JPH0325251A - Acceptance angle regulator for solar battery - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve light receiving efficiency by providing thermal energy converting means for converting thermal energy transmitted by transmitting means to power for rotating a supporting member to regulate to move the position of the light receiving surface of a solar cell panel to a heat collecting plate side of the largest amount of received light. CONSTITUTION:Thermal energy converter of thermal energy converting means is composed of cylinders 8a, 8b, piston members 9a, 9b, a moving rod 10, and cooling fins 11a, 11b. Heat transmitting members 6a, 6b are respectively connected to the cylinders 8a, 8b to transmit thermal energy integrated by a heat collectors 5a, 5b to fluids filled in spaces 12a, 12b. Cooling fins 11a, 11b are respectively connected through heat transmitting members 14a, 14b to rapidly cool the fluids, thereby controlling an attitude in a predetermined response to match the movement of the sun. Thus, solar light receiving efficiency of the light receiving surface 3a of a solar cell panel 3 is improved.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a solar cell light receiving angle adjusting device that tracks sunlight so that the light receiving surface of the solar cell is directly facing sunlight.

[Prior Art] It is essential to control the attitude of a solar cell panel that converts solar energy into electrical energy so that its light-receiving surface directly faces the sun.

Conventionally, as a posture control method, a drive device using a motor etc. is used to adjust the receiving angle of the solar panel at right angles to sunlight at any time based on a preset operation program corresponding to the sun's orbit. A control method was adopted to ensure that

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, the orbit of the sun changes from day to day, and the above-mentioned orbit control method does not respond to seasonal changes or geographical changes in the orbit of the sun. There was a problem in that the operating program had to be modified, making control complicated. Furthermore, since solar panels are normally operated in an unmanned state, there is a drawback that efficiency is extremely reduced due to the accumulation of errors between the actual trajectory and the control program.

The present invention was made in consideration of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a solar cell light receiving angle adjustment device that can self-control the direction of the light receiving surface of a solar cell panel and makes the light receiving efficiency of the solar cell panel extremely high. I have a purpose.

[Means for Solving the Problems] Ko's invention consists of attaching a solar panel to a support member rotatably connected around an axis, so that the light-receiving surface of the solar panel is aligned with respect to the direction of light incidence. A solar cell light receiving angle adjusting device that moves and adjusts the position of a light receiving surface of a solar cell panel by rotating a support member so that it is substantially vertical,
are provided on the sides of the solar cell panel at predetermined angles in opposite directions along the movement direction of the solar cell,
a heat collection means for collecting solar thermal energy; a transmission means for transmitting the heat energy accumulated by the heat collection means; and converting the thermal energy transmitted by the transmission means into power for rotating the support member; It is characterized by comprising a thermal energy conversion means for moving and adjusting the position of the light-receiving surface of the solar cell panel toward the heat collecting plate side where the amount of light received is the highest.

The second invention provides a main heat collecting section that collects solar thermal energy and a solar cell panel on a support member that is rotatably connected around an axis, and the thermal energy accumulated in the main heat collecting section is collected. A plurality of thermal energy converting means are provided for converting the light and rotating the supporting member in opposite directions, and the supporting member is rotated substantially perpendicular to the incident direction of the light by the power of the thermal energy converting means. A solar cell light receiving angle adjustment device that moves and adjusts the position of a light receiving surface of a solar cell panel, the solar cell panel having a predetermined angle on the side of the solar cell panel in opposite directions along the moving direction of the solar cell panel. An auxiliary heat collecting means provided respectively to collect solar thermal energy, and driven by the thermal energy supplied from the auxiliary heat collecting means, move the light receiving surface of the solar panel in the direction where the largest amount of light is received. It is characterized by comprising a heat conduction switching means for switching the supply route of thermal energy between the main heat collecting section and the thermal energy conversion means.

[Function] According to the invention of Part I, when sunlight is incident from an oblique direction, the sunlight is incident on the heat collecting means on the incident side, and thermal energy is accumulated. Then, this thermal energy is transmitted to the thermal energy converting means by the transmitting means, and the thermal energy is converted into a physical displacement amount by the thermal energy converting means. By rotating the support member by this amount of physical displacement, the light-receiving surface of the solar cell panel is aligned in a direction substantially perpendicular to sunlight, thereby improving the light-receiving efficiency of sunlight.

