JP6372467B2 - Snow melting equipment - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a snow melting device, and more particularly to a snow melting device that prevents snow accumulation by melting snow on a roof of a building such as a house.

  In snowy areas, it is indispensable to remove snow from the roof of buildings such as houses in winter, so-called snow removal, but snow removal is a work that involves the danger of falling from the roof. is there. Therefore, various snow melting devices have been proposed in order to melt the snow accumulated on the roof and eliminate the need for snow removal.

  Conventionally, a device combining a solar cell and a heater as a heating means has been proposed by the present inventor as the snow melting device (see Patent Document 1). In the snow melting device described in Patent Document 1, an amorphous silicon solar cell is disposed on the surface of a metal roof material, while a heater as a heating unit is disposed on the back surface, and the heater is electrically connected to the amorphous silicon solar cell. Is connected to.

  The amorphous silicon solar cell used in the snow melting device is obtained by laminating an amorphous silicon film on a substrate made of a thin stainless steel plate, and is light in weight so that the burden on the building is small even if it is disposed on the entire roof surface. . Further, the amorphous silicon solar cell has a linear photoelectric conversion characteristic, and has a characteristic that electric power can be obtained by photoelectric conversion even when the illuminance of sunlight is low.

  Therefore, according to the snow melting device, it is possible to melt snow by supplying power obtained by the power generation of the amorphous silicon solar cell to the heater even during snowfall.

Japanese Patent No. 3418781

  However, in the conventional snow melting apparatus, sufficient power may not be obtained with only the amorphous silicon solar cell. In such a case, power from an external power source such as a commercial power source must be supplied to the heater. Therefore, an increase in cost is inevitable.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a snow melting device that can reduce the cost even if power from an external power source such as a commercial power source is supplied to the heating means, eliminating such inconvenience.

In order to achieve such an object, the present invention is a snow melting device that is installed on a roof of a building and melts snow, and is disposed at a portion of the roof that satisfies a predetermined sunshine condition, and has a photoelectric conversion layer. 1 solar cell, a transparent conductor disposed on the light-receiving surface side of the first solar cell, a second solar cell disposed at a portion of the roof that does not satisfy a predetermined sunshine condition, and the first solar cell Snow cover detecting means for detecting snow on the light receiving surface of the solar cell and the second solar battery, and the first solar cell and the above except when snow is detected on the light receiving surface by the snow detecting means When the power obtained by the second solar cell is supplied to an external circuit and snow is detected by the snow detection means, the transparent conductor of the first solar cell is energized from an external power source to the first And the second solar cell itself is passed from an external power source. And control means for to function as a second heating means, wherein a frame body provided on the outer edge of the first solar cell or the second solar cell, snow accretion preventing member for preventing snow accretion to said frame member with the door, the first solar cell has a protective glass on the photoelectric conversion layer, the transparent conductor is characterized in that it is embedded in the protective glass.

  In the snow melting device of the present invention, when the snow accumulation detecting means does not detect snow accumulation, the control means supplies the electric power obtained by the first solar cell and the second solar cell to an external circuit. The external circuit is, for example, an electric device such as a lighting in a building in which the snow melting device of the present invention is installed, and may include a circuit that sells (sells) power to a local power company.

  On the other hand, when the snow detection is detected by the snow detection means, the control means supplies the electric power of the external power source to the conductor of the first solar cell and the second solar cell. The external power source is, for example, a commercial power source supplied by a local power company.

  The electric conductor of the first solar cell can convert electric current into heat when electric power from an external power source is supplied. As a result, the conductor of the first solar cell functions as a first heating means for melting snow, and the heat accumulated in the first solar cell can be melted. In this case, it is possible to obtain an amount of heat that can melt snow in a short time. Also in this case, the first solar cell itself can continue power generation and continue to supply power to the outside.

  On the other hand, in the second solar cell, when electric power from an external power source is supplied, a current opposite to that at the time of photoelectric conversion flows, so that the current can be converted into heat. As a result, the second solar cell functions as a second heating means for melting snow, and the snow accumulated on the second solar cell can be melted by the heat generation.

  As described above, in the snow melting device of the present invention, when the snow accumulation detecting means does not detect snow, surplus power can be sold. Therefore, when the snow detection unit detects snow, at least a part of the electric power of the external power source supplied to the conductor of the first solar cell and the second solar cell is offset by the electric power sold. Even if power from an external power source such as a commercial power source is supplied to the conductor of the first solar cell and the second solar cell, the cost can be reduced.

  In the snow melting device of the present invention, since the second solar cell itself acts as the second heating means, the snow melting device described in Patent Document 1 does not require a heater disposed on the back surface of the metal roof material. And can be easily arranged on the roof of a building.

Further, when a solar cell having a relatively thick glass plate on the incident side surface is adopted as the first solar cell, power from an external power source is supplied to the solar cell so as to function as a heating means for melting snow. First, the glass plate must be heated. For this reason, it may take a long time to heat the surface of the glass plate to such an extent that snow melting is possible. Therefore, even when such a solar cell is adopted as the first solar cell, snow melting can be performed without taking a long time by the first heating means using the above-described conductor.
In addition, the first solar cell and the second solar cell have a frame (frame) at the outer edge for reinforcement, but the frame does not have a means for directly heating, so in the event of snow accumulation Is prone to snow. Once snowfall occurs on the frame, the snowfall increases with time, shielding part of the sunlight incident on the first solar cell or the second solar cell, and reducing the photoelectric conversion efficiency. There is.
Therefore, a snow accretion preventing member for preventing snow accretion on the frame is provided. Since the snow melting device of the present invention includes this snow accretion prevention member, it is possible to prevent snow from falling on the frame, so that the photoelectric conversion efficiency of the first solar cell and the second solar cell is reduced. Can be prevented.
In the snow melting device of the present invention, the snow accretion prevention member covers, for example, at least a part of the frame and guides snow falling on the frame to the surface of the first solar cell or the second solar cell. It is preferable to include a support member that is disposed between the member and the frame of one solar cell and the frame of another solar cell adjacent to the member.
The snow accretion prevention member can cover at least a part of the frame body with the umbrella member, and can prevent snow accretion on the frame body covered with the umbrella member. Further, the umbrella member can be melted by guiding snow falling on the frame to the surface of the first solar cell or the second solar cell.

