Solar panel units and building materials

Abstract

To promote energy conservation in buildings by efficiently generating and using sunlight that hits a fitting.SOLUTION: A solar panel unit comprises: a solar panel formed by a plurality of cells of the double-sided light-receiving type sandwiched between transparent members, and having a central portion where the plurality of cells is placed and a peripheral portion where the cells are not placed; a reflective plate spaced away from the solar panel in parallel therewith; and a reflective lens placed on the solar panel side of the reflective plate. The reflective plate is formed by a flat part facing the central portion of the solar panel and a curved part formed on the outer periphery of the flat part. The reflective lens is placed on the flat part of the reflective plate.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 12

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a solar panel unit formed by arranging a plurality of cells that generate electricity from sunlight, and to a building component equipped with a solar panel unit. [Background technology]

[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art Windows that open and close naturally due to external forces such as wind are conventionally known as architectural components arranged in buildings. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2016-205089 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The window in Patent Document 1 mentioned above allows for natural ventilation according to wind conditions and other factors, thereby reducing the use of air conditioners and other appliances, thereby contributing to energy conservation in buildings. However, solar power, which is a representative form of natural energy along with wind, is not utilized, and there is a demand for further energy savings through the use of solar power.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to promote energy conservation by utilizing sunlight. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] One embodiment of the present invention has a solar panel, a reflecting plate arranged parallel to the solar panel at a distance from the solar panel, and a reflecting lens arranged on the solar panel side of the reflecting plate. The solar panel is formed by sandwiching a plurality of bifacial light receiving type cells between transparent members, and has a central portion where the plurality of cells are arranged and a peripheral portion where no cells are arranged. The reflecting plate is arranged in the central portion of the solar panel. Across multiple cellsThe plate has opposing flat surfaces and a curved portion formed on the outer periphery of the flat surfaces, The surface is flat except for the curved portion. The reflector lens is a solar panel unit that is placed on the planar portion of the reflector plate. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to this embodiment, sunlight can be efficiently utilized, and energy conservation can be promoted. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is an example of an external view of a construction member according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] 1 is an example of an entire system of a natural ventilation window constituting a building component according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 3] 1 is an example of a vertical cross-sectional view of a natural ventilation window constituting a building component according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] 1 is an example of a vertical cross-sectional view of a natural ventilation window constituting a building component according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is an example of a partial cross-sectional view of a natural ventilation window constituting a building component according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] 1A and 1B are examples of partial vertical cross-sectional views of a natural ventilation window constituting a building component of an embodiment of the present invention, where (a) is a vertical cross-sectional view of a shoji screen, and (b) is a partial vertical cross-sectional view of a solar panel unit. [Figure 7] 1A and 1B are examples of partial cross-sectional views of a natural ventilation window constituting a building component of an embodiment of the present invention, where (a) is a cross-sectional view of a shoji screen, and (b) and (c) are cross-sectional views of portions of a solar panel unit. [Figure 8] FIG. 1 is an example of a perspective view of a solar panel unit of a natural ventilation window constituting a building component according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] 1A is a diagram showing an example of components constituting a solar panel unit according to an embodiment of the present invention, where (a) is a plan view of a solar panel, (b) is a plan view of a reflecting plate, and (c) is a vertical cross-sectional view of the reflecting plate. [Figure 10]FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a process for assembling a solar panel unit according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 11] FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a process for assembling a solar panel unit according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 12] 1A and 1B are vertical cross-sectional views for explaining the light receiving state of a solar panel unit according to an embodiment of the present invention, where FIG. 1A shows the state when the window is open, and FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] A solar panel unit and a building component including a solar panel unit according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In addition, as an example of a building component equipped with a solar panel unit of this embodiment, a ventilation window that opens and closes naturally due to external forces such as wind will be described, but the building component equipped with a solar panel unit may also be a curtain wall, wall material, fence, roof material, etc. placed on the periphery of a building, and is not particularly limited.

[0010] The ventilation window of this embodiment is a window that is installed in an opening formed, for example, at the upper position of a room in a building, and as shown in Figure 1, two natural ventilation windows that can be opened and closed independently are lined up in the left-right direction to form a continuous window. The ventilation window may be a series of three or more windows arranged in a row, or may be a single window.

[0011] The ventilation window is made up of an upper frame 11, a lower frame 12, and left and right vertical frames 13, 14 all around, all of which are made of a metal material such as aluminum, and a frame body 1 with multiple opening frames (two in Figure 1) formed by fixing a post 15 between the upper frame 11 and the lower frame 12, and shoji screens 2, 2 that are arranged in each opening frame so that they can be opened and closed freely, consisting of two natural ventilation windows lined up on the left and right. Hereinafter, the natural ventilation window of this embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings, using a natural ventilation window arranged on the right side of the ventilation window.

