JP2000277782A - Solar battery module and solar battery array - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an inexpensive solar battery module of which fixing work is easy, and moreover utilizes natural materials. SOLUTION: For this solar battery module 10, since an inexpensive wood material is used for the peripheral face excluding a light receiving face 20, the cost of the member constituting the solar battery module 10 can be reduced, and in turn the cost of manufacturing the solar battery module is reduced. What is more, since it is made of wood, it can be attached and fixed easily to a mount with a simple connector such as screws or the like. Furthermore, since a pattern of a tree such as the grain or the bark or the like can be obtained, in the case that a user incorporates the solar batter module 10 into a wooden building, it can harmonize its appearance with the surrounding.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a solar cell module provided with a solar cell and a solar cell array in which a plurality of such solar cell modules are arranged.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, solar cells for converting solar energy into electric energy have been actively used. Unlike fossil fuels, these solar cells do not emit carbon dioxide or other greenhouse gases when obtaining energy, so they are widely used not only in the industrial field but also in the consumer field as a natural environment-conserving power generator. I have. Specifically, in addition to the roofs of ordinary houses, it reflects nature-oriented and cultural consciousness, such as gardens and outer walls, as well as park arbors, green areas of roads, and buildings that make up traditional towns. It is also actively used in space.

On the other hand, when a solar cell is used, a rectangular flat solar cell panel incorporating a predetermined number of solar cells is used.
In many cases, a solar cell module formed by being attached to a side surface of a metal frame such as steel is used. As the solar cell module, the present applicant has developed a solar cell module in which a solar cell panel is provided on one surface of a polygonal column-shaped frame (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-193083). When attaching a solar cell panel to such a solar cell module, a band-shaped sheet metal is coated while being in contact with the outer peripheral surface of a steel frame, and ends of the sheet metal are fixed with bolts and nuts.

[0004]

However, in order to produce a steel frame material, the raw ore must be melted at a high temperature and molded, and a large amount of electric energy is required. Cannot be ignored. That is, the high manufacturing cost of the frame material has resulted in an increase in the cost of the solar cell module itself. Further, even when fixing the solar cell module, complicated operations such as bending a band-shaped sheet metal material and screwing a screw to an end portion have been involved. Moreover, when a solar cell module having a metal outer peripheral surface is used for a nature-oriented or cultural building as described above, since it does not use organic materials such as plants, it does not harmonize with the surrounding appearance. There was also a design problem.

An object of the present invention is to provide an inexpensive solar cell module and a solar cell array which can be easily fixed and utilize natural materials.

[0006]

The solar cell module 10 of the present invention will be described with reference to the attached drawings. At least a part of the outer peripheral surface is a light receiving surface 20 provided with a solar cell body 22. A columnar solar cell module 10, wherein a wooden member 24 </ b> A is provided on an outer peripheral surface other than the light receiving surface 20;
24B and 32 are used.

According to the present invention, a wooden member 24B having a low manufacturing cost is provided on the outer peripheral surface other than the light receiving surface.
Since 24B and 32 are used, the cost of the members constituting the solar cell module 10 can be reduced, and the inexpensive solar cell module 10 can be provided.

Further, since the outer periphery of the solar cell module 10 is formed of a wooden member, complicated work such as joining using bolts and nuts is not required, and a simple joining tool 43 such as a screw is used. It can be easily attached and fixed to the part to be attached. Further, since a tree-specific pattern such as grain and bark is obtained, the solar cell module 10
When attaching to a wooden building, harmony in appearance with surrounding members can be achieved.

In this case, as the woody material, in addition to woody fiber materials such as glued laminated wood 24 having hardened wood chips and structural plywood 32, soft or semi-hard thermoplastic resin and fine particle wood are used. A wooden member formed by injection molding using powder as a main material is also conceivable. By using such a compressed member, corrosion and warping due to long-term use can be prevented.