  In the snow melting device of the present invention, any means can be used as the snow detection means as long as it can detect snow accumulation. For example, an image of a predetermined area of the light receiving surface is captured. When the snow on the light receiving surface is detected by analyzing the image, a device that generates a detection signal can be used.

  Further, in the snow melting device of the present invention, the control means includes a determination means for determining the presence or absence of snow on the light receiving surface based on a detection signal of the snow detection means, and based on the determination of the determination means, the first Switching between supply of electric power obtained by the solar cell and the second solar cell to an external circuit and supply of electric power from an external power source to the conductor of the first solar cell and the second solar cell It is preferable.

  In the snow melting device of the present invention, when the control means includes the determination means, the determination means first determines the presence or absence of snow based on the detection signal of the snow accumulation detection means. Next, when it is determined by the determination means that there is no snow, the control means supplies the electric power obtained by the first solar cell and the second solar cell to an external circuit. On the other hand, when the determination unit determines that there is snow, the control unit supplies the power of the external power source to the conductor of the first solar cell and the second solar cell.

  In the snow melting device of the present invention, the snow cover detection means sets a predetermined area of the light receiving surface as an observation target, an image sensor that measures a contrast value of the predetermined area, and the predetermined area as an observation target. A distance sensor for measuring the distance, and detecting the presence or absence of snow on the light receiving surface based on the contrast value of the predetermined area obtained by the image sensor and the distance value to the predetermined area obtained by the distance sensor It may be.

  In this case, the determination means changes a contrast value obtained by the image sensor from a contrast value at the time of no snow accumulation to a contrast value at the time of snow accumulation, and the distance value obtained by the distance sensor is equal to the distance sensor and the predetermined region. A detection signal indicating that there is snow is output when the distance to the light receiving surface is less than a predetermined value.

  Further, the contrast value obtained by the image sensor has changed from the contrast value at the time when there is no snow to the contrast value at the time of snow, but the distance value obtained by the distance sensor determines the distance between the distance sensor and the light receiving surface as a predetermined value. If it does not fall below the predetermined value, the detection signal is output if the contrast value obtained by the image sensor maintains the contrast value at the time of snowfall.

  As such a case, the case where the frost has generate | occur | produced on the roof is assumed. In such a case, the power generation capability of the first solar cell and the second solar cell can be maintained by melting the frost by applying the heating means based on the detection signal, as in the case where there is snow. .

  In the snow melting device of the present invention, it is preferable that a single crystal silicon solar cell is used as the first solar cell and an amorphous silicon solar cell is used as the second solar cell.

  Here, the single crystal silicon-based solar cell exhibits excellent photoelectric conversion characteristics when the illuminance of sunlight is high, and can obtain a large amount of power, but suddenly photoelectric conversion when the illuminance of sunlight is low. Characteristics are degraded. On the other hand, the amorphous silicon solar cell has linear photoelectric conversion characteristics as described above, and can obtain electric power by photoelectric conversion even when the illuminance of sunlight is low.

  Therefore, it is preferable to dispose the single crystal silicon solar cell in at least a part of the building where direct sunlight is obtained, while disposing the amorphous silicon solar cell in the other part.

  Since the single crystal silicon solar cell exhibits excellent photoelectric conversion characteristics when the illuminance of sunlight is high, a large amount of electric power can be obtained particularly in the summer when the snow cover detection means does not detect snow cover. Therefore, surplus power supplied to electrical equipment such as lighting in the building can be sold.

The perspective view which shows an example of the building in which the snow melting apparatus of this invention is installed. The top view explaining the direction of the building in which the snow melting apparatus of this invention is installed. Explanatory drawing which shows the installation state of the snow melting apparatus of this invention. The graph which shows the relationship between the illumination intensity of incident light, and the photoelectric conversion efficiency in the single crystal silicon type solar cell and amorphous silicon type solar cell used for the snow melting apparatus of this invention. The typical sectional view showing the composition of the single crystal silicon system solar cell used for the snow melting device of the present invention. The block diagram of the control means used for the snow melting apparatus of this invention. (A) is typical sectional drawing which shows one structural example of the snow accretion prevention member used for the snow melting apparatus of this invention, (B) is typical sectional drawing which shows another structural example. It is a block wiring diagram of the snow melting device of the present invention. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence in the snow accumulation sensor of the snow melting apparatus of this invention.

  Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  The snow melting device of the present embodiment is used in a building including roofs 2a and 2b that form mountain-shaped slopes, for example, a residential house 1 shown in FIG. The house 1 is built facing the south side in many cases, depending on the area and topography. The roof 2a forming a mountain-shaped slope is on the south side, and the roof 2b is on the north side.

