Solar battery module arranging method and solar battery module array

• US 6,534,702 B1
• Filed: 11/10/1998
• Issued: 03/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Takabayashi, Akiharu, Makita, Hidehisa, Itoyama, Shigenori, Shiomi, Satoru, Fukae, Kimitoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): DIAMOND, ALAN D
• Application Number:
  US09/188,319
• Time in Patent Office: 1,589 Days
• Field of Search: 136/244, 136/291, 126/621, 126/622, 126/623, 126/906, 521/733, 438/66, 438/67
• US Class Current: 136/244
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 20/67 in the form of roof constructions in the form of shingles or tiles F24S20/69
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 2201/00 Prediction; Simulation
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 25/20 Peripheral frames for modules
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/048 Encapsulation of modules
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 20/23 specially adapted for roof structures
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/10 Photovoltaic [PV]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/20 Solar thermal
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/47 Mountings or tracking
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/50 Photovoltaic [PV] energy
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 126/906 Connecting plural solar collectors as a unit
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 136/291 Applications

Abstract

To optimally arrange roofing material integrated solar battery modules having a rectangular form and same size on a roof setting surface, an arrangement range in which the solar battery modules can be arranged on the roof setting surface is determined. An arranging direction of the solar battery modules is determined. The number of solar battery modules which can be arranged almost horizontally in a line in the determined arranging direction and within the arrangement range is calculated. Solar battery modules of a line in a number not more than the calculated number are combined to form a solar battery module group. The solar battery module groups are arranged to set a center of the solar battery module group within the determined arrangement range and near a line almost vertically dividing the surface into two parts. The above operations are repeated a number of times corresponding to the number of lines of solar battery module groups which can be vertically arranged in the determined arranging direction and within the arrangement range.

Claims

1. An arranging method for arranging solar battery modules having a rectangular form and same size on a surface which is asymmetrical in a horizontal direction comprising the steps of:

determining an arrangement range in which the solar battery modules can be arranged on the horizontally asymmetric surface;

determining an arranging direction of the solar battery modules;

calculating the number of solar battery modules which can be arranged substantially horizontally in a line in the determined arranging direction and within the arrangement range;

combining solar battery modules of a line in a number not more than the calculated number to form a solar battery module group; and

arranging the solar battery module group so as to set its center within the determined arrangement range and near a line which passes through the horizontal center of the determined arrangement range.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of calculating the number of lines of solar battery module groups which can be arranged substantially vertically in the determined arranging direction and within the arrangement range,

wherein the horizontal-direction calculation step, the combining step, and the arranging step are repeated a number of times not more than the calculated number of lines.

3. An arranging method for arranging solar battery modules having a rectangular form and same size on a surface, comprising the steps of:

determining an arrangement range in which the solar battery modules can be arranged on the surface;

determining an arranging direction of the solar battery modules;

calculating the number of solar battery modules which can be arranged substantially horizontally in a line in the determined arranging direction and within the arrangement range;

combining solar battery modules of a line in a number not more than the calculated number to form a solar battery module group;

arranging the solar battery module group so as to set the center of the solar battery module group within the determined arrangement range and near a line substantially vertically dividing the surface into two parts;

calculating the number of lines of solar battery module groups which can be arranged substantially vertically in the determined arranging direction and within the arrangement range;

repeating the horizontal-direction calculation step, the combining step, and the arranging step a number of times not more than the calculated number of lines;

substantially horizontally shifting centers of solar battery module groups alternately to left and right sides with respect to the line dividing the surface into two parts by a distance;

removing a solar battery module of a solar battery module group, which projects from the arrangement range in the shifting step; and

rearranging the solar battery module group from which the solar battery module is removed to set the center of the solar battery module group near the line dividing the surface into two parts and to shift its center by a distance with respect to the center of an adjacent solar battery module group.

4. An array of solar battery modules having a rectangular form and same size which is arranged on a surface by the arranging method according to claim 3, wherein said solar battery modules are electrically connected.

5. The array according to claim 4, wherein a plurality of strings each formed by connecting said solar battery modules in series, and an array in which said plurality of strings are connected in parallel are formed by electrical connection.

6. The array according to claim 5, wherein at least one of said plurality of strings has solar battery modules in a number different from that in remaining strings.

7. The array according to claim 4, wherein said solar battery modules are integrated with a building material.

8. A solar panel roof comprising solar battery modules having a rectangular form and same size arranged by the arranging method according to claim 3.

9. The roof according to claim 8, wherein a general roofing material is arranged on a roof surface where no solar battery module is arranged.

10. The roof according to claim 8, wherein said solar battery modules are integrated with a building material.

11. The roof according to claim 10, wherein the form of said solar battery modules integrated with the building material is adapted to a stepping roof.

12. A solar generation apparatus comprising the array of solar battery modules according to claim 4;

and a power conversion unit which converts direct current power provided from said array to alternating power.

13. An array of solar battery modules having a rectangular form and same size arranged on a face which is asymmetrical in a horizontal direction, wherein said solar battery modules are arranged on the horizontally asymmetric face to form a plurality of lines substantially in a horizontal direction, the center of each line being set near a line which passes through the horizontal center of the face, and wherein said solar battery modules partially have portions where shift substantially in the horizontal direction is irregular.

