TONALI, Roberto (Via Domenichino 14, Milan, I-20149, IT)
CLAIMS
1. An antitheft system for a solar panel (10, 10', 10'', 10''') of the type comprising a front operative surface (12) , capable of converting solar radiation into energy, and a rear surface (14), equipped with connection means (20, 22) for transmitting said energy to an electric system, the system also comprising an electronic device (26, 26', 26'', 26''') integral with said solar panel (10, 10', 10' ', 10''') and electrically connected to said connection means (20, 22) at the outlet of said solar panel (10, 10', 10'', 10'''), characterized in that said electronic device (26, 26', 26' ', 26''') contains at least one electronic component (32) , capable of communicating with a remote management centre (28) for receiving, through a signal transmission technique according to a serial or parallel mode, coded signals for identifying said solar panel (10, 10', 10'', 10'''), and at least one switch, driven by said electronic component (32) , capable of interrupting the supply of energy produced by said solar panel (10, 10', 10'', 10''') and sent, through said connection means (20, 22) , towards said electric system.
2. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that said electronic device (26, 26', 26'', 26''') is equipped with its own independent electric power supply, so as to be able to remain activated even when said solar panel (10, 10', 10'', 10''') is not generating electric energy.
3. The system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said switch, driven by said electronic component
(32) is capable of interrupting the supply of energy produced by said solar panel (10, 10', 10'', 10''') on the basis of said coded identification signals of said solar panel (10, 10', 10'', 10''') received from said remote management centre (28) through said signal transmission technique.
4. The system according to claim 3, characterized in that said electronic device (26, 26', 26'', 26''') is capable of generating an alarm signal following the interruption of the energy supply on the part of said switch, said alarm signal being sent to said remote management centre (28) through said signal transmission technique .
5. The system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said switch, driven by said electronic component
(32) is capable of interrupting the supply of energy produced by said solar panel (10, 10', 10'', 10''') following the lack of communication between said electronic component (32) and said remote management centre (28) .
6. The system according to any of the claims from 1 to 5, characterized in that said electronic component (32) is a microprocessor.
7. The system according to any of the claims from 1 to 5, characterized in that said electronic component (32) is an electronic circuit equipped with a specific control logic .
8. The system according to any of the claims from 1 to 5, characterized in that said signal transmission technique is represented by a wireless network system.
9. The system according to any of the claims from 1 to 5, characterized in that said signal transmission technique is represented by a power line communication on an electric line (30) . 10. The system according to any of the claims from 1 to 5, characterized in that said signal transmission technique is represented by a wire system.
11. The system according to any of the claims from 1 to
10. characterized in that said electronic device (26, 26', 26'', 26''') is installed inside a' derivation box
(16) containing the electric connection equipment of said solar panel (10, 10', 10'', 10''') to said electric system.
12. The " system according to any of the claims from 1 to 10, characterized in that said electronic device (26, 26', 26'', 26''') is installed on said rear surface (14) of said solar panel (10, 10', 10'', 10''') by means of an adhesive layer (40) .