  Here, when the house 1 faces the south side, the roof 2a does not need to face the south direction correctly. As shown in FIG. 2, when the true north is 0 ° and the true south is 180 ° from the center O of the house 1, the roof 2a of the house 1 indicated by a solid line is oriented in an exactly 180 ° direction. Like the house 1 indicated by the phantom line 2a, it may face the right and left directions of 45 °, ie, 135 ° to 225 ° with respect to the true south.

  The snow melting device of the present embodiment is disposed in a portion satisfying a predetermined sunshine condition on the roofs 2a and 2b, and includes a first solar cell provided with a conductor described later on the light receiving surface side, and a predetermined solar cell on the roofs 2a and 2b. And a second solar cell disposed at a site that does not satisfy the sunshine conditions. The predetermined sunshine conditions can be determined based on, for example, the sunshine hours when snow melting is required.

  The solar cell used as the first solar cell is selected with priority given to the high power generation performance. The solar cell used as the second solar cell has a power generation performance inferior to that of the first solar cell, but the solar cell is arranged on a roof part where the sunshine time during the day is short or on the roof part where the incident angle of sunlight is disadvantageous. However, it is selected with priority given to stable power generation performance.

  In the present embodiment, a single crystal silicon solar cell is used as the first solar cell. An amorphous silicon solar cell is used as the second solar cell.

  A 1st solar cell is arrange | positioned in the site | part advantageous for photovoltaic power generation among roof 2a, 2b. Thus, the second solar cell is installed in the remaining portions of the roofs 2a and 2b while ensuring a predetermined power generation capacity.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 3, a single crystal silicon solar cell 3 as a first solar cell is arranged in the central portion of a roof 2 a facing the south side of the house 1 and allowing direct sunlight. Amorphous silicon solar cells 4 as second solar cells are arranged on the other portions, that is, the remaining portions of the roof 2a and the entire surface of the roof 2b facing the north side.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the single crystal silicon-based solar cell (single crystal solar panel) 3 exhibits excellent photoelectric conversion characteristics when the illuminance of sunlight is high, and can obtain large electric power. When the illuminance of light is low, the photoelectric conversion characteristics are drastically deteriorated. Therefore, it is preferable that the single crystal silicon-based solar cell 3 is disposed in the central portion of the roof 2a facing the south side of the house 1 and obtaining direct sunlight.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the amorphous silicon solar cell (a-Si solar panel) 4 has linear photoelectric conversion characteristics, and sunlight in which the photoelectric conversion efficiency of the single crystal silicon solar cell 3 decreases. Even when the illuminance is low, electric power can be obtained by photoelectric conversion. Therefore, the amorphous silicon solar cell 4 faces the north side of the house 1 and has a single crystal silicon solar cell (single crystal solar cell) of the entire surface of the roof 2b that often cannot receive direct sunlight and the roof 2a facing the south side. It is preferable to be disposed on both sides of the optical panel 3.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the single crystal silicon solar cell 3 includes a semiconductor substrate 12 formed on an insulating base material 11 made of plastic, ceramic, and the like, and single crystal silicon formed on the semiconductor substrate 12. A photoelectric conversion layer 13 and a protective glass 14 disposed on the photoelectric conversion layer 13, and a frame 15 for reinforcement is provided on the outer edge. The frame 15 is a U-shaped member made of an aluminum-based metal, and is provided so as to cover the front and back and end surfaces of the outer periphery of the four circumferences of the single crystal silicon-based solar cell 3.

  The photoelectric conversion layer 13 includes a pn junction made of single crystal silicon, and includes a transparent electrode (not shown) on the surface on the incident surface side. The semiconductor substrate 12 includes a back electrode on the surface opposite to the photoelectric conversion layer 13.

As a result, single crystal silicon solar cells 3, the sunlight incident from the protective glass 14 and photoelectrically converted by the photoelectric conversion layer 13, it is possible to take out the obtained power from the back surface electrode. In addition, the transparent electrode of the single crystal silicon solar cell 3 is a conductor that can convert a current into heat, and by supplying electric power from an external power source such as a commercial power source, It can function as one heating means.

  In the present embodiment, a transparent conductor 16 embedded in the protective glass 14 is used as such a transparent electrode. The protective glass 14 in which the transparent conductor 16 is embedded can be obtained from Nippon Sheet Glass Co., Ltd., for example.

  In this embodiment, the case where the transparent conductor 16 is embedded in the protective glass 14 is described. However, the transparent conductor 16 may be disposed on either the front or back surface of the protective glass 14. .

  In the amorphous silicon solar cell 4, the photoelectric conversion layer 13 includes a pn junction made of amorphous silicon, and the transparent conductor 16 is not embedded in the protective glass 14, and moreover than the single crystal silicon solar cell 3. Except for being formed thin, it has the same configuration as the single crystal silicon solar cell 3 shown in FIG.

  The single crystal silicon-based solar cell 3 and the amorphous silicon-based solar cell 4 can be formed into strips having a width of 985 mm and a length of 1482 mm, for example, when viewed in plan. By doing in this way, the several single crystal silicon type solar cell 3 or the amorphous silicon type solar cell 4 can be arrange | positioned in parallel along the length direction, respectively, and it depends on the shape and area of roof 2a, 2b. It can be installed easily.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the snow melting device of the present embodiment further includes a snow accumulation sensor 5 as a snow accumulation detection means provided on any one of the roofs, and a control means 6, and the control means 6 is switched to the determination means 7. Means 8 are provided.

  The snow cover sensor 5 detects snow cover, for example, by analyzing an image obtained by a camera or the like. That is, based on image information from a camera or the like, the contrast value of the predetermined area of the light receiving surface with respect to ambient light and irradiation light is extracted, and these values and the contrast value of the predetermined area of the light receiving surface to be detected when there is no snow cover. By comparing, the image information is binarized into white and black, and it is determined whether or not there is snow by the ratio of the white and black.

