SYSTEM FOR ADJUSTING SOLAR CELL MODULES ACCORDING TO THE SUN'S POSITION

Abstract

System for adjusting solar cell modules of a solar installation according to the sun's position, comprising a drive device for a group of drive units, for adjusting the solar cell modules, wherein a control unit is associated with each drive unit, and the drive units are connected to a shared power supply as well as a data bus, wherein the group of control units are connected via a shared power and data transmission line to a bus coupler, the bus coupler is coupled to the power supply for coupling energy, as well as to the data bus for coupling data, into the power and data transmission line, and one of the control units is designed as master control unit, and the additional control units of the group are designed as slave control units, and controllable via the power and data line by means of the master control unit.

Description

The invention relates to a system for adjusting solar cell modules of a solar installation according to the sun's position, comprising a drive device for a group of drive units for adjusting the solar cell module, wherein a control unit is associated with each drive unit, and the control units are connected to a shared power supply as well as to a data bus.

Such a system is described, for example, in DE-B-10 2007 050 031. Said system comprises a drive device with a drive unit associated with the solar module, for adjusting the solar module according to the sun's position, and a control unit for controlling the drive unit, wherein a plurality of control units, each comprising an alternating-current converter, and/or a plurality of drive units, are supplied with electrical power by means of a shared battery unit, wherein the battery unit, during normal operation, can be charged with a charger arranged between the power supply network and the battery unit.

The drive device comprises, besides the plurality of drive units and the plurality of control units, a decentralized control module which is connected to the drive user modules of the control units via a bus system. For this purpose, the decentralized control module is designed as a bus master, and the drive user modules as bus slaves.

In each case, a drive control unit which comprises a converter and a drive user module is arranged before the drive units.

In each case, each one of the converters is connected, on the input side, via a power supply line to a battery unit, and, on the output side, to the drive unit. The battery unit is connected, on the input side, via a charger to a power supply network which makes available, for example, an alternate current voltage of 230 V.

Since both a bus system and separate power supply lines are provided for each drive control, one can expect, particularly in large solar installations, high cabling costs for the data bus as well as the power supply. Furthermore, each control unit must present both a connection for a data bus and a connection for the power supply line.

DE-A-10 2009 039 044 discloses a photovoltaic installation with at least one solar cell unit which is adjusted in two preferably mutually perpendicular axes according to the sun's position. For each of the two axes, a program controlled drive is provided. The drive systems of the solar cell unit present in each case a computer controlled control system which at least generates control signals from target value data, and which collects and/or processes measured data. One of the drive systems of the solar cell unit is designed as master drive and the other as slave drive, wherein the master drive makes available target value data for the slave drive, and collects measured data of at least the slave drive. The master drive is designed in such a manner that it coordinates the operation of the slave drive, and makes available at least target value data and measured data for the slave drive.

The present invention is based on the problem of further developing a system for adjusting solar cell modules according to the sun's position, in such a manner that both the control and the hardware wiring are simplified.

To solve the problem, the invention provides essentially that the group of control units is connected via a shared power and data transmission line to a bus coupler, that the bus coupler is connected to the power supply for coupling energy, as well as to the data bus for coupling data, into the power and data transmission line, and that one of the control units is designed as master control unit, and the additional control units of the group are designed as slave control units, and controllable via the power and data line by means of the master control unit.

The power and data lines are preferably designed as power line. As a result, the possibility exists to couple the control units in a simple manner to each other, and simultaneously transmit power and data.

In a preferred embodiment, the slave control units are controllable synchronously by the master control unit.

In an additional preferred embodiment, a solar cell module is associated with each drive unit. In this case, both the drive units and the solar cell modules are mechanically uncoupled. Alternatively, the solar cell modules can be coupled mechanically via a support. In this case, the drive units are also coupled mechanically.

According to an additionally preferred embodiment, the power-data transmission line is designed as a three wire line, wherein the signal transmission occurs via a supply voltage network, for example, the 230 V network or 120 V network.

An additional advantage of the invention is characterized in that a group of control units can be connected directly to a GPS sensor or equivalent sensor, so that data can be coupled into a group of control units.

Alternatively, the possibility exists to couple geodata via the central bus system into the power and data transmission line.

According to an additional preferred embodiment, a group of control units comprises the master control unit and any desired number of slave control units, preferably 14 slave control units.

The groups of control units are preferably uncoupled from each other via data filter units.

An additional preferred embodiment is characterized in that the control unit and the drive unit form one unit, wherein the control unit can be integrated directly in the drive unit, i.e., in the drive system or motor.

It is provided that the drive units are controllable for the definition of a zero setting or reference setting, and can be moved in a controlled manner into a terminal position against a terminal abutment. As a result, it is possible to omit additional devices for the one-time acquisition of the absolute position, for example, a reference sensor.

