JP2010161144A - Device for cleaning solar cell module - Google Patents

Abstract

An object of the present invention is to prevent a decrease in power generation efficiency caused by accumulation of dust or sand dust on a solar cell module having a light receiving surface arranged almost horizontally.
SOLUTION: A solar cell module 10 is rotatably connected to a gantry 2 via an undulating cylinder 3, and a cleaning unit 4 for cleaning the solar cell module 10 is movable vertically via a moving mechanism 5. Provided. Accordingly, the cleaning unit 4 is reciprocated between the upper end portion and the lower end portion of the solar cell module 10 via the moving mechanism 5 in conjunction with the raising / lowering operation of the solar cell module 10 by the raising / lowering cylinder 3. The surface is cleaned by the cleaning unit 4.
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a cleaning device for a solar cell module.

  In recent years, solar cell modules having thin-film solar cells have been proposed. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, this solar cell module 10 includes a thin-film solar cell 12 formed on the back surface of a light-transmitting substrate 11 such as a glass substrate serving as a light-receiving surface, and the periphery of the thin-film solar cell 12. Of the frame-like spacer 13 formed by adhering to the translucent substrate 11, the low-resilience resin portion 14 filling the frame of the spacer 13 and covering the thin-film solar cell 12, and the low-resilience resin portion 14. An output terminal (not shown) is led out from the thin film solar cell 12 from a terminal hole 15a of the back sheet 15 (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  The solar cell module 10 is not shown in detail, but one or a plurality of solar cell modules 10 are arranged in a vertical direction or a horizontal direction as necessary, and left and right vertical parts made of an aluminum extruded product or the like at the peripheral edge thereof. The frame and the upper and lower horizontal frames are fitted, the vertical frame and the horizontal frame are fixed to each other and reinforced, and installed on the roof or the like.

  Since such a solar cell module 10 is installed outdoors, dust or sand in the air accumulates and adheres to the surface of the light-transmitting substrate 11 on the light-receiving surface side due to use over time, thereby thin film solar cells. The amount of light reaching the cell 12 decreases, and the output of the solar cell module 10 decreases. For this reason, cleaning water is sprayed and sprayed on the surface of the translucent substrate 11, and dust, sand dust, and the like deposited and deposited are cleaned (see, for example, Patent Documents 2 to 4).

JP 2007-67001 A JP-A-7-38131 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-350684 JP 2003-199377 A

  By the way, the solar cell module described above is usually installed on a sloped roof, and if spraying and spraying cleaning water, the cleaning water flows down the surface of the translucent substrate along the gradient and accumulates on the surface. It is possible to wash away the adhering dust and sand dust. However, when a solar cell module is installed on a rooftop (land roof) such as a building or in a low latitude area, the light receiving surface may be arranged substantially horizontally in parallel with the ground. In this case, even if the cleaning water is sprayed and sprayed, the cleaning water only flows to the surroundings by the water flow, and the cleaning effect is limited to a part, and a part that is not cleaned remains. In addition, when the cleaning water stays, if the cleaning water evaporates, dust or sand dissolved in the cleaning water remains as it is, so that the cleaning effect may be limited.

  The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and a solar cell capable of preventing a decrease in power generation efficiency due to accumulation of dust, sand, or the like on a solar cell module in which a light receiving surface is arranged substantially horizontally. A module cleaning apparatus is provided.

  According to the present invention, a solar cell module is rotatably connected to a gantry via an undulating means, and a cleaning unit for cleaning the solar cell module is provided so as to be movable in a vertical direction via a moving mechanism. The cleaning unit is reciprocated between the upper end and the lower end of the solar cell module via a moving mechanism in conjunction with the undulation operation of the solar cell module, and the surface of the solar cell module is cleaned by the cleaning unit. To do.

  According to the present invention, the undulating means is driven to erect the solar cell module around the connecting portion with the gantry. When the solar cell module stands, the moving mechanism moves the cleaning unit in the vertical direction from the upper end portion to the lower end portion of the solar cell module, so that the surface of the solar cell module can be cleaned by the cleaning unit. On the other hand, when the solar cell module is tilted down to the position where the light receiving surface is almost horizontal via the undulating means, the cleaning unit moves vertically from the lower end portion to the upper end portion of the solar cell module via the moving mechanism, and the light receiving surface Return to the original position without blocking.