  The snow cover sensor 5 has an image sensor that measures a contrast value by analyzing an image obtained by a camera or the like. The image sensor used in the present invention measures the contrast value of a predetermined area of the light receiving surface with respect to ambient light (peripheral light amount). The image sensor irradiates the predetermined area with a far-infrared light at night, receives the reflected light, and measures the contrast value of the predetermined area. The snow cover sensor 5 can determine whether or not there is snow based on the contrast value obtained by the image sensor.

  Further, as the snow cover sensor 5, a predetermined region of the light receiving surface in the single crystal silicon solar cell 3 and the amorphous silicon solar cell 4 on the roofs 2a and 2b, that is, a region suitable for detecting the presence or absence of snow is set as an observation target. It is also possible to use an image sensor and a distance sensor. In this case, the snow accumulation sensor 5 determines whether or not the state having no snow has reached the state having snow accumulation by a processing procedure as shown in FIG. However, in this process, it is assumed that the roofs 2a and 2b are black or a color close thereto.

  That is, when the processing of FIG. 9 is started, the determination unit 7 first waits until it can be determined that the color is white (with snow) from the contrast value of the observation region based on the output of the image sensor in step S1. However, it is determined here that the color is close to white. Whether the color is white can be determined based on, for example, whether an average value of contrast values in a predetermined region of the light receiving surface obtained by the image sensor is equal to or greater than a predetermined value.

  If it is determined in step S1 that the color is white, it is determined in step S2 whether or not the output of the distance sensor indicates that there is snow. In this determination, for example, the distance value based on the output of the distance sensor has a difference of a predetermined value or more (lower than the predetermined value) with respect to the measurement value (initial value) D acquired in advance by the distance sensor when there is no snow. Can be done based on whether or not. In other words, the distance value to the predetermined area of the light receiving surface obtained by the distance sensor can be determined based on whether or not the initial value D is lower than the predetermined value.

  When it is determined that there is no snow, in step S3, it is determined that the color has changed to white in step S1, and a timer (not shown) measures a predetermined time, for example, several seconds to several minutes, and then the image is displayed again. It is determined whether the output of the sensor is white (maintaining the contrast when there is snow). If it is determined that the color is not white, the process returns to step S1.

  If it is determined in step S2 that there is snow, and if it is determined in step S3 that it is white again, in step S4, the switching means 8 indicates that there is snow. Output is started (turned on), and the processing of FIG.

  Here, even if it is determined that the color is white in step S1 and it is determined that there is no snow in step S2, the snow accumulation signal S may be output as frost is generated in the roofs 2a and 2b. It is because the case where it is carrying out is assumed. In such a case, similarly to the case where there is snow, the single crystal silicon solar cell 3 and the amorphous silicon solar cell 4 are obtained by causing the heating means to melt based on the snow signal S, as will be described later, to melt the frost. The power generation capacity can be maintained.

  Further, the reason why it is determined whether or not the color is white again in Step 3 is to avoid as much as possible the determination that frost is generated by mistake.

  On the other hand, whether or not the determination means 7 returns to the state without snow after outputting the snow cover signal S in the process of FIG. 9 is, for example, that the average value of the contrast values obtained by the image sensor is equal to or less than a predetermined value and the distance This determination can be made based on whether or not the distance value by the sensor is the measured value D when there is no snow. When it is determined that the state has returned to a state without snow cover, the determination unit 7 stops (turns off) the output of the snow cover signal S.

  When the determination means 7 determines that there is no snow (when the snow accumulation signal S is OFF), the control means 6 uses the electric power obtained by the single crystal silicon solar cell 3 without using the switching means 8 as an external circuit. 9 is supplied. On the other hand, the electric power obtained by the amorphous silicon solar cell 4 is supplied to the external circuit 9 via the switching means 8. The external circuit 9 includes a circuit for supplying power to an electric device such as a lighting of the house 1 and a circuit for selling power. Therefore, in the snow melting device of the present embodiment, when there is a surplus when the electric power obtained by the single crystal silicon solar cell 3 and the amorphous silicon solar cell 4 is supplied to an electric device such as the lighting of the house 1, the surplus The power can be sold.

  In addition, when the determination unit 7 determines that there is snow (when the snow signal S is ON), the control unit 6 uses the power of the external power supply 10 via the switching unit 8 as a single crystal silicon solar cell. 3 to the transparent conductor (heater) 16 and the amorphous silicon solar cell 4.

  As a result, the transparent conductor 16 of the single crystal silicon-based solar cell 3 functions as a first heating means by converting the current flowing therethrough into heat, so that snow melting on the light-receiving surface of the single-crystal silicon-based solar cell 3 or The frost is removed (hereinafter simply referred to as “melting snow”).

  On the other hand, the amorphous silicon-based solar cell 4 functions as a second heating unit when a current opposite to that during photoelectric conversion flows and is converted into heat, and snow melting on the light receiving surface is performed. Become.

  As the external power source 10, power supplied from a local power company can be used. In this case, an increase in cost due to power for melting snow is expected. However, in the snow melting device of this embodiment, the power for melting snow can be offset by the power sold when there is no snow, so the cost can be reduced.

  As a result, according to the snow melting apparatus of the present embodiment, it is expected that the cost for melting snow will be covered by selling electricity throughout the year, and the consumer's willingness to purchase can be improved.

