Abstract:
A solar cell unit is disclosed, wherein the solar cell module includes a solar cell unit converting light from the sun to a DC voltage and outputting the converted DC voltage; an inverting unit inverting the outputted DC voltage to an AC voltage; and an inverting outdoor unit protecting the inverting unit from outdoor space, wherein the inverting outdoor unit includes: a heat emitting unit emitting heat generated from the inverting outdoor unit or the inverting unit; and a thermal expansion protecting unit keeping temperature equilibrium between the inverting unit and the inverting outdoor unit.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119 of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2008-0116869, filed Nov. 24, 2008, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a solar cell module. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     A solar photovoltaic technology is generally a technology for generating electric power using solar energy. That is, light energy supplied from the sun is converted to electric energy using an electric converting apparatus. The use efficiency of solar energy is more than that of thermal system since the solar photovoltaic technology use a limited amount of light to allow being used even on cloudy days. 
     A power generating system using the solar photovoltaic technology employs various methods or apparatus in order to enhance system efficiency and reduce capacity to a maximum. One of ideas is to reduce the number of elements used in the power generating system. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY 
     According to some exemplary implementations, there is provided a solar cell module capable of efficiently emitting heat generated from a solar cell unit and an inverting unit by employing a heat emitting unit and a thermal expansion protecting unit. 
     In one general aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a solar cell module including a solar cell unit converting light from the sun to a DC voltage and outputting the converted DC voltage, an inverting unit inverting the outputted DC voltage to an AC voltage, and an inverting outdoor unit protecting the inverting unit from an external side, wherein the inverting outdoor unit includes: a heat emitting unit emitting heat generated from the inverting outdoor unit or the inverting unit, and a thermal expansion protecting unit keeping a temperature equilibrium between the inverting unit and the inverting outdoor unit. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a solar cell module according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a block diagram for illustrating an inverting unit of a solar cell according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is an inverting outdoor unit of a solar cell according to the present invention according to the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Exemplary implementations of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a solar cell module according to the present invention. 
     As shown, the solar cell module includes a solar cell unit  100 , an inverting unit  200 , and an inverting outdoor unit  300 . 
     The solar cell unit  100  stores solar light from the sun at solar cells and converts the stored solar light to DC voltage. The solar cell unit  100  first converts solar light from the sun to DC voltage and then, stores the converted DC voltage. The DC voltage stored in the solar cells can be outputted if it necessary. 
     The inverting unit  200  can invert the DC voltage outputted from the solar cell unit  100  to AC voltage. The inverting unit  200  may include a solar cell switch when it is adapted in another circumstance. Since the inverting unit  200  can invert the DC voltage to an AC outputted from the solar cell unit  100 , it is possible to reduce set-up cost and maintenance cost for using a DC voltage as a general supply voltage and to enhance efficiency for operating the solar cells. The inversion from a DC voltage to an AC voltage will be described with reference to  FIG. 2 . 
     The inverting outdoor unit  300  protects the inverting unit  200  from outdoor environment. That is, the inverting outdoor unit  300  can protect the inverting unit  200  against rain, snow, wind or dust. 
     The inverting outdoor unit  300  includes a heat emitting unit  400  of solar cell inverting unit  200  and a thermal expansion protecting unit  500 . The heat emitting unit  400  can emit heat generated by the inverting unit  200 . The thermal expansion protecting unit  500  maintains an equal temperature between the inverting unit  200  and the inverting outdoor unit  300  to thereby keep equilibrium. 
     It is possible to protect the inverting unit  200  from indoor or outdoor environment because the inverting outdoor unit  300  wraps the inverting unit  200 , a more detailed explanation of which will be given with reference to  FIG. 3 . 
       FIG. 2  is a block diagram for illustrating an inverting unit of a solar cell according to the present invention. 
     As shown, the inverting unit  200  includes a PV array  201 , a high frequency inverter  202 , a high frequency transformer  203 , a high frequency diode  204 , a line frequency inverter  205 , and a power supplier  206 . 
     The PV (Photovoltaic) array  201  includes array of photoelectric cells. The operating voltage of the PV array  201  is less than 60V or may be more than 60V if it is necessary to simplify circuit configuration of the inverting unit  200 . 
