Solar power generation device and solar power generation system

Abstract

To provide a technology enabling easy installation in a photovoltaic power generation device.SOLUTION: A photovoltaic power generation device comprises: a hollow member; a solar cell panel to be disposed on a part of an outer peripheral surface of the hollow member; a movable unit that is to be disposed inside the hollow member and can move its own centroid position relatively to a centroid position of the hollow member; and a control unit that controls a direction of the solar cell panel and inclines the hollow member by changing the centroid position of the movable unit with respect to the centroid position of the hollow member to change the direction of the solar cell panel.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a solar power generation device and a solar power generation system. [Background technology]

[0002] Photovoltaic power generation devices that generate electricity using sunlight have been known for some time (for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2). Generally, a photovoltaic power generation device includes a support base for supporting a solar cell panel that generates electricity when it receives sunlight. The support base is fixed to the installation location of the photovoltaic power generation device and changes the orientation of the solar cell panel so that the light-receiving surface of the solar cell panel faces the sun. For this reason, the support base needs to be securely fixed to the installation location. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-38720 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2015-36603 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, to securely fix the support base, it may be necessary to change the support base depending on the installation location of the solar power generation device, which increases installation costs.In addition, the fixing position and fixing angle of the support base must be adjusted according to the conditions of the installation location, which makes installation of the solar power generation device more time-consuming.

[0005] The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and has an object to provide a technology that allows for easy installation of a solar power generation device. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The present invention has been made to solve at least part of the above-mentioned problems, and can be realized in the following aspects.

[0007] (1) According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a solar power generation device including: a hollow member; a solar cell panel disposed on a portion of an outer peripheral surface of the hollow member; a movable member disposed inside the hollow member and capable of moving its center of gravity relative to the center of gravity of the hollow member; and a control unit that controls an orientation of the solar cell panel, the control unit changing the position of the center of gravity of the movable member relative to the center of gravity of the hollow member to tilt the hollow member and change the orientation of the solar cell panel.

[0008] According to this configuration, the solar power generation device is disposed inside the hollow member and includes a movable part that can move its center of gravity relative to the center of gravity of the hollow member. When the center of gravity of the movable part of the solar power generation device moves relative to the center of gravity of the hollow member, the center of gravity of the solar power generation device also moves. If the outer surface of the hollow member is installed so that it is in contact with the ground or water surface, the movement of the center of gravity of the solar power generation device causes the hollow member to tilt relative to the ground or water surface. When the hollow member tilts, the orientation of the solar cell panel disposed on a portion of the outer surface of the hollow member changes, allowing the solar cell panel to face the sun. Thus, with the above-described configuration, the solar cell panel can be faced toward the sun simply by placing the hollow member directly on the ground or water surface, eliminating the need for a support base to support the solar cell panel. This eliminates the need to change the support base or adjust the fixed position of the support base depending on the installation location of the solar power generation device, making it easier to install the solar power generation device.

[0009] (2) The solar power generation device of the above aspect may further include an acquisition unit disposed on the outer peripheral surface of the hollow member and configured to acquire information regarding the direction of sunlight irradiation from the difference in the amount of sunlight on the outer peripheral surface of the hollow member, and the control unit may change the orientation of the solar cell panel using the information regarding the direction of sunlight irradiation acquired by the acquisition unit. With this configuration, the control unit can change the orientation of the solar cell panel using the information regarding the direction of sunlight irradiation acquired by the acquisition unit, thereby increasing the amount of sunlight received by the solar cell panel. This increases the amount of power generated by the solar cell panel.

[0010] (3) In the solar power generation device of the above aspect, the hollow member may include a spherical outer shell portion formed from a material that transmits sunlight, and a spherical inner shell portion disposed inside the outer shell portion, the inner shell portion having the movable portion disposed therein, and the solar cell panel may be disposed between the outer shell portion and the inner shell portion. According to this configuration, the solar cell panel is disposed between the outer shell portion and the inner shell portion, and the outer shell portion, which is the outermost part of the hollow member, has a spherical shape. This makes the hollow member spherical, which makes it easier to roll on the ground, etc., and makes the solar power generation device easier to move. Therefore, the solar power generation device can be moved to a location where the amount of sunlight received by the solar cell panel is greater, thereby increasing the amount of power generated by the solar cell panel.

[0011] (4) In the solar power generation device of the above aspect, the hollow member may include a hollow hemispherical portion having a hemispherical shape and a circular planar portion connected to the hemispherical portion so as to close the opening of the hemispherical portion, and the solar cell panel may be disposed on the planar portion. According to this configuration, the hollow member has a portion of the spherical surface on the outside, so that simply placing the hemispherical portion so that the portion of the spherical surface is in contact with the ground or water surface makes it easy to tilt the hollow member relative to the ground or water surface. This makes it easy for the hollow member to roll, making it easy to change the orientation of the solar cell panel. Furthermore, in the solar power generation device, the solar cell panel is disposed on the planar portion that closes the opening of the hemispherical portion, so the area of ​​the solar cell panel can be relatively large without increasing the volume of the solar power generation device. This allows for increased power generation by the solar cell panel.

[0012] (5) In the solar power generation device of the above aspect, the movable part may be a moving body housed inside the hollow member and moving relative to the inner circumferential surface of the hollow member, and the control unit may move the moving body to change the position of the center of gravity of the moving body relative to the center of gravity of the hollow member, thereby tilting the hollow member. With this configuration, the moving body can move relative to the inner circumferential surface of the hollow member, so that the position of its center of gravity can be moved to any position inside the hollow member. This increases the degree of freedom in the direction in which the solar cell panel is oriented. Therefore, the amount of sunlight received by the solar cell panel at one time can be further increased, thereby increasing the amount of power generated by the solar cell panel.