According to the second aspect of the invention, when sunlight is incident from an oblique direction, the sunlight is incident on the auxiliary heat collecting means on the incident side, and thermal energy is accumulated. This thermal energy is then transmitted to the heat conduction switching means by the transmission means. As a result, the heat conduction switching means switches the heat energy supply route between the main heat collection section and the thermal energy conversion device, and switches and adjusts the heat energy accumulated in the main heat collection section. Thermal energy is converted into a physical displacement amount by the conversion means. By rotating the support member with this amount of physical displacement, the light-receiving surface of the solar cell panel is adjusted in a direction substantially perpendicular to sunlight, thereby improving the sunlight-receiving efficiency.

[Example code] A first embodiment of the present invention will be explained with reference to FIG.

In the figure, reference numeral 1 indicates a support arm. This support arm 1 is supported by a fixed shaft 2 connected to its intermediate portion, and is configured to rotate around the axis of the fixed shaft 2. Further, a slit la is formed in the support arm l near one end thereof, and a solar cell panel 3 is attached at right angles to the other end. One side of this solar cell panel 3 is used as a light receiving surface 3a, and by receiving sunlight, the solar energy is converted into electrical energy. Additionally, the entire device is installed facing toward the south, aligned with the sun's meridian position.

At both ends of the solar panel 3, heat collecting plates 5 a. 6b (heating means) are attached, and each is fixed at a predetermined angle to the solar cell panel 3. These heat collecting plates 5 a, 5
b is for collecting the thermal energy of the incident sunlight, and on the lower surface side there are heat transfer members 6 a, 6 b (
transmission means) are connected to each other. These heat transfer members 6 a and 6 b are flexible and made of a material with excellent thermal conductivity (for example, copper wire).

Reference numeral 7 indicates a thermal energy conversion device (thermal energy conversion means). This thermal energy conversion device 7 is composed of cylinders 8a, 8b, piston rods 9a, 9b, a moving rod 10, and cooling fins lla, llb. To explain the structure of this thermal energy conversion device 7, the cylinder 8 a. Piston members 9a and 9b are slidably fitted into the insides of the pistons 8b, respectively. Inside these cylinders 8a and 8b, a piston member 9a. Space parts 12a and 12b of a predetermined volume are formed by 9b, and these spaces 12a and 12b are filled with a fluid (a gas with excellent thermal expansion, a liquid with a relatively low boiling point temperature, etc.). . Also, piston material 9
A moving rod IO is connected to a and 9b. The moving rod 10 is moved in the left-right direction by the piston members 9a and 9b sliding relative to each other within the cylinders 8a and 8b. In addition, the moving rod lO
are slidably and rotatably connected in the direction of the yam of the slit fa formed in the support arm by a bottle l3 provided in the intermediate portion thereof.

Heat transfer members 6a and 6b are connected to the cylinders 8a and 8b, respectively, to form heat collecting parts 5a and 5.
The thermal energy accumulated in b is transferred to the space! 2a, 12
b to the fluid filled in the heat transfer members 14a.b. Cooling fins lla and lb are connected to each other via l4b, and by rapidly cooling the fluid, it is possible to control the attitude with a predetermined response in accordance with the movement of the sun.

Next, the operation of the solar cell light receiving angle adjusting device having the above configuration will be explained.

First, a case where sunlight is incident from direction A will be described.

In this case, sunlight incident from eight directions obliquely enters the light-receiving surface 3a of the solar battery panel 3, and solar energy is converted into electrical energy.

In addition, sunlight is transmitted to the nest heating plate 5a located in the direction of human radiation A.
Thermal energy is incident on the heat collecting plate 5a at a substantially right angle to the heat collecting plate 5a. This accumulated thermal energy is transferred to the heat transfer member 6
The heat is transmitted to the cylinder 8a via a, heating the fluid in the space 12a and thermally expanding it. As a result, the piston member 9a is pressed rightward in the figure, and the moving rod 10 moves rightward in the figure, so that the bottle l3 moves rightward in the figure and moves inside the slit la of the support arm 1. The support arm 1 is rotated in the α direction in the figure around the axis of the fixed shaft 2.