     The high frequency inverter  202  inverts a DC voltage inputted from the PV array  201  to an AC voltage and can also perform a high frequency transformation. 
     The high frequency transformer  203  transforms the AC voltage from the high frequency inverter  202  to another AC voltage and can also perform a high frequency transformation. 
     The high frequency diode  204  rectifies the AC voltage from the high frequency transformer  203  to output a DC voltage. 
     The line frequency inverter  205  inverts the rectified voltage to an AC voltage. 
     The power supplier  206  supplies an AC voltage. 
     Since the inverting unit  200  having the configuration like above description includes elements operating at a high frequency, the inverting unit  200  has a merit in terms of manufacturing cost, size, or weight. The inverting unit  200  can also keep inputted voltage high to directly invert an AC voltage. Then, the inverting unit  200  can reduce amount of current required to operate the inverting unit  200  using the high frequency inverter  202  and the line frequency inverter  205 . 
     The configuration of the inverting unit  200  is not limited in  FIG. 2  and it would be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes may be possible. The configuration of the inverting unit  200  may be complicated or simple as long as a DC voltage can reliably converted to an AC voltage. 
       FIG. 3  is an inverting outdoor unit of a solar cell according to the present invention. 
     As shown, the inverting outdoor unit  300  includes the heat emitting unit  400  of the solar cell inverting unit  200  and the thermal expansion protecting unit  500 . 
     The heat emitting unit  400  emits heat generated from the solar cell inverting unit  200 . The area of the heat emitting unit  400  arranged in the inverting outdoor unit  300  may be more than that of the solar cell inverting unit  200 . The heat emitting unit  400  can efficiently emit heat generated from the solar cell inverting unit  200  because the area of the heat emitting unit  400  is more than that of the solar cell inverting unit  200 . That is, by widening emitting area of the heat emitting unit  400 , the air-contacting area becomes larger to enhance the heat-emitting efficiency. 
     Also, in another embodiment, an area of the heat emitting unit  400  arranged in the inverting outdoor unit  300  may correspond to that of the solar cell inverting unit  200 . The heat emitting unit  400  can efficiently emit heat generated from the solar cell inverting unit  200  because the area of the heat emitting unit  400  is the same as that of the solar cell inverting unit  200 . That is, by corresponding the heat generating area of the solar cell inverting unit  200  to the emitting area of the heat emitting unit  400 , heat emission is effected as soon as heat is generated. Thus, conduction of heat to other elements of the solar cell module can be avoided. 
     The heat emitting unit  400  may have conducting materials in order to enhance the heat-emitting efficiency. For instance, the conducting materials include Au, Ag, or Al. 
     The thermal expansion protecting unit  500  adjusts an equal temperature between the inverting unit  200  and the inverting outdoor unit  300  to thereby keep equilibrium. 
     A portion of the thermal expansion protecting unit  500  may overlap the inverting unit  200 . Temperature equilibrium at the inside or the outside of the inverting outdoor unit  300  can be efficiently kept because the portion of the thermal expansion protecting unit  500  overlaps the inverting unit  200 . 
     The thermal expansion protecting unit  500  can protect the inverting unit  200  against humidity or something like particles. That is, the solar cell module can protect the inverting unit  200  using humidity or something like particles using the thermal expansion protecting unit  500 . Also, thermal expansion protecting unit  500  can enhance the heat emitting efficiency or reduce interferences between elements in the solar cell module. A location of the thermal expansion protecting unit  500  may be changed according to inner elements of the solar cell module. 
     The thermal expansion protecting unit  500  may includes a Gore membrane vent to further improve hitherto-mentioned function. 
     Since the solar cell module according to the present invention is formed with the inverting unit  200  that can invert a DC voltage to an AC voltage, the installation or maintenance cost of the solar cell module can be reduced 
     Also, heat generated from inverting unit  200  can be efficiently emitted because the inverting outdoor unit  300  includes the thermal expansion protecting unit  500 . 
     Temperature equilibrium at the inside or the outside of the inverting outdoor unit  300  can be efficiently kept because the solar cell module according to the present invention has the thermal expansion protecting unit  500 . 
     While the present invention has been described with respect to the specific embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.