The external shape of the solar cell module 10 is a polygonal column. One side of the polygonal column is the light receiving surface 20, and the outer peripheral surface other than the light receiving surface 20 is formed by a wooden frame 31. It is preferred that

As described above, when the polygonal column-shaped frame 31 is used, the entire outer peripheral surface of the solar cell module 10 is formed as a flat surface, so that it can be stably maintained even on an uneven surface such as an inclined surface or an uneven surface. The solar cell module 10 can be installed.

Further, in the solar cell array A of the present invention, it is preferable that a plurality of the solar cell modules 10 are formed in series or in parallel.

By connecting the solar cell modules 10 in series, they can be used as rod-shaped members or products. Specifically, a pillar 80 or a beam of a building can be considered. Also,
By connecting the solar cell modules 11 in parallel, it can be used as a box-shaped member or product having a predetermined volume.
Specifically, it can be used as a deck fence D or a marker light.

In such a solar cell array A, a plurality of the solar cell modules 10 are preferably connected by a wooden connecting member 41.

That is, the connecting member 41 provided across the adjacent solar cell modules 10 is also made of the same wood as the frame 31, so that the connecting member is easily attached to the frame 31 using screws 43 or the like. be able to. Therefore, the work of linking the solar cell modules 10 is facilitated.

At this time, at one end of one of the plurality of adjacent solar cell modules 11, a convex portion 47 protruding from this end is formed, and an end of the other solar cell module 11 is formed. Or the connecting member 4
It is preferable that a recess 46 is formed in the end 6 of the one solar cell module 11 so as to fit into the concave and convex.

At one end of the one solar cell module 11, a convex portion 47 is formed as the connecting member.
An end of the second solar cell module 11 fitted to
Alternatively, a concave portion 48 is formed in the connecting member 46. Therefore, only by fitting the convex portion 47 into the concave portion 48,
The plurality of solar cell modules 11 can be easily connected.

[0018]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS (First Embodiment) A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a garden light G incorporating a solar cell module 10. This garden light G is basically a base 60
And the solar cell module 1 supported on the pedestal 60
0, an illuminating unit 50 incorporating an illuminating lamp (not shown) illuminated by electricity obtained by the solar cell module 10,
And a lid 44 for preventing infiltration of rainwater.

A storage battery (not shown) for temporarily storing electric energy generated during the day by the solar cell module 10 is mounted inside the pedestal 60. In addition, a required electric circuit including a transistor, a diode, and the like is also incorporated so that the lighting lamp does not light in the daytime but only in the nighttime.

The solar cell module 10 is formed in a triangular prism shape, and at least one of three rectangular planes forming an outer peripheral surface is a light receiving surface 20. FIG. 2 shows a cross section of the solar cell module 10 along the line II-II in FIG. The solar cell module 10 includes a solar cell panel 21 having a solar cell body 22 incorporated therein and attached to a light receiving surface 20.
And a frame 31 provided so as to straddle the edge of the solar cell panel 21 and is formed in a hollow shape.

As shown in FIG. 3, the illuminating section 50 is fixed by screws (not shown) via a triangular cylindrical joint member 45 provided inside at the boundary with the solar cell module 10. I have. An illuminator is mounted inside the illuminator 50, and a wire extends from the illuminator (not shown), and is connected to an electric circuit in the pedestal 60 and a wire connected to the solar cell body 22. The bottom surface of the lid 44 is attached to a locking part 51 provided on the upper part of the lighting part 50.

As shown in FIG. 2, the solar cell panel 21 has a solar cell body 22 in which a plurality of solar cells as power generating elements are arranged, and a solar cell body 22 extending from the solar cell body 22 including a positive terminal and a negative terminal. It is configured to include the wires 23 and a support plate 24 that surrounds and supports the periphery of the solar cell body 22. As the frame 31, two rectangular side plates 32 are used, and opposing edges are joined by hinges 33. The remaining edges are joined to both edges of the solar cell panel 21 using pins or nails.

