Water supply system

Abstract

This invention provides a water supply system that enables weed control in areas where solar power generation facilities are installed, while minimizing environmental impact. [Solution] The water supply system 10 of the present invention is used in the installation area of ​​a solar power generation facility 100 and comprises a water supply mechanism 12, a hot water generation facility 24, a sprinkler device 28, and a control device 38. The water supply mechanism 12 has a water supply channel 14 and sends water through the water supply channel 14. The hot water generation facility 24 uses sunlight to generate hot water from the water sent through the water supply channel. The sprinkler device 28 sprinkles the hot water generated by the hot water generation facility 24 for weed control in the installation area of ​​the solar power generation facility 100. The control device 38 controls the water supply mechanism 12 so that the sprinkler device 28 sprinkles hot water at predetermined sprinkling times.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a water supply system, and particularly to a water supply system used in an installation area of a solar power generation facility.

Background Art

[0002] When installing a solar power generation facility in an outdoor site, if weeds grow profusely around the facility, it may affect the solar power generation facility, such as reducing the power generation efficiency of the solar power generation facility. Therefore, in the installation area of the solar power generation facility, it is necessary to appropriately remove weeds or implement weed control measures.

[0003] As an example of a weed control measure in the installation area of a solar power generation facility, for example, the technique described in Patent Document 1 can be cited. In the technique described in Patent Document 1, a weed control sheet is laid around the locations where solar panels and pedestals are arranged in the installation area of the solar power generation facility, thereby suppressing the growth of weeds in that place.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] However, when using a weed control sheet as in Patent Document 1, the introduction cost is high. When the installation area of a solar power generation facility, such as a large-scale solar power plant, becomes vast, a large amount of weed control sheets are required, which may result in enormous costs. In addition, if the work of laying the weed control sheet is not properly carried out, the weed control effect will decrease. Moreover, the larger the installation area of the solar power generation facility, the more difficult it becomes to lay the weed control sheet.

[0006] On the other hand, instead of using weed control sheets, it is conceivable to spray hot water on weeds growing in the area where the solar power generation equipment is installed to remove them. However, operating an engine-driven boiler to generate hot water for weeding and consuming fossil fuels (such as diesel) for boiler operation is undesirable in modern society aiming for a decarbonized society and should be avoided as much as possible.

[0007] Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and its objective is to provide a water supply system that can perform weed control while minimizing environmental impact in the installation area of ​​solar power generation equipment. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The above problems are solved by the water supply system of the present invention, which is a water supply system used in the installation area of ​​a solar power generation facility, comprising: a water supply mechanism having a water supply channel and supplying water through the water supply channel; a hot water generation facility that uses sunlight to generate hot water from the water supplied through the water supply channel; a sprinkler system that sprinkles the hot water generated by the hot water generation facility for weed control in the installation area; and a control device that determines the timing of hot water sprinkling and controls the water supply mechanism so that the sprinkler system sprinkles hot water at the timing of sprinkling. According to the above invention, weed control can be performed in the area where solar power generation equipment is installed by spraying hot water generated using sunlight. This makes it possible to reduce the consumption of fossil fuels and the use of herbicides, and to perform weed control in an environmentally conscious manner.

[0009] Furthermore, the water supply system described above may also be equipped with an information-providing device that provides information for determining the timing of watering. In this case, the timing of hot water watering should be determined based on the information provided by the information-providing device. According to the above configuration, the timing of hot water spraying can be appropriately determined based on the information provided by the information-providing device, and more specifically, it can be determined to be the optimal time for weed control using hot water.

[0010] Furthermore, in the water supply system described above, the information-providing device is a sensor that detects the illuminance in the installation area and outputs a signal corresponding to the detected illuminance as information to the control device. With the above configuration, the timing of hot water spraying can be appropriately determined based on the illuminance detected by the sensor.

[0011] Furthermore, a more preferable configuration than the one described above would be to determine the watering period when the value obtained based on the output signal from the sensor is below a reference value. In this case, the timing of hot water watering can be determined when weeds around the solar power generation equipment are affecting the power generation of the equipment. As a result, weed control by spraying hot water can be performed more effectively.

[0012] Furthermore, in the water supply system described above, solar panels and a mounting frame on which the solar panels are placed may be installed in the installation area. In this case, the sprinkler system has nozzles for sprinkling hot water, and the nozzles should be mounted on the mounting frame in a manner that allows them to rotate around a rotation axis along the vertical direction. According to the above configuration, when using hot water for weed control, the hot water can be effectively (over a wider area) sprayed.

