Solar panel cooling system

Abstract

The objective is to provide a solar panel cooling device that can efficiently cool solar panels without using power from batteries or other sources installed in the vehicle. [Solution] The solar panel cooling device 10 comprises a solar panel 12 provided on at least one of the hoods of the vehicle's bonnet hood and trunk hood; a thermocell 20 positioned in contact with the vehicle's outer panel 18, sandwiching the solar panel 12, and generating electricity by the Seebeck effect; and an electric fan 28 driven by the electricity generated by the thermocell 20 to cool the solar panel 12.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a solar panel cooling device.

Background Art

[0002] In Patent Document 1, a panel-side pipe disposed in a region on the back side opposite to the light-receiving surface of a solar panel mounted on a vehicle and capable of exchanging heat with the solar panel, an engine cooling device for circulating cooling water in an engine cooling water passage, a connecting pipe having a forward path and a return path for connecting the engine cooling water passage and the panel-side pipe, and an engine-panel cooling water replacement device for pumping the cooling water in the engine cooling water passage to the panel-side pipe through the forward path and returning the cooling water in the panel-side pipe to the engine cooling water passage through the return path are provided. A vehicle is disclosed.

[0003] Further, Patent Document 2 discloses a photovoltaic power generation system including an optical fiber disposed so as to be able to collect light, a photovoltaic element that receives light propagated by the optical fiber and generates electricity, and a cooler provided in a state of being thermally coupled to the photovoltaic element.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] In the technology of Patent Document 1, although the temperature of the solar panel can be lowered and the power generation efficiency can be improved by circulating cooling water on the back surface of the solar panel of the vehicle for cooling, equipment for circulating the cooling water is required, and power is required for driving the cooling pump.

[0006] On the other hand, in the technology described in Patent Document 2, the photoelectric element is cooled by a cooler such as a Peltier module that is thermally coupled to the photoelectric element, and electricity is generated in the Peltier module using the heat generated by the photoelectric element, but cooling requires power to be supplied to the thermocell.

[0007] This invention was made in consideration of the above facts, and aims to provide a solar panel cooling device that can efficiently cool solar panels without using power from batteries or other sources mounted on a vehicle. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The solar panel cooling device according to the first embodiment comprises a solar panel provided on at least one of the hoods of the vehicle's bonnet hood and trunk hood; a thermocell positioned in contact with the vehicle's outer panel on which the solar panel is provided, sandwiching the outer panel and generating electricity by the Seebeck effect; and an electric fan driven by the electricity generated by the thermocell to cool the solar panel.

[0009] According to the first embodiment, when the solar panel is heated by solar heat, a temperature difference is generated between the inside and outside of the hood and between the inside and outside of the trunk. Since the thermocell is positioned in contact with the outer panel, it generates electricity through the Seebeck effect due to the generated temperature difference. The generated electricity then drives an electric fan, which can cool the solar panel. This makes it possible to efficiently cool the solar panel without using the power of the high-voltage battery or auxiliary battery installed in the vehicle. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] As described above, the present invention provides a solar panel cooling device that can efficiently cool solar panels without using power from batteries or other sources mounted on a vehicle. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0011] [Figure 1]This figure shows an example of the arrangement of solar panels to be cooled by the solar panel cooling device according to this embodiment. [Figure 2] This figure shows a schematic configuration of the solar panel cooling device according to this embodiment. [Figure 3] This is a schematic diagram of the thermocell included in the solar panel cooling device according to this embodiment. [Figure 4] This is a schematic diagram of the thermocell included in the solar panel cooling device 10 according to this embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0012] Hereinafter, an example of an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Figure 1 is a diagram showing an example of the arrangement of solar panels to be cooled by the solar panel cooling device according to this embodiment, and Figure 2 is a diagram showing the schematic configuration of the solar panel cooling device according to this embodiment.

[0013] As shown in Figure 1, the solar panel 12 according to this embodiment is installed on at least one of the hoods of the vehicle 22, the bonnet hood 14 and the ton-rank hood 16. Figure 1 shows an example in which the solar panel 12 is installed on both the bonnet hood 14 and the ton-rank hood 16, but it may be installed on either one.

[0014] In detail, the solar panels 12 are positioned on the respective outer panels 18 of the bonnet hood 14 and the ton-rank hood 16, as shown in Figure 2.

[0015] A thermocell 20 that generates electricity through the Seebeck effect is positioned opposite the solar panel 12 of the vehicle 22, across the outer panel 18 on which the solar panel 12 is installed, and is in contact with the outer panel 18.

[0016] The side of the outer panel 18 that the thermal cell 20 is in contact with is the high-temperature side, and the inside of the hood on the opposite side is the low-temperature side. A heat sink 24 having multiple fins 26 is provided on the low-temperature side of the thermal cell 20.