  In addition, when a plurality of single crystal silicon solar cells 3 or amorphous silicon solar cells 4 are arranged in parallel along the length direction as described above, two circuits are provided for every other circuit. The power consumption may be halved by intermittently energizing. A means known per se can be used as means for intermittently energizing the two systems of circuits.

In addition, the single crystal silicon solar cell 3 may have a dedicated transparent conductor that functions as the first heat generating means in addition to the transparent electrode (transparent conductor 16). In this case, a single crystal silicon solar cells 3, a dedicated conductor, while this is made to function as a first heating means to supply power from an external performs electric concurrently, supplies power to the external can do.

  By the way, when the single crystal silicon solar cell 3 and the amorphous silicon solar cell 4 are provided with the frame 15 around the outer edge thereof, the frame 15 itself is not directly heated. As a result, the frame 15 is at a lower temperature than the single crystal silicon solar cell 3 or the amorphous silicon solar cell 4, and snow is likely to occur when there is snow.

  Once the snow accretion occurs, it increases with time, shielding part of the sunlight incident on the single crystal silicon solar cell 3 or the amorphous silicon solar cell 4 and reducing the photoelectric conversion efficiency. Therefore, the snow melting device of the present embodiment includes the snow accretion preventing members 17 and 18 that prevent the single crystal silicon solar cell 3 or the amorphous silicon solar cell 4 from snowing on the frame 15.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 7, the snow accretion preventing members 17 and 18 will be described taking the case of the single crystal silicon solar cell 3 as an example.

  As shown in FIG. 7 (A), the snow accretion prevention member 17 is provided with adjacent single crystal silicon solar cells when a plurality of single crystal silicon solar cells 3 are arranged in parallel along the length direction. Arranged between the batteries 3 and 3. The snow accretion prevention member 17 includes a hollow cylindrical support member 17a disposed between adjacent single crystal silicon solar cells 3 and 3, and a mountain supported by the support member 17a and continuously provided at the upper end portion thereof. The frame 15 in the longitudinal direction of the single crystal silicon solar cell 3 is covered with the umbrella-shaped member 17b.

  According to the snow accretion prevention member 17, the snow that has fallen on the umbrella-like member 17 b is guided by the mountain-shaped umbrella-like member 17 b, and the single crystal silicon solar cells 3, 3 on both sides of the snow accretion prevention member 17. It slides down on the protective glass 14. At this time, since the surface of the protective glass 14 is heated by, for example, electric power supplied to the transparent conductor 16, the snow is melted on the protective glass 14, and the portion where the snow accretion preventing member 17 is provided. Then, snow on the frame 15 can be prevented.

  The snow accretion prevention member 17 may be open at the end in the length direction, and when it has such a shape, it can be easily formed by extrusion molding of rubber or synthetic resin.

  As shown in FIG. 7 (B), the snow accretion preventing member 18 includes adjacent single crystal silicon solar cells when a plurality of single crystal silicon solar cells 3 are arranged in parallel along the length direction. A mountain-shaped umbrella-shaped member 18 a is provided which is connected to the upper end of one frame 15 of the batteries 3 and 3. In the snow accretion prevention member 18, the portion of the frame 15 that covers the end face of the single crystal silicon solar cell 3 is a support member that supports the umbrella-shaped member 18a.

  The umbrella-shaped member 18a is formed integrally with the frame 15 by using the same material as the frame 15, and the umbrella-shaped member 18a covers the frame 15 in the length direction of the single crystal silicon-based solar cell 3.

  According to the snow accretion prevention member 18, the snow that has fallen on the umbrella-like member 18 a is guided to the mountain-shaped umbrella-like member 18 a, and the single crystal silicon solar cells 3, 3 on both sides of the snow accretion prevention member 18. It slides down on the protective glass 14. Therefore, according to the snow accretion prevention member 18, it is possible to prevent the snow accretion on the frame 15 at the portion where the snow accretion prevention member 18 is provided in the same manner as the snow accretion prevention member 17.

  Next, the snow melting apparatus will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 8, the single-crystal silicon solar cell 3 (FIG. 3) disposed at the center of the south side roof 2a has two solar cell module arrays in which four solar cell modules are connected in series. 20a and 20b are configured. The solar cell module arrays 20a and 20b correspond to the first solar cell modules described above and have a rating of 200 to 300W. Therefore, a total of 800 to 1200 W of power is obtained by the solar cell module arrays 20a and 20b.

  Each solar cell module constituting the solar cell module array 20a is of a conductive film coated glass type, and is configured by coating the surface of the protective glass 14 with the transparent conductor 16 as described above. Each solar cell module constituting the solar cell module array 20b is of a seat heater built-in type, and is configured by embedding the transparent conductor 16 in the protective glass 14 as described above (FIG. 5).

  Therefore, the solar cell module arrays 20a and 20b correspond to the first solar cell described above, and the transparent conductor 16 supplies the electric power from the external power source as will be described later. Function as.

  The amorphous silicon solar cells 4 arranged in the remaining portion of the roof 2a on the south side constitute two solar cell module arrays 20c and 20d in which eight solar cell modules are connected in series. Each solar cell module has a rating of 70 to 105W. Therefore, a total of 560 to 840 W of power is obtained by the solar cell module arrays 20c and 20d.

  As will be described later, the solar cell module array 20c functions as the above-described second heating means by supplying power from an external power source to the solar cell module array 20c, and corresponds to the above-described second solar cell. To do. Since the solar cell module array 20d does not have a conductor as the first heating unit and does not function as the second heating unit, the solar cell module array 20d does not function as the first solar cell and the second solar cell. Not applicable to any of the batteries.

