Patent Application
20190020305
The present disclosure relates to a solar cell module packaging structure and a solar power generation device.
There is conventionally known a solar cell module in which a frame made of a metal, for example, composed of aluminum alloy is fixed in advance to four side end edges of a solar cell in a rectangular shape such as, for example, a rectangular shape with an adhesive agent or the like.
There is occasionally provided a terminal box for collecting and outputting electric power generated by a solar cell panel, on the rear surface on an opposite side to a light receiving surface in the solar cell panel constituting a solar cell module, in the state where the terminal box protrudes from the rear surface of the solar cell panel. When such solar cell modules are packaged, the packaging needs to be designed so as not to exert external force on the terminal box. Such a problem can arise not only in the case of a solar cell panel in a so-called frameless structure but also in the case where an attachment composed of a metal, an elastic body or the like which is thinner than the protruding height of the terminal box is attached to the end edge of a solar cell panel.
It is an advantage of the present disclosure to provide a solar cell module packaging structure which, in the case of packaging a plurality of solar cell modules, may securely package the solar cell modules such that external force is not exerted on terminal boxes on the rear surfaces of solar cell panels. Moreover, it is a further advantage of the present disclosure to provide a solar power generation device configured by installing a plurality of solar cell modules in which a frame is fixed only to one end edge of a solar cell panel in a predetermined direction on a roof.
There is provided a solar cell module packaging structure according to an aspect of the present disclosure, the solar cell module packaging structure enabling two solar cell modules to be stacked and packaged, the solar cell module including a solar cell panel and a frame having a groove into which an end edge of the solar cell panel is inserted and fixed, wherein the frame is fixed only to one end edge of two end edges in a predetermined direction in the solar cell panel, one of the two solar cell modules is disposed upside down and the other thereof is stacked thereon, and in this state, a space is formed between rear surfaces of the solar cell panels included in the respective two solar cell modules.
Moreover, there is provided a solar power generation device according to another aspect of the present disclosure, the solar power generation device configured by installing a plurality of solar cell modules to line up in an eaves-ridge direction on a roof, the solar cell module including a solar cell panel and a frame fixed only to one end edge of two end edges in a predetermined direction in the solar cell panel, wherein the frame has a groove into which the one end edge of the solar cell panel is fixed, and other groove which opens on an opposite side to the groove, the solar power generation device includes a first solar cell module installed on a ridge side of the roof and a second solar cell module installed to line up on an eaves side with respect to the first solar cell module, and the first and second solar cell modules are installed to cause their frames to face the eaves side, and the other end edge of the solar cell panel in the predetermined direction in the second solar cell module is inserted into the other groove in the frame of the first solar cell module.
According to the solar cell module packaging structure which is an aspect of the present disclosure, in the case of packaging a plurality of solar cell modules, they may be securely packaged such that external force is not exerted on terminal boxes on the rear surfaces of solar cell panels.
Moreover, according to the solar power generation device which is another aspect of the present disclosure, the solar power generation device may be configured by installing a plurality of solar cell modules in which a frame is fixed only to one end edge of a solar cell panel on a roof.
Hereafter, embodiments according to the present disclosure are described in detail with reference to the appended drawings. In the description, specific shapes, materials, numerical values, directions and the like are exemplified for ease of understanding of the present disclosure, and can be appropriately modified so as to meet uses, purposes, specifications and the like. Moreover, when the following description hereafter includes embodiments and modifications, it is originally assumed to appropriately combine and use their characteristic portions.
Hereafter, a direction along a roof beam direction (direction perpendicular to an eaves-ridge direction of a roof) is called a “transverse direction”, and a direction perpendicular to a sheathing roof board of the roof is called an “upper/lower direction”. In the drawings, the eaves-ridge direction of the roof is indicated by an arrow α, the beam direction and the transverse direction are indicated by an arrow β, and the upper/lower direction is indicated by an arrow γ.
The solar power generation device 10 is attached onto the roof 1 such that a plurality of rows of solar cell modules 12 are formed along the beam direction β. The solar cell module 12 exhibits, for example, a substantially rectangular shape in plan view.
