JP6705210B2 - Method for estimating power generation capacity of solar panels - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a method for estimating power generation capacity of a solar panel that estimates the power generation capacity of the solar panel.

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, from the viewpoint of effective use of fossil fuel resources and suppression of CO2 emission, a solar power generation system that uses solar energy to generate power has become widespread. In a solar power generation system, a solar panel is installed on the roof or wall surface of a building, and the solar energy received by this solar panel is converted into electric power.

Here, since the solar panel is installed outdoors, it is damaged due to various factors. The cause of the damage largely depends on the locality of the installation site, but for example, stones are caused by birds such as crows. Solar panels need to be replaced because damage will reduce the power generation capacity. However, every time damage occurs, or if all damaged solar panels are replaced, the equipment costs increase significantly. On the other hand, even a solar panel that is damaged at first glance may retain power generation capacity. Therefore, there has been a demand for continuing use of a damaged solar panel as it is, if there is no problem with the power generation capacity.

Therefore, the present inventors have scrutinized the presence or absence of power generation capacity of the damaged solar panel. Whether or not the solar panel has the power generation capability can be determined by measuring the generated power or open-circuit voltage of the solar panel as disclosed in Patent Document 1, for example. According to this, it is possible to select a panel having a power generation capacity from the damaged panels and replace only the panel having no power generation capacity, so that it is possible to reduce the facility cost. ..

JP, 2014-93368, A

As a result of the above, the inventors have found that even if damage occurs in the solar panel, if the damage does not reach the substrate of the solar panel, that is, if only the cover glass that is visually observed is damaged, power generation is performed. I thought that my ability wouldn't be lost. However, it is necessary to measure the generated power and the open circuit voltage, as described above, in order to determine whether the damage has reached the substrate, and thus whether the power generation capacity is maintained. It is difficult to say that such measurement work is efficient because it is troublesome and difficult to carry out locally.

Specifically, the connection cable of the solar panel must be removed and connected to the measuring instrument, and the output must be measured during the daytime power generation period. Then, in addition to the limited work time, having to dig under the solar panel to work, having to attach/detach a solid connector and perform waterproofing, it is also a major example of mega solar. In a large scale facility, the number of solar panels is enormous, which makes measurement work extremely difficult. Further, since the measuring device is expensive, it is an excessive burden on the business operator to purchase a sufficient number of devices to maintain the solar power facility using the measuring device.

In view of the above problems, the present invention provides a method for estimating the power generation capacity of a solar panel that can easily estimate the presence or absence of the power generation capacity of the solar panel without performing the work of measuring the generated power or open circuit voltage. It is intended to be provided.

In order to solve the above problems, a typical configuration of the power generation capacity estimation method for a solar panel according to the present invention is to irradiate a solar panel with ultraviolet rays in a dark place, and the fluorescence of the ultraviolet rays of the solar panel is uniform. When the dark part is confirmed, the length of the part without the dark part in the width direction orthogonal to the energization direction of the panel is defined as the power generation effective length, and the power generation capacity of the solar panel is estimated from the power generation effective length. To do.

According to the above configuration, it is possible to determine whether or not the substrate of the solar panel is damaged depending on whether or not a dark portion is confirmed when the solar panel is irradiated with ultraviolet rays. Specifically, a solar panel is generally constructed by stacking a cover glass, a glass substrate, a resin layer, and a back sheet. When a solar panel is irradiated with ultraviolet rays, fluorescence is generated at a place where the substrate is not damaged. On the other hand, fluorescence does not occur where the substrate is damaged. Therefore, when the substrate is damaged, the damaged portion can be visually recognized as a black dark portion. It should be noted that cracks, cracks, and dents can be exemplified as the types of damage to the substrate.

Then, when the dark portion is confirmed, the length of the portion having no dark portion in the width direction orthogonal to the energization direction of the panel, that is, the effective power generation length is measured. As a result, it is possible to estimate how much power generation capacity the solar panel having a damaged substrate has. Therefore, according to the above configuration, it is possible to easily determine the presence or absence of the power generation capacity of the solar panel without performing the work of measuring the generated power and the open circuit voltage.