[0012] (Natural ventilation window) As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the natural ventilation window of this embodiment has an opening frame consisting of an upper frame 11, a lower frame 12, a post 15, and a right vertical frame 14, and a shoji screen 2 with a solar panel unit 5 attached to the inner periphery of a frame body formed by an upper frame 21, a lower frame 22, and left and right vertical frames 23, 24 all around the frame body, all made of a metal material such as aluminum.

[0013] The shoji screen 2 is supported so as to be freely rotatable on a pivot 2a at a position above the mid-height (about 1 / 3 from the top) in the height direction of the left and right vertical frames 23, 24, and the opening is opened and closed by tilting the screen so that the upper part of the pivot 2a faces indoors and the lower part of the pivot 2a faces outdoors. A weight 25 that protrudes toward the inside of the room is attached to the upper frame 21 of the shoji screen 2, and is balanced so that the screen opens and closes naturally around the pivot axis 2a due to the wind force (external force) acting on the shoji screen 2.

[0014] An opening / closing arm 4 is provided on the interior facing surface of the mullion 15, which is driven by a drive motor 85 and controls the open / closed state of the shoji screens 2,2. The opening / closing arm 4 has an upper arm 41 provided above the rotating shaft 4a and a lower arm 42 provided below the rotating shaft 4a, and is configured by connecting the upper arm 41 and the lower arm 42 at a predetermined angle. The upper arm 41 and the lower arm 42 have rollers 41a, 42a at the tips thereof that come into contact with the indoor side of the left vertical frame 23 of the shoji screen 2.

[0015] The drive motor 85 is controlled by a natural ventilation control means 83 to which detection devices such as a wind speed sensor 81 and a rainfall sensor 82 are connected, and is driven by power supplied from a storage battery 84 or a commercial power source 86. It should be noted that by supplying the power generated by the solar panel unit 5 to the storage battery 84, the power supplied from the commercial power source 86 can be saved.

[0016] Then, based on detection information from the wind speed sensor 81, the rainfall sensor 82, etc., when the weather is calm and there is no rainfall, the natural ventilation control means 83 drives the drive motor 85 so that the upper arm 41 of the opening / closing arm 4 is inclined at about 45 degrees from the vertical toward the interior and the lower arm 42 is in a nearly vertical position, as shown in Figure 3, allowing the door to be opened as shown by the dotted line in the shoji screen 2. On the other hand, in bad weather such as when the wind is strong, the natural ventilation control means 83 drives the drive motor 85 so that the upper arm 41 of the opening / closing arm 4 is in a substantially vertical position, thereby limiting the opening of the shoji screen 2.

[0017] As shown in Figure 4, the upper frame 11 of the frame body 1 is attached to the inner periphery of the structure opening A via anchor member B fixed to the structure, and has an upper frame main body portion 111 arranged on the inner periphery of the structure opening A, a doorstop wall 112 hanging downward from the outdoor side inner periphery of the upper frame main body portion 111, and a hanging wall 113 hanging from the inner surface of the upper frame main body portion 111.

[0018] As shown in Figure 4, the lower frame 12 of the frame body 1 is attached to the inner periphery of the opening A of the main body via an anchor member B fixed to the main body, and has a lower frame main body portion 121 arranged on the inner periphery of the opening A of the main body, and a door stop portion 122 rising upward from the inner periphery on the indoor side of the lower frame main body portion 121.

[0019] As shown in Figure 5, the right vertical frame 14 of the frame body 1 is attached to the inner periphery of the structure opening A via an anchor member B fixed to the structure, and has a right vertical frame main body 141 arranged on the inner periphery of the structure opening A, an outdoor side wall 142 extending inwardly from the outdoor side end of the right vertical frame main body 141, an airtight wall 143 extending inwardly from the inner periphery near the outdoor side of the right vertical frame main body 141, and a fixing groove 144 for fixing the airtight material mounting member described later.

[0020] The upright 15 is fixed between the upper frame 11 and the lower frame 12, and has a upright main body 151 with a hollow portion, an outdoor side wall 152 extending inwardly from the outdoor end of the upright main body 151, an airtight wall 153 extending inwardly from the inner circumferential surface of the upright main body 151 closer to the outdoors, and a fixing groove 154 for fixing an airtight material mounting member. The upright 15 has a larger projected dimension than the left and right vertical frames 13, 14, with the upright main body 151 protruding toward the indoor side, and an opening / closing arm 4 is provided on the projected surface of the upright main body 151 protruding toward the indoor side.