[0013] Furthermore, the above water supply system may further include a jetting device that ejects water sent through the water channel towards the solar power generation equipment. In this case, the control device should control the water supply mechanism so that the jetting device ejects water at a predetermined jetting time. According to the above configuration, by spraying water onto the solar power generation equipment using the spraying device, the solar power generation equipment can be cleaned, for example.

[0014] Furthermore, to describe a more preferable configuration than the above, when a target to be removed is detected on a solar panel based on an image of the solar panel of the solar power generation equipment, the control device should control the water supply mechanism so that the spraying device sprays water. With the above configuration, the timing for spraying cleaning water towards the solar power generation equipment can be appropriately determined based on the analysis results of images taken of the solar panels.

[0015] Furthermore, in the water supply system described above, the installation area may be divided into multiple regions. In this case, it is preferable that a water supply mechanism, a hot water generation facility, and a sprinkler system are provided for each region. With the above configuration, weed control using hot water can be performed area by area within the installation area of ​​the solar power generation equipment, thus enabling effective weed control in the aforementioned installation area.

[0016] Furthermore, in the water supply system described above, if the value based on the output signal from a sensor provided in the first of the multiple regions falls below a reference value, the control device may control the water supply mechanisms provided in the first region and the second region, respectively, so that both the sprinkler system provided in the first region and the sprinkler system provided in the second region adjacent to the first region sprinkle hot water. According to the above configuration, when weeding with hot water is performed in the first area of ​​the solar power generation facility installation area, weeding with hot water is also performed in the second area adjacent to the first area, allowing for proper watering around the boundary between the first and second areas. As a result, weeding with hot water can be effectively performed in each area of ​​the installation area. [Effects of the Invention]

[0017] According to the present invention, weed control can be performed in the installation area of ​​solar power generation facilities while minimizing environmental impact. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0018] [Figure 1] This figure shows an example configuration of a water supply system according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] This diagram shows the various pieces of equipment arranged around the solar power generation facility, and is a schematic diagram of the solar power generation facility viewed from the side. [Figure 3]It is a diagram showing each device arranged around a solar power generation facility, and is a schematic diagram of the solar power generation facility seen from the front. [Figure 4] It is a diagram (left diagram) showing the installation area of the solar power generation facility and a schematic diagram (right diagram) showing the arrangement positions of devices in each area of the installation area. [Figure 5] It is a diagram showing the flow of a series of processes related to weeding using warm water. [Figure 6] It is a diagram showing the flow of a series of processes related to removing dirt and the like on a solar panel.

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0019] <<Regarding the water supply system according to one embodiment of the present invention>> Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present invention (hereinafter, this embodiment) will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, each member is illustrated in a somewhat simplified and schematic manner for easy understanding of the description. Also, the sizes (dimensions) of each member shown in the drawings and the intervals between members are different from the actual ones.

[0020] The water supply system 10 according to this embodiment is used in the installation area S of the solar power generation facility 100, and mainly supplies water for the purpose of maintaining the power generation efficiency of the solar power generation facility 100, specifically, for weeding around the solar power generation facility 100 and cleaning the solar power generation facility 100. In this embodiment, the solar power generation facility 100 is a so-called megasolar with a power generation scale of 1 MV or more and is installed in a relatively large area, and the water supply system 10 supplies water for weeding or cleaning in that large installation area S. However, the water supply system of the present invention can be used not only for large-scale solar power generation facilities but also for relatively small-scale solar power generation facilities installed in houses.

[0021] In the installation area S of the solar power generation equipment 100 (hereinafter simply referred to as installation area S), the solar power generation equipment 100 consists of solar panels 102 and a mounting frame 104 on which the solar panels 102 are mounted (see Figures 2 and 3). The solar panels 102 and the mounting frame 104 have substantially the same configuration as those found in a typical solar power generation equipment 100 (especially those used as mega solar power plants), and the solar panels 102 are fixed to the top of the mounting frame 104 in a tilted position to efficiently receive sunlight on their upper surfaces. The mounting frame 104 also has support columns 106 that extend along the vertical direction (see Figure 2). Furthermore, the power supply to the electrical equipment of the water supply system 10 (specifically, the water pump 16, switching valve 22, sprinkler pump 32, and control device 38, etc., as described later) may be supplied by electricity generated by the solar power generation equipment 100, or by commercial power.