Further, since the equipment used is only an ultraviolet irradiation device used in a wide field, that is, a so-called black light, the device cost is low. Since the damage of the substrate can be determined only by observing the solar panel, that is, the damage can be determined visually, regardless of the skill level of the operator. Further, it is possible to observe a plurality of solar panels at once without the need to attach/detach the connector, which is very suitable for making a judgment of damage to a large number of solar panels. Also, by covering the surroundings of the solar panel with a light-shielding hood, it is possible to observe even in the daytime.

The solar panel may be a CIS type panel or a crystal type panel. The above-described damage determination method can be suitably applied especially to the damage detection of the CIS system panel or the crystal system panel.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a method for estimating the power generation capability of a solar panel that can easily estimate the presence or absence of the power generation capability of the solar panel without performing the work of measuring the generated power and the open circuit voltage. ..

It is a figure explaining the damage determination method of the solar panel concerning this embodiment. It is a figure explaining the electric power generation effective length. It is a figure explaining the calculation method of the power generation capacity of a solar panel. It is a figure explaining the relationship between the power generation effective length and the power generation capability in the solar panel illustrated in FIG. It is a figure explaining an embodiment.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The dimensions, materials, and other specific numerical values shown in the embodiments are merely examples for facilitating the understanding of the invention, and do not limit the invention unless otherwise specified. In this specification and the drawings, elements having substantially the same function and configuration are denoted by the same reference numerals to omit redundant description, and elements not directly related to the present invention are omitted. To do.

FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining the power generation capacity estimation method of the solar panel 100 according to the present embodiment, and schematically shows a vertical cross section of the solar panel 100. In the present embodiment, a CIS type solar panel is illustrated as the solar panel 100, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the damage determination method of the present embodiment is used for determining the damage of a crystalline solar panel. Can also be suitably applied.

As shown in FIG. 1, the solar panel 100 includes a cover glass 110, a CIS glass substrate 120, and a backsheet 130 in order from the upper layer, and converts solar energy into electric energy to generate electricity. The cover glass 110 is made of a transparent glass plate and protects the upper side of the CIS glass substrate 120 arranged below it.

In the CIS glass substrate 120 which is the substrate of the solar panel 100 of the present embodiment, a CIS layer 122 which is a compound layer made of copper, indium and selenium is formed on the glass substrate 124. Power is generated by converting sunlight energy. Further, in the present embodiment, the upper and lower surfaces of the CIS glass substrate 120 are covered with the upper EVA resin layer 142 and the lower EVA resin layer 144 made of EVA resin, and the lower layer of the lower EVA resin layer 144 is covered with CIS. A back sheet 130 that protects the lower side of the glass substrate 120 is arranged.

Particularly in this embodiment, a wavelength conversion material (not shown) is applied or contained in the upper EVA resin layer 142 arranged between the cover glass 110 and the CIS glass substrate 120 which is a glass substrate. This makes it possible to convert ultraviolet rays that do not contribute to power generation into light in a wavelength range that can be used for power generation during normal time, that is, during power generation, and improve power generation efficiency. The wavelength conversion material is applied to the upper surface or the lower surface of the upper EVA resin layer 142, or contained in the upper EVA resin layer 142 itself to obtain the above effect.

In the power generation capacity estimation method according to the present embodiment, first, in a dark place, the solar panel 100 is irradiated with ultraviolet rays as shown in FIG. In FIG. 1, the black light 150 is illustrated as the ultraviolet irradiation device, but the invention is not limited to this, and another device can be used as long as it can irradiate ultraviolet light having a predetermined wavelength.

When ultraviolet rays are irradiated by the black light 150, as shown in FIG. 1, fluorescence is generated at a portion A where the CIS glass substrate 120 is not damaged. On the other hand, fluorescence does not occur at the location B where the damage 102a has occurred on the CIS glass substrate 120.

