the groove portion and other parts consist of a single material, that is, by having the reinforcing material consist of one material, stress concentration at the interface between the groove portion and other parts can be avoided, and damage to the reinforcing material can be suppressed.

[0013] Specific materials for the reinforcing material mentioned above include resins such as polycarbonate, PVC, ABS, PE, PS, and PP. Among these, polycarbonate, PVC, and ABS are preferred because they have weather resistance and durability when used outdoors. Furthermore, if the reinforcing material consists of different materials for the groove and other parts, the other parts can be made of a non-flexible material, such as stainless steel or aluminum. In addition, the reinforcing material may be a composite reinforcing material containing the aforementioned resin and glass fibers or carbon fibers.

[0014] The number of grooves is not particularly limited; even one groove, if placed in the center of the reinforcing material, allows the solar power generation device to be folded in half, improving transportability and handling. However, it is preferable to have two or more grooves to make the solar power generation device more compact. There is no particular upper limit to the number of grooves, and it is determined appropriately according to the size of the solar power generation sheet. For example, if the solar power generation device is a rectangle measuring 1000mm x 1000mm and the grooves are formed in the longitudinal direction of the solar power generation sheet, then 10 or more grooves will allow the solar power generation device to be sufficiently rolled up.

[0015] When there are a plurality of the above-mentioned groove portions, the arrangement of the groove portions may be evenly arranged in the reinforcing material or may be uneven. When the groove portions are evenly arranged in the reinforcing material, the photovoltaic power generation device can be deformed smoothly. On the other hand, when the arrangement of the groove portions is uneven, although smooth deformation cannot be achieved compared to the even arrangement, the fixing force with the photovoltaic sheet becomes large in the portion with fewer groove portions, so that the distribution of the fixing force becomes possible.

[0016] The cross-sectional shape of the groove portion is not particularly limited, and examples include a rectangular shape, a U-shaped, a V-shaped, an M-shaped, and a continuous shape thereof.

[0017] The ratio of the groove portion in the reinforcing material when the reinforcing material is viewed in plan from the light-receiving surface side is preferably 10% or more and 80% or less. By setting the ratio of the groove portion in the reinforcing material within the above range, the balance between the fixing force and the deformation followability with respect to the photovoltaic sheet can be further enhanced. The ratio of the groove portion in the reinforcing material is more preferably 20% or more and more preferably 60% or less.

[0018] The width of the groove portion is not particularly limited as long as it can follow the deformation of the photovoltaic sheet, but from the viewpoint of followability to the deformation of the photovoltaic sheet, it is preferably 1 mm or more, and more preferably 10 mm or more. Also, from the viewpoint of increasing the area of the fixing portion with the photovoltaic sheet, that is, the portion other than the groove portion, to further enhance the fixing force, the width of the groove portion is preferably 50 mm or less, and more preferably 40 mm or less.

[0019] The depth (height) of the groove portion is not particularly limited as long as it can follow the deformation of the photovoltaic sheet, but from the viewpoint of followability to the deformation of the photovoltaic sheet, it is preferably 3 mm or more, and more preferably 5 mm or more. Also, from the viewpoint of reducing the thickness of the photovoltaic power generation device or suppressing deformation with an overly weak force, the depth of the groove portion is preferably 50 mm or less, and more preferably 30 mm or less.

[0020] The groove portion described above preferably has a Young's modulus of 500 MPa or more and 4000 MPa or less. By having the Young's modulus of the grooves within the above range, it is possible to achieve a high level of both flexibility to follow the deformation of the solar power generation sheet during transportation and storage, and strength to suppress deformation of the solar power generation sheet due to wind. From the viewpoint of further improving the balance between deformation-following ability and reinforcement for the solar power generation sheet, the Young's modulus of the grooves is more preferably 700 MPa or more, even more preferably 1000 MPa or more, even more preferably 3000 MPa or less, and even more preferably 2500 MPa or less. If the reinforcing material consists of multiple materials, the Young's modulus of the grooves only needs to meet the above range if either the bottom surface or the side surface of the grooves meets the above range. Also, if the reinforcing material consists of multiple materials, the Young's modulus of the parts other than the grooves is not particularly limited as long as it can suppress deformation of the solar power generation sheet due to wind.

[0021] The shape of the portion of the reinforcing material other than the groove is not particularly limited as long as it can secure the solar power generation sheet, but it is preferable that it be flat from the viewpoint of increasing the contact surface with the solar power generation sheet.

