阅读说明：本技术 太阳能电池组件 (Solar cell module ) 是由 久保幸一 吉田朋秀 樋口稔 于 2019-08-01 设计创作，主要内容包括：作为实施方式的一例的太阳能电池组件包括多个电池串和端子盒,所述多个电池串分别含有多个太阳能单电池和配线件。端子盒含有：多个端子部；输出线；多个旁路二极管；检测部,其检测多个旁路二极管的至少1个的温度；处理部,其经由输出线向外部装置输出识别信息和检测信息；和壳体。处理部与多个旁路二极管的最短距离比检测部与多个旁路二极管的最短距离长。(A solar cell module according to an embodiment includes a plurality of cell strings each including a plurality of solar cells and a wiring member, and a terminal box. The terminal box includes: a plurality of terminal portions; an output line; a plurality of bypass diodes; a detection unit that detects the temperature of at least 1 of the plurality of bypass diodes; a processing unit that outputs identification information and detection information to an external device via an output line; and a housing. The shortest distance between the processing unit and the plurality of bypass diodes is longer than the shortest distance between the detection unit and the plurality of bypass diodes.)

1. A solar cell module, comprising:

a plurality of cell strings each including a plurality of solar cells and a wiring member, the cell strings being formed by connecting adjacent solar cells in series by the wiring member; and

a terminal box including a plurality of terminal portions electrically connected to output wiring members extending from at least 1 of the plurality of battery strings, wherein

The terminal box includes:

an output line electrically connecting the plurality of terminal portions to an external dc/ac conversion device;

a plurality of bypass diodes electrically connected to the plurality of terminal portions and electrically connected in parallel to the plurality of battery strings;

a detection unit that detects a temperature of at least 1 of the plurality of bypass diodes;

a processing unit that outputs identification information and detection information to an external device via the output line; and

a housing that houses at least the plurality of terminal portions and the plurality of bypass diodes,

the shortest distance between the processing unit and the bypass diodes is longer than the shortest distance between the detection unit and the bypass diodes.

2. The solar cell module of claim 1, wherein:

the identification information includes at least one of identification information of the detection unit or identification information of the solar cell module.

3. The solar cell module according to claim 1 or 2, wherein:

a plurality of the detecting parts are arranged,

the shortest distance between the processing unit and the bypass diodes is longer than the shortest distance between the detection units.

4. The solar cell module according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein:

the processing portion is disposed on an outer surface of the housing.

5. The solar cell module according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein:

an opening into which the output wiring material is inserted is formed in the terminal box,

the processing unit is disposed on the opposite side of the bypass diodes with the opening therebetween.

6. The solar cell module according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein:

the terminal box includes a shielding wall disposed between the processing portion and the plurality of bypass diodes.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a solar cell module.

Background

Conventionally, a solar cell module including a terminal box including a bypass diode connected in parallel to a plurality of cell strings formed by connecting a plurality of solar cells in series is widely known (for example, see patent document 1). When a part of solar cells constituting a solar cell module is in the shadow of an obstacle and the power generation becomes insufficient, the cells may generate heat and a phenomenon called a hot spot may occur. Then, the bypass diode is connected so as to be reverse-biased with respect to the normal output of the solar cell, and thereby, the current is caused to flow while avoiding (bypassing) the cell string including the solar cell whose power generation amount is decreased, thereby preventing the occurrence of the hot spot. That is, in this case, a current flows through the bypass diode.

In a state where a current flows through the bypass diode, a part of the cell string bypassed does not contribute to power generation, and therefore, such a state is preferably released quickly. Since the temperature of the diode rises when the current flows through the bypass diode, if the temperature rise is detected and the detection information is transmitted to the external device, it is possible to quickly recognize that a part of the battery string is bypassed and to cope with the problem.

Documents of the prior art

Patent document

Patent document 1: japanese patent laid-open publication No. 2013-030627

Disclosure of Invention

Problems to be solved by the invention

However, in order to detect the temperature of the bypass diode and transmit the detection information to the external device, it is necessary to provide the solar cell module with a detection unit for detecting the temperature of the bypass diode and a processing unit for processing a signal of the detection unit and transmitting the signal to the external device. However, the semiconductor element constituting the processing portion is generally weak against heat, and thus it is necessary to prevent damage to the processing portion due to heat. In addition, it is important to accurately detect the temperature of the bypass diode without causing problems such as an increase in weight and an increase in cost of the solar cell module.