[0013] (6) In the solar power generation device of the above aspect, the moving body may include an omni-wheel. According to this configuration, the moving body, which moves relative to the inner circumferential surface of the hollow member, is equipped with an omni-wheel, which facilitates its own movement in forward, backward, and lateral directions. As a result, when changing the orientation of the solar cell panel to a predetermined orientation, the moving body can move in a short time to a position on the inner circumferential surface of the hollow member where the orientation of the solar cell panel is aligned with the predetermined orientation. Therefore, the amount of power generated by the solar cell panel can be increased in a short time.

[0014] (7) In the solar power generation device of the above aspect, the movable part may include a fixed part fixed to the hollow member and a long weight having one end connected to the fixed part and a connection angle with respect to the fixed part that is adjustable, and the control unit may change the connection angle to change the position of the center of gravity of the movable part relative to the center of gravity of the hollow member, thereby tilting the hollow member. According to this configuration, by changing the connection angle of the long weight connected to the fixed part, the position of the center of gravity of the movable part relative to the center of gravity of the hollow member can be changed, thereby tilting the hollow member and orienting the solar cell panel toward the sun. This allows the configuration of the movable part to be relatively simple, thereby reducing the manufacturing cost of the solar power generation device, and the movable part to be less prone to failure, thereby enabling stable power generation.

[0015] (8) According to another aspect of the present invention, a solar power generation system is provided. The solar power generation system includes the above-described solar power generation device, a hangar for storing the solar power generation device, and a power storage unit connected to the solar power generation device stored in the hangar and storing electricity generated by the solar cell panel. The solar power generation device generates electricity using the solar cell panel by autonomously deploying from the hangar to the outside of the hangar and autonomously moves from the deployed state to being stored in the hangar. According to this configuration, the solar power generation system includes a hangar for storing the solar power generation device. In the solar power generation system, the solar power generation device autonomously deploys from the stored state in the hangar and autonomously moves from the deployed state to being stored in the hangar. Furthermore, when stored in the hangar, the solar power generation device can be connected to the power storage unit to store electricity generated by the solar cell panel in the power storage unit. This allows the generated electricity to be stored in one place when one solar power generation device generates power in multiple batches or when multiple solar power generation devices generate power individually, thereby increasing the amount of power that can be supplied at one time.

[0016] The present invention can be realized in various forms, such as a method for manufacturing a solar power generation device, a method for controlling moving parts, a method for controlling a solar power generation device and a solar power generation system, a computer program for performing solar power generation in these devices and systems, a server device for distributing the computer program, and a non-transitory storage medium on which the computer program is stored. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0017] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram showing a schematic configuration of a solar power generation system according to a first embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a solar power generation device. [Figure 3] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a solar power generation device. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a first diagram illustrating the operation of a solar power generation device. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a second diagram illustrating the operation of the solar power generation device. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a third diagram illustrating the operation of the solar power generation device. [Figure 7] FIG. 1 is a first diagram illustrating the operation of a solar power generation system. [Figure 8] FIG. 2 is a second diagram illustrating the operation of the solar power generation system. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a solar power generation device according to a second embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the solar power generation device of the second embodiment. [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a solar power generation device according to a third embodiment. [Figure 12] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the solar power generation device of the third embodiment. [Figure 13] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a solar power generation device according to a fourth embodiment. [Figure 14] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a solar power generation device according to a fourth embodiment. [Figure 15] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the solar power generation device of the fourth embodiment. [Figure 16] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a solar power generation device according to a fifth embodiment. [Figure 17] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a first modified example of the solar power generation device of the second embodiment. [Figure 18] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a second modified example of the solar power generation device of the second embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0018] First Embodiment 1 is a schematic diagram showing a general configuration of a solar power generation system 100 according to a first embodiment. The solar power generation system 100 includes a solar power generation device 1 and a storage device 90. In this embodiment, the solar power generation system 100 includes a plurality of solar power generation devices 1, and the storage device 90 stores the plurality of solar power generation devices 1. In the solar power generation system 100, the storage device 90 collects electricity generated by each of the plurality of solar power generation devices 1 receiving sunlight, and transmits the electricity to an external power utilization device (not shown).

[0019] Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the solar power generation device 1 of this embodiment. Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the solar power generation device 1 of this embodiment. The solar power generation device 1 includes a hollow member 10, a solar cell panel 20, a plurality of photosensors 25, a mobile object 31, a control unit 32, and a primary storage battery 33.

[0020] The hollow member 10 has a spherical shape and includes an outer shell portion 11 and an inner shell portion 12. The outer shell portion 11 is located at the outermost part of the solar power generation device 1. The outer shell portion 11 is formed from a material that transmits sunlight and has a spherical shape. The inner shell portion 12 is located inside the outer shell portion 11. The inner shell portion 12 is formed from a material with relatively high rigidity and has a spherical shape. The outer shell portion 11 and the inner shell portion 12 are connected by supports (not shown) and are formed so as to maintain a constant distance between them.

[0021] The solar cell panel 20 includes a plurality of solar cells arranged in a circular shape. In this embodiment, the solar cell panel 20 has a planar shape and is arranged on a part of the outer surface 12a of the inner shell portion 12 between the outer shell portion 11 and the inner shell portion 12 of the hollow member 10 (see FIG. 3). Electricity generated by the solar cell panel 20 is stored in a primary storage battery 33, which will be described later.

[0022] The photosensors 25 are arranged around the solar cell panel 20. Each of the photosensors 25 includes a solar cell and is electrically connected to a control unit 32 (described later). In this embodiment, the photosensors 25 are connected in a ring shape around the solar cell panel 20. Each of the photosensors 25 has the same area of ​​its light-receiving surface 26, and is arranged so that the light-receiving surface 26 is inclined relative to the light-receiving surface 21 of the solar cell panel 20 (see FIG. 3). As a result, the amount of light received by each of the photosensors 25 varies depending on the angle between the orientation of the light-receiving surface 26 and the direction of sunlight irradiation. In this embodiment, each of the photosensors 25 transmits electricity generated by receiving sunlight to the control unit 32. The control unit 32 calculates the direction of sunlight irradiation based on the magnitude of the electricity transmitted from each of the photosensors 25, i.e., the difference in the amount of sunlight received. The photosensors 25 correspond to an "acquisition unit" in the claims.