Here, as the support plate 24, a structural laminated material obtained by hot-pressing wood chips (chips) with a binder is used.
Among the plate materials, the material strength is high, and cracks and warpage are small.
Further, as the side plate 32, a structural plywood that is not only capable of obtaining a predetermined rigidity but also lightweight is used.

Further, a support plate 24 made of two laminated materials
In this case, one laminated material 24A is formed in a frame shape so as to surround the periphery of the rectangular flat solar cell body 22, and
The laminated sheets 24B are composed of the solar cell body 22 and the laminated
4A is supported from the back. These two laminated materials 24A and 24B are joined by a structural adhesive such as an epoxy resin. Holes 25 for passing wires 23 and discharging heat generated at the time of power generation are appropriately formed in a part of the glued laminate 24B to which the solar cell main body 22 is attached.

The solar cell body 22 includes a rectangular flat glass substrate 22A having a function as a support, a plurality of solar cells 22B arranged side by side on one surface of the glass substrate 22A, A transparent filling material 22C enclosing the cell 22B and a coating material 22D covering the filling material 22C are provided.

The solar cells 22B are made of polycrystalline silicon solar cells, and are electrically connected within one solar cell main body 22 by being wired in series.
In addition, the solar cell 22B may be configured by a single-crystal silicon solar cell or an amorphous silicon solar cell. Filler 22C is made of EVA (Ethylene) having excellent moisture resistance.
Vinyl Acetate) and PVA with high light transmittance of sunlight
(Poly Vinyl Butylol) and other transparent resins. The surface of the filler 22C opposite to the glass substrate 22A is covered with a coating material 22D made of a resin such as polyvinyl fluoride in order to secure sufficient moisture resistance.

Referring to FIG. 3, the procedure for assembling the garden light G incorporating the solar cell module 10 will be described below. First, the solar cell module 10 is installed upright on the mounting portion on the upper surface of the pedestal 60. At this time, the pedestal 60
A predetermined wiring is connected to a wiring that is continuous with the storage battery in the inside. Next, while the outer surface of the joint member 45 is in contact with the inner surface of the solar cell module 10,
Using a screw (not shown) at the end of the
5 is fixed to the solar cell module 10. Then, the joint material 4 protruding from the end face of the solar cell module 10
5 is fitted with the illumination unit 50. At this time, the solar cell 2
The necessary connection work is performed for the wiring from 2B, the wiring to the storage battery and the electric circuit in the pedestal 60, and the wiring from the lighting. Finally, the lid 44 is attached, and the assembly of the garden light G is completed.

According to such a solar cell module 10, the following effects can be obtained. On the outer peripheral surface other than the light receiving surface 20 to which the solar cell main body 22 is attached, the wooden glued laminated materials 24A and 24B and the structural plywood 32 which are inexpensive as compared with metals such as aluminum and steel.
Is used, the manufacturing cost of the solar cell module 10 can be reduced.

The outer peripheral portion of the solar cell module 10
Since the laminated materials 24A and 24B and the structural plywood 32 are used, the pattern or fiber pattern in which the chips are integrated and compressed creates a visual effect peculiar to a natural object that cannot be produced by an artificial object. When attached to a building, the appearance can be harmonized with the surrounding members.

Since the frame 31 is made of wood, a simple connecting tool such as a screw or a nail is used when installing the solar cell module 10 or attaching another member (joint material 45) to the solar cell module 10. And can be easily attached, and the assembling work can be facilitated.

Glulams 24A, 24B used
Is manufactured by accumulating and compressing wood pieces, so that the density is high and a gap is hardly formed inside. Therefore, it is possible to prevent corrosion due to infiltration of rainwater and warpage due to repeated drying and moisture.

(Second Embodiment) FIGS. 4 and 5 show a solar cell array A according to a second embodiment of the present invention. This solar cell array A is formed by connecting two solar cell modules 10 in series. FIG. 4 shows the configuration of the solar cell array A, and FIG. The connection portion between the solar cell modules 10 as viewed is shown. In the following embodiments and modified examples, the same or similar constituent members and components as those in the above embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted or simplified. As shown in FIG. 4, this solar cell array A uses two solar cell modules 10, incorporates a connecting member 41 between these solar cell modules 10, fixes them in series using screws 43, The cap 42 is attached.