Means for solving the problems

The solar cell module according to the present disclosure includes a plurality of cell strings each including a plurality of solar cells and a wiring member, the wiring member connecting the adjacent solar cells in series, and a terminal box electrically connected to an output wiring member extending from at least 1 of the plurality of cell strings. The terminal box includes: an output line for electrically connecting the plurality of terminal portions to an external dc/ac converter; a plurality of bypass diodes electrically connected to the plurality of terminal portions and electrically connected in parallel to the plurality of battery strings; a detection unit that detects a temperature of at least 1 of the plurality of bypass diodes; a processing unit that outputs the identification information and the detection information to an external device via the output line; and a case that houses at least the plurality of terminal portions and the plurality of bypass diodes, wherein a shortest distance between the processing portion and the plurality of bypass diodes is longer than a shortest distance between the detection portion and the plurality of bypass diodes.

Effects of the invention

According to the solar cell module of the present disclosure, damage and malfunction of the processing unit due to heat can be prevented, and the temperature of the bypass diode can be detected quickly and accurately.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a solar cell module as an example of the embodiment as viewed from a light receiving surface side, and is an enlarged view of a terminal box and its vicinity.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of a terminal box according to an example of the embodiment.

Fig. 3 is a diagram showing a modification of the terminal box.

Fig. 4 is a diagram showing a modification of the terminal box.

Fig. 5 is a diagram showing a modification of the terminal box.

Detailed Description

Hereinafter, embodiments of the solar cell module according to the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In addition, since the drawings referred to in the description of the embodiments are schematically illustrated, the dimensional ratios of the components illustrated in the drawings may be different from those of the actual components. Specific dimensional ratios and the like should be determined with reference to the description of the embodiments. The solar cell module according to the present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described below, and a case where components of a plurality of embodiments described below are combined or a part of the components is deleted is assumed at first.

In the present specification, the "light-receiving surface" of the solar cell module or the solar cell means a surface on which sunlight is mainly incident (more than 50% to 100%), and the "back surface" means a surface opposite to the light-receiving surface. The terms of the light-receiving surface and the back surface are also applicable to other components such as a terminal box.

As shown in fig. 1, the solar cell module 10 includes a solar cell panel 11 and a frame 12 provided around the solar cell panel 11. The solar cell panel 11 includes: a plurality of solar cells 13; a 1 st protective member provided on the light-receiving surface side of the solar cell 13; and a 2 nd protective member provided on the back surface side of the solar cell 13. The plurality of solar cells 13 are sandwiched between the 1 st protective member and the 2 nd protective member, and are sealed with a sealing material filled between the protective members. The solar cell module 10 may be a so-called frameless module having no frame 12.

The solar cell 13 includes a photoelectric conversion portion that generates carriers by receiving sunlight. The photoelectric conversion portion includes, for example, a semiconductor substrate and an amorphous semiconductor layer formed on the semiconductor substrate. A light-receiving surface electrode is formed on the light-receiving surface of the photoelectric conversion unit, and a back surface electrode is formed on the back surface. The back surface electrode is formed to be larger in area than the light receiving surface electrode. The electrode may also include a plurality of sub-gate lines and a plurality of main gate lines. The sub-grid lines are thin linear electrodes formed over a wide range on the photoelectric conversion portion, and the main grid lines are electrodes that collect carriers from the sub-grid lines. The structure of the solar cell 13 is not particularly limited, and a structure in which an electrode is formed only on the back surface of the photoelectric conversion portion may be employed. Further, a transparent conductive layer may be formed over the amorphous semiconductor layer.

The 1 st protective member may be a member having optical transparency such as a glass substrate, a resin substrate, or a resin film. Among them, a glass substrate is preferably used from the viewpoint of fire resistance, durability, and the like. The 2 nd protective member may be a transparent member or an opaque member, similar to the 1 st protective member. An example of the 2 nd protective member is a resin film. Examples of resins suitable for the sealing material include polyolefin and ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA).