[0023] The mobile body 31 is a vehicle-type robot housed inside the hollow member 10. The mobile body 31 is movable inside the inner shell portion 12 of the hollow member 10 relative to the inner circumferential surface 12b of the inner shell portion 12. In this embodiment, the mobile body 31 is equipped with multiple omni-wheels 31a, and is capable of moving forward and backward on the inner circumferential surface 12b as well as moving sideways. Note that the mobile body 31 may be equipped with Mecanum wheels instead of omni-wheels. The mobile body 31 is equipped with a gyro sensor that detects its own attitude. The gyro sensor is used to control the attitude of the mobile body 31 inside the hollow member 10. The mobile body 31 corresponds to the "moving part" in the claims.

[0024] The control unit 32 is a computer including a ROM, a RAM, and a CPU. In this embodiment, the control unit 32 is mounted on the mobile object 31. The control unit 32 is electrically connected to the multiple photosensors 25. As described above, the control unit 32 calculates the irradiation direction of sunlight based on the magnitude of electricity generated by the multiple photosensors 25 (the magnitude of the amount of sunlight received), and controls the movement of the mobile object 31 according to the calculated irradiation direction. The control unit 32 also functions as a GPS (Global Positioning System) and can identify the position of the solar power generation device 1 including the mobile object 31. Details of the control of the mobile object 31 by the control unit 32 will be described later.

[0025] The primary storage battery 33 is mounted on the mobile object 31 and stores electricity generated by the solar cell panel 20. The primary storage battery 33 also serves as a power source for driving the mobile object 31. In this embodiment, electricity generated by the solar cell panel 20 is transmitted to the primary storage battery 33 by wireless power transmission. The solar cell panel 20 and the primary storage battery 33 may be directly connected via electrodes. For example, the solar cell panel 20 may be electrically connected to a spherical electrode made of metal and having a spherical shape, which is disposed on the inner circumferential surface 12b of the inner shell portion 12, and the primary storage battery 33 mounted on the mobile object 31 moving on the inner circumferential surface of the spherical electrode may store electricity generated by the solar cell panel 20 via this spherical electrode.

[0026] The storage device 90 is installed in the solar power generation system 100 so as to be adjacent to the area R1 where the multiple solar power generation devices 1 are deployed (see FIG. 1). The storage device 90 includes a storage shed 91 and a secondary storage battery 92. The storage shed 91 stores the multiple solar power generation devices 1. The secondary storage battery 92 is provided in the storage shed 91. In this embodiment, the secondary storage battery 92 is installed below the storage shed 91. The secondary storage battery 92 is connected to the solar power generation device 1 stored in the storage shed 91, and stores electricity transmitted from the primary storage battery 33. The secondary storage battery 92 transmits the stored electricity to an external power utilization device.

[0027] Next, we will explain the operation of the solar power generation device 1 of this embodiment. In the solar power generation device 1, the hollow member 10 tilts as the moving body 31 moves in response to changes in the position of the sun, i.e., the radiation direction of sunlight, and the orientation of the solar cell panel 20 is changed to generate power.

[0028] FIG. 4 is a first diagram illustrating the operation of the solar power generation device 1. In the state shown in FIG. 4, the solar power generation device 1 maintains an attitude in which the outer peripheral surface 11a of the outer shell portion 11 is in contact with the ground 8 and the light receiving surface 21 of the solar cell panel 20 is approximately perpendicular to the irradiation direction Ds1 of sunlight S0. In this embodiment, the moving body 31 is equipped with a relatively heavy object, such as a primary storage battery 33, and therefore acts as a weight to stabilize the attitude of the hollow member 10. As a result, as shown in FIG. 4, the moving body 31 is located at the lowest position inside the inner shell portion 12, and the center of gravity of the solar power generation device 1 is located directly below the center C10 of the hollow member 10, thereby stabilizing the attitude of the solar power generation device 1. Here, for convenience of explanation, in the cross-sectional view of the solar power generation device 1 shown in FIG. 4, the photosensor 25 on the upper side of the solar cell panel 20 is referred to as photosensor 25a, and the light receiving surface of the photosensor 25a is referred to as light receiving surface 26a. Furthermore, the photosensor 25 on the lower side of the solar cell panel 20 is referred to as photosensor 25b, and the light receiving surface of the photosensor 25b is referred to as light receiving surface 26b.

[0029] When the irradiation direction of sunlight S0 changes due to the movement of the sun, the amount of light received by each of photosensors 25a and 25b also changes depending on the angle formed between the irradiation direction of sunlight S0 and light-receiving surfaces 26a and 26b of photosensors 25a and 25b. Specifically, when the irradiation direction of sunlight S0 changes from irradiation direction Ds1 to irradiation direction Ds2, the amount of sunlight S0 received by photosensor 25b becomes greater than the amount of sunlight S0 received by photosensor 25a. Control unit 32 calculates the irradiation direction of sunlight S0 (e.g., irradiation direction Ds2) from this difference in the amount of light received by each of the multiple photosensors 25.

[0030] FIG. 5 is a second diagram illustrating the operation of the solar power generation device 1. The control unit 32 moves the moving body 31 so that the light receiving surface 21 of the solar cell panel 20 is perpendicular to the calculated irradiation direction Ds2 of the sunlight S0. Specifically, the control unit 32 moves the moving body 31 relative to the inner circumferential surface 12b of the inner shell portion 12 (see the outline arrow M31 in FIG. 5). As a result, the center of gravity of the moving body 31 moves relative to the center of gravity of the hollow member 10, and the center of gravity of the solar power generation device 1 moves, and the hollow member 10 tilts on the ground 8 and rotates (see the outline arrow M10 in FIG. 5). When the hollow member 10 rotates in the direction of the outline arrow M10, the solar power generation device 1 moves on the ground 8 in the direction of the outline arrow M1.