The connecting member 41 has an outer surface whose dimensions are determined so as to be in contact with the inner surface of the solar cell module 10, and is formed in a triangular cylindrical shape as a whole, through which wiring is inserted. . As a material of the connecting member 41, a structural plywood is used. Similarly, structural plywood is used for the caps 42 attached to both ends, and the inner peripheral surface covers the outer peripheral surface at the end of the solar cell module 10.

The wiring extending from the solar cell main body 22 is a set of two wirings having a positive terminal and a negative terminal. The set of wirings is connected, and the solar cell main body 22 of the other solar cell module 10 has, in addition to this set of wirings (for connecting the solar cell module 10), another one.
A pair of wires are also pulled out to supply the generated power to the outside.

According to the second embodiment, the effects obtained in the first embodiment and the following effects can be obtained. The solar cell module 10 has a polygonal column shape, and its side surface is formed in a polygonal column shape having a flat surface, and one of the surfaces is a bottom surface that comes into contact with a ground plane. Therefore, the solar cell array A can be stably placed regardless of whether the ground plane on which the solar cell array A is installed is an inclined surface or an uneven surface.

Since the connecting member 41 for connecting the plurality of solar cell modules 10 is also made of the same wood as the frame 31, the connecting member 41 is appropriately adjusted to the area and shape of the grounded surface using a simple connector such as a screw or a wood screw. Battery module 1
0 can be easily connected. Therefore, the solar cell module 1
0 is less susceptible to restrictions on the installation location and site, so that the solar cell module 10 can be used in various places and the versatility of the solar cell module 10 can be enhanced.

(Third Embodiment) FIG. 6 shows a third embodiment of the present invention.
An arbor B in the embodiment is shown. This arbor B
Is installed in parks and the like as a place to relax,
At the periphery of the columnar circular base 61 with tiles, there are provided columns 80 formed by connecting three solar cell modules 10 in series, and at the upper ends of these columns 80, a conical roof 70 is provided. Hems are attached.

An ascending and descending stair 62 is attached to the circular table 61, and an electric circuit (not shown) including a storage battery, an inverter, and the like is incorporated in the circular table 61. With this electric circuit, the electricity generated during the day is temporarily stored in the storage battery, and when dark at night, the illumination (not shown) mounted inside the roof 70 is turned on.

According to the third embodiment, in addition to the effects obtained in the first embodiment, the following effects can be obtained. Since the connected body in which three solar cell modules 10 are connected in series also plays the role of the column 80, there is no need to externally mount a solar cell to the circular base 61, the column and the roof 70, and the exterior design of the arbor B The solar cell module 10 can be incorporated without impairing.

Even in a park where the shadow disappears at night, the illuminating lamp is turned on at night, so that the security can be improved.

(Fourth Embodiment) FIGS. 7 and 8 show a deck fence D according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. The deck fence D is formed by arranging the solar cell modules 11 in parallel, and gates H are arranged adjacent to each other as a part of a fence provided around a residential site.

As shown in FIG. 8, the deck fence D has a triangular prism-shaped solar cell module 11 arranged vertically and a connecting side plate 46 provided on a convex portion 47 provided on the left and right ends of the solar cell module 11. Is assembled by fitting a concave portion 48 formed in the above with a nail 49.

Each of the solar cell modules 11 is also composed of a solar cell panel 21 on which a solar cell body 22 is mounted, and a right-angled triangular cylindrical frame 34 for mounting and supporting these solar cell panels 21. The right and left ends of the frame 34 are closed by right-angled triangular plate members, and the plate members are provided with convex portions 47 by right-angled triangular plate members that are slightly smaller, and are fitted into the concave portions 48. I have. The wiring extending from the solar cell main body 22 is drawn out to the outside by a hole (not shown) formed on the back surface of the frame 34.