  As a result, even in the solar cell module in which the light receiving surface is arranged substantially horizontally, the cleaning unit is reciprocated in the vertical direction between the upper end portion and the lower end portion of the solar cell module by using the undulating means for raising and lowering the solar cell module. Thus, dust, sand dust, and the like accumulated on the surface of the solar cell module can be washed.

  Here, as a drive source of the undulation means, an electric motor can be driven using electricity generated by the solar cell module, and a hydraulic pump or a compressor driven by the electric motor can be used.

  In the present invention, it is preferable that the cleaning unit includes a cleaning pipe and a plurality of cleaning nozzles provided at a set interval in the cleaning pipe and capable of ejecting compressed air or high-pressure water. For example, depending on the properties of dust and sand dust, if a water source can be secured, it can be washed by jetting high-pressure water. In dry areas and deserts, the water source is scarce and there is no condensation. Therefore, it may be cleaned using compressed air.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the fall of power generation efficiency by dust, sand dust, etc. accumulating on the solar cell module which has arrange | positioned the light-receiving surface substantially horizontally can be prevented.

It is a perspective view which shows one Embodiment of the washing | cleaning apparatus of the solar cell module of this invention. It is a side view of the washing | cleaning apparatus of the solar cell module of FIG. It is a side view which shows the state which stood up the washing | cleaning apparatus of the solar cell module of FIG. It is the perspective view and longitudinal cross-sectional view which abbreviate | omits and shows some washing | cleaning units which comprise the washing | cleaning apparatus of a solar cell module. It is a side view which shows typically the translucent board | substrate and the photovoltaic cell formed in the back surface. It is a disassembled perspective view explaining a thin film solar cell module.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  1 to 3 show an embodiment of a solar cell module cleaning apparatus of the present invention.

  The cleaning apparatus 1 includes a gantry 2, a solar cell module 10 whose lower part is rotatably supported by the gantry 2, undulation means 3 disposed between the solar cell module 10 and the gantry 2, and a solar cell. The cleaning unit 4 has a length corresponding to the length in the left-right width direction of the module 10 and can move vertically above the surface of the solar cell module 10, and the cleaning unit 4 from the upper end to the lower end of the solar cell module 10. It is comprised from the moving mechanism 5 which reciprocates over a part.

  Here, the solar cell module 10 has the above-described configuration. A plurality of solar cell modules 10 are arranged in the horizontal direction, and the left and right vertical frames 16 and the upper and lower horizontal frames 17 are fitted into the peripheral portions thereof and fixed to each other. It is comprised by doing. In addition, the solar cell module 10 is usually arranged so that its light receiving surface is located substantially in a horizontal plane, and the cleaning unit 4 is arranged at the upper end position of the solar cell module 10 so as not to block sunlight. (See FIGS. 1 and 2).

  The hoisting means 3 is, for example, a hoisting cylinder, and its piston rod is pivotally connected to the left and right vertical frames 16 of the solar cell module 10 respectively, and the main body is pivotally connected to the mount 2 so as to be rotatable. ing.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the cleaning unit 4 covers an air pipe 41 as a cleaning pipe, a plurality of cleaning nozzles 42 attached to the air pipe 41 at intervals in the axial direction, and the air pipe 41 and the cleaning nozzle 42. The air pipe 41 and the cover material 43 are connected to a slider 52 constituting a moving mechanism 5 described later.

  The cleaning nozzle 42 is provided in the air pipe 41 with a slight downward slope toward the solar cell module 10, and the ejection hole 42 a is formed over a range of approximately 120 degrees in the left-right direction.

  The moving mechanism 5 has a pair of guide rods 51 disposed from the upper end to the lower end above the left and right vertical frames 16 of the solar cell module 10 and a linear bearing, and slides on each guide rod 51. The slider 52 includes a pair of sliders 52 that are freely inserted, and guide arms 53 that are respectively pin-connected between the left and right sliders 52 and the gantry 2. Are fixed respectively.

