Solar power generation system

Abstract

To prevent an increase in the temperature of a control unit that controls a solar panel when the amount of power generated by the solar panel is equal to or less than a threshold.SOLUTION: An ECU 14 controls power generation performed by a solar panel 12. A fan 16 is provided on the ECU 14 itself or near the ECU 14. A calculation unit 20 calculates the amount of power generated by the solar panel 12. When the amount of power is equal to or less than a first threshold, and the temperature of the ECU 14 is equal to or less than a second threshold, a fan control unit 24 actuates the fan 16. Consequently, the ECU 14 is cooled.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

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[0001] The present disclosure relates to a solar power generation system, and particularly to a technique for cooling a control device that controls a solar panel.

Background Art

[0002] A solar charging system that supplies power generated by a solar panel to a battery or equipment is known.

[0003] Patent Document 1 describes a solar charging system that performs charging by a driving battery and operates a cooling fan for the driving battery when the temperature of a battery that temporarily stores power generated by a solar panel is equal to or higher than a threshold value.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] When it is expected that a solar panel will generate an amount of electric power exceeding a threshold value, power generation by the solar panel is executed to supply power to a battery or equipment. However, when it is not expected that the solar panel will generate an amount of electric power exceeding the threshold value, power generation by the solar panel may not be executed. For example, the amount of power generation that can supply power to a battery or equipment even when operating a control device that controls a solar panel is used as a threshold value.

[0006] If power generation is not performed when it is not expected to exceed a threshold amount of electricity, the energy of the light shining on the solar panel will not be converted into electrical energy, causing the solar panel to heat up. As a result, the temperature on the back of the solar panel and the temperature of the control device installed near the solar panel (for example, on the back of the solar panel) will rise, and the efficiency of power supply will decrease when power is next supplied by the solar power generation system.

[0007] The purpose of this disclosure is to suppress the temperature rise of the control device that controls the solar panel when the amount of electricity generated by the solar panel is below a threshold. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] One aspect of the present disclosure is a solar power generation system characterized by comprising: a calculation means for calculating the amount of electricity generated by a solar panel; and a fan control means for operating a fan that blows air to the control device when the amount of electricity is less than or equal to a first threshold and the temperature of the control device that controls the power generation of the solar panel is above a second threshold.

[0009] According to the above configuration, if the amount of electricity generated by the solar panel is below the first threshold and the temperature of the control device is above the second threshold, a fan that blows air onto the control device will operate. As a result, the control device is cooled by the airflow from the fan. For example, the amount of electricity generated that is sufficient to supply power to the battery or equipment even when the control device is operating is used as the first threshold. For example, if the amount of electricity generated by the solar panel is below the first threshold, power is not supplied from the solar panel to the battery or equipment. In this case, if the temperature of the control device rises above the second threshold, the fan will operate to cool the control device. In this way, even if the solar panel generates heat, the rise in the temperature of the control device can be suppressed. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] According to this disclosure, when the amount of electricity generated by the solar panel is below a threshold, the temperature rise of the control device that controls the solar panel can be suppressed. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0011] [Figure 1] This is a block diagram showing the configuration of a solar power generation system according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] This is a flowchart showing the operation flow of the solar power generation system according to the embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0012] Referring to Figure 1, the solar power generation system 10 according to the embodiment will be described. Figure 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the solar power generation system 10 according to the embodiment.

[0013] The solar power generation system 10 is applicable to mobile objects and devices. Mobile objects include, for example, vehicles, drones and other flying objects, or ships. Devices include, for example, machine tools, construction equipment, or agricultural equipment. In the following description, the solar power generation system 10 will be described as being applicable to a vehicle as an example.

[0014] The solar power generation system 10 includes a solar panel 12, an ECU (Electronic Control Unit) 14, and a fan 16.

[0015] The solar panel 12 generates electricity by converting light energy into electrical energy. The electricity generated by the solar panel 12 is supplied to the battery 18 mounted on the vehicle. This charges the battery 18. The electricity generated by the solar panel 12 may also be supplied to equipment mounted on the vehicle. For example, the solar panel 12 is installed on the roof of the vehicle. Multiple solar panels 12 may be installed side by side on the roof. Of course, the solar panel 12 may also be installed in locations other than the roof.

[0016] The ECU 14 is an example of a control device that controls the power generation of the solar panel 12. For example, the ECU 14 controls the on / off switching of power generation by the solar panel 12, and controls the power supply from the solar panel 12 to the battery 18 or other equipment.

[0017] The ECU 14 includes a calculation unit 20, a temperature sensor 22, and a fan control unit 24. The calculation unit 20 calculates the amount of electricity generated by the solar panel 12. The temperature sensor 22 detects the temperature of the ECU 14. For example, the temperature sensor 22 detects the temperature inside the housing of the ECU 14. The fan control unit 24 controls the operation of the fan 16.

[0018] The fan 16 is a device that is installed on or near the ECU 14 to blow air onto the ECU 14. The fan 16 may be installed inside or on the surface of the housing of the ECU 14. The fan 16 may be powered by the solar panel 12, or by the battery 18 or other power source.