  How to arrange the solar cell module arrays 20c and 20d on the remaining portion of the south roof 2a is appropriately determined based on the ease of wiring, the degree of sunlight, and the like. In that case, for example, the solar cell module array 20c that functions as the second heating unit is disposed preferentially with respect to a portion that satisfies a predetermined sunshine condition in the remaining portion, and the second heating is performed in another portion. A solar cell module array 20d that does not function as a means is disposed.

  The amorphous silicon solar cells 4 arranged on the north roof 2b constitute three systems of solar cell module arrays 20e, 20f and 20g. The solar cell module array 20e is configured by connecting two solar cell modules having a rating of 70 to 105 W in series, and can output a total of 140 to 210 W of power.

  The solar cell module array 20f is configured by connecting two solar cell modules with a rating of 70 to 105 W in series, and can output a total of 140 to 210 W of power. The solar cell module array 20g is configured by arranging two solar cell modules having a rating of 70 to 105 W in parallel, and can output a total power of 140 to 210 W.

  As will be described later, the solar cell module arrays 20e, 20f, and 20g function as the above-described second heating unit by supplying power from an external power source to the solar cell module arrays 20e, 20f, and 20g. This corresponds to the solar cell.

  The control means 6 described above includes a first control unit 21, a second control unit 22, a south side control panel 23, and a north side control panel 24. The 1st control unit 21 and the 2nd control unit 22 comprise the judgment means 7 of the above-mentioned control means 6, and the switching means 8 is comprised by the 1st-4th contact mentioned later.

  The first control unit 21 switches between power feeding to the external circuit 9 (FIG. 6) from the solar cell module arrays 20e to 20g and power feeding to the solar cell module arrays 20e to 20g from the external power source 10 (FIG. 6). Take control. Power supply from the external power source 10 is performed via the south control panel 23.

  The external circuit 9 fed from the solar cell module arrays 20e to 20g is charged based on the PV scanner 25, the PV analyzer 26 connected thereto, and the electric power obtained via the PV scanner 25. A charge controller 27 and a battery 28 are included.

  The PV scanner 25 and the PV analyzer 26 measure the IV characteristics and the like of the solar cell module arrays 20e to 20g, acquire data useful for research and development, and check whether the power generation is normally performed. It is used for this purpose and does not directly improve the power generation efficiency.

  The 2nd control unit 22 performs control which switches the electric power feeding to the external circuit 9 (FIG. 6) from the solar cell module array 20c, and the electric power feeding to the solar cell module array 20c from the external power supply 10 (FIG. 6). The external circuit 9 fed from the solar cell module array 20c includes a power conditioner 29 for performing grid connection to a commercial power system.

  Power supply from the external power source 10 is performed via the south control panel 23. Information VI relating to the voltage and current in the interconnection is supplied from the power conditioner 29 to the second control unit 22.

  Note that the switching control as described above is not performed for the solar cell module arrays 20a and 20b, and only power supply to the PV scanner 25 or the like as the external circuit 9 is always performed. Similarly, for the solar cell module array 20d, only the power supply to the power conditioner 29 or the like as the external circuit 9 is always performed.

  The south side control panel 23 supplies power to each unit based on a single-phase AC 200 V input from a commercial power source and a snow melting power source as the external power source 10. This snow melting power supply is stopped for 2 hours from 4 pm to 6 pm by contract.

  A single-phase AC 100V is supplied from the south side control panel 23 for causing the transparent conductors 16 of the solar cell module arrays 20a and 20b to function as the first heating means described above. Single-phase AC200V for causing these to function as the above-described second heating means is supplied from the south side control panel 23 to the solar cell module arrays 20c, 20e to 20g.

  The AC 200V is converted into 4A DC power at 600V by the AC / DC converters 30a and 30b, and supplied to each solar cell module of the solar cell module array 20g. Further, the AC 200V is converted into DC power of 8A at 300V by the AC / DC converters 30c and 30d, and supplied to the solar cell module arrays 20e and 20f, respectively.

  In addition, the AC / DC converter 30c supplies DC power of 8A at 300V to the solar cell module array 20c. However, when this supply is performed, the connection cable from the AC / DC converter 30c to the solar cell module array 20f is removed.

  Between each solar cell module and the solar cell module arrays 20e and 20f of the solar cell module array 20g, and the AC / DC converters 30a to 30d and the PV scanner 25, power supply from the solar cell side to the PV scanner side, Sixteen contacts for switching between feeding from the AC / DC converter side to the solar cell side are provided.

  These contacts are eight first contacts S1 that are closed when power is supplied from the solar cell side to the PV scanner side, and are closed when power is supplied from the AC / DC converter side to the solar cell side. The second contact point S2.

  The first contact S1 and the second contact S2 perform an opening / closing operation simultaneously in accordance with an opening / closing control signal C1 from the first control unit 21, and each solar cell module and solar cell module array of the solar cell module array 20g. The power supply is configured to be switched every 20e and 20f.

  Between the solar cell module array 20c and the AC / DC converter 30c and the power conditioner 29, power is supplied from the solar cell side to the power conditioner side, and power is supplied from the AC / DC converter side to the solar cell side. Four contact points for switching between are provided.

  These contacts are two third contacts S3 that are closed when power is supplied from the solar cell side to the power conditioner side, and are closed when power is supplied from the AC / DC converter side to the solar cell side. And the four fourth contacts S4. The third contact S3 and the fourth contact S4 are configured to open and close in accordance with an open / close control signal C2 from the second control unit 22 and to switch the power supply.