The solar cell module 10 includes a plurality of solar cells 13 and a plurality of wiring members 14, and includes a plurality of cell strings 15 formed by connecting adjacent solar cells 13 in series by the wiring members 14. The wiring material 14 is generally an elongated conductive wire mainly composed of metal such as aluminum or copper, and is called an interconnector or a cell wiring. The wiring member 14 is bent in the thickness direction of the solar cell module 10 between the adjacent solar cells 13, and electrically connects the light receiving surface of one solar cell 13 and the back surface of the other solar cell 13 using a conductive adhesive such as solder. For example, 3 bus bars are provided on each surface of the photoelectric conversion portion, and the wiring members 14 are electrically connected to the bus bars.

The solar cell module 10 includes a terminal box 17, and the terminal box 17 includes a plurality of terminal portions 18 (see fig. 2 described later) electrically connected to the output wiring members 16 extending from at least 1 of the plurality of cell strings 15. The terminal box 17 is fixed to the back surface of the solar cell panel 11 using, for example, an adhesive. The output wiring member 16 is electrically connected to the plurality of cell strings 15, and takes out electric power generated by the plurality of cell strings 15 to the outside of the solar cell panel 11 from a part thereof. The output wiring member 16 is connected to the wiring member 14 extending from the end of the solar cell 13 disposed at one end of the cell string 15, is led out to the back surface side of the solar cell panel 11, and is connected to the terminal portion 18 of the terminal box 17.

The solar cell module 10 generally includes a tab wiring member that electrically connects adjacent cell strings 15 to each other. In the present embodiment, 6 battery strings 15 are provided, and the 6 battery strings 15 are connected in series by a plurality of tab wiring members. The number of output wiring members 16 is 4, and among them, the output wiring members 16B and 16C also function as a tab wiring member for connecting the adjacent cell strings 15. In a normal power generation state, a current flows through a circuit including the group of battery strings 15 connected in series and the output wiring members 16A and 16B connected to both ends thereof.

As shown in fig. 2, the terminal box 17 includes: a plurality of terminal portions 18; an output line 19 for electrically connecting the plurality of terminal portions 18 to an external dc/ac conversion device 50; a plurality of bypass diodes 20 connected in parallel to the plurality of battery strings 15; and a housing 21. The 1 bypass diode 20 is electrically connected to the 2 terminal portions 18. The terminal portion 18 is electrically connected to the output wiring member 16 by welding, soldering, or the like. The terminal portion 18A is connected to the output wiring member 16A, the terminal portion 18B is connected to the output wiring member 16B, the terminal portion 18C is connected to the output wiring member 16C, and the terminal portion 18D is connected to the output wiring member 16D.

The terminal box 17 further includes a detection unit 25 and a processing unit 26, the detection unit 25 detecting a temperature of at least 1 of the plurality of bypass diodes 20 or an abnormal state thereof, and the processing unit 26 outputting identification information and detection information of the detection unit 25 to the monitoring device 51 via the output line 19. The monitoring device 51 is, for example, a controller, a server, or the like of an energy management system for monitoring the power generation state of the solar cell module 10. The monitoring device 51 may also be a tablet terminal, a smartphone, or the like. The detection information of the detection unit 25 may be output to various external devices other than the monitoring device 51.

As a method of transmitting a signal containing predetermined information from the processing unit 26 to the monitoring device 51 via the output line 19 as a power line, conventionally known low-speed power line carrier communication (low-speed PLC), high-speed power line carrier communication (high-speed PLC), or the like can be used. The monitoring device 51 can include, for example, a PLC modem including a filter for separating electric and signal.

In fig. 2, the dc/ac converter 50 is illustrated on the downstream side of the monitoring device 51, but the connection relationship between the dc/ac converter 50 and the monitoring device 51 is not particularly limited. The output line 19 may be connected in parallel with the dc/ac conversion device 50 and the monitoring device 51. The dc/ac converter 50 is a device that converts dc power generated by the solar cell module 10 into ac power used in a general electronic apparatus, and is generally called a power conditioner.

The plurality of terminal portions 18 are connected in series by a plurality of bypass diodes 20, thereby forming a bypass circuit when an abnormality occurs in some of the solar cells 13. The bypass circuit is formed by connecting bypass diodes 20 in parallel to a group of 2 adjacent battery strings 15. In the present embodiment, 4 terminal portions 18 and 3 bypass diodes 20 are provided, and the group of the battery string 15 includes 3 groups (clusters).

