JPH04280482A - Cooling device utilizing solar light - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain a small-sized solar light-based cooling device which comprises a single solid state device and uses photoelectromotive force and Peltier effect so as to prevent a rise in room temperature and electronic equipment by solar light and cool the room temperature and electronic equipment reversely. CONSTITUTION:A solar cell section, which comprises a first solar section 11 and a second solar section 14, is installed where a solid solution 13 comprising an N type semiconductor, is installed to the first solar cell section 11 by way of a metal section 12. On the other hand, a solid solution 16 comprising a P-type semiconductor is installed to the second solar cell section 14 by way of the metal section 12 in parallel to the first solar section. The N-type solid solution 13 is connected with the P-type solid solution 16 by way of a metal member 17. When solar light is emitted to a PN junction between the first solar section 11 and the second solar section 14, photoelectromotive force is generated in each of the solar cell sections 11 and 14 and forces the electric current 'i' to flow from the N-type solid solution 13 side to the P-type solid solution 16 side (in the direction indicated by arrow in the figure) so that the metal member 17 may be cooled by Peltier effect.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a cooling element that utilizes sunlight.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, electronic devices that utilize sunlight include solar cells that generate electricity from sunlight and solar thermal power generation devices that generate electricity by exchanging light energy into thermal energy. Furthermore, as a freezing element, there is an electronic freezing element that utilizes the thermoelectric effect in a solid state.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of such a conventional electronic refrigeration element. The Peltier effect is a phenomenon in which when two metal wires are connected at both ends and a current is passed through them, one contact generates heat and the other contacts absorb heat. This is applied to electronic cooling. In Figure 2, V-V on one side
An n-type solid solution 1 made of a group I compound semiconductor and a p-type solid solution 2 made of a similar group V-VI compound semiconductor are used on the other side, and a battery 3 is connected as a power source. A terminal 4 of the n-type solid solution 1 is connected to the anode of the battery 3, and the other end of the n-type solid solution 1 and one end of the p-type solid solution 2 are connected by a common metal 5. A terminal 6 is provided at the other end of the p-type solid solution 2, and this terminal 6 is connected to the cathode of the battery 3.

[0004] Therefore, current flows from the battery 3 to the terminal 4 to the n-type solid solution 1 to the metal 5 to the p-type solid solution 2 to the terminal 6 to the battery 3. Then, heat absorption occurs in the metal 5, and the terminals 4 and 6
A fever occurs.

[0005]

[Problem to be solved by the invention] By the way, in places with high temperatures such as tropical regions and deserts, indoor air conditioning is necessary for people to live comfortably. Cooling of electronic equipment is also necessary when using equipment. However, in these regions, radiant heat from sunlight increases the temperature of indoor rooms where people live and electronic devices.

[0006] Therefore, it is a technical issue that is desperately needed for comfortable living in the region to perform cooling using energy from sunlight. At present, no electronic device has been devised that is directly cooled by sunlight energy. Therefore, as mentioned above,
By focusing on the existence of electronic refrigeration elements that utilize the Peltier effect, we obtain electronic elements that are directly cooled by sunlight energy.

[0007] The present invention uses photovoltaic power to prevent indoor temperature rises and temperature rises of electronic equipment due to sunlight, and conversely to cool indoor rooms and electronic equipment by utilizing sunlight. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a compact cooling element that utilizes sunlight and is composed of one solid-state element that utilizes the Peltier effect.

[0008]

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is a cooling element that utilizes sunlight, and includes a solar cell section that generates a photovoltaic force, and a cooling element that uses electric current generated from the solar cell section. , and a cooling section made of a semiconductor metal junction where a thermoelectric effect occurs. Further, the solar cell section is such that a first solar cell section and a second solar cell section are connected in series.

[0009]

According to the present invention, as shown in FIG. 1, when sunlight 20 is irradiated on the PN junction of the first solar cell section 11 and the second solar cell section 14, A photovoltaic force is generated at 14. Then, a current i flows through this cooling element from the N-type solid solution 13 side to the P-type solid solution 16 side (in the direction of the arrow in the figure). At this time, the P-type solid solution 1 is transferred from the metal member 17.
6. When holes move through the junction, they take energy away from the metal, and the energy distribution of holes in the metal collapses, redistribution occurs, and the energy required for that redistribution is The metal member 17 is cooled by the so-called Peltier effect, which is supplied from the thermal energy of the metal lattice.