Therefore, when the fluorescence of the solar panel 100 irradiated with the ultraviolet rays is observed, the fluorescence is uniformly confirmed on the entire surface of the solar panel 100 in which the CIS glass substrate 120 is not damaged. On the other hand, in the solar panel 100 in which the damage 102a is generated on the CIS glass substrate 120, fluorescence is generated at the position A where the damage is not generated and fluorescence is not generated at the position B where the damage 102a is generated. Therefore, the portion B where the damage 102a is generated is confirmed as a dark portion. Accordingly, if the dark portion is not confirmed, it can be determined that the solar panel 120 is not damaged, and if the dark portion is confirmed, it can be determined that the solar panel 120 is damaged. ..

As described above, in the present embodiment, the upper EVA resin layer 142 of the solar panel 100 is coated with or contains the wavelength conversion material. As a result, when the CIS glass substrate 120 is not damaged by the irradiation of ultraviolet rays by the black light 150, fluorescence is observed by the wavelength conversion material. On the other hand, when the CIS glass substrate 120 is damaged, the wavelength conversion material is hydrolyzed by the infiltration of water from the crack in the cover glass 110, and the fluorescence is not generated. For this reason, it is presumed that fluorescence does not occur and a dark area is confirmed.

2, I Figure der explaining power generation effective length represents the light-receiving surface side of the solar panels. As shown in FIGS. 2A to 2C, a pair of electrodes 104a and 104b are attached above and below the solar panels 100a to 100c, and the direction connecting the pair of electrodes is the energization direction. .. One of the electrodes 104a and 104b has a positive pole and the other has a negative pole. The direction connecting the electrodes 104a and 104b is the energization direction. For convenience of explanation, the electrodes 104a and 104b are illustrated as being visible on the light receiving surface side of the solar panels 100a to 100c, but the electrodes 104a and 104b are arranged on the back surface side of the solar panels 100a to 100c. I don't care. And as a feature of the power generation capacity estimation method of the solar panel of the present embodiment, when the dark portion is confirmed by irradiating the solar panel with ultraviolet rays as described above, the dark portion in the width direction orthogonal to the energizing direction of the solar panel. Measure the length of the part that does not have. This "length of the portion having no dark portion in the width direction orthogonal to the energization direction of the solar panel" is referred to as "power generation effective length".

In the solar panel 100a of FIG. 2A, the length from the dark part 106 to the left edge of the solar panel 100a is 40 cm, and the length from the dark part 106 to the right edge of the solar panel 100a is 65 cm. Therefore, the effective power generation length of the solar panel 100a is 105 cm. In the solar panel 100b of FIG. 2B, the length from the dark portion 106 to the left edge of the solar panel 100a is 110 cm, and this length is the effective power generation length. In the solar panel 100c of FIG. 2(c), the length of 50 cm between the two dark portions 106 is the effective power generation length.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a method of calculating the power generation capacity of the solar panel 100. In the solar panel 100 illustrated in FIG. 3, the entire length in the energization direction (long side length) is a, and the effective power generation length b is a/4. As shown in FIG. 3, the power generation capacity of the solar panel can be calculated by multiplying the rated value by the ratio of the power generation effective length b to the entire length a in the energization direction. In the example shown in FIG. 3, the power generation capacity Pmax=P (rated value)×b/a=(1/4)P.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the relationship between the power generation effective length and the power generation capacity in the solar panel 100 illustrated in FIG. FIG. 4A is a graph showing the power generation capacity (output ratio) of each of the solar panels 100a to 100c with respect to the rated value. FIG. 4B is a graph showing the relationship between the power generation capacity (output ratio) of each of the solar panels 100a to 100c and the power generation effective length. In FIG. 4A, Pmax is the maximum output, Isc is the short circuit current, and Voc is the open power.

As shown in FIG. 4A, in the solar panels 110a to 110c in which the dark portion 106 exists, the maximum output (Pmax), the short-circuit current (Isc), and the open power (Voc) are rated values (that is, there is damage). Do not do solar panels). Then, as shown in FIG. 4B, when the power generation capacity is plotted against the power generation effective length, it can be seen that the longer the power generation effective length, the higher the power generation capacity. It seems that the effective power generation length and the output ratio are roughly proportional. From this, it can be understood that the power generation capacity of the solar panel can be estimated from the power generation effective length by measuring the power generation effective length of the damaged solar panel.