[0031] 6 is a third diagram illustrating the operation of the solar power generation device 1. When the solar power generation device 1 rotates in the direction of the outline arrow M10 (see FIG. 5), the light receiving surface 21 of the solar cell panel 20 becomes approximately perpendicular to the irradiation direction Ds2 of the sunlight S0. This maximizes the amount of light received by the solar cell panel 20, and therefore the amount of power generated by the solar cell panel 20. In this way, as the moving body 31 moves, the solar power generation device 1 tilts the hollow member 10, directing the solar cell panel 20 toward the sun and generating power using the sunlight S0.

[0032] Fig. 7 is a first diagram illustrating the operation of the solar power generation system 100, and is a schematic diagram showing a state in which the solar power generation device 1 is unfolded. Fig. 8 is a second diagram illustrating the operation of the solar power generation system 100, and is a schematic diagram showing a state in which the solar power generation device 1 is stored in a hangar 91. Next, the operation of the solar power generation system 100 of this embodiment will be described.

[0033] In the solar power generation system 100, when generating electricity using sunlight, the multiple solar power generation devices 1 are deployed from the hangar 91 into a predetermined area R1 (dotted arrow M11 in FIG. 7) as shown in Fig. 7. Each of the multiple solar power generation devices 1 deployed in this manner generates electricity using sunlight and stores the generated electricity in its respective primary storage battery 33.

[0034] In the solar power generation system 100, when power generation using sunlight is not possible, for example, during times when the sun is not shining, each of the multiple solar power generation devices 1 is stored in a storage shed 91 as shown in FIG. 8 (dotted arrow M12 in FIG. 8). The solar power generation device 1 stored in the storage shed 91 has its own primary storage battery 33 connected to the secondary storage battery 92 of the storage device 90, for example, wirelessly. When the primary storage battery 33 and the secondary storage battery 92 are connected, the solar power generation device 1 transmits electricity stored in the primary storage battery 33 to the secondary storage battery 92. In this way, electricity generated by each of the multiple solar power generation devices 1 is collected in the secondary storage battery 92. The electricity collected in the secondary battery 92 is transmitted to an external power utilization device (solid arrow E92 in FIG. 8).

[0035] According to the solar power generation device 1 of the present embodiment described above, when the center of gravity of the moving body 31 moves relative to the center of gravity of the hollow member 10, the center of gravity of the solar power generation device 1 also moves. If the outer peripheral surface 11a of the hollow member 10 is installed so that it is in contact with the ground 8, the movement of the center of gravity of the solar power generation device 1 causes the hollow member 10 to tilt with respect to the ground 8. When the hollow member 10 tilts on the ground 8, the orientation of the solar cell panel 20 disposed on a portion of the outer peripheral surface 12a of the hollow member 10 changes, allowing the solar cell panel 20 to face the sun. In this way, the solar cell panel 20 can be faced toward the sun simply by placing the hollow member 10 directly on the ground 8, eliminating the need for a support base to support the solar cell panel 20. This eliminates the need to change the support base or adjust the fixing position of the support base depending on the installation location of the solar power generation device 1, making it easier to install the solar power generation device 1.

[0036] Furthermore, according to the solar power generation device 1 of this embodiment, it is possible to omit a support base for supporting the solar cell panel 20, and therefore power can be generated from sunlight without being affected by the condition of the place where the support base is fixed. Therefore, it is possible to increase the degree of freedom in the installation location of the solar power generation device 1.

[0037] Furthermore, according to the solar power generation device 1 of this embodiment, the control unit 32 calculates the irradiation direction of sunlight from differences in the amount of sunlight S0 received by the multiple photosensors 25, and changes the orientation of the solar cell panel 20. This increases the amount of sunlight received by the solar cell panel 20, thereby increasing the amount of power generated by the solar cell panel 20.

[0038] Furthermore, according to the solar power generation device 1 of this embodiment, the solar cell panel 20 is disposed between the outer shell portion 11 and the inner shell portion 12, and the outer shell portion 11, which is the outermost portion of the hollow member 10, has a spherical shape. As a result, the hollow member 10 has a spherical shape, which makes it easier to roll on the ground 8 and makes it easier to move the solar power generation device 1. Therefore, the solar power generation device 1 can be moved to a location where the amount of sunlight received by the solar cell panel 20 is greater, and the amount of power generated by the solar cell panel 20 can be increased.

[0039] Furthermore, according to the solar power generation device 1 of this embodiment, the moving body 31 can move relative to the inner circumferential surface 12b of the hollow member 10, and therefore the position of its center of gravity can be moved to any position inside the hollow member 10. This increases the degree of freedom in the direction in which the solar cell panel 20 is oriented. Therefore, the amount of sunlight received by the solar cell panel 20 at one time can be further increased, and the amount of power generated by the solar cell panel 20 can be increased.

[0040] Furthermore, according to the solar power generation device 1 of this embodiment, the moving body 31, which moves relative to the inner circumferential surface 12b of the hollow member 10, is equipped with omni-wheels 31a, which facilitates its own movement forward, backward, and sideways. As a result, when the solar cell panel 20 is to be oriented in a predetermined direction to increase the amount of power generation, the moving body 31 can move in a short time to a position on the inner circumferential surface 12b of the hollow member 10 where the solar cell panel 20 is oriented in the predetermined direction. Therefore, the amount of power generation by the solar cell panel 20 can be increased in a short time.

[0041] Moreover, according to the solar power generation system 100 of this embodiment, the solar power generation system 100 includes a hangar 91 that stores multiple solar power generation devices 1. In the solar power generation system 100, the multiple solar power generation devices 1 autonomously deploy from a state stored in the hangar 91 and autonomously move from the deployed state to be stored in the hangar 91. Furthermore, when stored in the hangar 91, the solar power generation device 1 can be connected to a secondary storage battery 92 to store electricity generated by the solar cell panel 20 in the secondary storage battery 92. As a result, when multiple solar power generation devices 1 individually generate power, the generated electricity can be stored in one place, thereby increasing the amount of power that can be supplied at one time.