13. The system according to claim 12, characterized in that said adhesive layer (40) consists of a composed resin.
14. The system according to any of the claims from 1 to 10, characterized in that said electronic device (26, 26', 26'', 26''') is constructed with an ultrafine technology, with a thickness of less than 1 mm and with an operative surface of less than 10 cm 2 , to allow its installation inside said solar panel (10, 10' , 10' ', 10'' ') between said rear surface (14) and said front surface (12) . 15. The system according to any of the previous claims, characterized in that said electronic device (26, 26', 26'', 26''') is equipped with electronic means for controlling the physical parameters of said solar panel (10, 10' , 10' ', 10' ' ' ) . 16. A method for the installation of an electronic device (26, 26', 26'', 26''') belonging to an antitheft system according to any of the previous claims on a solar panel (10, 10', 10'', 10''') of the type comprising a front operative surface (12) , capable of converting solar radiation into energy, and a rear surface (14), equipped with connection means (20, 22) for transmitting said energy to an electric system, the method comprising the following phases: introducing said connection means (20, 22) inside corresponding alveoli (36, 38) arranged on said electronic device (26, 26', 26'', 26''');
- arranging said electronic device (26, 26', 26'', 26''') in an operative position adjacent to said rear surface (14) of said solar panel (10, 10', 10'', 10''') in the outgoing area of said connection means (20, 22);
- irremovably fixing said connection means (20, 22) to said alveoli (36, 38) arranged on said electronic device (26, 26' , 26' ', 26' ' ' ) ;
- at least partially covering said electronic device (26, 26', 26'', 26''') with an adhesive layer (40) which, following its complete drying, will keep blocked said electronic device (26, 26', 26'', 26''') in position on said rear surface (14) of said solar panel (10, 10', 10' ' , 10' ' ' ) . 17. The method according to claim 16, characterized in that said adhesive layer (40) consists of a composed resin. |
ANTITHEFT AND CONTROL SYSTEM FOR SOLAR PANELS
The present invention relates to an antitheft and control system for solar panels of the photovoltaic type. A well-known type of equipment capable of producing energy starting from sunlight consists of so-called photovoltaic modules or panels. These photovoltaic panels are devices capable of directly converting solar energy into electric energy by means of a photovoltaic effect. There are substantially two types of photovoltaic modules, depending on whether the single photovoltaic cells of which they are formed are produced with a crystalline structure, usually made of silicon, or with thin layers of materials having photovoltaic properties, among which silicon is still the most widely used in addition to other chemical elements, in this case called thin-film photovoltaic modules.
Solar panels with a photovoltaic effect are becoming increasingly more widespread over the whole territory for the production of energy, thanks to the law provisions that encourage the use of this technology which have come into force in many industrialized countries including Italy. To enable photovoltaic plants to have access to the special rates, indicated in said law provisions, it is always compulsory for the solar panels forming them to be certified according to the regulation IEC 61215 (for
panels constructed with the crystalline silicon technology) or the regulation IEC 61646 (for panels produced with the thin-film technology) .
Depending on the geographical position and type of use, photovoltaic solar panels can be installed both on the roofs of buildings and on the ground, normally in uncultivated fields accessible to everyone. In both the former and latter cases, there is an increasing number of thefts of the panels themselves, which are then sold on the black market due to their high commercial value.
In order to protect solar panels from theft, the use of theft-signaling devices is becoming increasingly more widespread, which are based on an anti-intrusion control in the area in which the panels are installed, or on selective microphones positioned on the panels themselves, which generate an alarm signal in the case of intrusion in the area and/or an attempt to remove the panel, or again a series of other devices which substantially signal either the entrance of non- authorized persons in a controlled perimeter, or an attempt to remove the solar panels from the supporting structures on which they are assembled. These protection systems, however, have proved to be effective only if they are integrated with an emergency intervention activity capable of guaranteeing an on-site control
service in very limited times. Otherwise, without this rapid intervention, the panels are in any case removed and then resold.
An objective of the present invention is therefore to provide an antitheft system for solar panels of the photovoltaic type capable of making the panel immediately unusable if it is subjected to theft, introducing a deterrent to theft, an innovative factor with respect to the signaling systems of theft and/or intrusion so far used.
A further objective of the invention is to provide an antitheft system for solar panels which enables the remote control of the activation and deactivation of several panels contemporaneously on the basis of certain situations of use.
Another objective of the invention is to provide an antitheft system for solar panels capable of measuring various characteristic magnitudes of the panel during functioning, typically voltage, current and temperature of the cells.
Finally, yet another objective of the invention is to provide an antitheft system for solar panels which is particularly economical and easy to produce and install.
These and other objectives according to the present invention are achieved by providing an antitheft system
for solar panels in general as specified in claim 1.
Further characteristics of the invention are indicated in the subsequent claims.
The characteristics and advantages of an antitheft system for solar panels according to the present invention will appear more evident from the following illustrative and non- limiting description referring to the enclosed schematic drawings, in which: figure 1 is a total schematic sectional view of a generic solar panel to which an antitheft system according to the present invention can be applied. figure 2 is a detailed schematic view of the panel of figure 1; figure 3 is a schematic view which illustrates an embodiment of an antitheft system for solar panels according to the present invention; figures 4 to 6 schematically show the installation phases of an antitheft system according to the present invention on a generic solar panel; and figures 7 and 8 schematically show two different functioning types of an antitheft system for solar panels according to the present invention.