[0022] To illustrate an example of the configuration of the water supply system 10, as shown in Figure 1, the water supply system 10 comprises a water supply mechanism 12, a hot water generating device 24, a watering device 28, a jetting device 34, a control device 38, a sensor 40, and a camera 42.

[0023] As shown in Figure 1, the water supply mechanism 12 includes a water supply channel 14 and a water supply pump 16. It takes in water from an unshown water source, discharges it from the water supply pump 16, and sends the discharged water through the water supply channel 14. The water supply channel 14 is made up of pipes or hoses, and in this embodiment, it branches into two water supply channels (hereinafter referred to as the first water supply channel 18 and the second water supply channel 20) at an intermediate point. A switching valve 22 is provided at the branching point of the water supply channel 14, and by operating the switching valve 22, water can be directed to either the first water supply channel 18 or the second water supply channel 20. In other words, the switching valve 22 can be used to switch which of the first water supply channel 18 and the second water supply channel 20 is open. The switching valve 22 is made up of a known solenoid valve.

[0024] The water supply pump 16 is composed of a known pump and pumps water through the water supply channel 14. However, the water supply pump 16 is not necessarily required; the water supply and the water supply channel 14 can be connected, and the city water (tap water) supplied through the water supply can be directly flowed into the water supply channel 14 by its supply pressure without using the water supply pump 16.

[0025] The hot water generation equipment 24 is a solar water heater that uses sunlight to generate hot water from water sent through the water supply channel 14. In this embodiment, the hot water generation equipment 24 is installed in the available space of the solar power generation equipment 100 in the installation area S, specifically around the installation locations of the solar panels 102 and the mounting frame 104, as shown in Figure 3. The hot water generation equipment 24 is connected to the first water supply channel 18 of the water supply channel 14 and receives water flowing through the first water supply channel 18. The hot water generation equipment 24 also has a heat collector (not shown), and generates hot water using the solar energy collected in the heat collector. More specifically, the heat collector of the hot water generation equipment 24 is a vacuum tube type heat collector plate, and water received from the first water supply channel 18 flows inside it. The hot water generation equipment 24 absorbs heat from sunlight with the heat collector and uses the absorbed heat to heat the water flowing inside the heat collector.

[0026] Furthermore, in this embodiment, by installing the hot water generation equipment 24 near the solar power generation equipment 100, sunlight is more easily concentrated in the heat collection section, and as a result, hot water at approximately 90 degrees Celsius can be produced in about 5 to 6 hours on a sunny day. In this embodiment, since hot water is generated using sunlight, the amount of fossil fuels consumed and the amount of carbon dioxide emissions can be reduced compared to conventional technologies (for example, boilers) that generate hot water by consuming fossil fuels such as diesel fuel. The type and structure of the heat collector are not particularly limited and may be of the heat pipe type, glass tube type, or flat type.

[0027] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 1, the hot water generation equipment 24 has a hot water storage tank 26 for storing hot water generated using sunlight. The material and capacity of the hot water storage tank 26 are not particularly limited, but in this embodiment, it is a vertical tank made of stainless steel, and the tank capacity is set according to the area of ​​the installation area S, for example, to about 1000L.

[0028] The sprinkler system 28 is a device that sprinkles hot water generated by the hot water generation equipment 24 for weed control in the installation area S, and has a nozzle 30 as shown in Figure 2 and a sprinkler pump 32 as shown in Figure 1. The sprinkler pump 32 takes in hot water from the hot water storage tank 26 and discharges it, and a discharge line (not shown) extends from the outlet of the sprinkler pump 32 toward the nozzle 30. Note that the sprinkler pump 32 is not necessarily required, and the hot water storage tank 26 may be omitted, and the hot water in the hot water storage tank 26 may be sent to the nozzle 30 by utilizing the water head difference between the hot water storage tank 26 and the nozzle 30.

[0029] The nozzle 30 is a device that sprays hot water from its tip opening, and in this embodiment, a sprinkler nozzle is used. That is, in this embodiment, the watering device 28 sprays hot water while rotating the nozzle 30 around a rotation axis along the vertical direction. More specifically, as shown in Figure 2, the nozzle 30 is mounted on the support column 106 of the frame 104 in a manner that allows it to rotate around a rotation axis along the vertical direction. This allows the nozzle 30 to spray hot water over a relatively wide area.