[0042] Second Embodiment 9 is a perspective view of the solar power generation device 2 of the second embodiment. The solar power generation device 2 of the second embodiment is different from the solar power generation device 1 of the first embodiment (FIG. 2) in the shape of the hollow member.

[0043] The solar power generation device 2 of this embodiment includes a hollow member 40, a solar cell panel 20, a plurality of photosensors 45, a moving body 31, a control unit 32, and a primary storage battery 33. Similar to the solar power generation device 1 of the first embodiment, the solar power generation device 2 configures a solar power generation system 100 together with a storage device 90, and electricity generated by each of the plurality of solar power generation devices 2 receiving sunlight is collected by the storage device 90 and transmitted to an external power utilization device.

[0044] The hollow member 40 has a hemispherical shape and includes a hemispherical portion 41 and a flat portion 42. The hemispherical portion 41 is a hollow portion having a hemispherical shape and is made of a material with relatively high rigidity. A portion of a spherical surface is formed on the outside of the hemispherical portion 41. The movable body 31 is housed inside the hemispherical portion 41. Note that the "hemisphere" referred to here does not have to be a hemisphere in the strict sense, i.e., a hemisphere with a central angle of 180 degrees, as long as it has a shape that appears to be a hemisphere at a glance.

[0045] Planar portion 42 is a circular flat plate, and is connected to hemispherical portion 41 so as to close the opening of hemispherical portion 41. On planar portion 42, solar cell panel 20 having a circular shape is disposed.

[0046] The photosensor 45 is a photodiode capable of detecting sunlight. In this embodiment, the photosensors 45 are arranged at equal intervals on the hemispherical portion 41 so as to be able to detect sunlight from four directions. The photosensor 45 detects, for example, the amount of light of a wavelength that provides the highest power generation efficiency for the solar cell panel 20. Information regarding the amount of sunlight detected by the photosensor 45 is sent to the control unit 32, which is electrically connected. The photosensor 45 corresponds to the "acquisition unit" in the claims.

[0047] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the solar power generation device 2 of this embodiment. In the solar power generation device 2, the outer peripheral surface 41a of the hemispherical portion 41 is in contact with the ground 8, and the control unit 32 controls the movement of the moving body 31 based on the difference in the amount of sunlight detected by each of the four photosensors 45. As shown in FIG. 10, when the moving body 31 moves relative to the inner peripheral surface 41b of the hemispherical portion 41 in the direction of the white arrow M2R, the hollow member 40 tilts and rotates in the direction of the white arrow R2c. When the moving body 31 moves relative to the inner peripheral surface 41b of the hemispherical portion 41 in the direction of the white arrow M2L, the hollow member 40 tilts and rotates in the direction of the white arrow R2u. The control unit 32 rotates the hollow member 40 in the direction of the white arrow M2L or the direction of the white arrow R2u by the movement of the mobile object 31, thereby tilting the solar power generation device 2 so that the light receiving surface 21 of the solar cell panel 20 is perpendicular to the direction of sunlight irradiation. This maximizes the amount of light received by the solar cell panel 20, and therefore maximizes the amount of power generated by the solar cell panel 20. In this way, the movement of the mobile object 31 tilts the hollow member 40, causing the solar cell panel 20 to face the sun, and generating power using sunlight.

[0048] According to the solar power generation device 2 of the present embodiment described above, the solar cell panel 20 can be directed toward the sun simply by placing the hollow member 40 directly on the ground 8 so that the outer circumferential surface 41a of the hemispherical portion 41 of the hollow member 40 is in contact with the ground 8. This eliminates the need to change the support base or adjust the fixing position of the support base depending on the installation location of the solar power generation device 2, making it easy to install the solar power generation device 2.

[0049] Furthermore, according to the solar power generation device 2 of this embodiment, since the hollow member 40 has a portion of a spherical surface on the outside, it can be easily tilted with respect to the ground simply by placing the hemispherical portion 41 directly on the ground 8 so that part of this spherical surface is in contact with the ground 8. This makes it easier for the hollow member 40 to roll, making it easier to change the orientation of the solar cell panel 20. Furthermore, in the solar power generation device 2, the solar cell panel 20 is disposed on the flat portion 42 having a flat shape that closes the opening of the hemispherical portion 41, so the area of ​​the solar cell panel 20 can be relatively large without increasing the volume of the solar power generation device 2. Therefore, the amount of power generated by the solar cell panel 20 can be increased.

[0050] <Third embodiment> 11 is a cross-sectional view of a solar power generation device 3 according to the third embodiment. The solar power generation device 3 according to the third embodiment differs from the solar power generation device 2 according to the second embodiment (FIG. 9) in the configuration for shifting the position of the center of gravity of the solar power generation device 3.

[0051] The solar power generation device 3 of this embodiment includes a hollow member 40, a solar cell panel 20, a photosensor 45, a movable part 50, a control unit 32, and a primary storage battery 33. Similar to the solar power generation device 1 of the first embodiment, the solar power generation device 3 configures a solar power generation system 100 together with a storage device 90, and electricity generated by each of the multiple solar power generation devices 3 receiving sunlight is collected by the storage device 90 and transmitted to an external power utilization device. In this embodiment, the photosensor 45 is disposed approximately in the center of the solar cell panel 20.

[0052] The movable portion 50 includes a fixed portion 51 and a weight 52. The fixed portion 51 is fixed to the hollow member 40. In this embodiment, the fixed portion 51 is fixed to the inner surface 42a of the flat portion 42. The fixed portion 51 houses the control unit 32 and the primary storage battery 33.

[0053] Weight 52 is a long member, one end of which is connected to fixed part 51. Movable part 50 can change the connection angle of weight 52 with respect to fixed part 51 from a reference state in which weight 52 is connected to fixed part 51, as shown in FIG. 11 (see, for example, connection angles θ1 and θ2 shown in FIG. 11). The connection angle of weight 52 is controlled by control unit 32.