In the present embodiment, for each of the solar cell modules 12, its short sides are substantially parallel to the eaves-ridge direction α, and their arrangement is set in the state where the short sides of the solar cell modules 12 that constitute each row are in substantial contact with one another. As to the numbers of solar cell modules 12 constituting the rows extending in the beam direction β, there are a large number in the row positioned on the eaves side of the roof 1, and moreover, the number of the solar cell modules 12 may be same in a part of the rows that are adjacent to one another in the eaves-ridge direction. It should be noted that the number, the arrangement and the like of the solar cell modules 12 constituting the solar power generation device 10 are not specially limited.
The solar power generation device 10 has a structure in which the solar cell modules 12 are arranged into a step-roofed shape to conform to the step-roofed shape of the roof 1. Namely, a step is formed, caused by the eaves-side end part of a solar cell module 12a overlapping with the ridge-side end part of a solar cell module 12b between the two solar cell modules 12a and 12b adjacent to each other in the eaves-ridge direction α. Herein, out of two arbitrary solar cell modules 12 adjacent to each other in the eaves-ridge direction α, one disposed on the ridge side is the solar cell module 12a (first solar cell module), and the other disposed on the eaves side is the solar cell module 12b (second solar cell module).
The solar cell modules 12 included in the solar power generation device 10 have eaves-ridge directional lengths L the same or substantially the same as working lengths L of the roof materials 2. Thereby, by installation in which the step between the solar cell modules 12a and 12b matches the step 3 of the roof materials 2 in the step-roofed shape, the solar power generation device 10 exhibits an appearance of being integrated with the roof 1 without a feeling of incongruity, which results in an improved design.
Notably, there is described above the case where the solar power generation device 10 is installed on the roof 1 in the step-roofed shape, the structure of the solar power generation device is not limited to this. The solar power generation device 10 may be installed on a roof having a substantially flat surface shape by laying slate materials or metal plates which are thinner compared with roof tiles, or may be directly installed on a waterproof sheet laid on a roof board.
As shown in
The solar cell panel 14 has a front surface 15a which is a light receiving surface when installed on the roof 1 as the solar cell module 12, and a rear surface 15b which is its opposite surface. As shown in
The frame 16 of the solar cell module 12 is a longitudinal member made of a metal, for example, composed of aluminum alloy, and is fixed along an end edge 14b on one side of the solar cell panel 14. The frame 16 is fixed only to one end edge 14a out of the two end edges 14a and 14b in the eaves-ridge direction (predetermined direction) α in the solar cell panel 14. Namely, in the present embodiment, the solar cell panel 14 forms a rectangular shape in plan view, and the solar cell module 12 is installed on the roof 1 such that the long side portions of the solar cell panel 14 are along the beam direction β. Accordingly, in the solar cell module 12 the frame 16 is fixed only to the end edge 14a which is a long side portion on one side out of the two end edges 14a and 14b in the eaves-ridge direction in the solar cell panel 14. Notably, in the present embodiment, there is exemplarily presented the case where frames are not attached to end edges of the solar cell panel 14 on both sides in the beam direction (that is, the short side portions thereof).
The frame 16 is preferably fixed to the end edge 14a positioned on the eaves side of the solar cell panel 14 in the state at the time when the solar cell module 12 is installed on the roof 1. By doing this, when the solar cell module 12 is installed, the frame 16 is fixed to the eaves-side end edge 14a which is the lower end edge of the solar cell panel 14 installed on the roof 1 in a downwardly sloping posture, and hence, it can be installed without a risk that the solar cell panel 14 will come out of an inner groove of the frame 16 mentioned later. It should be noted that, not limited to this, the frame 16 may be fixed only to the ridge-side end edge 14b of the solar cell panel 14 in the state where the solar cell module 12 is installed on the roof 1.
The frame 16 has a hollow main body part 18 having a sectionally rectangular solid-shaped external form, and a laterally L-shaped hook part 20 integrally formed with the upper part of the main body part 18. A groove 22 is formed by the main body part 18 and the hook part 20. Hereafter, this groove 22 is referred to as an “inner groove” which means that it faces the inside of the solar cell module 12. The inner groove 22 opens toward one side in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the frame 16. It is preferable that the eaves-side end edge 14a of the solar cell panel 14 be inserted into this inner groove 22, and bonded and fixed thereinto, for example, with a silicone-based adhesive agent or the like.
