Device containing solar cell panel and storage battery

• US 6,005,183 A
• Filed: 12/20/1996
• Issued: 12/21/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ebara Corporation
• Original Assignee: Ebara Corporation
• Inventors: Akai, Yuichi, Wada, Yutaka, Ogure, Naoaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Nam
• Assistant Examiner(s): Miggins, Michael C.
• Application Number:
  US08/771,765
• Time in Patent Office: 1,096 Days
• Field of Search: 136/244, 136/251, 136/259, 429/51, 429/107, 429/109, 429/111, 429/160, 429/152, 429/158, 429/156, 429/157, 429/161, 429/162
• US Class Current: 136/244
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/36 Accumulators not provided for in groups H01M10/05-H01M10/34
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/465 with solar battery as charging system
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/682 accommodated in battery or cell casings
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 6/42 Grouping of primary cells into batteries H01M6/40 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 40/38 Energy storage means, e.g. batteries, structurally associated with PV modules
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/50 Photovoltaic [PV] energy
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 70/30 Systems combining energy storage with energy generation of non-fossil origin
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 136/291 Applications
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 136/293 Circuits

Abstract

A device is provided which comprises a solar cell section formed in a plate and a storage battery section. The solar cell section includes one or more solar cells which generate electrical power when they receive light. The storage battery section is lying under the solar cell section and comprises one or more storage battery cells separated by bulkheads. Each of the storage battery cells comprises two chambers containing electrolytic solutions and a membrane dividing the chambers, whereby ions solved in the solutions undergo a change in valences, while maintaining their status as solved ions. Holes are extending through the bulkheads to exchange the electrolytic solutions in the storage battery cells, thereby the concentration of the cells can be maintained to be substantially uniform.

Claims

1. A device containing a solar cell panel and a storage battery comprising:

a solar cell section having a plate form and comprising one or more solar cells which generate electrical power when they receive light; and

a storage battery section lying under the solar cell section, comprising one or more storage battery cells,

wherein each of said storage battery cells comprises a first chamber containing a first electrolytic solution, a second chamber containing a second electrolytic solution and a membrane dividing said first and second chambers, whereby ions solved in said first and second electrolyte solutions undergo a change in valences, while maintaining their status as solved ions; and

wherein said storage battery section further comprises a first group of fluid paths each connecting two adjacent first chambers to each other to communicate said first solution, and a second group of fluid paths each connecting two adjacent second chambers to each other to communicate said second solution.

2. A device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said device is formed in a plate as a whole.

3. A device as set forth in claim 1, further comprising an electric circuit for charging electrical power generated by said solar cell section in said storage battery section and for providing electrical power to output terminals of said device.

4. A device as set forth in claim 3, wherein said electric circuit includes first and second pairs of lines formed inside said device, said first pair of lines are connected to provide the electrical power from said solar cell section to said output terminals, and said second pair of lines are connected to charge the electrical power from said solar cell section to said storage battery section and to provide the charged electrical power to said output terminals.

5. A device as set forth in claim 4, wherein said first and second pairs of lines are connected to each other prior connecting to said output terminals, and said electric circuit further includes a diode for preventing a reverse current flowing through said first pair of lines, which is imposed in one of lines of said first pair.

6. A device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first solution is a hydrochloric acid solution containing iron ions solved therein and said second solution is a hydrochloric acid solution containing chrome ions solved therein, and thereby the valences of said iron ions and chrome ions are changed, as charging or discharging is performed in said storage battery section.

7. A device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first and second solutions are sulfuric acid solutions containing vanadium ions solved therein, and thereby the valences of vanadium ions are changed, as charging or discharging is performed in said storage battery section.

8. A device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said solar cells are connected such that they are connected in series for several ones to form serial branches providing substantially the same voltage and said serial branches are connected in parallel, and the number of said solar cells of each of said serial branches is selected so that the voltage provided by said serial branches is substantially the same as that of said storage battery section.

9. A device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said storage battery section comprises a multiplicity of layers of storage battery cells.

10. A device containing a solar cell panel and a storage battery comprising:

a solar cell section having a plate form and comprising one or more solar cells which generate electrical power when they receive light; and

a storage battery section lying under the solar cell section, comprising one or more storage battery cells,

wherein each of said storage battery cells comprises a first chamber containing a first electrolytic solution, a second chamber containing a second electrolytic solution and a membrane dividing said first and second chambers, whereby ions solved in said first and second electrolyte solutions undergo a change in valences, while maintaining their status as solved ions,

wherein said member from each of said storage battery cells are formed as a single common membrane.

11. A device containing a solar cell panel and a storage battery comprising:

a solar cell section having a plate form and comprising one or more solar cells which generate electrical power when they receive light; and

a storage battery section lying under the solar cell section, comprising one or more storage battery cells,

wherein each of said storage battery cells comprises a first chamber containing a first electrolytic solution, a second chamber containing a second electrolytic solution and a membrane dividing said first and second chambers, whereby ions solved in said first and second electrolyte solutions undergo a change in valences, while maintaining their status as solved ions,

the device further comprising a protection frame for protecting said storage battery section, a space located at an end portion of said protection frame, and through holes connecting said space to said first and second chambers to inject said first and second electrolytic solution in said first and second chambers respectively.

12. A device as set forth in claim 11 further comprising means installed in said space for circulating said first and second electrolytic solutions through said first and second chambers.

13. A device as set forth in claim 12, wherein said first and second chambers are divided by bulkheads each having at least a throughhole for flowing said first or second electrolytic solution between the adjacent first and second chambers, said throughholes of said bulkheads being in alternate positions, thereby preventing the stagnation of the electrolytic solution.