[0030] The mounting position (more precisely, height) of the nozzle 30 on the support column 106 is not particularly limited, but from the viewpoint of spraying hot water over a wide area, it is preferable that it be several tens of centimeters or more (for example, 30 cm) higher than the ground in the installation area S. In this embodiment, the nozzle 30 is mounted slightly lower than the lower end (bottom) of the inclined solar panel 102. By mounting the nozzle 30 in this position, the hot water generated at approximately 90 degrees Celsius by the hot water generation equipment 24 is sprayed near the ground by the watering device 28, so that it penetrates the soil and reaches the roots of weeds before the temperature drops below 42 degrees Celsius. When the hot water at about 42 degrees Celsius comes into contact with the roots of plants, the weeds wither, thus making the weed-killing effect of the hot water more effective.

[0031] The water jetting device 34 jets water supplied through the water supply channel 14, more specifically the second water supply channel 20, toward the solar panels 102 of the solar power generation equipment 100. As shown in Figure 2, the water jetting device 34 is positioned above the solar panels 102 and jets water from above the solar panels 102. The water jetted from the water jetting device 34 is room temperature water and is used to remove objects present on the light-receiving surface (top surface) of the solar panels 102, specifically, foreign matter such as sand and bird droppings adhering to the top surface of the panels, as well as dirt on the top surface of the panels. In addition, to avoid a decrease in power generation efficiency due to an excessive rise in the temperature of the solar panels 102, the solar panels 102 may be cooled by the water jetted from the water jetting device 34.

[0032] The configuration of the ejection device 34 is not particularly limited as long as it can eject water from the second water supply channel 20 toward the solar panels 102. For example, the ejection device 34 may be configured by fixing an ejection part with an ejection nozzle to the tip of a branch pipe connected to the piping forming the second water supply channel 20. However, it is not limited to this, and the ejection device 34 may have a water storage tank (not shown), store the water flowing through the second water supply channel 20 in this water storage tank, pump the water in the water storage tank under pressure to flow to the ejection part, and eject from the ejection part toward the solar panels 102. In this case, the water storage tank is provided separately from the hot water storage tank 26 of the hot water generation equipment 24 and is not connected to the hot water storage tank 26.

[0033] The control device 38 is a device that controls the water supply mechanism 12, and in this embodiment, it controls the starting and stopping of the water supply pump 16 and the switching of the switching valve 22. In other words, the control device 38 controls whether or not water is supplied through the water supply channel 14, and whether or not water is supplied through the first water supply channel 18 or the second water supply channel 20. The control device 38 is composed of a general-purpose computer or control circuit and may be installed in a control room provided in the installation area S, or it may be installed in a location different from the installation area S. Furthermore, the control device 38 may be composed of a single computer or control circuit, or it may be composed of multiple computers or control circuits connected in parallel.

[0034] Furthermore, in this embodiment, as shown in Figure 1, the control device 38 can communicate with the user terminal 44 and the cloud server 46 via the internet or a mobile communication network. The user terminal 44 is operated by a user (for example, the supervisor of the solar power generation equipment 100) and communicates with the control device 38 to cause the control device 38 to control the water supply mechanism 12. In other words, the user can remotely control the water supply mechanism 12 by the control device 38 by operating the user terminal 44. The user terminal 44 can also receive information sent from the control device 38 through communication with the control device 38 and display that information on the screen. The cloud server 46 transmits information necessary for control by the control device 38 (specifically, the results of image analysis described later) to the control device 38. However, the user terminal 44 and the cloud server 46 are not necessarily required, and the control device 38 may control the water supply mechanism 12 on its own without communication with the user terminal 44 and the cloud server 46.

[0035] In this embodiment, the control device 38 determines the timing for spraying the hot water generated by the hot water generation equipment 24. The control device 38 then controls the water supply mechanism 12 so that the spraying device 28 sprays the hot water at the determined spraying time. In addition, in this embodiment, the control device 38 controls the water supply mechanism 12 so that the ejection device 34 ejects water toward the solar power generation equipment 100 at times other than the spraying time. The specific flow of control by the control device 38 will be explained in detail in a later section.

[0036] Sensor 40 is an example of an information-providing device and provides information (hereinafter referred to as "first information") to the control device 38 for determining the timing of hot water spraying by the watering device 28. Specifically, sensor 40 is composed of a known illuminance meter and detects the illuminance in the installation area S, and outputs a signal corresponding to the detected illuminance to the control device 38 as first information. In this embodiment, sensor 40 detects the illuminance at the installation location of sensor 40 and its surroundings at regular intervals (for example, every hour to several hours), outputs a signal corresponding to the illuminance, and outputs it to the control device 38. Based on the output signal from sensor 40, the control device 38 determines the timing of hot water spraying.