The control unit preferably presents a connection for the power and data line, wherein each control unit is connected via a coupling element to the power and data transmission line. Alternatively, the control unit can also have two connections for the power and data transmission line, wherein the power and data transmission line is looped through the control unit.

Additional details, advantages and characteristics of the invention are presented not only in the claims, and the characteristics that can be taken from said claims—individually and/or in combination—but also in the following description of a preferred embodiment which can be taken from the drawing.

The single FIGURE shows a system SYS for adjusting solar cell modules SZM of a solar installation SA according to the sun's position.

The system SYS comprises a drive device AER with a group of drive units AE for adjusting the solar cell modules SZM. The drive units AE are connected in each case to control units MASE, SASE.

The control units MASE, SASE are connected via a shared power and data transmission line EDL to a bus coupler BK. Via the bus coupler BK, the drive units MASE, SASE are coupled to a central power supply line EN for coupling energy, as well as to a central data bus DB for coupling data, into the power and data transmission line EDL.

One of the control units MASE, SASE is designed as master control unit MASE, while the additional control units of the group are designed as slave control units SASA, which can be controlled by means of the master control unit MASE via the power and data line EDL.

In the represented embodiment example, the power and data line EDL is designed as power line.

The slave drive controls are controlled synchronously by the master drive control, wherein the latter is preferably looped through the control units MASE, SASE.

A solar cell module SZM is usually associated with each drive unit AE. In this case, the solar cell modules SZM are mechanically uncoupled. Alternatively, the solar cell modules SZM can also be coupled mechanically to each other via a support T.

The power and data line EDL connecting the group of drive controls AS can be connected or coupled directly to a GPS sensor SEN or equivalent sensor.

The solar installation SA can have a plurality of groups AER which are also coupled via a coupling element BK the with the central power supply EV as well as the bus system DB.

The group AER of control units ASE comprises the master control unit MASE and preferably 14 slave control units SASE.

Due to the shared power and data transmission line EDL, the cabling cost is considerably reduced, and the designs of the control units ASE are considerably simplified, particularly with regard to the design of the cable connections, in comparison to the state of the art. In particular, the control units require no bus connection.

Geodata sent via the central bus line DB can be reported via the power and data transmission line EDL, or alternatively the GPS sensor SEN can be coupled directly to the power and data transmission line EDL or one of the control units ASE.

Claims

1. System (SYS) for adjusting solar cell modules (SZM) of a solar installation (SA) according to the sun's position, comprising a drive device (AER) for a group of drive units (AE), for adjusting the solar cell modules (SZM), wherein a control unit (ASE) is associated with each drive unit (AE), and the drive units (ASE) are connected to a shared power supply (EV) as well as a data bus (DS),

characterized in that

the group of control units (ASE) are connected via a shared power and data transmission line (EDL) to a bus coupler (BK), the bus coupler (BK) is coupled to the power supply (EV) for coupling energy, as well as to the data bus for coupling data, into the power and data transmission line (EDL), and one of the control units (ASE) is designed as master control unit (MASE), and the additional control units (ASE) of the group are designed as slave control units (SASE), and controllable via the power and data line (EDL) by means of the master control unit (MASE).

2. System according to claim 1,

characterized in that

the power and data line (EDL) is designed as power line.

3. System according to claim 1,

characterized in that

the slave control units (SASE) are controllable synchronously by the master control unit (MASE).

4. System according to claim 1,

characterized in that

at least one solar cell module (SZM) is associated with each drive unit (AE), wherein the drive units (AE) are mechanically coupled or mechanically uncoupled via the solar cell modules (SZM) or supports (T) thereof.

5. System according to claim 1,

characterized in that

the power and data line (EDL) is designed as a three wire line, wherein the signal transmission occurs via a supply voltage network, such as, the 230 V network or 120 V network.

6. System according to claim 1,

characterized in that

the power and data line (EDL) connecting the group of control units (ASE) is connected or coupled directly to a GPS sensor (SEN) or equivalent sensor.

7. System according to claim 1,

characterized in that

the central data bus (DB) is connected to a central control/monitoring device (STE), through which the geodata are sent to the drive units (AE).

8. System according to claim 1,

characterized in that

a group of control units (ASE) comprises the master control unit (MASE) and any desired number of slave control units (SASE), preferably 14 slave control units (SASE).

9. System according to claim 1,

characterized in that

the control unit (ASE) and the drive unit (AE) form one unit.

10. System according to claim 1,

characterized in that

the drive units (AE), for the definition of a zero setting or reference setting, can be moved in a controlled manner into a terminal position against a terminal abutment.

11. System according to claim 1,

characterized in that

the control unit (ASE) comprises two connections for the power and data transmission line (EDL), wherein the power and data transmission line (EDL) is looped through the control unit (ASE), or in that the control unit (ASE) presents a connection for the power and data transmission line (EDL), and is connected to the latter via a coupling element.