Solar power generation unit and system

Abstract

A solar power generation unit includes at least one optical fiber including a light output region including a light output window and a light guide region guiding a light wave to the light output region; a housing of a tube type, the housing having an inner space in which the at least one optical fiber is located; and a power generation part including a solar panel provided at least at a side of the inner space of the housing and configured to generate power in response to the light wave incident thereon from the light output region of the at least one optical fiber.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A solar power generation unit comprising:
 at least one optical fiber comprising a light output region comprising a light output window and a light guide region guiding a light wave to the light output region;   a housing of a tube type, the housing having an inner space in which the at least one optical fiber is located; and   a power generation part comprising at least one solar panel provided at least at a side of the inner space of the housing and configured to generate power in response to the light wave incident thereon from the light output region of the at least one optical fiber.   
     
     
         2 . The solar power generation unit of  claim 1 , wherein the housing has a cross-section with a square shape, a polygon shape, a circle shape, or an oval shape. 
     
     
         3 . The solar power generation unit of  claim 1 , wherein the housing has a plurality of walls forming the inner space,
 the at least one optical fiber is located in a middle region of the inner space of the housing, and   the solar panel is formed or mounted in at least one of the plurality of walls.   
     
     
         4 . The solar power generation unit of  claim 3 , wherein one or more ribs supporting the at least one optical fiber located in the inner space are formed to protrude from the plurality of walls of the housing. 
     
     
         5 . The solar power generation unit of  claim 3 , wherein the light output window comprises continuous or discontinuous grooves formed in a spiral shape in an outer circumferential surface of the at least one optical fiber. 
     
     
         6 . The solar power generation unit of  claim 4 , wherein the light output window comprises continuous or discontinuous grooves formed in a spiral shape in an outer circumferential surface of the at least one optical fiber. 
     
     
         7 . The solar power generation unit of  claim 1 , wherein the housing has a plurality of walls surrounding the at least one optical fiber,
 the at least one optical fiber is located in at least one of a plurality of corners between the plurality of walls in the inner space, and   the solar panel on which the light wave is incident from the light output region of the at least one optical fiber is formed or mounted in at least one of the plurality of walls.   
     
     
         8 . The solar power generation unit of  claim 2 , wherein the inner space of the housing of the tube type has an inner wall with a corrugated shape, and
 the solar panel is formed in the inner wall.   
     
     
         9 . The solar power generation unit of  claim 2 , wherein a rib supporting the at least one optical fiber is formed in an inner wall of the housing, and
 the solar panel is formed in the inner wall and the rib of the housing.   
     
     
         10 . The solar power generation unit of  claim 2 , wherein the housing has an inner wall with a corrugated shape, and
 the solar panel is formed in the inner wall and the at least one optical fiber is apart from the inner wall.   
     
     
         11 . The solar power generation unit of  claim 1 , wherein the inner space of the housing is isolated from outside by an end cap and is maintained in an air tight or vacuum state. 
     
     
         12 . A solar power generation system comprising:
 a plurality of solar power generation units; and   an optical structure for supplying sunlight to at least one of the plurality of solar power generation units,   wherein   at least one of the solar power generation units comprises:   at least one optical fiber comprising a light output region comprising at least one light output window and a light guide region guiding a light wave to the light output region;   a housing of a tube type, the housing having an inner space in which the at least one optical fiber is located; and   a power generation part comprising at least one solar panel provided at least at a side of the inner space of the housing and configured to generate power in response to the light wave incident thereon from the light output region of the at least one optical fiber, and   the optical structure is configured to converge sunlight to the light guide region of the at least one optical fiber and supply the light wave to the solar power generation unit.   
     
     
         13 . The solar power generation system of  claim 12 , wherein the light guide region of the optic fibers of the plurality of the power generation unit are grouped into one or more groups, and facets of the optic fibers of the one or more groups form a light wave incident surface. 
     
     
         14 . The solar power generation system of  claim 12 , wherein the housing has a plurality of walls forming the inner space,
 the at least one optical fiber is located in a middle region of the inner space of the housing, and   the solar panel is formed or mounted in at least one of the plurality of walls.   
     
     
         15 . The solar power generation system of  claim 13 , wherein one or more ribs supporting the at least one optical fiber located in the inner space are formed to protrude from the plurality of walls of the housing. 
     
     
         16 . The solar power generation system of  claim 13 , wherein the light output window comprises continuous or discontinuous grooves formed in a spiral shape in an outer circumferential surface of the at least one optical fiber. 
     
     
         17 . The solar power generation system of  claim 14 , wherein the light output window comprises continuous or discontinuous grooves formed in a spiral shape in an outer circumferential surface of the at least one optical fiber. 
     
     
         18 . The solar power generation system of  claim 15 , wherein the housing has a plurality of walls surrounding the at least one optical fiber,
 the at least one optical fiber is located in at least one of a plurality of corners between the plurality of walls in the inner space, and   the solar panel on which the light wave light is incident from the light output region of the at least one optical fiber is formed or mounted in at least one of the plurality of walls.   
     
     
         19 . The solar power generation system of  claim 12 , wherein the inner space of the housing is isolated from outside by an end cap and is maintained in an air tight or vacuum state.