[0037] The placement of the sensor 40 is not particularly limited as long as it can appropriately detect the illuminance in the installation area S, but for example, it may be fixed to the support column 106 of the mounting frame 104. In that case, it is preferable that the sensor 40 be fixed at a position slightly lower than the lower end (bottom) of the inclined solar panel 102. However, it is assumed that the sensor 40 is installed in a position where it will be hidden by weeds before the solar panel 102 is covered by weeds.

[0038] The imaging device 42, in cooperation with the cloud server 46, provides the control device 38 with information (hereinafter referred to as "second information") for determining the timing of water ejection by the ejection device 34. Specifically, the imaging device 42 is composed of a known network camera installed in the installation area S, and as shown in Figure 2, it photographs the light-receiving surface (top surface of the panel) of the solar panel 102 in the installation area S. In this embodiment, the imaging device 42 photographs the top surface of the panel at regular intervals (for example, every hour to several hours).

[0039] The captured image is transmitted from the imaging device 42 to the cloud server 46. The cloud server 46 uses known image analysis techniques to determine whether there are any objects to be removed (specifically, foreign matter, dirt, etc.) on the solar panel 102, and transmits the determination result as second information to the control device 38. The control device 38 receives the determination result (image analysis result) from the cloud server 46 and determines the timing of water ejection based on the determination result. Specifically, if it is determined that there are objects to be removed on the solar panel 102, the control device 38 controls the water supply mechanism 12 so that the ejection device 34 ejects water. Furthermore, if the control device 38 itself has the image analysis function described above, the imaging device 42 may transmit the captured image of the top surface of the panel directly to the control device 38 instead of to the cloud server 46.

[0040] Of the components of the water supply system 10 described above, the water supply mechanism 12, hot water generation equipment 24, sprinkler system 28, jet device 34, sensor 40, and imaging device 42 are installed at multiple locations in the installation area S. More specifically, the installation area S is divided into multiple regions, more precisely m × n regions A (where m and n are natural numbers), as shown in the left diagram of Figure 4. Each region A is roughly rectangular in plan view, and the size and shape of each region A are almost uniform, for example, approximately 1000 m 2 It has an area of ​​. Furthermore, the number of regions within the installation area S, and the area of ​​each region, are not particularly limited and should be set to appropriate values ​​according to the installation area S.

[0041] Each region A is equipped with one or more solar panels 102 and one or more mounting frames 104, and typically multiple solar panels 102 and multiple mounting frames 104 are arranged. In this embodiment, a water supply mechanism 12, a hot water generation facility 24, a sprinkler system 28, and a jet device 34 are provided for each region. Specifically, as shown in the right-hand diagram of Figure 4, each region A is equipped with one or more of each of the water supply mechanism 12, hot water generation facility 24, sprinkler system 28, and jet device 34. Furthermore, the nozzles 30 and jetting devices 34 of the hot water generating equipment 24 and the sprinkler system 28 may each be installed in multiple locations within each area A.

[0042] Furthermore, as shown in the right-hand diagram of Figure 4, one or more imaging devices 42 and multiple sensors 40 are arranged in each region A. The multiple sensors 40 are arranged in a dispersed manner near the outer edge of each region A, such that sensors 40 within the same region A are separated from each other by a predetermined distance or more. Each of the multiple sensors 40 outputs a signal (i.e., the first information described above) corresponding to the illuminance detected in each region A to the control device 38.

[0043] On the other hand, in this embodiment, only one control device 38 is provided for each of the multiple regions A. That is, the control device 38 according to this embodiment is shared among the multiple regions A and controls the water supply mechanism 12 for all regions A. However, it is not limited to this, and a control device 38 may also be provided for each region.

[0044] <<Water supply control by control device>> Next, the water supply control by the control device 38 will be described. In this embodiment, the control device 38 performs two types of control for each of the multiple regions A in the installation area S. The first control is for supplying hot water for weeding in region A where weeding is required, and will be hereafter referred to as the hot water supply flow. The second control is for supplying water for removal in region A where foreign matter and dirt on the solar panel 102 need to be removed, and will be hereafter referred to as the removal water supply flow. The following describes each control flow.