According to the fourth embodiment, the above-described effects and the following effects can be obtained. By simply fitting the protrusions 47 provided on the left and right end faces of each solar cell module 11 into the recess 48 formed in the connection side plate 46, the plurality of solar cell modules 11 can be easily connected in parallel. Therefore, the solar cell module 11 can be applied to a planar member having a predetermined area, and can be used as an exterior member such as an outer wall or a wall G.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but includes other configurations capable of achieving the object of the present invention, and the following modified examples are also included in the present invention.

For example, in the first embodiment, the laminated body 24 and the structural plywood 32 are used as the frame 31 of the solar cell module 1, but the present invention is not limited to this.
As shown in FIG. 9, only three plywoods 35 may be used to form three outer peripheral portions of the solar cell module 12. That is, on one of the three plywoods,
A groove is cut out in accordance with the thickness and the outer periphery of the solar cell main body 22, and the solar cell main body 22 is buried in the groove, and the back plate 35B of the light receiving surface 35A is formed by the remaining two plywoods. You may.

In the fourth embodiment, the shape of the convex portions 47 and the concave portions 48 provided on both end surfaces of the solar cell module 10 is a right triangular plate, but is not limited to this. That is, the shape may be a rectangular plate, a polygonal column, or a disk. In particular, in the case of a disk shape, the inclination angle of the light receiving surface 20 of the solar cell module 10 can be set arbitrarily, so that the light receiving surface 20 can be optimally adjusted to the sun rays whose altitude changes depending on the season, and , An optimum conversion efficiency is obtained. Also, not limited to plate-like members,
A hook-shaped member, a crank-shaped member, a male-female connector, or the like may be used to lock the connection side plate 46.

The plurality of solar cell modules 10, 1
A packing material may be interposed in a portion to which 1 is connected. In this case, since the joining portions of the solar cell modules 10 and 11 can be brought into close contact with each other without any gap, excellent waterproofness can be obtained. In addition, since the play at the joining portions can be absorbed, the adjacent solar cell modules 10 and 11 can be absorbed. Do not interfere with each other.

Further, the shape and material of the connecting member 41 are not limited to those obtained by processing a wooden plate-like member into a triangular cylindrical shape as in the second embodiment. For example, as shown in FIG. 10, one end of a solar cell module 10 </ b> A constituting the solar cell array A has a convex portion 4 protruding outward.
1A is formed on the other edge, and the convex portion 41A
May be formed, and these convex portions 41A and concave portions 41B may be fitted in a concave and convex manner, and the solar cell modules 10A may be securely connected to each other by a connector such as a screw 41C. In this case, the caps 42A and 42B attached to both ends of the solar cell array A are triangular plate members 42A fitted into the concave portions 41B at one end (left side in the figure) of the solar cell module 10A,
At the other end (right side in the figure) of the solar cell array A, a plate member 42B having a triangular trough is formed on the side surface so as to accommodate the projection 41A. By adopting such a connection structure, the connection member 41 becomes unnecessary, and the labor involved in the screwing operation can be reduced. Further, the shape of the connecting member 41 may be a rod shape or a string shape, and the material may be a metal, a fiber, or a synthetic resin.

Further, the arrangement method and the number of the solar cell modules 10 and 11 are not limited to the method of arranging two to four solar cells in series or in parallel. The number of arrays may be five or more, and is preferably selected as appropriate according to the installation location where the solar cell modules 10 and 11 are arranged and the area and shape of the installation location. Also, regarding the arrangement method,
They may be arranged in a lattice shape, a three-dimensional mesh shape, a star shape or a radial shape. By employing such an arrangement method, the solar cell array A in which the plurality of solar cell modules 10 and 11 are connected
Design can be improved.

Further, the solar cell modules 10 and 11
Although the outer shape is formed in a triangular cylindrical shape, it is not limited to this. That is, it is formed in a polygonal column shape such as a quadrangular prism shape or a hexagonal prism shape, a cylindrical shape, or a truncated cone shape, and the inside may be formed not only as a hollow body but also as a solid.