  Further, the south side control panel 23 has a power source for supplying a single-phase AC 100 V to the south side snow melting heater 33 provided on the south side roof 2a, and receives a temperature signal T from a temperature sensor provided on the south side snow melting heater 33. You can refer to it. The north side control panel 24 includes a power source for supplying a single-phase AC 100 V to the north side snow melting heater 34 provided on the north side roof 2 b in cooperation with the south side control panel 23.

  Further, the south side control panel 23 has a power source for driving the first control unit 21 and the second control unit 22, and the presence or absence of snow obtained based on the output of the snow sensor 5, or the south side obtained from the temperature signal T. Snow cover information SI such as the temperature of the snow melting heater 33 is supplied to the first control unit 21 and the second control unit 22.

  An AC / DC converter 35 is provided between the first control unit 21 and the second control unit 22 and the south control panel 23. Driving power is supplied from the south control panel 23 to the first control unit 21 and the second control unit 22 via the AC / DC converter 35, respectively.

  The first control unit 21 is supplied with the maximum power amount data Pmax from the PV analyzer 26 connected to the PV scanner 25. Information VI relating to voltage and current is supplied from the power conditioner 29 to the second control unit 22. The second control unit 22 is supplied with temperature data obtained by digitizing signals Tc from thermocouples provided in the solar cell module arrays 20b to 20d by the AD converter 37, respectively. The first control unit 21 and the second control unit 22 are connected to a server 39 that manages communication with an external network 43 and the like.

  In the configuration of FIG. 8, when the first control unit 21 determines that there is no snow based on the snow cover information SI supplied from the south side control panel 23, the first control unit 21 closes the first contact S1 as the open / close control signal C1. A signal to open the second contact S2 is output. As a result, all the first contacts S1 are closed and all the second contacts S2 are opened, so that the power generated by the solar cell module arrays 20e to 20g is supplied to the PV scanner 25, and the charge controller 27 And stored in the battery 28.

  At this time, the second control unit 22 also determines that there is no snow based on the same snow cover information SI, and outputs a signal to close the third contact S3 and open the fourth contact S4 as the open / close control signal C2. As a result, all the third contacts S3 are closed and all the fourth contacts S4 are opened, so that the electric power generated by the solar cell module array 20c is supplied to the power conditioner 29 and is connected to the grid connection. Provided.

  At this time, if the south side control panel 23 determines that there is no snow based on the same snow cover information SI, the power supply to the transparent conductor 16 of the solar cell module arrays 20a and 20b and the south side snow melting heater 33 are performed. Power is not supplied. In conjunction with this, the north side control panel 24 does not supply power to the north side snow melting heater 34.

  On the other hand, if the first control unit 21 determines that there is snow based on the snow cover information SI supplied from the south side control panel 23, the first control unit 21 opens the first contact S1 as the open / close control signal C1 and opens the second contact S2. A signal to close is output. As a result, all the first contacts S1 are opened and all the second contacts S2 are closed.

  For this reason, the power supply to the PV scanner 25 from the solar cell module arrays 20e to 20g is stopped, and instead of this, the DC power obtained by converting the AC 200V supplied from the south control panel 23 by the AC / DC converters 30a to 30d. Are supplied to the solar cell module arrays 20e to 20g. Thereby, the solar cell module arrays 20e-20g act as the above-mentioned 2nd heating means, and melt the snow accumulated on the roof 2b.

  At this time, the second control unit 22 similarly outputs a signal indicating that the third contact S3 is opened and the fourth contact S4 is closed as the open / close control signal C2 based on the snow cover information SI. As a result, all the third contacts S3 are opened and all the fourth contacts S4 are closed.

  For this reason, the power supply from the solar cell module array 20c to the power conditioner 29 is stopped, and instead, the DC power from the AC / DC converter 30c is supplied to the solar cell module array 20c. Thereby, the solar cell module array 20c acts as the above-mentioned second heating means, and melts snow accumulated on the roof 2a.

  However, when the solar cell module array 20c is caused to act as the second heating means in this way, the solar cell module array 20f is supplied from the AC / DC converter 30c in order to supply sufficient power to the solar cell module array 20c. The connection cable to is removed.

  Further, when it is determined that there is snow based on the similar snow cover information SI, the south side control panel 23 starts supplying power to the transparent conductor 16 and the south side snow melting heater 33 of the solar cell module arrays 20a and 20b. . Thereby, the transparent conductor 16 acts as a first heating means. At this time, the north side control panel 24 starts supplying power to the north side snow melting heater 34 in conjunction with the south side control panel 23.

  In this way, the snow accumulated on the roofs 2a and 2b is quickly melted by the heat of the first heating means, the second heating means, the south side snow melting heater 33 and the north side snow melting heater 34. When supplying power to the south side snow melting heater 33, the timing and time of power supply may be adjusted based on the temperature signal T from the temperature sensor of the south side snow melting heater 33.

  The timing and period during which the solar cell module arrays 20c and 20e to 20g are operated as the second heating means include information from the temperature information of the solar cell module arrays 20b to 20g obtained from each AD converter 37 in addition to the snow cover information SI. Can be adjusted based on.

  For example, when the temperature of the solar cell module arrays 20b to 20g is high, or when the amount of solar radiation is large, the timing is delayed or the second side heating means is not used, and the south side snow melting heater 33 or the north side snow melting heater 34 is used. Only the snow melting function may be used.

  In this way, when the solar cell module arrays 20c, 20e to 20g act as the second heating means and the snow cover disappears, the first control unit 21 and the second control unit 22 indicate that based on the snow cover information SI. The first control unit 21 outputs a signal indicating that the first contact S1 is closed and the second contact S2 is opened as the opening / closing control signal C1. Further, the second control unit 22 outputs a signal indicating that the third contact S3 is closed and the fourth contact S4 is opened as the opening / closing control signal C2. Thereby, the electric power of the above-mentioned solar cell module array 20e-20g is supplied to the PV scanner 25, and it resets to the state which supplies the electric power produced | generated by the solar cell module array 20c to the power conditioner 29.