[0045] (Hot water supply flow) The hot water supply flow is performed for each region A and proceeds according to the flow shown in Figure 5. In other words, the control device 38 repeats the series of steps shown in Figure 5 for each region A. In the hot water supply flow, first, the control device 38 receives output signals from multiple sensors 40 (for example, k sensors 40: k is a natural number) installed in one area A (hereinafter referred to as the target area) (S001). Then, the control device 38 calculates the average illuminance for each sensor 40 installation point in the target area over a predetermined period including the present time (for example, the most recent few hours, specifically during the daytime) (S002).

[0046] Furthermore, the control device 38 calculates the average illuminance for each of the k sensors 40, and then divides this sum by the number of sensors 40, k, to obtain the average illuminance in the target area (hereinafter referred to as the area average illuminance) (S003). The area average illuminance obtained in this step S003 corresponds to the "value obtained based on the output signals of the sensors 40".

[0047] Next, the control device 38 determines whether the average illuminance of the area is below a reference value (S004). The reference value is set to a value appropriate for determining whether or not weeding is necessary in the target area, and in this embodiment, it is set to 50 lx, for example.

[0048] Then, if the average illumination of the area is below a standard value, the control device 38 determines that the current time is the time to spray hot water (S005), and controls the water supply mechanism 12 so that the watering device 28 in the target area sprays hot water at that time (S006). Specifically, the control device 38 starts the water supply pump 16 installed in the target area and remotely operates the switching valve 22 so that the first water supply channel 18 is opened. As a result, hot water is generated in the hot water generation equipment 24 in the target area and stored in the hot water storage tank 26. When the amount of water stored (more precisely, the amount of hot water stored) in the hot water storage tank 26 reaches a certain amount or more, the watering pump 32 is automatically started, and the hot water in the hot water storage tank 26 is sent to the nozzle 30, which then rotates and sprays the hot water in the target area (S007).

[0049] Although not shown in Figure 5, the hot water supply flow may include a step in which, if the average illuminance in the area is below a standard value, the control device 38 communicates with the user terminal 44 to notify the user that weeding is necessary in the target area.

[0050] The hot water spraying continues until the hot water in the storage tank 26 is empty (S008). When the hot water in the storage tank 26 is empty, the control device 38 stops the rotation of the water supply pump 16, the spraying pump 32, and the nozzle 30, ending the hot water spraying (S009). At this point, one hot water supply flow is completed.

[0051] In this embodiment, the control device 38 performs the hot water supply flow daily according to the procedure described above. However, it is not limited to this, and the hot water supply flow may be performed every few days, once a week, or once a month. Alternatively, if hot water spraying was performed during the previous hot water supply flow, the next hot water supply flow may be performed after a predetermined period (for example, several months to half a year) has elapsed since the date of the previous hot water supply flow.

[0052] (Removed water supply flow) The removed water supply flow is performed for each region A and proceeds according to the flow shown in Figure 6. In other words, the control device 38 repeats the series of steps shown in Figure 6 for each region A. In the removed water supply flow, first, an image captured by an imaging device 42 installed in one area A (i.e., the target area) captures the top surface of a solar panel 102 installed within the target area, and the captured image is transmitted to a cloud server 46 (S011). The cloud server 46 analyzes the captured image and applies image recognition technology to determine whether there are any foreign objects or dirt attached to the top surface of the panel (S012), and transmits the determination result to the control device 38 (S013).

[0053] If it is determined that there is foreign matter or dirt on the top surface of the panel (Yes in S014), the control device 38 determines that the current time is the time to spray water (S015), and controls the water supply mechanism 12 so that the spraying device 34 in the target area sprays water at that time (S016). Specifically, the control device 38 starts the water supply pump 16 installed in the target area and remotely operates the switching valve 22 so that the second water supply channel 20 is opened. As a result, a portion of the water flowing in the second water supply channel 20 is sprayed from the spraying device 34 toward the solar panel 102 as removed water (S017).

[0054] The ejection of the removed water continues for a certain period of time (S018), and when the elapsed time from the start of ejection reaches a predetermined time, the control device 38 stops the water supply pump 16 and terminates the ejection of water (S019). At this point, one flow of removed water is completed. Furthermore, if the water flowing through the second water supply channel 20 is stored in a storage tank and the water in the storage tank is sprayed towards the solar panels 102, the spraying of water (removed water) may be continued until the water in the storage tank is empty, and the removal water supply flow may be terminated when the water in the storage tank is empty.