The plurality of bypass diodes 20 are connected in parallel with each cluster so as to be reverse-biased with respect to the normal output of each solar cell 13. In the present embodiment, 4 terminal portions 18 are arranged in a row, and output lines 19 are connected to the terminal portions 18A and 18D arranged at both ends of the row, respectively. Further, bypass diode 20X is connected to terminals 18A and 18B, bypass diode 20Y is connected to terminals 18B and 18C, and bypass diode 20Z is connected to terminals 18C and 18D.

The case 21 of the terminal box 17 houses at least the plurality of terminal portions 18 and the plurality of bypass diodes 20. In the present embodiment, the housing 21 also houses the detection unit 25 and the processing unit 26. The case 21 has a substantially rectangular shape in plan view, and includes a base portion 23 on which the terminal portion 18, the bypass diode 20, and the like are arranged, and a side wall portion 24 erected on a peripheral portion of the base portion 23.

The surface of the housing 21 facing the solar cell panel 11 is largely open, and the opening is closed by the panel by attaching the housing 21 to the back surface of the solar cell panel 11. The base portion 23 is formed with an opening 22 through which the output wiring member 16, which is long in the arrangement direction of the plurality of terminal portions 18, passes. The terminal case 17 is filled with silicone resin or the like to close the opening 22, and the terminal portion 18, the bypass diode 20, and the like are sealed.

When the power generation state of the solar cell module 10 is normal, the current does not flow through the bypass diode 20, and the current does not flow through the output wiring members 16B and 16C and the terminal portions 18B and 18C. On the other hand, when some of the solar cells 13 are in the backlight of an obstacle and the power generation is insufficient, the cells become resistors, consume power and generate a reverse bias, so that the bypass diode 20 operates. This bypasses the cell string 15 (cluster) including the solar cells 13. Since the temperature of the bypass diode 20 rises when a current flows through the bypass diode 20, by detecting the temperature rise and transmitting detection information to the monitoring device 51, it is possible to quickly recognize that a part of the battery string 15 is bypassed and to cope with the problem.

As described above, the terminal box 17 includes the detection section 25 and the processing section 26. The detection unit 25 detects a temperature rise of the bypass diode 20, and the processing unit 26 processes the detection signal and transmits the processed signal to the monitoring device 51. The detection unit 25 and the processing unit 26 are connected by a cable, not shown, and a detection signal of the detection unit 25 is output to the processing unit 26. In order to detect the temperatures of the bypass diodes 20, a plurality of detection units 25 are preferably provided.

The detection unit 25 includes, for example, a semiconductor element such as a thermistor capable of detecting the temperature of the bypass diode 20. In order to accurately measure the temperature of the bypass diode 20, the detection unit 25 is preferably provided in the vicinity of the bypass diode 20. The detection unit 25 may be fixed to the surface of the bypass diode 20, or may be fixed to the base 23 of the case 21 in the vicinity of the bypass diode 20. In the present embodiment, the same number of detection units 25 as the bypass diodes 20 are provided. The plurality of detectors 25 output detection signals of the temperature of the bypass diode 20 or the abnormal state thereof to the processor 26 together with the identification signals (addresses). In addition to the detection section information, each detection section 25 may output various kinds of identification information.

The processing unit 26 includes, for example, a semiconductor element that processes the detection signal of the detection unit 25 and transmits the processed signal to the monitoring device 51. The processing unit 26 is electrically connected to the output line 19, and transmits the identification information and the detection information of the detection unit 25 to the monitoring device 51 via the output line 19. That is, the processing unit 26 transmits the identification information for identifying the detecting unit 25 and the detection information relating to the temperature of the bypass diode 20 to the monitoring device 51 in a state where they are associated with each other. The identification information may include identification information for identifying the solar cell module 10 on which the terminal box 17 is mounted, or information related thereto. Such as product number or year, month, and day of manufacture.

The processing unit 26 is constituted by, for example, a microcomputer, and includes a processor (CPU) as an arithmetic processing unit, a storage unit constituted by a RAM, a ROM, and the like, an input/output port, and the like. The CPU has a function of reading and executing a control program stored in advance in the storage unit. The processing unit 26(CPU) may include a switching element that generates a signal including detection information by switching based on a detection signal of the detection unit 25.