As described above, according to the power generation capacity estimation method of the solar panel 100 according to the present embodiment, the substrate of the solar panel depends on whether the dark portion 106 is confirmed when the solar panel is irradiated with ultraviolet rays. It is possible to determine the presence or absence of damage in. Then, the power generation capacity of the solar panel 100 can be estimated by measuring the effective power generation length of the solar panel 100 in which the substrate is damaged. This makes it possible to easily determine whether or not the damaged solar panel 100 needs to be replaced.

In addition, in the method of determining damage to the solar panel 100 of the present embodiment, the device used is only the black light 150 (ultraviolet irradiation device). Therefore, the device cost can be reduced. Further, since the work is only irradiation of ultraviolet rays, work such as attaching and detaching the connector, which has been performed in the conventional work for measuring the generated power and open voltage, is unnecessary, so that the work efficiency at the time of inspection is significantly improved. be able to. Further, since the irradiation of ultraviolet rays is performed in a dark place, the solar panel 100 installed outdoors is inevitably inspected at night. Therefore, it is possible to take a longer working time compared to the measurement of the open circuit voltage, and it is possible to efficiently inspect a large number of solar panels 100.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the embodiment, and FIG. 5(a) is an example in which a hand-held ultraviolet irradiation device is used. In a large-scale facility typified by mega solar, the number of solar panels 100 becomes enormous, reaching several thousands to tens of thousands. However, as described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to easily determine the presence or absence of damage simply by irradiating the black light 150 (ultraviolet irradiation device) in order. If an electrical inspection is to be performed using a measuring instrument, it is necessary to dig under the solar panel 100 and attach and detach a solid connector one by one to perform the inspection. You can understand that the work is much easier than such work.

Further, FIG. 5B is an example in which a large-sized ultraviolet irradiation device is used. The black light projector 152 can mount a plurality of black lights 150. A light collecting hood 154 is attached to prevent the diffusion of ultraviolet rays and increase the radiant energy. Moreover, the height of the black light 150 can be adjusted by using the support column 156 as a multistage pipe. Although the lower part of the pillar 156 is shown as a tripod, a dolly may be attached to enable traveling. By using such a large-sized ultraviolet irradiation device, it becomes possible to observe a larger number of solar panels 100 at once, and work efficiency can be improved.

When the effective power generation length is directly measured at the site, a measuring instrument such as a non-conductive measure may be used. Further, for example, if the solar panels 100 are marked at regular intervals, it is possible to estimate the effective power generation length without using a measuring instrument. Furthermore, when estimating the power generation capacity of a large-scale solar panel 100 of a solar power plant, in addition to directly measuring the power generation effective length on site, a photograph is taken from the sky and the power generation effective length is determined from the image. It is efficient to calculate

The preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to the accompanying drawings, but it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to such examples. It is obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes or modifications can be conceived within the scope described in the claims, and naturally, these also belong to the technical scope of the present invention. Understood.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention can be used as a method for estimating the power generation capacity of a solar panel, which estimates the power generation capacity of the solar panel.

100...solar panel, 100a...solar panel, 100b...solar panel, 100c...solar panel, 102a...damaged, 104a...electrode, 104b...electrode, 106...dark part, 110...cover glass, 120...CIS glass substrate , 122... CIS layer, 124... Glass substrate, 130... Back sheet, 142... Upper EVA resin layer, 144... Lower EVA resin layer, 150... Black light, 152... Black light projector, 154... Condensing hood, 156... Prop

Claims (2)

Irradiate the solar panel with ultraviolet rays in the dark,
When fluorescence is not uniform due to the ultraviolet rays of the solar panel and a dark part is confirmed , the direction of connecting the electrodes of the panel is defined as the energizing direction, and the length of the part without the dark part in the width direction orthogonal to the energizing direction. Is the effective power generation length,
A method for estimating power generation capacity of a solar panel, comprising estimating the power generation capacity of the solar panel from the power generation effective length. The method according to claim 1, wherein the solar panel is a CIS-based panel or a crystal-based panel.

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