[0021] On the other hand, as shown in Figures 4 and 6(a), the upper frame 21 of the shoji screen 2 has an upper frame main body 211 having a glass opening 21a on its inner circumference, an outer periphery 212 protruding from the outer periphery of the upper frame main body 211, and a door stopper piece 213 provided on the outer periphery surface of the upper frame main body 211 on the outdoor side of the outer periphery 212, and a weight 25 is provided on the indoor surface of the upper frame main body 211.

[0022] The space between the upper frame 11 and the upper frame 21 is airtight because the airtight material s provided on the indoor side of the doorstop wall 112 of the upper frame 11 abuts against the doorstop piece 213 of the upper frame 21 of the shoji screen 2, and the airtight material s provided on the outdoor side of the outer periphery 212 of the upper frame 21 abuts against the hanging wall 113 of the upper frame 11.

[0023] As shown in Figures 4 and 6(a), the bottom frame 22 of the shoji screen 2 has a bottom frame main body 221 with a hollow portion, an indoor side glass opening wall 222 extending from the indoor side inner periphery of the bottom frame main body 221, and a ridge 223 attached to the bottom frame main body 221, and a glass opening 22a is formed by the indoor side glass opening wall 222 and the ridge 223.

[0024] The gap between the bottom frame 12 and the bottom stile 22 is airtight because an airtight material s provided at the outdoor end of the doorstop portion 122 of the bottom frame 12 abuts against the indoor side of the bottom stile 22 of the shoji screen 2.

[0025] The left and right vertical frames 23, 24 of the shoji screen 2 have the same structure, and as shown in Figures 5 and 7(a), the left and right vertical frame main body portions 231, 241 have hollow portions, outdoor side walls 232, 242 extend from the outdoor ends of the left and right vertical frame main body portions 231, 241 in the outer circumferential direction, and airtight walls 233, 243 extend from the outdoor-side outer circumferential surfaces of the left and right vertical frame main body portions 231, 241 in the outer circumferential direction, It has fixing grooves 234, 244 for fixing airtight material mounting members 237, 247, indoor glass opening walls 235, 245 extending along the indoor side inner periphery, and push edges 236, 246 attached to the outdoor side inner periphery of the left and right vertical frame main body portions 231, 241, and the indoor glass opening walls 233, 243 and the push edges 234, 244 form glass openings 23a, 24a.

[0026] The airtight method between the right frame 14, the upright 15 and the left and right frames 23, 24 is different above and below the central axis 2a. Specifically, in the portion above the central axis 2a, in order for the shoji screen 2 to approach the opening frame from the indoor side and close it, airtight materials s1, s1 are provided on the outdoor side walls 142, 152 of the right vertical frame 14 and the mullion 15 as shown in Figure 5, and airtight material mounting members 237, 247 with airtight materials s2, s2 attached are fixed to the fixing grooves 234, 244 of the left and right vertical frames 23, 24 as shown in Figure 7(a).

[0027] The airtight material s1 provided on the right vertical frame 14 and the upright 15 abuts against the outdoor sides of the left and right vertical frames 23, 24, and the airtight materials s2, s2 provided on the left and right vertical frames 23, 24 abut against the airtight walls 143, 153 of the right vertical frame 14 and upright 15 from the indoor side, thereby creating an airtight seal between the right vertical frame 14, upright 15 and the left and right vertical frames 23, 24.

[0028] On the other hand, in the portion below the central axis 2a, airtight materials s1, s1 are provided on the outdoor side walls 232, 242 of the left and right vertical frames 23, 24 so that the shoji screen 2 approaches the opening frame from the outdoor side and closes it, and airtight material mounting members 237, 247 with airtight materials s2, s2 attached are fixed to the fixing grooves 144, 154 of the right vertical frame 14 and the mullion 15.

[0029] The airtight materials s1, s1 provided on the left and right vertical frames 23, 24 abut against the outdoor side of the right vertical frame 14 and upright 15, and the airtight materials s2, s2 provided on the right vertical frame 14 and upright 15 abut against the airtight walls 233, 243 of the left and right vertical frames 23, 24 from the indoor side, thereby making the space between the right vertical frame 14, upright 15 and the left and right vertical frames 23, 24 airtight.

[0030] (Solar panel unit) As shown in Figures 6, 7 and 8, the solar panel unit 5 attached to the inner circumference of the frame has a solar panel 51 arranged on the surface (outdoor side) of the solar panel unit 5, a reflective plate 52 arranged parallel to and spaced from the solar panel 51, reflective lenses 522, 522 arranged on the solar panel side of the reflective plate 52, and a support plate 53 that supports and fixes the solar panel 51 and the reflective plate 52.