  One slider 52 is formed with a communication hole (not shown) communicating with the air pipe 41, and the other end of the air hose 6 having one end connected to an air source such as a compressor. The compressed air can be supplied to the air pipe 41 via the air hose 6 and the slider 52 and can be ejected from the ejection hole 42a of the cleaning nozzle 42.

  Here, although the air source and the hydraulic source are not shown in detail, an electric motor is driven using the electric power generated by the solar cell module 10, and a compressor or a hydraulic pump driven via the electric motor is provided. Use it.

  Next, the operation of the cleaning apparatus 1 configured as described above will be described.

  First, when the solar cell module 10 needs to be cleaned, for example, when a certain period of time has elapsed, the undulation cylinder 3 is extended and the air source is operated. As a result, the solar cell module 10 rotatably connected to the gantry 2 is gradually raised upward, and the compressed air from the air source is supplied to the air hose 6, the air pipe 41 and the cleaning nozzle 42, It ejects from the hole 42a. At this time, the length of the shaft support portion of the gantry 2 and the solar cell module 10 and the length of the shaft support portion of the gantry 2 and the guide arm 53 and the length of the guide arm 53 disposed between the slider 52 and the gantry 2 are fixed lengths. The slider 52 slides downward along the guide rod 51 so as to form a triangle. When the slider 52 slides downward, the cleaning nozzle 42 of the air pipe 41 connected to the slider 52 also moves downward while ejecting compressed air from the ejection hole 42a, and the translucent substrate 11 of the solar cell module 10 is moved. Clean by blowing away dust or sand accumulated on the surface.

  When the hoisting cylinder 3 is extended to the stroke end, the solar cell module 10 stands up at a hoisting angle of about 60 degrees, and the cleaning unit 4 moves to the lower end of the solar cell module 10 (see FIG. 3).

  When the cleaning operation is completed, by retracting the hoisting cylinder 3, the solar cell module 10 rotatably connected to the gantry 2 gradually falls down and is regulated by the guide arm 53. Contrary to the above, the slider 52 slides upward along the guide rod 51. When the hoisting cylinder 3 is retracted to the stroke end, the solar cell module 10 falls down in a substantially horizontal state, and the cleaning unit 4 moves to the upper end portion of the solar cell module 10 to block the solar cell module 10. There is no return to the original position.

  As described above, according to the present invention, in the solar cell module 10 in which the light receiving surface is arranged substantially horizontally, the cleaning unit 4 is moved in the vertical and vertical directions using the hoisting cylinder 3 for hoisting the solar cell module 10. Dust, sand, and the like accumulated on the surface of the solar cell module 10 can be washed, and reduction in power generation efficiency due to accumulation of dust, sand, etc. can be prevented.

  In the above-described embodiment, compressed air is used as the cleaning medium. However, the solar cell module 10 may be cleaned by driving the water pump with an electric pump and spraying high-pressure water from the cleaning nozzle.

  Moreover, although the raising / lowering cylinder 3 was utilized as the raising / lowering means of the solar cell module 10, it is not restricted to a cylinder. For example, the rotary actuator may be connected to the connecting shaft of the solar cell module 10, or the solar cell module may be rotated via a reduction mechanism such as a motor and a chain-sprocket or a gear.

  Furthermore, although the solar cell module provided with the thin film photovoltaic cell was demonstrated, you may be a solar cell module which has the multiple solar cell formed by connecting many crystal solar cells.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Cleaning apparatus 2 Base 3 Undulating means (undulating cylinder)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 4 Cleaning unit 41 Air pipe 42 Cleaning nozzle 5 Moving mechanism 51 Guide rod 52 Slider 53 Guide arm 6 Air hose 10 Solar cell module

Claims (2)

  A solar cell module is connected to a gantry via a undulation means so as to be rotatable, and a cleaning unit for cleaning the solar cell module is provided so as to be movable vertically and vertically via a moving mechanism. The cleaning unit is reciprocated between the upper end and the lower end of the solar cell module via a moving mechanism in conjunction with the undulation operation of the solar cell, and the surface of the solar cell module is cleaned by the cleaning unit Module cleaning device.   2. The solar cell module cleaning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning unit includes a cleaning pipe and a plurality of cleaning nozzles provided at a set interval in the cleaning pipe and capable of ejecting compressed air or high-pressure water. 3. A cleaning device for a solar cell module.

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