  As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described, this invention is not limited to this. For example, the timing and period for causing the transparent conductor 16 to act as the second heating means may be adjusted based on information from temperature information obtained from each AD converter 37 in addition to the snow cover information SI. Further, the number and specifications of the solar cell module array and the solar cell modules constituting the solar cell 3 or 4 are not limited to those described above.

  Further, the snow cover sensors 5 are provided on both the south side and the north side roofs 2a and 2b, and the presence or absence of snow is determined for each of the roofs 2a and 2b. Based on the determination result, the solar cell module array 20c of the roof 2a or Any one or both of the solar cell module arrays 20e to 20g on the roof 2b may act as the second heating means. Further, whether or not the first heating means, the south side snow melting heater 33 and the north side snow melting heater 34 are to function may be determined according to the same determination result.

  In addition, when the solar cell module arrays 20c and 20e to 20g function as the second heating unit and the conductors of the solar cell module arrays 20a and 20b function as the first heating unit, the function start of each heating unit is started. It is also conceivable to provide a difference in timing and whether to function (combination of heating means to function). In this case, in what priority order each heating means is started to function, or whether to make it function is determined appropriately based on, for example, the sunshine duration and temperature on the light receiving surface of the solar cell of each heating means. Can do.

  Moreover, you may employ | adopt the solar cell of the same kind as the 1st solar cell and the 2nd solar cell, for example, the single crystal silicon solar cell 3 or the amorphous silicon solar cell 4.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... House, 2a, 2b ... Roof, 3 ... Single crystal silicon type solar cell, 4 ... Amorphous silicon type solar cell, 5 ... Snow cover sensor (snow cover detection means), 6 ... Control means, 7 ... Judgment means, 8 ... Switch Means: 9 ... external circuit, 10 ... external power supply, 15 ... frame, 16 ... transparent conductor, 17, 18 ... snow accretion prevention member.

Claims (8)

A snow melting device installed on the roof of a building to melt snow,
A first solar cell disposed on a roof portion that satisfies a predetermined sunshine condition and having a photoelectric conversion layer;
A transparent conductor disposed on the light receiving surface side of the first solar cell;
A second solar cell disposed on a portion of the roof that does not satisfy a predetermined sunshine condition;
Snow accumulation detecting means for detecting snow accumulation on the light receiving surfaces of the first solar cell and the second solar cell;
The power obtained by the first solar cell and the second solar cell is supplied to an external circuit except when the snow detection on the light receiving surface is detected by the snow detection means, and the snow detection by the snow detection means If detected, the transparent conductor of the first solar cell is energized from an external power source to function as a first heating means, and the second solar cell itself is energized from an external power source. Control means for functioning as second heating means ;
A frame provided on an outer edge of the first solar cell or the second solar cell;
A snow accretion prevention member for preventing snow accretion to the frame ,
The first solar cell has a protective glass on the photoelectric conversion layer,
The snow melting apparatus, wherein the transparent conductor is embedded in the protective glass. 2. The snow melting device according to claim 1 , wherein the snow accretion prevention member covers at least a part of the frame body, and snow falling on the frame body is a frame body of the first solar cell or the second solar cell. And a support member disposed between the frame body of one solar cell and the frame body of another solar cell adjacent thereto to support the umbrella member. Snow melting equipment. 3. The snow melting device according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein the snow cover detecting means generates a detection signal when detecting a snow cover of the light receiving surface by taking an image of a predetermined area of the light receiving surface and analyzing the image. A snow melting device. In the snow melting apparatus of any one of Claims 1-3 ,
The control means includes
Determination means for determining the presence or absence of snow on the light receiving surface by a detection signal of the snow detection means;
Based on the determination of the determination means, the electric power obtained by the first solar cell and the second solar cell is supplied to an external circuit, and the electric conductor of the first solar cell is supplied with electric power from an external power source. And a snow melting device for switching between supply to the second solar cell. In the snow melting apparatus of any one of Claims 1-4 ,
The snow cover detecting means is
An image sensor for measuring a contrast value of the predetermined region, with a predetermined region of the light receiving surface as an observation target;
A distance sensor for measuring the distance to the predetermined area, the predetermined area as an observation target;
A snow melting device that detects presence or absence of snow on the light receiving surface based on a contrast value of the predetermined area obtained by the image sensor and a distance value to the predetermined area obtained by the distance sensor. The snow melting device according to claim 5 ,
The snow cover detecting means is
The contrast value obtained by the image sensor changes from the contrast value when there is no snow to the contrast value when there is snow, and the distance value obtained by the distance sensor indicates the distance between the distance sensor and the light receiving surface in the predetermined area. When it falls below the specified value, it outputs a detection signal indicating that there is snow,
The contrast value obtained by the image sensor has changed from the contrast value when there is no snow to the contrast value when there is snow, but the distance value obtained by the distance sensor is less than a predetermined value below the distance between the distance sensor and the light receiving surface. If not, a snow melting device is characterized in that the detection signal is output if the contrast value obtained by the image sensor after the elapse of a predetermined time maintains the contrast value at the time of snow accumulation. The snow melting apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6 , wherein the first solar cell is a single crystal silicon solar cell. In snow melting apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the second solar cell snow melting apparatus, characterized in that the amorphous silicon solar cell.