Moreover, the frame 16 has a plate-shaped attachment part 24 at the lower end part of the main body part 18. The attachment part 24 includes an inner attachment part 24a protruding from the main body part 18 toward the solar cell panel 14 side, and an outer attachment part 24b protruding from the main body part 18 toward the opposite side. In the present embodiment, there is presented an example in which the inner attachment part 24a is formed to be longer than the outer attachment part 24b. It should be noted that the protruding lengths of these attachment parts 24a and 24b from the main body part 18 may be the same.
Furthermore, the frame 16 has a lower wall part 26a and an upper wall part 26b, each of which is integrally formed to protrude from the lateral surface, of the main body part 18, which is positioned on the opposite side to the solar cell panel 14. Further, between the lower wall part 26a and the upper wall part 26b, there is formed another groove 28 besides the aforementioned inner groove 22. This other groove 28 is a groove into which a ridge-side end edge 14b of a solar cell panel 14 constituting the solar cell module 12 is inserted, and opens toward the opposite side to the inner groove 22. Moreover, the other groove 28 is formed downward of the aforementioned inner groove 22 by a predetermined dimension. This predetermined dimension corresponds to the step 3 of the step-roofed shape roof 1 as mentioned above. Hereafter, this other groove 28 is referred to as an “outer groove” which means that it faces the outside of the solar cell module 12.
As shown in
The two solar cell modules 12u and 12d stacked on each other as above are packaged in the state where the individual terminal boxes 17 of the solar cell modules 12 are contained in the space 30 formed between the solar cell panels 14, and hence, the terminal boxes 17 can be securely packaged without external force exerted thereon. As a result, breakage of the terminal box 17 can be prevented.
Moreover, as shown in
As above, when the packaging structure 80C is configured by stacking sets of the two solar cell modules 12u and 12d combined into a plurality of stages, compared with a case where the sets are individually packaged, there are advantages that the packaging material can be reduced and that packaging operation can be facilitated. Moreover, by the insertion and penetration of the fixing through rod 27 upward/downward, the cell modules 12 stacked upward/downward can be securely prevented from being displaced in the horizontal direction.
As mentioned above, according to the solar cell module packaging structures 80A to 80D of the present embodiments, when a plurality of solar cell modules 12 are collectively packaged, they can be securely packaged without external force exerted on the terminal boxes 17 on the rear surfaces of the solar cell panels 14. Moreover, by collectively packaging a plurality of solar cell modules 12 as above, the amount the packaging material used can be reduced, packaging operation can be facilitated, and moreover, they can be efficiently transported.
Next, referring to
The solar cell modules 12 are sequentially installed from the ridge side on the roof 1. Herein, as shown in
As shown in
Marks indicating positions where the fixing members 40 are put through, or predrilled holes with a smaller diameter than that of the fixing member 40, may be formed in advance in the outer attachment part 24b of the frame 16. By doing this, the positions where the fixing members 40 are put through become constant, which enables a fixing operation of the solar cell module 12 via the frame 16 to be quickly and stably performed. Moreover, while in the above there is described the example of fixing the inner attachment part 24a of the frame 16 by the pressing metal fitting 42, the inner attachment part 24a may also be fixed by driving the fixing member 40 therein. Moreover, the outer attachment part 24b may be fixed by the pressing metal fitting 42.
Notably, the ridge-side end edge 14b of the solar cell panel 14 in the solar cell module 12 fixed onto the roof 1 as described above can be supported using a frame in a shape in which the lower wall part 26a and the upper wall part 26b are removed from the frame 16. In more detail, the ridge-side end edge 14b of the solar cell panel 14 is inserted into the inner groove 22 of such a frame, and in this state, the attachment parts 24a and 24b of the frame are fixed onto the roof 1 using the fixing member 40, the pressing metal fitting 42 and the like. At this stage, the ridge-side end edge 14b of the solar cell panel 14 may be fixed into the inner groove 22 by applying an adhesive agent in advance on the outer surface of the ridge-side end edge 14b of the solar cell panel 14 or in the inner groove 22.