As described above, by rotating the support arm l in the α direction, a certain amount of sunlight also enters the heat collecting plate 5b, and the heat collecting plate r
i. 5b, the thermal energy is transmitted to the cylinder 12b by the transmission member 6b, the fluid in the space chamber 12b thermally expands, and the piston member 9b
is pressed to the left in the figure. This allows mobile Rondo l
The forces acting on O are balanced, and as shown in Fig. 2, the solar panel 3 is oriented in the sunlight incident direction A
substantially perpendicular to the light receiving surface 3a of the solar cell panel 3.
This improves the efficiency of sunlight reception.

Here, the fluid filled in the spaces 12a and 12b is
Cooling fin 11a. llb. As a result, the thermal energy conversion device 7 operates with a predetermined response j5, and the light-receiving surface 3a of the solar cell panel 3 is quickly directed to the incident direction A of sunlight.

Next, when the position of the sun moves and sunlight enters from direction B, the amount of sunlight incident on the heat collecting plate 5b increases and the amount of incident on the nest heat plate 5a decreases.

As a result, the fluid in the space 12b expands and the fluid in the space 12a contracts, causing the support arm 1
is rotated 1 in the β direction in the figure.As shown in FIG. The sunlight receiving efficiency is improved.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

In the figure, reference numeral 20 is a support arm.

This support arm 20 is supported by a fixed shaft 21 connected to its intermediate shaft, and the fixed shaft 2! It is designed to be rotated around the axis of In addition, the support arm 20
A slit 20a is formed near one end of the slit 20a, and a solar cell panel 22 is attached at right angles to the other end. This solar cell panel 22 has a light receiving part 22a provided on the outer surface side and a heat collector 2 provided on the mounting surface side.
2b. The light receiving section 22a converts the solar energy into electrical energy by receiving sunlight, and the heat collector 22b collects the thermal energy that has passed through the light receiving section 22a. In addition, the main body of the device is installed facing toward the south, in line with the sun's meridian position.

At both ends of the solar battery panel 22, there are fixing fittings 23, 23.
Heat collecting plates 24a and 24b (heat collecting means) are attached to the photovoltaic panel 22, respectively, and are fixed at predetermined angles to the solar cell panel 22.

These heat collecting plates 24a and 24b are for collecting the thermal energy of incident sunlight, and one end of heat transfer members 25a and 25b is connected to the lower surface side thereof, respectively. These heat transfer members 25a and 25b are flexible and made of a material with excellent thermal conductivity (for example, copper wire).

Reference numeral 26 indicates a heat conduction switching device (heat conduction switching means). This heat conduction switching device 26 includes cylinders 27a. 27b
, Piston part +! j28a, 28b, moving rod 29,
It is composed of cooling fins 30a and 30b. To explain the structure of this heat conduction switching device 26, the cylinder 2
A piston member 28a is provided inside each of 7a and 27b.
, 28b are slidably fitted. Inside these cylinders 27a, 27b, piston members 28a, 28
space 31a.b with a predetermined volume. 3lb is formed, and these spaces 31a. 3 lb is filled with a fluid (a gas with excellent thermal expansion, a liquid with a relatively low boiling point, etc.). Moreover, the piston member 28a. 2
A moving rod 29 is connected to 8b. The moving rod 29 is moved in the left-right direction by the piston members 28a and 28b relatively sliding within the cylinders 27a and 27b. Further, the movable rod 29 is provided with a heat switching member 32 at its intermediate portion, and is adapted to be displaced in the left-right direction as the movable rod 29 moves. The thermal switching member 32 has a contact surface 32a at its tip. 32b is formed and has a "rust-like" shape. Further, one end of a heat supply member 33 is connected to this heat switching member 32, and this heat supply member 3
The other end of the solar cell panel 3 is connected to a heat collector 22b constituting the solar cell panel 22, so that the heat accumulated in the heat collector 22b can be transmitted. This heat supply member 33 is
Materials that are flexible and have excellent thermal conductivity (e.g. copper wire)
It is shaped like this, and has enough length to allow for some slack.

The cylinders 27a and 27b have heat transfer members 25a. 25b are connected to each other to form the heat collecting portion 24a.