The shortest distance L1 between the processing unit 26 and the bypass diodes 20 is longer than the shortest distance L2 between the detection unit 25 and the bypass diodes 20. The detection unit 25 is preferably provided in the vicinity of the bypass diode 20, but the semiconductor element constituting the processing unit 26 is not heat-resistant as compared with the semiconductor element constituting the detection unit 25, and is therefore preferably provided at a position distant from the bypass diode 20. Therefore, the processing unit 26 is disposed so that at least the shortest distance L1 > the shortest distance L2. In this case, the temperature of the bypass diode 20 can be accurately detected while preventing damage or malfunction of the processing unit 26 due to heat of the bypass diode 20.

In the example shown in fig. 2, the bypass diode 20Y and the processing unit 26 are arranged in parallel in a direction (hereinafter, vertical direction) orthogonal to a direction (hereinafter, lateral direction) in which the bypass diodes 20X, 20Y, and 20Z are arranged when the terminal box 17 is viewed in plan. Terminal unit 18 and bypass diode 20 are disposed at the center in the longitudinal direction of case 21. The processing unit 26 is disposed between the bypass diode 20Y closest to the bypass diode 20 and the detection unit 25 with a gap longer than the shortest distance L2 of the bypass diode 20. The processing portion 26 is disposed so as not to overlap with the bypass diode 20 in the longitudinal direction.

The processing unit 26 is disposed at one end side in the longitudinal direction of the housing 21 from which the output line 19 is drawn. In this case, the processing unit 26 can be easily connected to the output line 19. The treatment unit 26 may be fixed to the base portion 23 of the housing 21 or may be fixed to the side wall portion 24. The processing section 26 may be arranged such that the shortest distance L1 between the plurality of bypass diodes 20 is longer than the shortest distance L3 between the detection sections 25.

As in the example shown in fig. 3, the terminal box 17 may include a shielding wall 30 provided between the processing unit 26 and the plurality of bypass diodes 20. The shielding wall 30 is provided to isolate the processing unit 26 from each bypass diode 20 in the lateral direction in which the plurality of bypass diodes 20 are arranged. The shielding wall 30 is, for example, provided upright on the base 23 and abuts against the back surface of the solar cell panel 11. The heat of the bypass diode 20 can be blocked by providing the shielding wall 30, and the heat is hard to be transferred to the processing unit 26.

As in the example shown in fig. 4, the processing unit 26 may be disposed on the outer surface of the casing 21. In this case, the shortest distance L1 between the processing unit 26 and the plurality of bypass diodes 20 is longer than in the case where the processing unit 26 is disposed inside the case 21, and the thermal influence on the processing unit 26 can be further reduced due to the heat radiation effect of the case 21. A recess 31 may be formed in the case 21 so that the side wall 24 is recessed inward, and the processing unit 26 may be attached to the recess 31. The processing portion 26 is fixed to the outer surface of the case 21 using, for example, an adhesive.

In order to improve the heat radiation performance of the case 21, a metal case, a heat radiation sheet, or the like is preferably used.

As in the example shown in fig. 5, the processing unit 26 may be disposed on the opposite side of the bypass diodes 20 through the opening 22 through which the output wiring member 16 passes. Further, the opening 22 and the terminal portion 18 are present between the processing portion 26 and the bypass diode 20. In this case, the shortest distance L1 between the processing unit 26 and the plurality of bypass diodes 20 can be increased, and the thermal conductivity is reduced by the opening 22, so that the thermal influence on the processing unit 26 can be further reduced. The processing portion 26 is fixed to the side wall portion 24 provided at the edge of the opening 22 using, for example, an adhesive. In the example shown in fig. 5, the processing unit 26 is connected to the output line 19 via the terminal unit 18.

As described above, according to the solar cell module 10 having the above-described configuration, it is possible to prevent damage or malfunction of the processing unit 26 due to heat of the bypass diode 20, and to quickly and accurately detect the temperature or abnormal state of the bypass diode 20 by the detection unit 25. Further, by detecting the temperature rise of the bypass diode 20 and transmitting the detection information to the monitoring device 51, it is possible to quickly grasp the bypass of a part of the battery string 15 and to cope with the problem.

Description of the reference numerals

10 solar cell module

11 solar cell panel

12 frame

13 solar cell

14 wiring member

15 Battery string

16 output wiring member

17 terminal box

18 terminal part

19 output line

20 bypass diode

21 casing

22 opening

23 base part

24 side wall part

25 detection part

26 treatment section

30 shield wall

50 DC/AC converter

51 monitor the device.