[0055] In this embodiment, the control device 38 performs the removal water supply flow according to the procedure described above every day. However, it is not limited to this, and the removal water supply flow may be performed at a frequency of once every few days, once a week, or once a month.

[0056] <<Regarding the usefulness of this embodiment>> According to the water supply system 10 described above, by detecting the illuminance in each area A of the installation area S using the sensor 40, it is possible to appropriately determine the time when weeding is necessary based on the detection results. Furthermore, in this embodiment, weeding in each area A is performed by spraying hot water using the sprinkler device 28, so there is no risk of cutting the wiring of the solar power generation equipment 100 as with weeding with a lawnmower, and by cutting only the grass, the roots in the ground remain, thus avoiding the situation where weeds grow back quickly. In addition, weeding by sprinkling hot water can reduce pollution of the surrounding environment caused by the use of herbicides compared to weeding using herbicides.

[0057] Furthermore, in this embodiment, since hot water is generated using sunlight, the amount of fossil fuels such as diesel fuel used can be reduced compared to when hot water is generated using a boiler, and weed control can be performed with a lower environmental impact. Furthermore, in this embodiment, since a configuration is adopted to spray cleaning water toward the solar panel 102, foreign matter and dirt adhering to the light-receiving surface (upper surface of the panel) of the solar panel 102 can be washed away with water. This suppresses contamination of the upper surface of the panel and reduces the decrease in power generation efficiency of the solar power generation equipment 100 caused by such contamination.

[0058] <<Regarding other embodiments>> Although one embodiment of the water supply system and its utilization method of the present invention has been described above, the above embodiment is merely an example to facilitate understanding of the present invention and does not limit it. In other words, the present invention can be modified and improved without departing from its spirit. Furthermore, it goes without saying that the present invention includes equivalents thereof.

[0059] To explain in more detail, in the above embodiment, a water supply mechanism 12, a hot water generating device 24, and a sprinkler system 28 are provided in each of the multiple areas A included in the installation area S. However, this is not limited to this, and for example, only one of the water supply mechanism 12, hot water generating device 24, and sprinkler system 28 may be provided for two or more adjacent areas A, and such equipment (device) may be shared among the two or more areas A.

[0060] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the sprinkler nozzle 30 of the sprinkler device 28 is positioned away from the ground surface, specifically about 30 cm above the ground surface. This allows the nozzle 30 to sprinkle hot water over a relatively wide area. However, the embodiment is not limited to this, and the nozzle 30 may be positioned near the ground surface. In this case, the hot water ejected from the nozzle 30 can be allowed to penetrate the ground at a higher temperature and reach the roots of plants. However, if the nozzle 30 is positioned near the ground surface, the amount of piping that forms the flow path from the hot water generation equipment 24 to the nozzle 30 will increase, thus increasing the equipment cost. In this respect, the above embodiment is more preferable.

[0061] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, illuminance is detected by sensors 40 installed in the installation area S (more specifically, each area A within the installation area S). In the above embodiment, the necessity of weeding by hot water spraying is determined based on the value obtained from the output signal from the sensors 40 (more specifically, the average illuminance for each sensor 40 or the average illuminance for the area). However, the system is not limited to this, and the necessity of weeding by hot water spraying may be determined based on information obtainable from devices other than the sensors 40. For example, the area around the solar power generation equipment 100 may be photographed using a camera 42 installed in the installation area S, and the degree of weed growth around the solar power generation equipment 100 may be identified by analyzing the captured images. Based on the identified degree of weed growth, the necessity of weeding by hot water spraying may be determined, and for example, if the degree of weed growth is above a threshold, weeding by hot water spraying may be carried out.

[0062] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, weed control by hot water spraying is performed on a region-by-region basis in each of the multiple regions A included in the installation area S. In other words, in the above embodiment, when hot water for weed control is being sprayed in one region A, hot water spraying may not be performed in other regions A adjacent to that region. However, this is not limited to this, and when hot water for weed control is being sprayed in one region A, hot water spraying may also be performed in other regions A in conjunction with it. This configuration is a modified version of the present invention, and the configuration of this modified version will be described below.

[0063] In the modified example, similar to the embodiment described above, a plurality of sensors 40 are arranged along the outer edge of each region A, and the control device 38 calculates the average illuminance (hereinafter referred to as sensor average illuminance) for each sensor 40. The sensor average illuminance corresponds to a "value based on the output signal from the sensor 40," and is the average illuminance at the installation location of each sensor 40 during a predetermined period including the present time (for example, during daytime hours).