[0031] The solar panel 51 is formed by sandwiching multiple double-sided light-receiving cells 511, 511 between transparent plate-like members, and has a central portion 51a where the multiple cells 511, 511 are arranged, and a peripheral portion 51b where no cells are arranged, as shown in Figure 9(a).

[0032] As shown in Figures 9(b) and (c), the reflective plate 52 has a flat portion 52a facing the central portion 51a of the solar panel 51 and a curved portion 52b formed on the outer periphery of the flat portion 52a, and the curved portion 52b continues smoothly at the four corners 52c of the reflective plate 52, and the reflective plate 52 has curved portions 52b that continue on its four sides. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 10, an appropriate number of reflecting lenses 522, 522 are fixed to the outdoor side of the flat portion 52a of the reflecting plate 52. Furthermore, a hole 52d through which wiring from the solar panel 51 passes is formed at a predetermined position of the curved portion 52b.

[0033] As shown in Figures 6(b), 7(b), and (c), the support plate 53 has a rectangular back surface aluminum plate 531 that forms the indoor side wall surface of the solar panel unit 5, a frame member 532 that is fixed in a rectangular shape to the outdoor side surface of the back surface aluminum plate 531, and a pressing edge member 533 that is attached to the frame member 532.

[0034] The frame members 532, 532, 532 have a main body portion 532a fixed to the rear aluminum plate 531 and an upper wall portion 532b continuous with the upper surface of the fixed portion, and an insertion portion 532c that holds the reflection plate 52 is formed by the main body portion 532a and the upper wall portion 532b.

[0035] The pressing member 533 has an attachment portion 533a that is attached to the frame member 532 and a holding portion 533b that holds the solar panel 51. By fixing the attachment portion 533a to the outer peripheral surface of the main body portion 532a of the frame member 532 by screwing or the like, a holding groove 533c that holds the edge of the solar panel 51 is formed between the upper wall portion 532b of the frame member 532 and the holding portion 533b of the pressing member 533. A seal member 534 such as airtight rubber is disposed in the holding groove 533c to provide an airtight seal between the holding groove 533c and the solar panel 51. The gap between the holding groove 533c and the solar panel 51 may be filled with a sealing material to provide an airtight seal.

[0036] As shown in Figure 10, the solar panel unit 5 is assembled by arranging the three side frame members 532, 532, 532 in a rectangular shape on one side of the rear aluminum plate 531 of the support plate 53 with the insertion portion 532c facing inner periphery, and fixing them from the rear surface of the rear aluminum plate 531 using a fixing means such as a screw. The end faces of the frame members 532, 532, 532 are cut off at a 45 degree angle, and the ends of the frame members 532, 532, 532 are abutted against each other and fixed.

[0037] The reflection plate 52 is inserted into the insertion portion 532c from one open side of the three-sided frame members 532, 532, 532 fixed to one surface of the rear aluminum plate 521, and after the reflection plate 52 is completely inserted, the frame member 532 is attached to the open side of the rear aluminum plate 521, and the reflection plate 52 is fixed to the rear aluminum plate 531.

[0038] 11, pressing members 533, 533, 533 are attached to frame members 532, 532, 532 on three sides of the frame member 532. Note that a seal member 534 is disposed between an upper wall portion 532b of the frame member 532 and a holding portion 533b of the pressing member 533.

[0039] The solar panel 51 is inserted into the holding groove 533c from one open side of the support plate 53, which has push-edge members 533, 533, 533 attached to three sides, and after the solar panel 51 is completely inserted, the push-edge member 533 is attached to the open side of the push-edge members 533, 533, 533, and assembly of the solar panel unit 5 is completed.

[0040] 6(a) and 7(a), the assembled solar panel unit 5 is inserted into the frame body that is assembled on all four sides from the indoor side, and fixed to the frame body from the back side of the rear aluminum plate 531 with fixing means such as screws, thereby forming the shoji screen 2 with the solar panel unit 5 attached. At this time, by inserting synthetic resin spacers 91, 92, 93, 94 into the glass openings 21a, 22a, 23a, 24a of each of the frame materials 21, 22, 23, 24, the solar panel unit 5 can be stably attached.

[0041] In the natural ventilation window of this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the shoji screen 2 opens and closes naturally due to wind force, and the window located at a high position in the room can be opened and closed to provide ventilation without the need for electrical power. In addition, in bad weather, the natural ventilation window of this embodiment can rotate the opening / closing arm 4 based on output information from the wind speed sensor 81, rainfall sensor 82, etc., forcibly closing the window or limiting the opening / closing angle.