Further, the wooden members used for the outer peripheral portions of the solar cell modules 10 and 11 other than the light receiving surface 20 are made of soft or semi-rigid thermoplastic resin other than those obtained from fibers of trees and plants. Wood-based materials mainly made of fine-grained wood powder, solid wood obtained by solidifying waste residues and applying bark or grain patterns, and sheets with wood grain patterns drawn on the surface such as flooring sheets Materials may be used.

Such solar cell modules 10 and 11
If the site is installed in a horizontal and near-horizontal state, in addition to parks and gardens, for example, the ground, balconies, the upper end of fences, the upper end of railings, the upper end of guardrails and eaves on flat roofs In this case, the solar cell modules 10 and 11 may be simply placed on the installation surface, or the bottom surface to be installed may be fixed using a fastener such as a screw or a nail or an adhesive. it can. In addition, in the case of being installed in a vertical and nearly vertical state, it is not limited to the column 80,
It may be incorporated in a corner of a house or building, a road sign or a pole of a signboard.

Further, such a solar cell module 1
The installation locations of 0 and 11 are not limited to houses and gardens, but also logistics and transport fields such as roads and railroad tracks, drive-ins and roadside stations, station buildings and platforms, airports and ships, and agricultural fields such as plant factories and watering machines. It can also be used in industries such as Also,
In a traditional townscape preservation area or scenic area, such as a post town or a kurayashiki area, it may be used as a part of a house, a garden, an advertisement or a signboard.
In this case, favorable harmony with the surrounding appearance can be achieved, and the use of the solar cell modules 10 and 11 in a field other than the industrial field can be expanded, and the versatility of the solar cell can be improved.

[0055]

As described above, in the solar cell module and the solar cell array of the present invention, inexpensive wooden members are used on the outer peripheral surface other than the light receiving surface. The cost can be reduced, and the cost for manufacturing the solar cell module can be reduced.

Further, the solar cell module and the solar cell array can be easily mounted and fixed to the mounting portion with a simple connecting tool such as a screw, and a tree-specific pattern such as a grain or a bark can be obtained. When attached to an object, it is possible to achieve harmony in appearance with surrounding members.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a garden light according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the solar cell module incorporated in the garden light, taken along line II-II.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing a configuration of the garden light.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a configuration of a solar cell array according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view showing a connection portion of the solar cell array according to the second embodiment viewed from a direction V.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing an arbor in a third embodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a fence including a deck fence according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view showing an assembly of a deck fence according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a structure of a frame of a solar cell module according to a modification of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a front view showing a structure of a connection portion and both end portions of a solar cell array according to a modification of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10, 10A, 11 Solar cell module 20 Light receiving surface 22 Solar cell main body 31, 34, 35 Frame 32 Side plate 41 Connecting member 41A, 47 Convex part 42B, 48 Concave part A Solar cell array

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A substantially columnar solar cell module in which at least a part of an outer peripheral surface is a light receiving surface provided with a solar cell, wherein a wooden member is used on an outer peripheral surface other than the light receiving surface. A solar cell module characterized by the above-mentioned. 2. The solar cell module according to claim 1, wherein the outer shape of the solar cell module is a polygonal column, and one side surface of the polygonal column is the light receiving surface, and an outer peripheral surface other than the light receiving surface is a wooden frame. A solar cell module characterized by being formed. 3. A solar cell array, wherein a plurality of the solar cell modules according to claim 1 or 2 are formed in series or in parallel. 4. The solar cell array according to claim 3, wherein the plurality of solar cell modules are connected by a wooden connecting member. 5. The solar cell array according to claim 3, wherein one of the plurality of adjacent solar cell modules has a protruding portion projecting from the end at an end of the solar cell module. A solar cell array, characterized in that an end of the other solar cell module or the connecting member is formed with a concave portion that fits into the end of the one solar cell module.