Battery box for pv systems

Abstract

The invention relates to a battery box (1000) for fitting in a load-bearing structure, having a housing (1100) in which at least one battery for storing electrical energy obtained by means of a photovoltaic module (2210) is arranged, wherein the battery box (1000) is able to be transferred out of the load-bearing structure by means of a pivoting mechanism; the invention also relates to a carport (2000) having a battery box (1000).

Description

[0001] Battery box for PV systems

[0002] The invention relates to a battery box with a housing in which at least one battery is arranged for storing electrical energy generated by means of photovoltaic modules, as well as to a carport with a roof surface with a plurality of photovoltaic modules and with at least one support column.

[0003] In the transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources, energy generation using sunlight plays a prominent role. The installation of photovoltaic systems with photovoltaic panels on roofs, as well as on other building structures such as carports or patio roofs, is being promoted, for example, with government funding.

[0004] A key aspect of the transition to renewable energy sources is the storage and provision of the generated electrical energy. This requires rechargeable batteries that store this electrical energy and release it to consumers when needed. These batteries require appropriate electrical / electronic infrastructure in their immediate vicinity and must be protected from environmental influences, especially in freestanding structures such as carports and the like.

[0005] It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a solution for the accommodation and simple assembly and maintenance of the batteries intended for the storage of solar energy.

[0006] This object is achieved according to the invention by a battery box of the type mentioned at the outset in that the battery box can be removed from the support structure by means of a pivoting mechanism. The housing of this battery box is essentially a frame structure into which the individual batteries can be inserted or removed in a few simple steps. The battery box according to the invention can be easily integrated into existing structures thanks to its particularly slim design. A significant advantage here is that a compact installation solution is available, particularly when only limited space is available, wherein the individual batteries can be easily removed and / or replaced as required thanks to the removable battery box. The battery box according to the invention is usually housed outdoors, meaning that the batteries in particular are exposed to the ambient temperature.Therefore, in a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, at least one temperature monitoring device is provided. This can be a temperature sensor or, for example, a bimetallic thermostat.

[0007] Batteries typically release heat during charging. Therefore, in a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, a blower device, such as a fan or ventilator, is provided to supply (cooler) air to improve temperature control, particularly for cooling the batteries located in the battery box according to the invention. The housing of the battery box preferably has ventilation openings that enable and / or improve airflow within the battery box.

[0008] At low ambient temperatures, the charging capacity of batteries typically drops. Therefore, in a further embodiment of the invention, a heating device, such as a resistance heater, is arranged in the battery box to bring the batteries to an optimal operating temperature when needed.

[0009] The battery box according to the invention has proven particularly suitable for use in a carport. This carport has a roof surface with a plurality of photovoltaic modules and at least one support column, wherein, according to the invention, the battery box with a plurality of batteries is housed in the at least one support column. The support column naturally has only a limited amount of space, but the battery box according to the invention, due to its design, makes the installation and maintenance of the batteries contained therein particularly easy.

[0010] The invention is explained in more detail below using non-limiting exemplary embodiments. In these examples:

[0011] Fig. 1 shows the battery box according to the invention accommodated in the support column of a carport;

[0012] Fig. 2 Detail A from Fig. 1 in an enlarged view;

[0013] Fig. 3 the carport from Fig. 1 with the battery box swung out;

[0014] Fig. 4 Detail B from Fig. 3 in an enlarged view;

[0015] Fig. 5 shows the battery box from Fig. 3 in a first sectional view;

[0016] Fig. 6 shows the battery box from Fig. 3 in a second sectional view; Fig. 7 shows the battery box from Fig. 3 in an exploded view; and

[0017] Fig. 8 shows the arrangement of three battery boxes according to the invention in a container.

[0018] Fig. 1 shows a carport 2000 with a support column 2100. The roof area 2200 of the carport 2000 is covered with photovoltaic modules 2210, wherein the electrical energy generated by the photovoltaic modules 2210 is stored in rechargeable batteries 1200 and, when needed, is made available for charging, for example, an electric vehicle, for example via a charging socket (not shown) in the support column 2100.

[0019] Furthermore, the support column 2100 contains the electrical / electronic infrastructure 2400 necessary for the storage and delivery of electrical power, for example an inverter and / or other electronic control devices.

[0020] The battery box 1000 according to the invention is accommodated in the support column 2100 of the carport 2000 and is accessible from the outside if necessary via a pivoting cover 2300.

[0021] The battery box 1000 has a housing 1100, in which, in this embodiment of the invention, six batteries 1200 are accommodated. This housing 1100 is completely accommodated in the support column 2100 in the position of use (Figs. 1 and 2).

[0022] If necessary, a pivoting mechanism, in this case two hinges 1110, can be used to pivot the battery out of the support column 2100 (Figs. 3 and 4). This particularly facilitates maintenance or the replacement of individual batteries 1200.

[0023] Since the batteries 1200 are exposed to the ambient temperature on the one hand and heat up during operation, particularly during charging, on the other, the invention provides a device for monitoring the temperature in the battery box 1000. In a particularly easy-to-use variant of the invention, this device is designed as a bimetallic thermostat.

[0024] As soon as the temperature inside the battery box 1000 drops below 3°C, for example, a heating device 1300, for example a resistance heater with a power of 80 W to 600 W, is activated (Fig. 5).

[0025] To combat undesirably high temperatures within the battery box 1000, a blower device 1400, for example a fan or ventilator (Fig. 5), is provided. To enable a stable air flow along the arrows (Figs. 5 and 6) within the battery box 1000, the housing 1010 of the battery box 1000 as well as the support column 2100 have corresponding ventilation openings 1011.

[0026] In Fig. 7, the battery box 1000 according to the invention is shown in an exploded view in which the frame-like housing 1100 can be seen without batteries inserted.

[0027] The use of the battery box 1000 according to the invention is not limited to the carport 2000 described above. Thus, the carport can also have more than one support column, and a battery box according to the invention can be arranged in more than one support column.

[0028] The battery box according to the invention can also be used in the domestic sector and / or in the agricultural sector for free-standing photovoltaic systems and here again integrated into a supporting structure or separately in a container 3000, as shown in Fig. 8.

[0029] When arranged in a container 3000, the battery box 1000 according to the invention allows a particularly close arrangement of the battery boxes to one another due to its pivotability and the internal temperature control, so that a particularly large number of batteries can be accommodated even in confined spaces.

Claims

PATENT CLAIMS 1. Battery box (1000) for mounting in a support structure, with a housing (1100) in which at least one battery for storing electrical energy generated by means of photovoltaic modules (2210) is arranged, characterized in that the battery box (1000) can be guided out of the support structure by means of a pivoting mechanism.

2. Battery box (1000) according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one temperature monitoring device is provided.

3. Battery box (1000) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a heating device (1300) is provided.

4. Battery box (1000) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that a blower device (1400) is provided.

5. Use of a battery box (1000) according to one of claims 1 to 4 in a carport (2000).

6. Carport (2000) with a roof area (2200) with a plurality of photovoltaic modules (2210), and at least one support column (2100), characterized in that a battery box (1000) according to one of claims 1 to 4 is accommodated in the at least one support column (2100), wherein at least one battery for storing electrical energy generated by means of a photovoltaic module (2210) is arranged in the battery box (1000), and the battery box (1000) can be guided out of the at least one support column (2100) by means of a pivoting mechanism.

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