The thermal energy accumulated at 24b is transferred to the space 31a. 3
The cooling fins 30a and 30b are connected via heat transfer members 34a and 34b, respectively, to rapidly cool the fluid, and the fluid is heated to a predetermined temperature according to the movement of the sun. The posture can be controlled by the response.

Reference numeral 35 is a thermal energy conversion device (thermal energy conversion means). This thermal energy conversion device 35 includes cylinders 36a, 36b1, piston members 37a, 37b,
Moving a rod 38, cooling fins 39a. 39b. To explain the structure of this thermal energy conversion device 35, piston members 37a and 37b are slidably fitted inside cylinders 36a and 36b, respectively. Inside these cylinders 36a, 36b, a space 14 of a predetermined volume is formed by piston members 37a, 37b.
0a, 40b are formed, and these spatial lines 40a,
40b is filled with a fluid (a gas with excellent thermal expansion, a solid body with a relatively low boiling point temperature, etc.).

A moving rod 38 is connected to the main and histoton flAH 37a, 37b. This moving rod 38 has piston members 37a and 37b connected to a cylinder 36a.
, 36b by relative sliding movement in the left and right direction. Also, mobile rod 38
are slidably and rotatably connected in the direction of the opening of a slit 20a formed in the support arm 20 by a bottle 4l provided in the middle thereof.

And the cylinder 36a. Heat supply members 42a and 42b are respectively connected to 36b.

The heat supply members 42a and 42b intersect each other at their intermediate portions, and the ends of the heat supply members 42a and 42b are supported near the heat switching member 32. These heat supply members 42a. Contact surfaces 42a' and 42b' are formed on the other end of 42b, and as the thermal switching member 32 moves, the contact surface 32a of the thermal switching member 32 comes into contact with the contact surface 42a' or the contact surface 32b. The surface 42b' is brought into contact with the surface 42b'.

Further, the cylinder 36a. 3 and 6b, a heat transfer member 43
Cooling fins 39a and 39b are connected via a and 43b, respectively, to quickly cool the fluid filled in the spaces 40a and 40b, thereby controlling the attitude with a predetermined response according to the movement of the sun. is now possible.

Next, the operation of the solar 1K pond light receiving angle adjusting device configured as described above will be explained.

First, a case where sunlight is incident from the A' direction will be described.

In this case, sunlight incident from the direction A' obliquely enters the light receiving surface 22a of the solar cell panel 22, and the solar energy is converted into electrical energy.
The thermal energy that has passed through a is collected at the heat collector 22b and transmitted to the heat supply member 33.

In addition, sunlight is transmitted to a heat collecting plate 2 placed in the direction of incidence A'.
Thermal energy is incident on the heat collecting plate 24a at a substantially right angle to the heat collecting plate 24a. This accumulated thermal energy is transmitted to the cylinder 27a via the heat transfer member 25a, and heats the gas in the space 31a to thermally expand it. This results in
The piston member 28a is pressed to the right in the drawing, and the moving rod 29 moves to the right in the drawing, so that the thermal switching member 32 moves to the right in the drawing, and the contact surface 32a of the thermal switching member 32 is moved to the right in the drawing. It abuts against the abutment surface 428' of the heat transfer member 42a. As a result, the thermal energy transmitted to the heat supply member 33 is transmitted to the heat supply member 42a on the supply route ■ side,
transmitted to the cylinder 36a via the heat supply member 42a,
The fluid in the space 40a is heated to thermally expand. As a result, the piston member 37a is pressed rightward in the figure, and the movable iron 38 moves rightward in the figure, so that the bottle 4l moves rightward in the figure and moves inside the slit 20a of the support arm 20. by sliding the support arm 20 in the direction of
The fixed sleeve 21 is rotated about the axis in the α' direction in the figure.

As a result, as shown in FIG.
The direction of is approximately perpendicular to the direction of incidence of sunlight A',
The light receiving efficiency of sunlight by the light receiving surface 22a of the solar cell panel 22 is improved.

At this time, sunlight also enters the heat collecting plate 5b, and a small amount of sunlight also enters the heat collecting plate 24b, and thermal energy is accumulated at the heat collecting plate 24b, and the thermal energy is transferred to the heat transfer member. 25b to the cylinder 27b and the space 3
The fluid in lb thermally expands and pushes the piston member 28b to the left in the figure.