[0054] FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the solar power generation device 3. In this embodiment, when tilting the hollow member 40, the control unit 32 changes the connection angle of the weight 52 with respect to the fixed portion 51, thereby changing the position of the center of gravity of the movable portion 50 with respect to the position of the center of gravity of the hollow member 40. For example, as shown in FIG. 12, the control unit 32 rotates the weight 52 (indicated by the white arrow M3R in FIG. 12) to change the connection angle of the weight 52 with respect to the fixed portion 51 (connection angle θ3 shown in FIG. 12). When the connection angle of the weight 52 is changed, the position of the center of gravity of the movable portion 50 moves relative to the position of the center of gravity of the hollow member 40. When the position of the center of gravity of the movable portion 50 moves relative to the position of the center of gravity of the hollow member 40, the position of the center of gravity of the solar power generation device 3 moves, and the hollow member 40 tilts on the ground 8. This changes the orientation of the solar cell panel 20. In this way, in the solar power generation device 3, the hollow member 40 is tilted by changing the connection angle of the weight 52 relative to the fixed part 51 of the movable part 50, and the solar cell panel 20 is directed toward the sun, thereby generating electricity using sunlight.

[0055] According to the solar power generation device 3 of this embodiment described above, the solar cell panel 20 can be directed toward the sun simply by placing the hollow member 40 directly on the ground 8 so that the outer circumferential surface 41a of the hemispherical portion 41 of the hollow member 40 is in contact with the ground 8. This makes it possible to easily install the solar power generation device 3 because it is not necessary to change the support base or adjust the fixing position of the support base depending on the installation location of the solar power generation device 3.

[0056] Furthermore, according to the solar power generation device 3 of this embodiment, the movable part 50 can change the connection angle of the weight 52 relative to the fixed part 51 to move the center of gravity of the solar power generation device 3 and tilt the hollow member 40, thereby orienting the solar cell panel 20 toward the sun. This makes the configuration of the movable part 50 relatively simple, thereby reducing the manufacturing cost of the solar power generation device 3, and also makes the movable part 50 less likely to break down, allowing for stable power generation.

[0057] <Fourth embodiment> Fig. 13 is a perspective view of the solar power generation device 4 of the fourth embodiment. Fig. 14 is a cross-sectional view of the solar power generation device 4 of the present embodiment. The solar power generation device 4 of the fourth embodiment is different from the solar power generation device 1 of the first embodiment (Fig. 2) in the shape of the hollow member and the method of controlling the moving body by the control unit.

[0058] The solar power generation device 4 of this embodiment includes a hollow member 60, a solar cell panel 20, a mobile object 31, a control unit 32, and a primary storage battery 33. The solar power generation device 4 stores electricity generated by receiving sunlight in the primary storage battery 33 and then transmits the electricity to an external power utilization device.

[0059] The hollow member 60 has a conical shape and includes a conical portion 61 and a bottom portion 62. The conical portion 61 has a conical shape and is formed so as to widen evenly from the apex 60a of the hollow member 60 toward the bottom portion 62. The conical portion 61 is formed from a relatively rigid material and houses a moving body 31 inside that moves relative to an inner peripheral surface 61b of the conical portion 61. In the solar power generation device 4, the outer peripheral surface 61a of the conical portion 61 contacts the ground 8. The bottom portion 62 has a circular shape and is connected to the conical portion 61 so as to close the opening of the conical portion 61. A circular solar cell panel 20 is disposed on the bottom portion 62.

[0060] The control unit 32 moves the mobile object 31 using GPS, thereby moving the solar power generation device 1. Specifically, the mobile object 31 on which the control unit 32 is mounted is equipped with a memory unit (not shown). This memory unit stores information about the position of the sun for each date and time. The control unit 32 uses the information about the position of the sun stored in the memory unit and its own position information obtained by GPS to control the movement of the mobile object 31 so that the light receiving surface 21 of the solar cell panel 20 is perpendicular to the irradiation direction of sunlight.

[0061] FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the solar power generation device 4 of this embodiment. When the moving body 31 moves under the control of the control unit 32, the solar power generation device 4 rotates around the apex 60a of the solar power generation device 4, with the outer peripheral surface 61a of the conical portion 61 remaining in contact with the ground 8. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 15, which is a schematic diagram of the solar power generation device 4 placed on the ground 8 as viewed from above, when the moving body 31 moves inside the conical portion 61 in the direction of the hollow arrow M4R, the hollow member 60 rotates in the direction of the hollow arrow R4c. When the moving body 31 moves inside the conical portion 61 in the direction of the hollow arrow M4L, the hollow member 60 rotates in the direction of the hollow arrow R4u. In this way, when the hollow member 60 rotates in the direction of the hollow arrow M4L or the direction of the hollow arrow R34, the solar power generation device 4 rotates around the apex 60a as the center of rotation, and faces the solar cell panel 20 toward sunlight. This increases the amount of light received by the solar cell panel 20, thereby increasing the amount of power generated by the solar cell panel 20. In this way, in the solar power generation device 4, as the mobile object 31 moves, the conical hollow member 60 rotates on the ground 8, and the solar cell panel 20 faces the sun, generating power using sunlight.

[0062] The solar power generation device 4 of the fourth embodiment further includes a power transmission cable 60b. The power transmission cable 60b is connected to a vertex 60a of the solar power generation device 4, and electrically connects the primary storage battery 33 mounted on the mobile object 31 to an external power utilization device. The power transmission cable 60b transmits electricity stored in the primary storage battery 33 to the external power utilization device. In the solar power generation device 4, the vertex 60a serves as the rotation center when the solar power generation device 4 rotates, so even when the solar power generation device 4 rotates, the power transmission cable 60b can be prevented from twisting or tangling.