With reference to the figures, these schematically show a generic photovoltaic solar panel, indicated with the reference number 10, which can be any type known in
the state of the art and which will therefore not be specified in detail hereunder.
The solar panel 10 has a front operative surface 12, facing the sun and capable of converting solar radiation into energy, and a rear surface 14 on which a derivation box 16 is assembled. The derivation box 16 contains the electrical connection equipment of the solar panel 10 to the electric power supply and/or possible accumulation batteries (not shown) , by the interposition of an inverter 18 (figures 7 and 8) capable of converting the direct current at a low voltage generated by the solar panel itself 10 into alternating current at the line voltage to be subsequently sent for various uses.
The derivation box 16 is electrically connected, on one side, to the solar panel 10 through appropriate connection wires 20 and 22 whereas on the other side, it has a terminal connector 24 for connection to the electric system and/or to the electric equipment situated downstream of the solar panel itself 10. According to the invention, the antitheft system comprises at least one electronic device 26 installed inside its derivation box 16, said electronic device 26 being electrically connected to the connection wires 20 and 22 at the outlet of the above solar panel 10. The electronic device 26, produced in the form of an
electronic card having particularly reduced dimensions, so as to be installed without any problems on most of the panels present on the market, is capable of interrupting at least one of the two poles (positive and/or negative) through which the electric energy, produced by the solar panel 10, is supplied towards the electric system.
The electronic card 26 is capable of activating and deactivating the solar panel 10 on which it is applied in relation to certain codified signals transmitted from one or more remote management centres 28 (figures 7 and 8) . The transmission of the signals can take place both according to the serial mode and also the parallel mode. More specifically, as is better described hereunder, said remote management centre 28 can communicate, through a signal transmission technique for example a wireless network (figure 7) , from a power line communication or PLC on an electric line 30 (figure 8), or from a generic communication wire, with each single electronic device 26, 26', 26' ', 26''' situated on a plurality of different solar panels 10, 10', 10'', 10''', generating activation and deactivation commands of the latter according to the requirements. The lack of communication between the remote management centre 28 and one or more of the solar panels 10, 10', 10'', 10''' connected to it, interrupts the emission of energy on the part of the panels, making
them irreversibly inactive, in addition to generating an alarm signal which is sent, again through the same wireless signal transmission technique or power line communication, to the remote management centre 28. Alternatively, it is possible to prepare the electronic card 26 so as to reversibly deactivate the solar panel 10, 10', 10'', 10''', i.e. allowing the solar panel to be reactivated if the electronic card 26 is found and restored to its original operative position, after reinserting a specific encrypted activation identification code.
Each electronic card 26 contains a switch or relay driven by a microprocessor 32. The microprocessor 32 is capable of communicating, by means of the appropriate signal transmission technique, with the remote management centre 28, receiving coded identification signals of the relative panel 26 from it, and consequently activating the relay which closes the contact and puts the pole, interrupted by the same relay, in communication, through a suitable terminal connector 34, with the electric plant to which the solar panel 10 is connected. In a simplified version of the electronic card 26, this can be provided, instead of with a microprocessor 32, with simpler electronic circuits having a specific control logic. The lack of communication between the microprocessor
32 on each single electronic card 26 and the remote management centre 28, causes the desiccation of the relay, with a consequent physical interruption of the energy supply on the part of the relative solar panel 10. Only through connection to the remote management centre 28, with the transmission on the part of the latter of the encrypted identification code specifications, different for each solar panel 10, 10', 10' ', 10''', is it possible to re-establish the energy supply on the part of the panel.
Each electronic card 26 has its own electric power supply, consisting for example of a connection to an independent serial line, which serves to communicate with the remote management centre 28, or specific accumulators (not shown) , to be able to remain activated even when the solar panel 10 is not generating electric energy and therefore being independent of the solar panel itself 10.