[0019] For example, the ECU 14 is located in the space between the vehicle's roof and the interior material 26. The fan 16 is also located in that space. In the example shown in Figure 1, the ECU 14 and fan 16 are located on the back side of the solar panel 12 installed on the roof.

[0020] In this embodiment, if the amount of electricity generated by the solar panel 12 is below a first threshold and the temperature of the ECU 14 is above a second threshold, the fan control unit 24 operates the fan 16. The fan 16 blows air onto the ECU 14, cooling it. For example, the amount of electricity generated that is sufficient to supply power to the battery 18 and other equipment even when the ECU 14 is operating is used as the first threshold.

[0021] For example, when the amount of power generated by the solar panel 12 exceeds the first threshold value, the ECU 14 performs power supply from the solar panel 12 to the battery 18 and devices. When the amount of power generated by the solar panel 12 is below the first threshold value, the ECU 14 stops the power supply from the solar panel 12 to the battery 18 and devices. In this case, as the solar panel 12 generates heat, the temperature of the ECU 14 may increase. In the present embodiment, since the fan 16 operates and sends air to the ECU 14, the ECU 14 is cooled. As a result, an increase in the temperature of the ECU 14 can be suppressed, and the power supply efficiency when power supply is next performed by the solar panel 12 can be improved. Note that the wiring may be cooled by the fan 16. In this case, the loss in the wiring can be reduced.

[0022] When the fan 16 operates receiving power supply from the solar panel 12, the fan control unit 24 may operate the fan 16 according to the following conditions. When the amount of power generated by the solar panel 12 is below the first threshold value and the temperature of the ECU 14 is above the second threshold value, and when the amount of power for operating the fan 16 can be generated by the solar panel 12, the fan control unit 24 operates the fan 16.

[0023] Hereinafter, this operation will be described with reference to FIG. 2. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation flow of the solar power generation system 10.

[0024] First, the ECU 14 is activated (S01). The calculation unit 20 calculates the amount of power (Wgen) generated by the solar panel 12 (S02). The temperature sensor 22 detects the temperature of the ECU 14 (S03).

[0025] If the amount of energy (Wgen) exceeds the first threshold (Wsol) (S04, Yes), the ECU 14 performs charging using the solar panel 12 (S05). For example, the battery 18 is charged. If the amount of energy charged is less than the charging completion energy (Wfin), charging continues. If the amount of energy charged becomes equal to or greater than the charging completion energy (Wfin), the ECU 14 enters a sleep state and stops operating (S06). This terminates the operation of the ECU 14.

[0026] If the amount of energy (Wgen) is less than or equal to the first threshold (Wsol) (S04, No), the process proceeds to step S07.

[0027] If the power amount (Wgen) is less than or equal to the power amount (Wfan) (S07, No), the process proceeds to step S06, and the ECU 14 enters sleep mode. The power amount (Wfan) is the minimum amount of power required to operate the fan 16, and is less than or equal to the first threshold (Wsol).

[0028] If the power consumption (Wgen) exceeds the power consumption (Wfan) (S07, Yes), the fan control unit 24 operates the fan 16 (S08). This cools the ECU 14.

[0029] Subsequently, if the power (Wgen) falls below the power (Wfan) (S09, Yes), the process proceeds to step S06, and the ECU 14 enters sleep mode. In this case, the fan 16 stops operating.

[0030] If the amount of energy (Wgen) is greater than or equal to the amount of energy (Wfan) (S09, No), the process proceeds to step S10.

[0031] If the temperature (Tecu) of the ECU14 is above the second threshold (Tmin) (S10, No), the process proceeds to step S08. As a result, air from the fan 16 continues to be supplied to the ECU14.

[0032] If the temperature (Tecu) of ECU14 is below the second threshold (Tmin) (S10, Yes), the process proceeds to step S06, and ECU14 enters sleep mode.

[0033] As described above, by supplying power from the solar panel 12 to the fan 16, there is no need to provide a battery to operate the fan 16. In addition, by supplying power from the solar panel 12 to the fan 16, the heat generated by the solar panel 12 can be suppressed.

[0034] ECU14 includes, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array), a DSP (Digital Signal Processor), other programmable logic devices, or electronic circuits.

[0035] The functions of ECU14 may be realized through the cooperation of hardware and software resources. For example, each function may be realized by a processor such as a CPU reading and executing a program stored in a storage device. The program is stored in the storage device via a recording medium such as a CD or DVD, or via a communication path such as a network. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0036] 10 Solar power generation system, 12 Solar panel, 14 ECU, 16 Fan, 20 Calculation unit, 22 Temperature sensor, 24 Fan control unit.

Claims

1. A calculation means for calculating the amount of electricity generated by solar panels, If the amount of power is below a first threshold and the temperature of the control device that controls the power generation of the solar panel is above a second threshold, a fan control means is provided to operate a fan that blows air to the control device. A solar power generation system characterized by having [a certain feature].

2. In the solar power generation system according to claim 1, When the amount of power required to operate the fan is less than or equal to the first threshold and can be generated by the solar panel, the fan control means operates the fan. A solar power generation system characterized by the following.

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