[0022] The overall shape of the reinforcing material described above is not particularly limited as long as it can follow the deformation of the solar power generation sheet during storage and transportation, and suppress deformation of the solar power generation sheet due to wind after installation. For example, it can be a plate shape. Specific shapes include, for example, polygons such as triangles and squares, circles, ellipses, etc.

[0023] The method for fixing the above-mentioned reinforcing material to the above-mentioned solar power generation sheet is not particularly limited and includes, for example, chemical fixing such as adhesive bonding or fusion, and physical fixing such as clamping at the edges.

[0024] The thickness of the reinforcing material is not particularly limited as long as it has sufficient strength to follow the deformation of the solar power generation equipment during transportation and storage, and to suppress deformation of the solar power generation equipment due to wind after installation. However, from the viewpoint of balancing the deformation-following ability and reinforcing ability of the solar power generation equipment, it is preferably 1 mm or more, more preferably 5 mm or more, preferably 10 mm or less, and most preferably 7.5 mm or less.

[0025] The above-described solar power generation sheet is a component that generates electricity by receiving sunlight and has the characteristics of being lightweight, flexible, and thin. In this specification, "sheet" refers to a shape in which the thickness of the object is 10% or less of the maximum length between the outer edges in a plan view. If the shape in a plan view is rectangular, the "maximum length between the outer edges in a plan view" refers to the length of the diagonal. If the shape in a plan view is circular, the "maximum length between the outer edges in a plan view" refers to the length of the diameter. Furthermore, in this specification, membrane-like, foil-like, and film-like materials are also included in the definition of "sheet".

[0026] The above-mentioned photovoltaic power generation sheet can use conventionally known thin solar cells, for example, a photovoltaic power generation sheet in which a power generation unit sealed with a encapsulant is placed on a back sheet, and a front sheet is laminated on the power generation unit via a encapsulant or adhesive layer. Furthermore, conventionally known photoelectric conversion materials can also be used for the power generation unit of the above-mentioned photovoltaic power generation sheet, for example, amorphous silicon, organic inorganic perovskite compounds, non-silicon materials such as CIGS, etc.

[0027] The power generation section of the above-mentioned solar power generation sheet preferably has a monolithic structure, which is an assembly of strip-shaped unit cells. Figure 2 shows a cross-sectional view illustrating an example of a monolithic structure, and Figure 3 shows a top view of Figure 2. As shown in Figure 2, the monolithic power generation unit 9 consists of unit cells 91 formed by insulating the substrate 4, the electrodes 6 laminated on the insulating layer 5, the photoelectric conversion layer 7, and the counter electrode 8 with scribe lines (cutting lines) P1 to P3. Furthermore, the unit cells 91 are connected in series by scribe lines P2, which connect the counter electrode 8 of one unit cell 91 to the electrodes of the unit cells 91 that are in contact with each other, thus forming one power generation cell. As shown in Figure 3, when viewed from the top (light-receiving surface) side, the power generation unit 9 with such a monolithic structure has a shape in which strip-shaped unit cells 91 extending in the direction of the scribe lines are connected in the width direction of the strip. By using a photovoltaic power generation sheet with a monolithic structure, it is possible to create a high-density integrated structure, increase the voltage while reducing the current value, and reduce Joule heat loss, among other advantages.

[0028] When the power generation section has a monolithic structure which is an assembly of strip-shaped unit cells, it is preferable that the extension direction of the unit cells and the extension direction of the grooves are perpendicular when viewed from the light-receiving surface side in a plan view of the photovoltaic power generation device of the present invention. Monolithic unit cells are prone to delamination when a bending force is applied parallel to the extension direction of the unit cell (the direction of the scribe line). By arranging the unit cell's extension direction and the groove's extension direction to be perpendicular when viewed from the light-receiving surface of the photovoltaic power generation device, the bending force is applied from a direction perpendicular to the unit cell's extension direction, thus suppressing the delamination of the unit cell.

[0029] The shape of the solar power generation sheet described above is not particularly limited as long as it is in the form of a sheet; for example, it can be circular, elliptical, polygonal, etc., and can be appropriately determined according to the installation surface.

[0030] The above-mentioned solar power generation sheet preferably has a bending strength of 10 MPa or more, more preferably 20 MPa or more, and even more preferably 50 MPa or more. Having the lower limit of the bending strength of the solar power generation sheet within this range improves handling. Furthermore, the above-mentioned solar power generation sheet preferably has a bending strength of 200 MPa or less, more preferably 150 MPa or less, and even more preferably 50 MPa or less. Having the upper limit of the bending strength of the solar power generation sheet within this range improves flexibility. The bending strength of the above-mentioned solar power generation sheet can be measured by a method compliant with JIS K7171.