According to a preferred aspect of the present invention, the electronic card 26 can be constructed with the ultrafine technology, i.e. with a thickness of less than 1 mm and with an operative surface of less than 10 cm 2 . This manufacturing technology allows the installation of the electronic card 26 inside any solar panel 10 of the photovoltaic type currently on the market, between the rear surface 14 of the panel 10
(usually made of Tedlar ) and the EVA (Ethylene Vinyl Acetate) film situated above the photovoltaic cells, subsequently covered by the front glass before the lamination process. The insertion of the electronic card 26 can be effected in correspondence with the collection and closing point of the series of electric conductors of the solar panel 10, at the end of the positive and negative poles of the generator, by welding. The conductors of the negative and positive poles leaving the back of the Tedlar sheet are connected, again by welding, as will be better indicated hereunder, to the electronic card 26 and are fixed in the derivation box 16. This installation procedure allows the electronic card 26 to be visible on the front operative surface 12 of the solar panel 10, but also inaccessible unless the solar panel 10 is destroyed or seriously damaged.
The antitheft system for solar panels according to the present invention can be applied both in the production phase of a certain solar panel 10, or on solar panels 10 already produced, installed or waiting to be installed.
In both cases, the electronic card 26 can be applied directly on the electric connection wires 20 and 22 leaving the solar panel 10, inside the specific
derivation box, according to the following method (shown in figures 4 to 6) .
Each connection wire 20, 22 is introduced into a corresponding alveolus 36, 38 specifically arranged on the electronic card 26, so that it can be positioned adjacent to the rear surface 14 of the solar panel 10 in the outlet area of the two connection wires 20 and 22.
Once the operative position of the electronic card 26 on the solar panel 10 has been reached, the connection wires 20 and 22 are irremovably fixed, for example by welding, to the respective alveoli 36 and 38 (figure 5) and the card 26 itself is at least partially covered with an adhesive layer of composed resin 40 (figure 6) until it remains blocked in position on the rear surface 14 of the panel 10. The whole electronic card 26 is preferably covered by the layer of resin 40, except for its terminal connector 34 for connection to the electric system.
When the resin is completely dried, it no longer allows the electronic card 26 to be removed from the solar panel 10. A possible attempt at removal will in fact cause the breakage of the two outgoing wires 20 and 22 from the panel 10, thus making it either reversibly or irreversibly unusable.
Advantageously, in addition to the antitheft function illustrated above, the electronic card 26 can
also have electronic means for controlling the physical parameters (voltage V, current A and temperature T) of the solar panel 10, thus grouping together, in a single device, all the functions necessary for the management and control of the panel 10 itself. More specifically, the voltage values V, current A and temperature T are measured by means of specific probes, situated inside the solar panel 10 and connected to the electronic card 26, which is capable of indicating said values and transmitting them to the remote management centre 28.
It can thus be seen that the antitheft system for solar panels according to the present invention achieves the objectives indicated above. In particular, the application of the electronic card to the panel allows this to be protected, by interrupting the power supply if the panel is disconnected from the plant, with the necessity of knowing the codes for its re-activation, or irreparably damaging it in an attempt to remove the card.
The objectives of the invention are also achieved with particular attention with reference to the validity of the certifications IEC 61215 and IEC 61646 mentioned above. In other words, the objectives are achieved if the introduction of the electronic antitheft device does not modify the behaviour of the solar panel as an electric generator. If the antitheft device in no way subtracts
energy from the solar panel, as it is electrically supplied independently of the solar panel itself, the certification of the panel is not modified. As the device, in this case, consists of an electronic circuit with reduced dimensions, it can be introduced into the junction box of the solar panel, normally installed on the back of the panel itself. The power supply of the electronic device is guaranteed by a connection of an independent serial line, necessary for ensuring data communication to a central unit and, at the same time, providing the electric power supply of the device itself, inserted in the junction box of the solar panel. It is therefore sufficient to certify the mechanical installation of the electronic device inside said junction box and the behaviour of the device itself, without having to certify the whole capacity of the solar panel of responding to the above regulations . This aspect becomes extremely important and sometimes essential. In effect : - if the device has to be inserted during the final assembly phase of the solar module, directly by the constructor of solar modules, this advantage makes it possible to not have to recertify the solar panel, normally already formerly certified; - if the device has to be inserted after the solar panel
has already been constructed and sold, this advantage becomes essential as it is not convenient, either economically or for the times necessary, to recertify a solar panel that has already been sold. The antitheft system for solar panels of the present invention thus conceived can, in any case, undergo numerous modifications and variants, all included in the same inventive concept; furthermore, all the details can be substituted with technically equivalent elements. In practice, the forms and dimensions can vary according to technical requirements .
The protection scope of the invention is therefore defined by the enclosed claims.