14. An array of solar battery modules having a rectangular form and same size arranged on a face which is asymmetrical in a horizontal direction, wherein said solar battery modules are arranged on the horizontally asymmetric face to form a plurality of lines substantially in a horizontal direction, the center of each line being set near a line which passes through the horizontal center of the face, and wherein the position of a horizontal side of each solar battery module of at least one line is shifted with respect to the position of a horizontal side of each solar battery module of an adjacent line substantially in the horizontal direction.

15. An arranging method for arranging solar battery modules having a rectangular form and same size on a surface comprising the steps of:

determining an arrangement range in which the solar battery modules can be arranged on the surface;

determining an arranging direction of the solar battery modules;

calculating the number of solar battery modules which can be arranged substantially horizontally in a line in the determined arranging direction and within the arrangement range;

combining solar battery modules of a line in a number not more than the calculated number to form a solar battery module group;

arranging the solar battery module group so as to set its center within the determined arrangement range and near a line substantially vertically dividing the surface into two parts;

calculating the number of lines of solar battery module groups which can be arranged substantially vertically in the determined arranging direction and within the arrangement range;

repeating the horizontal-direction calculation step, the combining step, and the arranging step a number of times not more than the calculated number of lines;

substantially horizontally shifting centers of solar battery module groups alternately to left and right sides with respect to the line dividing the surface into two parts by a distance so that joints of the solar battery modules of a solar battery module group are shifted from that of an adjacent solar battery module group;

removing a solar battery module of a solar battery module group which projects from the arrangement range in the shifting step; and

rearranging the solar battery module group from which the solar battery module is removed to set the center of the solar battery module group near the line dividing the surface into two parts.

16. An array of solar battery modules having a rectangular form and same size which is arranged on a surface by the arranging method according to claim 15, wherein said solar battery modules are electrically connected.

17. The array according to claim 16, wherein a plurality of strings each formed by connecting the solar battery modules in series, and an array in which the plurality of strings are connected in parallel are formed by electrical connection.

18. The array according to claim 17, wherein at least one of said plurality of strings has solar battery modules in a number different from that in remaining strings.

19. The array according to claim 16, wherein said solar battery modules are integrated with a building material.

20. A solar panel roof comprising solar battery modules having a rectangular form and same size by the arranging method according to claim 15.

21. The roof according to claim 20, wherein a general roofing material is arranged on a roof surface where no solar battery module is arranged.

22. The roof according to claim 20, wherein the solar battery modules are integrated with a building material.

23. The roof according to claim 22, wherein the form of the solar battery modules integrated with the building material is adapted to a stepping roof.

24. A solar generation apparatus comprising the array of solar battery modules according to claim 16 and a power conversion unit which converts direct current power provided from the array to alternating power.

25. An array of solar battery modules having a rectangular form and same size arranged on a roof-setting surface which is asymmetrical in a horizontal direction, wherein said solar battery modules are arranged on the horizontally asymmetric surface to form a plurality of lines substantially in a horizontal direction, the center of each line being set near a central line which passes through the center of common length of upper and lower-side module lines in a range of the roof-setting surface where said solar battery modules can be set, and wherein said solar battery modules partially have portions where shift substantially in the horizontal direction is irregular.

26. An arranging method for arranging solar battery modules having a rectangular form and same size on a roof-setting surface comprising the steps of:

determining an arrangement range in which the solar battery modules can be arranged on the surface;

determining an arranging direction of the solar battery modules;

calculating the number of solar battery modules which can be arranged substantially horizontally in a line in the determined arranging direction and within the arrangement range;

combining solar battery modules of a line in a number not more than the calculated number to form a solar battery module group;

arranging the solar battery module group so as to set its center within the determined arrangement range and near a central line which passes through the center of common length of upper and lower-side module lines in the determined arrangement range;

calculating the number of lines of solar battery module groups which can be arranged substantially vertically in the determined arranging direction and within the arrangement range;

repeating the horizontal-direction calculation step, the combining step, and the arranging step a number of times not more than the calculated number of lines;

substantially horizontally shifting centers of solar battery module groups alternately to left and right sides with respect to the central line so that joints of the solar battery modules of a solar battery module group are shifted from that of an adjacent solar battery module group;

removing a solar battery module of a solar battery module group which projects from the arrangement range in the shifting step; and

rearranging the solar battery module group from which the solar battery module is removed to set the center of the solar battery module group near the line dividing the surface into two parts.

27. An array of solar battery modules having a rectangular form and same size arranged on a roof-setting surface which gradually becomes narrower, wherein said solar battery modules are arranged on the roof-setting surface to form a plurality of lines substantially in a horizontal direction, the center of each line being set near a central line which passes through the center of common length of upper and lower-side module lines in a range of the roof-setting surface where said solar battery modules can be set,

wherein joints of said solar battery modules of a line shift from that of said solar battery modules of an adjacent line and the joints do not form vertical lines in a range of the plurality of lines, and

wherein said array has at least one section where said solar battery modules of a line are irregularly shifted.

28. An array of solar battery modules having a rectangular form and same size arranged on a roof-setting surface which gradually becomes narrower, wherein said solar battery modules are arranged on the roof-setting surface to form a plurality of lines substantially in a horizontal direction, the center of each line being set near a central line which passes through the center of common length of upper and lower-side module lines in a range of the roof-setting surface where said solar battery modules can be set,

wherein joints of said solar battery modules of a line are always shifted with respect to that of said solar battery modules of an adjacent line so that the positions of the joints of each line differ from that of the adjacent line and

wherein said array has at least one section where said solar battery modules of a line are irregularly shifted.