[0031] The above-mentioned solar power generation sheet preferably has a flexural modulus of 100 MPa or more, and more preferably 500 MPa or more. Having the lower limit of the flexural modulus of the solar power generation sheet within this range improves handling. Furthermore, the above-mentioned solar power generation sheet preferably has a flexural modulus of 10,000 MPa or less, and more preferably 5,000 MPa or less. Having the upper limit of the flexural modulus of the solar power generation sheet within this range improves flexibility. The flexural modulus of the above-mentioned solar power generation sheet can be measured by a method compliant with JIS K7171.

[0032] The solar power generation device of the present invention is flexible and easy to handle, yet possesses strength that can suppress deformation due to wind. Therefore, the effects of the invention are greatly realized when it is installed on an uneven surface that is prone to wind. The solar power generation device of the present invention is installed on an installation surface having such parallel irregularities, and an installation structure for the solar power generation device in which the extension direction of the irregularities and the extension direction of the grooves are perpendicular when viewed from the light-receiving surface side is also one of the present inventions.

[0033] The installation structure of the photovoltaic power generation device of the present invention involves installing the photovoltaic power generation device on an installation surface having parallel irregularities. Installation surfaces with parallel irregularities allow wind to easily blow into the recesses, which can deform the solar power generation device. The solar power generation device of the present invention can suppress deformation due to wind even when installed on such an installation surface with parallel irregularities.

[0034] Examples of installation surfaces having the aforementioned parallel irregularities include corrugated metal roofs, standing seam roofs, and vertical seam roofs. Because the present invention is lightweight, it can be installed even on installation surfaces with low strength and susceptibility to wind, such as corrugated metal roofs, and deformation due to wind can be suppressed.

[0035] In the installation structure of the photovoltaic power generation device of the present invention, when viewed from the light-receiving surface side in a plan view, the extension direction of the above-mentioned irregularities and the extension direction of the above-mentioned grooves are perpendicular to each other. The solar power generation device of the present invention achieves both strength and flexibility that makes it resistant to deformation by wind by providing grooves in the reinforcing material. However, because the grooves allow deformation in the direction perpendicular to the extension direction of the grooves, it is relatively more susceptible to deformation by wind compared to other directions. On the other hand, wind tends to blow along the recesses of the installation surface which has the aforementioned parallel irregularities. Therefore, if the extension direction of the irregularities on the installation surface and the extension direction of the grooves are the same, there is a risk that the grooves on the recesses of the installation surface will deform due to wind. Thus, by arranging the solar power generation device of the present invention so that the extension direction of the irregularities and the extension direction of the grooves are perpendicular when viewed from the light-receiving surface side (on the solar power generation device), the direction in which wind force is applied and the direction of deformation of the solar power generation device do not coincide, and deformation of the solar power generation device can be further suppressed. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0036] 1. Reinforcement material 2 grooves 3. Solar power generation sheet 4 Base material 5. Insulating layer 6 electrodes 7 Photoelectric conversion layer 8 Counterelectrodes 9. Power Generation Section 91 unit cells

Claims

1. A solar power generation device comprising a solar power generation sheet and a reinforcing member fixed to the installation surface side of the solar power generation sheet, wherein the reinforcing member is straight and has a groove that crosses the reinforcing member.

2. The photovoltaic power generation apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the reinforcing material has two or more grooves, and each groove is parallel to the others.

3. The photovoltaic power generation apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the reinforcing material consists of the groove portion and the other portion made of a single material.

4. The photovoltaic power generation apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the groove portion has a Young's modulus of 500 MPa or more and 4000 MPa or less.

5. The photovoltaic power generation device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the power generation section of the photovoltaic power generation sheet has a monolithic structure which is an aggregate of strip-shaped unit cells, and when viewed from the light-receiving surface side in a plan view, the extension direction of the unit cells and the extension direction of the grooves are perpendicular to each other.

6. A photovoltaic power generation device installation structure characterized in that the photovoltaic power generation device according to claim 1 or 2 is installed on an installation surface having mutually parallel irregularities, and when viewed from the light-receiving surface side in a plan view, the extension direction of the irregularities and the extension direction of the grooves are perpendicular to each other.

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