The procedure of fixing the frame 16 onto the roof 1 is as follows. First, the pressing metal fitting 42 is fixed onto the roof 1 with the fixing member 40. After that, the inner attachment part 24a of the frame 16 of the solar cell module 12a is inserted therein from the eaves side. Then, the frame 16 is fixed by putting the fixing member 40 through the outer attachment part 24b thereof. According to such a procedure, the pressing metal fitting 42 can be installed at a lower position of the solar cell panel 14 of the solar cell module 12a. Moreover, when notch parts are formed in advance in the lower wall part 26a and the upper wall part 26b of the frame 16 corresponding to the fixing members 40, the fixing members 40 can be perpendicularly put through the outer attachment part 24b.
After the solar cell module 12a positioned on the most ridge side of the roof 1 is installed as above, subsequently, another solar cell module 12b is installed adjacent thereto on the eaves side. As to the other solar cell module 12b, first, the ridge-side end edge 14b of the solar cell panel 14 is inserted into the outer groove 28 of the frame 16 of the previously installed solar cell module 12a. At this stage, it is preferable that an adhesive agent be applied in advance on the outer surface of the ridge-side end edge 14b of the solar cell panel 14 or in the outer groove 28, and that the ridge-side end edge 14b of the solar cell panel 14 be fixed into the outer groove 28.
Then, in the state where the ridge-side end edge 14b of the solar cell panel 14 is inserted into the outer groove 28, the position of the frame 16 of the other solar cell module 12b is determined, and the frame 16 is fixed onto the roof 1 using the fixing member 40 such as a nail and the pressing metal fitting 42 similarly to the above.
As above, the solar cell modules 12a and 12b are sequentially installed to the eaves side, and as a result, the solar power generation device 10 constituted of the solar cell modules 12, in each of which the frame 16 is fixed only to the eaves-side end edge 14a of the solar cell panel 14, can be installed on the roof 1.
The ridge-side end edge 14b of the solar cell panel 14 in the solar cell module 12b installed on the eaves side is fixed so as to be sandwiched between the lower wall part 26a and the upper wall part 26b via packing members 48 composed of elastic materials such as, for example, rubber and sponge. When the upper wall part 26b to form the outer groove 28 is configured to be detachable as above, replacement is facilitated, for example, in the case where the solar cell panel 14 of the solar cell module 12b breaks or a similar case arises after the solar power generation device 10E is installed.
According with each of the aforementioned solar power generation devices 10A to 10E, similarly to the solar power generation device 10 described with reference to
Notably, a solar cell power generation device according to the present disclosure is not limited to the aforementioned embodiments and their modifications, and various alterations and improvements thereof are possible.
For example, in the above, there has been described the case where the pressing metal fitting 42 for fixing the frame 16 of the solar cell module 12 is formed by folding a metal plate such that it has a crank-like lateral shape, and it presses and fixes the inner attachment part 24a of the frame 16 in the upper/lower direction γ. Nevertheless, as shown in
Moreover, in the above, there has been described the example in which the end edge 14a of the solar cell panel 14 is directly fixed into the inner groove 22 of the frame 16 with an adhesive agent, the solar cell power generation device is limited to this. An attachment composed of a metal or an elastic body which is thinner than the protruding height of the terminal box 17 may be attached to the end edge 14a of the solar cell panel 14, and the end edge 14a may be fixed into the inner groove 22 of the frame 16 via this attachment.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016-056764 | Mar 2016 | JP | national |
The present application is a continuation under 35 U.S.C. § 120 of PCT/JP2017/000221, filed Jan. 6, 2017, which is incorporated herein by reference and which claimed priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2016-056764 filed Mar. 22, 2016. The present application likewise claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to Japanese Patent Application No. 2016-056764 filed Mar. 22, 2016, the entire content of which is also incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | PCT/JP2017/000221 | Jan 2017 | US |
| Child | 16134199 | US |