[0010] The same thing also occurs at the joint between the N-type solid solution 13 and the metal member 17. As a result, the metal member 17 is cooled.

[0011]

Embodiments Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a cooling device using sunlight, showing an embodiment of the present invention. In this figure, 11 is a first solar cell section, in which an N layer 11a and a P layer 11b are PN-junctioned. An N-type solid solution 13 is connected to the P layer 11b via a metal 12. Here, as the N-type solid solution 13, for example, a solid solution of Bi2 Te3 and Sb2 Se3 of V-VI group compound semiconductors to which impurities such as Ag, Cu, Te, and Se are added may be used.

On the other hand, a P layer 14a and an N layer 1 are arranged in parallel with this.
4b is provided, and the second solar cell section 14 is connected to the N
A P-type solid solution 16 is connected to the layer 14b via a metal 15. Here, as the P-type solid solution 16, for example, V
- VI group compound semiconductor Bi2 Te3, Sb2 T
e3 , Sb2 Se3 and its solid solution, Bi, Pb
, Cd, Li, Te, etc. may be added as impurities.

Furthermore, the N-type solid solution 13 and the P-type solid solution 16 are connected by a metal member 17. Further, transparent electrodes 18 are provided on the surfaces of the first solar cell section 11 and the second solar cell section 14 to electrically connect the first solar cell section 11 and the second solar cell section 14. . In this way, a P-type semiconductor and an N-type semiconductor are joined by the metal member 17, which is a good conductor of electricity and heat, and in order to flow a current through the joint, a solar cell section is constructed of a PN junction of semiconductors. to obtain photovoltaic power.

[0014] Therefore, when sunlight irradiates the PN junction of the first solar cell section 11 and the second solar cell section 14, a photovoltaic force is generated in each solar cell section. Then, a current i flows through this cooling element from the N-type solid solution 13 side to the P-type solid solution 16 side (in the direction of the arrow in the figure). At this time, when the holes move from the metal member 17 to the P-type solid solution 16 through the joint, the holes take energy away from the metal, and the energy distribution of the holes in the metal collapses, causing redistribution. The metal member 17 is cooled by the so-called Peltier effect, in which the energy necessary for this redistribution is supplied from the thermal energy of the metal lattice.

[0015] The same thing also occurs at the joint between the N-type solid solution 13 and the metal member 17. In this way, the metal member 17 is cooled. In addition, metals 12 and 15
In contrast, heat generation occurs. The metal member 17 of the cooling element configured as described above is placed into an electronic device to be cooled or a room to be cooled, and the solar cell parts 11 and 14 are connected to each other.
By arranging the metals 12 and 15 outside and irradiating them with sunlight 20, the inside of the electronic device and the room where the metal member 17 is arranged are cooled.

[0016] The semiconductor used in the solar cell section is Ga.
Semiconductors used in normal solar cells, such as As or Si, which have good photoelectric conversion efficiency, may be used. Furthermore, the materials for the N-type solid solution and the P-type solid solution are not limited to those mentioned above, and other materials may be used. Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments, and various modifications can be made based on the spirit of the present invention, and these are not excluded from the scope of the present invention.

[0017]

Effects of the Invention As described in detail above, according to the present invention, the solar cell section that generates photovoltaic force due to sunlight and the cooling section that generates a thermoelectric effect are integrated, so that A cooling element that exhibits a cooling effect using light can be obtained. By using the cooling element, it is possible to effectively cool electronic equipment used outdoors where sunlight is strong, and to cool indoor rooms easily and in a small size.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a cooling device using sunlight, showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a conventional electronic refrigeration element.

[Explanation of symbols]

11 First solar cell section 11a, 14b N layer 11b, 14a P layer 12,15 Metal 13 N-type solid solution 14 Second solar cell section 16 P type solid solution 17 Metal parts 18 Transparent electrode 20 Sunlight

Claims (2)

[Claims] Claim 1: (a) a solar cell section that generates a photovoltaic force;
b) A cooling element utilizing sunlight, which is integrated with a cooling part made of a semiconductor metal junction in which a thermoelectric effect occurs due to the current generated from the solar cell part. 2. The cooling element that utilizes sunlight according to claim 1, wherein the solar cell section utilizes sunlight and is formed by connecting a first solar cell section and a second solar cell section in series. cooling element.