SUPPORT SYSTEM AND PROGRAM FOR INSTALLING PHOTOVOLTAIC POWER GENERATOR

• US 20080162380A1
• Filed: 12/19/2007
• Published: 07/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Ishikawa, Kazuhiko, SUGA, Yoshikazu
• Application Number:
  US11/959,883
• Publication Number:
  US 20080162380A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/400
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 2201/00 Prediction; Simulation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/13 Architectural design, e.g. computer-aided architectural design [CAAD] related to design of buildings, bridges, landscapes, production plants or roads
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0283 Price estimation or determination
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/10 Photovoltaic [PV]
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 50/14 Marketing, i.e. market research and analysis, surveying, promotions, advertising, buyer profiling, customer management or rewards

Abstract

A support system for installing a photovoltaic power generator includes: display means for displaying an installation surface image including an installation surface on which photovoltaic modules are to be installed and a gauge disposed on the installation surface and whose actual dimensions are known, the installation surface being a region of a finite area; installation surface input means for receiving inputs for specifying the installation surface on the installation surface image displayed on the display means; installation surface shape specification means for specifying an installation surface shape on the basis of the dimensions of the gauge in the installation surface image; and module determination means for determining a type and layout of the photovoltaic modules suitable for the installation surface shape.

Claims

1. A support system for installing a photovoltaic power generator comprising:

display means for displaying an installation surface image including an installation surface on which photovoltaic modules are to be installed and a gauge disposed on the installation surface and whose actual dimensions are known, the installation surface being a region of a finite area;

installation surface input means for receiving inputs for specifying the installation surface on the installation surface image displayed on the display means;

installation surface shape specification means for specifying an installation surface shape on the basis of the dimensions of the gauge in the installation surface image; and

module determination means for determining a type and layout of the photovoltaic modules suitable for the installation surface shape.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising estimation means for calculating estimated price for installation of the photovoltaic power generator on the basis of the type and layout of the modules determined by the module determination means.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising a placement pattern database storing plural placement patterns of the modules, wherein the module determination means makes a comparison between the respective placement patterns in the placement pattern database and the installation surface shape and selects a placement pattern suitable for the installation surface shape to determine the layout.

4. The system of claim 2, further comprising a placement pattern database storing plural placement patterns of the modules, wherein the module determination means makes a comparison between the respective placement patterns in the placement pattern database and the installation surface shape and selects a placement pattern suitable for the installation surface shape to determine the layout.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising a module information database storing shapes of the modules, wherein the module determination means calculates a maximum area capable of mounting the modules thereon from the installation surface shape and determines the type and layout of the modules from the maximum area and the shapes of modules read from the module information database.

6. The system of claim 2, further comprising a module information database storing shapes of the modules, wherein the module determination means calculates a maximum area capable of mounting the modules thereon from the installation surface shape and determines the type and layout of the modules from the maximum area and the shapes of modules read from the module information database.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a module information database storing specifications about power generation performance of the modules;

a solar amount information database storing measurement points and monthly-mean day-accumulated slope solar-radiation-amount data in a slope at each of the points; and

power generation amount prediction means for calculating prospective power generation amount, from the specifications, the monthly-mean day-accumulated slope solar-radiation-amount data, and the installation surface shape.

8. The system of claim 2, further comprising:

a module information database storing specifications about power generation performance of the modules;

a solar amount information database storing measurement points and monthly-mean day-accumulated slope solar-radiation-amount data in a slope at each of the points; and

power generation amount prediction means for calculating prospective power generation amount, from the specifications, the monthly-mean day-accumulated slope solar-radiation-amount data, and the installation surface shape.

9. The system of claims 1, further comprising:

an installation support information database storing installation support information consisting of at least one of an installation price, a prospective power generation amount and a synthesized image;

data transmission means for transmitting the installation support information stored in the installation support information database to customers; and

browse means for enabling browsing of the installation support information.

10. The system of claims 2, further comprising:

an installation support information database storing installation support information consisting of at least one of an installation price, a prospective power generation amount and a synthesized image;

data transmission means for transmitting the installation support information stored in the installation support information database to customers; and

browse means for enabling browsing of the installation support information.

11. The system of claims 3, further comprising:

an installation support information database storing installation support information consisting of at least one of an installation price, a prospective power generation amount and a synthesized image;

data transmission means for transmitting the installation support information stored in the installation support information database to customers; and

browse means for enabling browsing of the installation support information.

12. The system of claims 4, further comprising:

an installation support information database storing installation support information consisting of at least one of an installation price, a prospective power generation amount and a synthesized image;

data transmission means for transmitting the installation support information stored in the installation support information database to customers; and

browse means for enabling browsing of the installation support information.

13. The system of claims 5, further comprising:

an installation support information database storing installation support information consisting of at least one of an installation price, a prospective power generation amount and a synthesized image;

data transmission means for transmitting the installation support information stored in the installation support information database to customers; and

browse means for enabling browsing of the installation support information.

14. The system of claims 6, further comprising:

an installation support information database storing installation support information consisting of at least one of an installation price, a prospective power generation amount and a synthesized image;

data transmission means for transmitting the installation support information stored in the installation support information database to customers; and

browse means for enabling browsing of the installation support information.

15. The system of claims 7, further comprising:

an installation support information database storing installation support information consisting of at least one of an installation price, a prospective power generation amount and a synthesized image;

data transmission means for transmitting the installation support information stored in the installation support information database to customers; and

browse means for enabling browsing of the installation support information.

16. The system of claims 8, further comprising:

an installation support information database storing installation support information consisting of at least one of an installation price, a prospective power generation amount and a synthesized image;

data transmission means for transmitting the installation support information stored in the installation support information database to customers; and

browse means for enabling browsing of the installation support information.

17. A support program for installing a photovoltaic power generator which allows a computer to function as:

display means for displaying an installation surface image including an installation surface on which photovoltaic modules are to be installed and a gauge disposed on the installation surface and whose actual dimensions are known, the installation surface being a region of a finite area;

installation surface input means for receiving inputs for specifying the installation surface on the installation surface image displayed on the display means;

installation surface shape specification means for specifying an installation surface shape on the basis of the dimensions of the gauge in the installation surface image; and

module determination means for determining a type and layout of the photovoltaic modules suitable for the installation surface shape.

18. A support program for installing a photovoltaic power generator which allows a computer to function as:

display means for displaying an installation surface image including an installation surface on which photovoltaic modules are to be installed and a gauge disposed on the installation surface and whose actual dimensions are known, the installation surface being a region of a finite area;

installation surface input means for receiving inputs for specifying the installation surface on the installation surface image displayed on the display means;

installation surface shape specification means for specifying an installation surface shape on the basis of the dimensions of the gauge in the installation surface image;

module determination means for determining a type and layout of the photovoltaic modules suitable for the installation surface shape; and

estimation means for calculating estimated price for installation of the photovoltaic power generator on the basis of the type and layout of the modules determined by the module determination means.