[0064] In the modified version, if any of the average sensor illuminances calculated for each sensor in one of the multiple regions A (hereinafter referred to as the first region) falls below a reference value, hot water for weed control is sprayed in the first region, and also in the second region adjacent to the first region. More specifically, if the average sensor illuminance calculated for one sensor 40 provided in the first region falls below a reference value, the control device 38 controls the water supply mechanisms 12 provided in the first and second regions respectively so that both the watering device 28 provided in the first region and the watering device 28 provided in the second region spray hot water. In the modified configuration described above, when weeding by sprinkling hot water in the first region, sprinkling hot water in both the first and second regions allows for more effective weeding compared to sprinkling hot water in the first region alone. In other words, in the modified configuration, by sprinkling hot water in the second region in addition to the first region, hot water can be appropriately sprinkled around the boundary between the first and second regions.

[0065] Furthermore, if multiple second regions exist around the first region, it is preferable to spray hot water in the second region determined based on the sensor 40 (hereinafter referred to as "the relevant sensor") whose average illuminance among the multiple sensors 40 installed in the first region falls below a standard value. Specifically, it is preferable to spray hot water in the second region that is oriented in the same direction as the relevant sensor when viewed from the center of the first region. Furthermore, as described above, a modified configuration involves spraying hot water in both the first and second regions when the average sensor illuminance calculated for one sensor 40 provided in the first region falls below a reference value, but the configuration is not limited to this. For example, if the average region illuminance of the first region is below a reference value, and the illuminance detected by any of the multiple sensors 40 provided in the first region is below a reference value, hot water may be sprayed in both the first and second regions. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0066] 10 Water supply system 12 Water conveyance mechanism 14 Waterway 16 Water supply pump 18 First water supply channel 20 Second water supply channel 22 Switching valve 24 Hot water generation equipment 26 Hot water storage tank 28 Sprinkler system 30 nozzles 32 Sprinkler pumps 34 Ejection device 38 Control device 40 sensors 42 Imaging device 44 User terminals 46 Cloud Servers 100 Solar power generation facilities 102 Solar Panels 104 Stand 106 Support section S Installation Area Area A

Claims

1. A water supply system used in the installation area of ​​a solar power generation facility, A water supply mechanism having a water supply channel and supplying water through the water supply channel, A hot water generation facility that uses sunlight to generate hot water from water sent through the aforementioned water channel, A sprinkler system that sprinkles the hot water generated by the hot water generating equipment for weed control in the installation area, A water supply system comprising: a control device that controls the water supply mechanism so that the sprinkler device sprinkles hot water at a predetermined sprinkling time.

2. The device further includes an information-providing device that provides information for determining the timing of watering, The water supply system according to claim 1, wherein the timing of watering is determined based on the information provided by the information providing device.

3. The water supply system according to claim 2, wherein the information providing device is a sensor that detects the illuminance in the installation area and outputs a signal corresponding to the detected illuminance as information to the control device.

4. The water supply system according to claim 3, wherein the period when the value obtained based on the output signal from the sensor is below a reference value is determined as the watering period.

5. The aforementioned installation area is equipped with solar panels and a mounting frame on which the solar panels are placed. The sprinkler system has nozzles for sprinkling hot water, The water supply system according to claim 1, wherein the nozzle is mounted on the frame so as to be rotatable about a rotation axis along the vertical direction.

6. The system further includes a jetting device that jets water sent through the water channel toward the solar power generation equipment, The water supply system according to claim 1, wherein the control device controls the water supply mechanism so that the ejection device ejects water at a predetermined ejection time.

7. The water supply system according to claim 6, wherein when a target to be removed is detected on the solar panel based on an image of the solar panel of the solar power generation equipment, the control device controls the water supply mechanism so that the ejection device ejects water.

8. The aforementioned installation area is divided into multiple regions, The water supply system according to claim 4, wherein the water supply mechanism, the hot water generating equipment, and the sprinkler system are provided for each of the regions.

9. The water supply system according to claim 8, wherein when the value based on the output signal from the sensor provided in the first of the plurality of regions falls below the reference value, the control device controls the water supply mechanisms provided in the first region and the second region, respectively, so that both the sprinkler system provided in the first region and the sprinkler system provided in the second region adjacent to the first region sprinkle hot water.

Images