[0042] In addition, since the natural ventilation window of this embodiment is equipped with a solar panel unit 5 on the shoji screen 2, it can generate electricity from the sunlight that hits the shoji screen 2, and the generated electricity can supply power to drive the drive motor 85 of the opening / closing arm 4.This makes it possible to provide a natural ventilation window that can be controlled to forcibly close in bad weather while reducing the use of commercial power source 86. Needless to say, the drive motor 85 that drives the opening / closing arm 4 may be driven by electric power from a commercial power source 86 .

[0043] Here, the solar panel 51 to be placed on the shoji screen of the natural ventilation window is formed by arranging multiple cells 511 of fixed dimensions, as shown in Figure 9(a) . However, the dimensions of the shoji screen 2 are not uniform, and the solar panel 51 is fixed to the solar panel unit 5 by clamping its ends with a pressing member 533, making it difficult to arrange the cells 511 on the periphery of the solar panel 51. Therefore, the sunlight that hits the peripheral parts of the solar panel unit 5 is wasted.

[0044] Therefore, the solar panel unit 5 of this embodiment adopts a double-sided light-receiving type cell as the cell to be placed in the solar panel 51, and is configured so that sunlight hitting the peripheral parts of the solar panel unit 5 can be taken in by the back side of the solar panel 51 and directed at the back side of the cell.

[0045] To this end, in the solar panel unit 5 of this embodiment, as shown in Figures 3 and 6, a reflective plate 52 is arranged parallel to and spaced apart from the solar panel 51, and a curved portion 52b is formed on the outer periphery of the central flat portion 52a of the reflective plate 52.

[0046] As shown in Figures 12(a) and (b), in both the open / closed and closed states of the natural ventilation window, sunlight L1 to L4 that strikes the peripheral portion 51b of the solar panel unit 5 passes through the transparent member of the solar panel 51 and is taken in by the rear surface of the solar panel 51, and is reflected by the curved portion 52b of the reflecting plate 52 so as to strike the rear surface of the double-sided light-receiving cell 511. Furthermore, a reflecting lens (convex lens) 522 is arranged on the flat portion 52a in the central part of the reflecting plate 52 so as to correspond to the cell 511, so that the sunlight L1 to L4 reflected by the curved portion 52b can be directed efficiently onto the rear surface of the cell 511 of the solar panel 51.

[0047] At this time, since the curved portions 52b of the reflecting plate 52 are smoothly continuous at the four corners 52c of the reflecting plate 52, even sunlight hitting the corners of the solar panel unit 5 can be reflected toward the rear surface of the cell 511, thereby enabling more sunlight to be captured.

[0048] In addition, sunlight L5 that hits the gaps between cells 511 of the solar panel 51 can be passed through a transparent member and taken in by the rear surface of the solar panel 51, and can be directed efficiently onto the rear surface of the cells 511 of the solar panel 51 by the reflective lens 522.

[0049] As described above, the natural ventilation window of this embodiment can provide natural ventilation according to outdoor conditions using natural energy such as wind and sunlight.

[0050] In order to accommodate various sizes of shoji screens, solar panels use multiple cells of the same size, with no cells on the periphery. However, sunlight that hits the periphery of the solar panel can be directed to double-sided light-receiving cells, so most of the sunlight that hits the window can be converted into electricity without waste.

[0051] As mentioned above, building components equipped with solar panels may be windows as well as curtain walls, wall materials, fences, roofing materials, etc., and the building components may be configured with a control to adjust the amount of power generation by, for example, changing the angle of the building components on which the solar panels are placed depending on the angle of incidence of the sun.

[0052] The power generated by the solar panel unit of the above embodiment may be used for any purpose. In addition, it goes without saying that the above embodiments do not limit the invention described in the claims, but are treated as examples. [Explanation of symbols]

[0053] 1: Frame 2: Shoji screen 5: Solar panel unit 51: Solar panels 511: Cell 52: Reflective plate 52a: Flat part 52b: Curved section 522: Reflective lens

Claims

1. The solar panel includes a reflecting plate arranged parallel to the solar panel at a distance from the solar panel, and a reflecting lens arranged on the solar panel side of the reflecting plate, The solar panel is formed by sandwiching a plurality of bifacial light receiving type cells between transparent members, and has a central portion where the plurality of cells are arranged and a peripheral portion where no cells are arranged, The reflective plate has a flat portion that faces across a plurality of cells arranged in a central portion of the solar panel, and a curved portion that is formed on the outer periphery of the flat portion, and is flat except for the curved portion; The reflector lens is a solar panel unit placed on the flat surface of the reflector plate.

2. A building member comprising the solar panel unit according to claim 1.

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