[0017] Also, an electric fan 28 for cooling the solar panel 12 and the heat sink 24 is provided at a position facing the heat sink 24. The electric fan 28 is fixed to the outer panel through a bracket 30.

[0018] The detailed configuration of the thermoelectric battery 20 will be described. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of the thermoelectric battery 20 included in the solar panel cooling device 10 according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of the thermoelectric battery 20 included in the solar panel cooling device 10 according to the present embodiment.

[0019] As shown in FIG. 3, the thermoelectric battery 20 includes an N-type semiconductor 10N and a P-type semiconductor 10P. On the high-temperature side of the thermoelectric battery 20, the N-type semiconductor 10N and the P-type semiconductor 10P are electrically connected. On the other hand, on the low-temperature side of the thermoelectric battery 20, a connection terminal 32 is provided on the N-type semiconductor 10N, and a connection terminal 34 is provided on the P-type semiconductor 10P.

[0020] In order to increase the generated power, the thermoelectric battery 20 includes, in detail, a plurality of sets of the N-type semiconductor 10N and the P-type semiconductor 10P as shown in FIG. 4. In the thermoelectric battery 20, in adjacent sets, the N-type semiconductor 10N and the P-type semiconductor 10P are electrically connected on the low-temperature side. Also, in the thermoelectric battery 20, the sets of the N-type semiconductor 10N and the P-type semiconductor 10P are two-dimensionally arranged and connected in series.

[0021] The connection terminals 32 and 34 provided on the low-temperature sides at both ends of the thermoelectric battery 20 are connected to the electric fan 28 through a DC / DC boost circuit 36. That is, the power generated by the thermoelectric battery 20 is boosted by the DC / DC boost circuit 36 and input to the electric fan 28, thereby driving the electric fan 28.

[0022] The DC / DC boost circuit 36 may be omitted, but by providing the DC / DC boost circuit 36, the electric fan 28 can be driven with power saving.

[0023] Subsequently, the operation of the solar panel cooling device 10 according to the present embodiment configured as described above will be described.

[0024] The solar panel 12 is heated by solar heat. In particular, because the solar panel 12 is black, it is easily heated by solar heat regardless of the color of the car body. On the other hand, the inside of the hood 14 and the trunk are shaded by the car body and are therefore cooler than the solar panel 12.

[0025] In other words, when the solar panel 12 is heated by solar heat, a temperature difference is created between the inside and outside of the hood and the inside and outside of the trunk. This creates a temperature difference between the high-temperature and low-temperature sides of the thermocell 20, causing the thermocell 20 to generate electricity through the Seebeck effect.

[0026] The electricity generated by the thermal battery 20 is boosted by the DC / DC boost circuit 36 ​​and supplied to the electric fan 28. When the electric fan 28 receives power, it is driven to cool the solar panel 12 and the heat sink 24 which is positioned opposite the electric fan 28.

[0027] This allows the solar panel 12 to be cooled without using power from the high-voltage battery or auxiliary battery mounted on the vehicle 22.

[0028] Furthermore, by cooling the heat sink 24, the temperature of the low-temperature side of the thermal cell 20 can be reduced, thereby improving the power generation efficiency of the thermal cell 20.

[0029] Furthermore, if the ambient temperature is low and there is no temperature difference between the inside and outside of the hood or the trunk, the thermal battery 20 will not generate power. Conversely, if the ambient temperature rises and a temperature difference occurs, the thermal battery 20 will automatically generate power and drive the electric fan 28. Therefore, there is no need to detect the temperature of the solar panel 12, etc., with a temperature sensor and switch on the electric fan 28 from the control circuit, thus eliminating the need for a temperature sensor, switch circuit, control circuit, etc.

[0030] Furthermore, since there is no need to install cooling pipes or water pumps to circulate cooling water to cool the solar panel 12, there is no need to worry about liquid leakage.

[0031] In the above embodiment, the solar panel 12 is installed on at least one of the bonnet hood and the trunk hood, but the installation location of the solar panel 12 is not limited to these. For example, it may be installed on the roof of the vehicle 22 or on the door panel.

[0032] Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to the above, and it is of course possible to implement it in various modified forms without departing from its spirit. [Explanation of symbols]

[0033] 10 Solar panel cooling system 12 solar panels 14 Bonnet Hood 16 Trunk Hood 18 Exterior panels 20 Thermal Cells 22 vehicles 28 Electric Fan

Claims

[Claim 1] A solar panel is provided on at least one of the hoods of the vehicle, the hood of the bonnet and the hood of the trunk, A thermal cell that generates electricity by the Seebeck effect is positioned in contact with the outer panel of a vehicle on which the solar panel is installed, sandwiching the outer panel of the vehicle. An electric fan powered by electricity generated by the aforementioned thermal battery, which cools the solar panel, A solar panel cooling device equipped with [a specific feature / feature].

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