[0063] According to the solar power generation device 4 of this embodiment described above, the solar cell panel 20 can be directed toward the sun simply by placing the hollow member 60 directly on the ground 8 so that the outer circumferential surface 61a of the conical portion 61 of the hollow member 60 is in contact with the ground 8. This eliminates the need to change the support base or adjust the fixing position of the support base depending on the installation location of the solar power generation device 4, making it easy to install the solar power generation device 4.

[0064] Fifth Embodiment 16 is a perspective view of a solar power generation device 5 according to the fifth embodiment. The solar power generation device 5 according to the fifth embodiment differs from the solar power generation device 1 according to the first embodiment (FIG. 2) in the shape of the hollow member.

[0065] The solar power generation device 5 of this embodiment includes a hollow member 70, a solar cell panel 20, a plurality of photosensors 45, a moving body 31, a control unit 32, and a primary storage battery 33. Similar to the solar power generation device 1 of the first embodiment, the solar power generation device 5, together with a storage device 90, constitutes a solar power generation system 100, and electricity generated by each of the plurality of solar power generation devices 5 receiving sunlight is collected by the storage device 90 and transmitted to an external power utilization device.

[0066] The hollow member 70 is a hollow member having a truncated hexahedron shape. The hollow member 70 is formed from a relatively rigid material and includes six flat portions 71 and eight truncated portions 72. A moving body 31 is housed inside the hollow member 70. In this embodiment, an octagonal solar cell panel 20 is disposed on each of two of the six flat portions 71, and a photosensor 45 is disposed on each of the eight truncated portions 72.

[0067] In the solar power generation device 5, the two solar cell panels 20 are supported mainly by the outer peripheral surface of any one of the six flat portions 71 contacting the ground 8. In this embodiment, the control unit 32 controls the movement of the moving body 31 in accordance with the difference in the amount of sunlight detected by each of the eight photosensors 45, and rotates the hollow member 70 to increase the amount of sunlight received by the two solar cell panels 20. In this way, the solar power generation device 5 generates electricity using sunlight.

[0068] According to the solar power generation device 5 of this embodiment described above, the solar cell panel 20 can be oriented toward the sun simply by placing the hollow member 70 directly on the ground 8. This eliminates the need to change the support base or adjust the fixing position of the support base depending on the installation location of the solar power generation device 5, making it easy to install the solar power generation device 5.

[0069] <Modification of this embodiment> The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be embodied in various forms without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, the following modifications are also possible.

[0070] [Variation 1] In the above-described embodiments, the hollow member has a spherical, hemispherical, conical, or truncated hexahedral shape. However, the shape of the hollow member is not limited to these. The hollow member may be a polyhedral member such as a regular icosahedron, or may have an elliptical cross section.

[0071] [Variation 2] In the first, second, and fifth embodiments, the direction of sunlight irradiation is calculated based on the difference in the light intensity of the multiple photosensors, and the mobile object 31 uses the calculated direction of sunlight irradiation to move so that the light-receiving surface 21 of the solar cell panel 20 faces the sun. In the fourth embodiment, the mobile object 31 uses information about the direction of sunlight irradiation that has been input in advance and GPS to move so that the light-receiving surface 21 of the solar cell panel 20 faces the sun. The method of acquiring information about the direction of sunlight irradiation is not limited to this. For example, if a solar power generation system includes multiple solar power generation devices, a direction suitable for increasing the amount of power generated by the entire solar power generation system may be calculated based on the difference in the amount of power generated by each solar cell panel, and the multiple solar power generation devices may be controlled to face that direction.

[0072] [Variation 3] In the above-described embodiment, the moving body 31 is a vehicle-type robot, but the configuration of the moving body 31 is not limited to this. The moving body may be any object that is housed inside a hollow member and can change the center of gravity of the photovoltaic power generation device by moving, and may be, for example, a multi-legged robot.

[0073] [Variation 4] In the above-described embodiment, the solar power generation device is installed on the ground 8. However, the environment in which the solar power generation device is used is not limited to this. For example, the solar power generation device may be used floating on the surface of water such as the sea or a pond. When used floating on the surface of water, paddle fins may be provided on the outer circumferential surface of the hollow member so that the solar power generation device can rotate to change the orientation of the solar cell panels.

[0074] [Variation 5] The above-described embodiment may also include a centralized control unit for controlling the movement of the multiple solar power generation devices. This centralized control unit wirelessly transmits control information to each of the mobile units housed in each of the multiple solar power generation devices, and the mobile units move in accordance with the received control information, thereby moving the solar power generation devices.

[0075] [Variation 6] In the above-described embodiment, the electricity generated by the solar cell panel 20 is transmitted to and stored in the primary storage battery 33 mounted on the mobile object 31. The electricity generated by the solar cell panel 20 may be transmitted directly to the secondary storage battery 92 by wireless power transmission and stored therein. Furthermore, the primary storage battery 33 does not have to be mounted on the mobile object 31. For example, the power storage unit that stores the electricity generated by the solar cell panel 20 may be provided on the back side of the solar cell panel 20, or may be disposed inside a hollow member.

[0076] [Variation 7] In the first, second, and fifth embodiments, the solar power generation system 100 includes a plurality of solar power generation devices and a storage device 90. Each of the solar power generation devices 1, 2, and 4 does not need to include the storage device 90, and even if there is only one solar power generation device, as in the fourth embodiment, it can generate electricity by receiving sunlight and transmit the electricity to an external power utilization device.

[0077] [Variation 8] In the second embodiment, the hollow member 40 has a hemispherical shape and includes a hollow hemispherical portion 41 having a hemispherical shape and a flat portion 42 formed in a flat plate shape. However, the shape of the portion that is combined with the hemispherical portion 41 to form the hollow member 40 is not limited to this.

[0078] FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a first modified example of the solar power generation device 2 of the second embodiment. In the first modified example shown in FIG. 17, the hollow member 40 includes a hemispherical portion 41 and a conical portion 43. The conical portion 43 is a cone-shaped portion and is connected to the hemispherical portion 41 so as to close the opening of the hemispherical portion 41. In the conical portion 43 shown in FIG. 17, the solar cell panel 20 is disposed over the entire outer peripheral surface 43a of the conical portion 43. Note that the solar cell panel 20 may be disposed on only a part of the outer peripheral surface 43a of the conical portion 43.