As a result, the moving rod 29 is displaced to the left, and the contact surface 32a of the heat switching member 32 is brought into contact with the contact surface 42a of the heat supply member 42a.
a', heat is no longer supplied to the fluid within the cylinder 36a, and excessive rotation of the support arm 20 is prevented.

Here, Kukanro 31a. 3lb and Kukanro 40a. 40
The fluid filled in b is cooled by cooling fins 30a30b and 39a, 39b. As a result, the heat conduction switching device 26 and the thermal energy conversion device 35 operate with a predetermined response, and the light receiving area 2 of the solar cell panel 22 is
2a is quickly directed in the sunlight incident direction A'.

Next, when the position of the sun moves and sunlight is incident from direction B', the amount of sunlight incident on the heat collecting plate 24b increases and the amount of incident on the heat collecting plate 24a decreases. Due to this, the fluid in the space 8lb expands and the space 31a
As the fluid inside contracts, the heat switching member 32 is moved to the left in the figure, and the contact surface 32b comes into contact with the contact surface 42b'.

As a result, the thermal energy transmitted to the heat supplying material 33 is transmitted to the heat supplying material 42b on the supply route (2) side, and heat is supplied to the thermal energy conversion device 35, and the heat is supplied to the transfer rod 38.
moves to the left in the figure, the support arm 2o rotates in the β' direction in the figure, and as shown in FIG. The receiving light 22 of the solar battery panel 22 faces approximately at right angles to the
The efficiency of sunlight reception by a is improved.

According to the second embodiment as described above, the heat conduction switching device 2
6 only moves the heat switching member 32, so it can be operated with less thermal energy. Therefore, since the fruit plates 24a24b that supply thermal energy to the heat conduction switching device 26 can be made extremely small, the weight of the solar cell light receiving angle adjustment device itself can be reduced.

Further, according to the eleventh second embodiment, since there is no need to provide a drive device using another drive source, the device itself can be simplified, making it easier to manufacture, assemble, and transport the device body. This allows adjustment and maintenance to be carried out easily.

Note that the heat conduction switching device 2 constituting the second embodiment described above
6 may be made of, for example, bimetal, shape memory alloy, or the like.

Here, a heat conduction switching device made of bimetal will be explained with reference to FIG.

In the figure, numerals 45 and 46 indicate bimetal. These bimetals 45.46 are gold@4, which has a large coefficient of thermal expansion.
5a and 46a are laminated with metals 45b and 46b having a small coefficient of thermal expansion, respectively. One end of each of the bimetals 45 and 46 is fixed, and the other end is brought into contact with the heat supply material 33. Furthermore, heat transfer members 25a and 25b are connected to the intermediate portions of the bimetals 45 and 46, respectively.
Thermal energy is supplied from the heat transfer members 25a and 25b to metals 45a and 46a having a large coefficient of thermal expansion, which constitute the metal 46a and 46a.

In the above configuration, when solar heat is supplied from the heat transfer member 25a to the bimetal 45, the metal 45 having a large coefficient of thermal expansion
5a expands thermally, and the bimetal 45 curves. As a result, the heat supply member 33 is pushed down to the right, so that the heat switching member 32 moves to the right, and the contact surface between the contact surface 32a formed on the heat switching member 32 and the heat supply member 42a is 42
a′ are in contact with each other. Thereby, thermal energy is transmitted from the heat supply member 33 to the heat supply member 42a.

In addition, when heat energy is supplied from the heat transfer member 25b to the bimetal 46, the same operation as described above acts on the bimetal 46, so that the contact surface 32b formed on the heat switching member 32 and the heat supply member 42b contact surface 42b of
′ are in contact with each other. Thereby, thermal energy is transmitted from the heat supply member 33 to the heat supply member 42b.

Note that the specific mechanism of the solar cell panel support structure in the above embodiments is not limited to the embodiments.

In addition, the thermal energy conversion means adopted in the above example is as follows:
The space formed by the cylinder and piston member is filled with a fluid (a gas with excellent thermal expansion, or a liquid with a relatively low boiling point temperature, etc.) and the thermal expansion of the fluid is used to generate thermal energy. Any method may be used as long as it converts the amount of displacement into a physical displacement amount.

Furthermore, the specific means for transmitting thermal energy is not limited to this embodiment, and may be a heat vip or the like, for example.

Furthermore, although this embodiment has been described with reference to the case where the solar panel is moved in one direction (east-west direction), similar mechanisms may be combined in multiple stages (for example, the moving directions of the respective mechanisms may be moved perpendicularly to each other). ), and in other directions (north-south direction), it is possible to easily follow seasonal changes in the sun's orbit or geographical changes.

[Effect of the invention] According to the present invention, the following effects can be obtained.

■4 Since it self-follows the direction of incidence of sunlight,
Light receiving efficiency from morning to evening can be improved very easily. Therefore, more solar energy can be collected.

■Since it uses the thermal energy of sunlight to self-control the light receiving angle of the solar panel, it is possible to eliminate the trouble of modifying the operating program of the drive device, and also eliminate the need to correct the light receiving angle due to the accumulation of errors in the operating program. It is possible to eliminate the decrease in effectiveness.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIGS. 1 to 3 are diagrams for explaining the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 and 3 are schematic plan views for explaining the operation. Fourth
6 to 6 are diagrams illustrating a second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a schematic plan view showing a partially sectional view illustrating the structure of the solar cell acceptance angle adjusting device of the present invention. No figure, no figure 5! FIG. 6 is a schematic plan view illustrating the operation. FIG. 7 is a schematic plan view illustrating another embodiment of the thermal switching device constituting the second embodiment. 2...Fixed shaft, 3...Solar panel, 6 a, 5 b... Heat collection plate (heat collection means), 6
a. 6 b...Heat transfer material (transmission means),
7... Thermal energy conversion device (thermal energy conversion means), 20... Support lever (support member), 2l...
...Fixed shaft, 22...Solar panel (solar cell), 22b
...Heat collecting part, 24a, 24b...Hot heat plate (home heat means), 25
a, 25b...Heat transfer member (transmission means), 26
...Heat conduction switching device (heat conduction switching means), 35
...Thermal energy conversion device (thermal energy conversion means), ■, ■... Supply route,

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) A solar cell panel is attached to a support member rotatably connected around an axis, and the support member is attached so that the light-receiving surface of the solar cell panel is approximately perpendicular to the incident direction of light. A solar cell light receiving angle adjustment device that moves and adjusts the position of a light receiving surface of the solar cell panel by rotating, the device comprising: a predetermined position on a side of the solar cell panel in opposite directions along the direction of movement of the solar cell; Heat collecting means provided at angles to collect solar thermal energy; Transfer means for respectively transmitting the thermal energy accumulated by the heat collecting means; Thermal energy transferred by the transfer means. and a thermal energy converting means for converting each into power for rotating the supporting member and moving the light-receiving surface of the solar cell panel to the side of the heat collecting plate where the amount of light received is the largest. Battery receiving angle adjustment device. (2) A main heat collecting section that collects solar thermal energy and a solar cell panel are provided on a support member rotatably connected around an axis, and the thermal energy accumulated in the main heat collecting section is converted. a plurality of thermal energy converting means for rotating the supporting member in opposite directions, and the supporting member is rotated approximately perpendicular to the incident direction of light by the power of the thermal energy converting means. A solar cell light receiving angle adjustment device that moves and adjusts the position of a light receiving surface of the solar cell panel, the solar cell light receiving angle adjusting device moving and adjusting the position of the light receiving surface of the solar cell panel, the device comprising: adjusting a position of a light receiving surface of the solar cell panel at a predetermined angle in opposite directions along the moving direction of the solar cell panel on a side portion of the solar cell panel; and an auxiliary heat collecting means for collecting the solar thermal energy, which is driven by the thermal energy supplied from the auxiliary heat collecting means to direct the light-receiving surface of the solar panel to the one that receives the most amount of light. 1. A solar cell light reception angle adjusting device, comprising: heat conduction switching means for switching a heat energy supply route between the main heat collecting section and the heat energy conversion means so as to move the solar cell in a direction in which the solar cell receives light.