[0079] FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a second modified example of the solar power generation device 2 of the second embodiment. In the second modified example shown in FIG. 18, the hollow member 40 includes a hemispherical portion 41 and a spherical portion 44. The spherical portion 44 is a spherically shaped portion whose inner diameter is different from the inner diameter of the hemispherical portion 41, and in the second modified example shown in FIG. 18, the inner diameter of the spherical portion 44 is larger than the inner diameter of the hemispherical portion 41. The spherical portion 44 is connected to the hemispherical portion 41 so as to close the opening of the hemispherical portion 41. The solar cell panel 20 is disposed on the outer peripheral surface 44a of the spherical portion 44. The inner diameter of the spherical portion 44 may be smaller than the inner diameter of the hemispherical portion 41.

[0080] As described above, in the solar power generation device 2 of the second embodiment, the shape of the portion that is combined with the hemispherical portion 41 to form the hollow member 40 may be three-dimensional. Also, in the second embodiment, the portion (flat portion 42) that is combined with the hemispherical portion 41 to form the hollow member 40 is connected to the hemispherical portion 41 so as to close the opening of the hemispherical portion 41. However, the opening of the hemispherical portion 41 does not have to be closed, and there may be an opening that is large enough to prevent the moving body 31 from jumping out of the hollow member 40.

[0081] This aspect has been described above based on embodiments and modifications. However, the above-described embodiments are intended to facilitate understanding of this aspect and are not intended to limit this aspect. This aspect may be modified or improved without departing from the spirit and scope of the claims, and equivalents thereof are included in this aspect. Furthermore, if a technical feature is not described as essential in this specification, it may be deleted as appropriate. [Explanation of symbols]

[0082] 1,2,3,4,5...Solar power generation equipment 10, 40, 60, 70...Hollow members 11...Outer shell 12...Inner shell 12a, 41a, 61a...outer surface 12b, 41b, 61b…Inner peripheral surface 20...Solar panel 25, 25a, 25b, 45...Photo sensors 31...Mobile 31a...Omniwheel 32...Control unit 33... Primary storage battery 41…Hemisphere part 42...Plane part 50...Movable part 51...Fixed part 52... Weight 91...Hangar 92...Secondary storage battery 100...Solar power generation system Ds1,Ds2…Irradiation direction S0…Solar light

Claims

1. A solar power generation device, A hollow member; a solar cell panel disposed on a portion of the outer peripheral surface of the hollow member; a movable part disposed inside the hollow member and capable of moving its own center of gravity relative to the center of gravity of the hollow member; an acquisition unit that is arranged on an outer peripheral surface of the hollow member at a position where the solar cell panel is not arranged, and that acquires information about the irradiation direction of sunlight from a difference in the amount of sunlight on the outer peripheral surface of the hollow member; a control unit that controls an orientation of the solar cell panel, and that changes the orientation of the solar cell panel by changing the position of the center of gravity of the movable unit relative to the position of the center of gravity of the hollow member using information about the irradiation direction of sunlight acquired by the acquisition unit, thereby tilting the hollow member, the acquisition unit has a plurality of photosensors arranged to surround the solar panel, The angles of the light receiving surfaces of the plurality of photosensors are different with respect to the irradiation direction of sunlight. Solar power generation equipment.

2. A solar power generation device, A hollow member; a solar cell panel disposed on a portion of the outer peripheral surface of the hollow member; a movable part disposed inside the hollow member and capable of moving its own center of gravity relative to the center of gravity of the hollow member; a control unit that controls an orientation of the solar cell panel and tilts the hollow member by changing the position of the center of gravity of the movable unit relative to the position of the center of gravity of the hollow member, thereby changing the orientation of the solar cell panel; The hollow member is a spherical outer shell portion formed from a material that transmits sunlight; a spherical inner shell portion disposed inside the outer shell portion, the inner shell portion having the movable portion disposed therein; The solar cell panel is disposed between the outer shell portion and the inner shell portion. Solar power generation equipment.

3. The solar power generation device according to claim 1, The hollow member is a hollow hemispherical portion having a hemispherical shape; a circular flat portion connected to the hemispherical portion so as to close the opening of the hemispherical portion, The solar cell panel is disposed on the flat surface. Solar power generation equipment.

4. The solar power generation device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, the movable portion is a moving body that is housed inside the hollow member and moves relative to an inner circumferential surface of the hollow member, the control unit moves the movable body to change the position of the center of gravity of the movable body relative to the position of the center of gravity of the hollow member, thereby tilting the hollow member. Solar power generation equipment.

5. The solar power generation device according to claim 4, The moving body includes an omniwheel. Solar power generation equipment.

6. The solar power generation device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, The movable part is a fixing portion fixed to the hollow member; a long weight, one end of which is connected to the fixed portion and the connection angle with respect to the fixed portion is changeable; the control unit changes the connection angle to change the position of the center of gravity of the movable part relative to the position of the center of gravity of the hollow member, thereby tilting the hollow member. Solar power generation equipment.

7. A solar power generation system, A hollow member; a solar cell panel disposed on a portion of the outer peripheral surface of the hollow member; a movable part disposed inside the hollow member and capable of moving its own center of gravity relative to the center of gravity of the hollow member; a control unit that controls an orientation of the solar cell panel, the control unit changing the position of the center of gravity of the movable unit relative to the position of the center of gravity of the hollow member to tilt the hollow member and change the orientation of the solar cell panel; and a hangar for storing the solar power generation device; a power storage unit connected to the solar power generation device stored in the hangar and storing electricity generated by the solar panel, The solar power generation device generates power using the solar cell panel by autonomously deploying from the hangar to the outside of the hangar, and autonomously moves from a state where it is deployed outside the hangar to be stored in the hangar. Solar power generation system.

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