Photovoltaic cleaning system and method

Abstract

The invention provides a photovoltaic cleaning system and method, and relates to the technical field of photovoltaic cleaning, and the system comprises a data collection unit which is used for collecting first data and sending the first data to a main control unit; the main control unit is used for receiving the first data and sending an instruction to the cleaning device based on a comparison result of the first data and the second data; the cleaning device is used for cleaning the photovoltaic module based on an instruction of the main control unit, the first data is the current generating capacity of the photovoltaic module in unit time, and the second data is the average generating capacity of the photovoltaic module in unit time. The system is used for improving the cleaning efficiency of the photovoltaic module and reducing the cleaning cost.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to the field of photovoltaic cleaning technology, and in particular to a photovoltaic cleaning system and method. Background Art

[0002] With the gradual depletion and decline of traditional non-renewable energy sources, energy issues are becoming increasingly prominent. Photovoltaic power generation, as a major green energy source, is increasingly being used, and the scale of solar power generation has reached unprecedented levels. However, in actual use, photovoltaic modules exposed to outdoor environments for extended periods of time are easily covered with dust, bird droppings, and fine particles in the air. This reduces power generation efficiency and causes significant losses for photovoltaic companies. Therefore, cleaning photovoltaic modules is particularly important.

[0003] The traditional method of cleaning photovoltaic modules is mainly manual wiping with clean water, which is inefficient and costly, and is greatly affected by the terrain and environment of the photovoltaic installation. Robots are also used for cleaning. Although the efficiency is greatly improved, a lot of manual work is still required in some coordination aspects. The overall efficiency and cost have not decreased, and the effect is not obvious. Summary of the Invention

[0004] A technical problem to be solved by the present disclosure is: how to improve the cleaning efficiency of photovoltaic modules and reduce the cleaning cost.

[0005] To solve the above technical problems, in the first aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a photovoltaic cleaning system, which includes: a data acquisition unit, used to collect first data and send the first data to a main control unit; the main control unit, used to receive the first data and, based on the comparison result of the first data and the second data, issue an instruction to the cleaning device; and a cleaning device, used to clean the photovoltaic module based on the instruction of the main control unit, wherein the first data is the current power generation of the photovoltaic module per unit time, and the second data is the average power generation of the photovoltaic module per unit time.

[0006] In some embodiments, the data acquisition unit is also used to collect the average power generation per unit time of the photovoltaic components over the years and send it to the main control unit. The main control unit is also used to receive the average power generation per unit time of the photovoltaic components over the years and update the second data based on the average power generation per unit time of the photovoltaic components over the years.

[0007] In some embodiments, the cleaning device includes: a spraying system, including a pressure pump and a preset number of nozzles, the nozzles are fixed on a bracket, and cover a fan-shaped area by rotation when spraying, so as to spray the photovoltaic modules; and a cleaning robot for cleaning the photovoltaic modules.

[0008] In some embodiments, based on the comparison results of the first data and the second data, issuing instructions to the cleaning device includes: when the first data is less than the second data and the difference is greater than a preset threshold, the main control unit issues instructions to the spray system and the cleaning robot in turn for cleaning.

[0009] In some embodiments, cleaning the photovoltaic components based on the instructions of the main control unit includes: the spraying system receives the instructions of the main control unit and sprays the photovoltaic components, and the spraying time is a preset first time; and the cleaning robot receives the instructions of the main control unit and cleans the photovoltaic components, wherein the main control unit issues the instructions to the cleaning robot after the spraying is completed.

[0010] In some embodiments, the system also includes a water tank, which is provided with: a water inlet for adding water to the water tank; an electric valve, arranged at the water inlet of the water tank, which is controlled to open and close by the main control unit and is used to control the addition of water to the water tank; and a water outlet, which is connected to the sprinkler system and is used to supply water to the sprinkler system.

[0011] In some embodiments, the water tank is further provided with a water level monitoring device for monitoring the water level in the water tank and transmitting the monitoring results to the main control unit.

[0012] In some embodiments, the main control unit is also used to control the opening and closing of the electric valve based on the monitoring results of the water level monitoring device. When the water level is greater than the first water level threshold, the electric valve is controlled to be closed; when the water level is less than the second water level threshold, the electric valve is controlled to be opened, wherein the first water level threshold is greater than the second water level threshold.

[0013] In the second aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a photovoltaic cleaning method, which includes: receiving first data; and comparing the first data with second data. When the first data is less than the second data and the difference is greater than a preset threshold, instructions are issued to the spray system and the cleaning robot in sequence, wherein the first data is the current power generation per unit time of the photovoltaic component, and the second data is the average power generation per unit time of the photovoltaic component.

[0014] In some embodiments, the method also includes: controlling the opening and closing of the electric valve of the water tank based on the water level in the water tank, when the water level is greater than a first water level threshold, controlling the electric valve to close, and when the water level is less than a second water level threshold, controlling the electric valve to open, wherein the first water level threshold is greater than the second water level threshold.

[0015] Through the above technical solution, the photovoltaic cleaning system provided by the present disclosure can collect the current unit-time power generation of photovoltaic modules and compare the current unit-time power generation with the average unit-time power generation. If the current power generation is found to have dropped significantly, it is determined that the photovoltaic modules may be covered with dust or dirt. Based on this, the photovoltaic modules are cleaned, thereby maintaining the cleanliness of the photovoltaic modules, restoring the working state of the photovoltaic modules, and improving power generation efficiency. This automatic cleaning method not only improves cleaning efficiency, but also eliminates the need for manual wiping and cleaning, reducing labor costs. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] In order to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present disclosure or the technical solutions in the prior art, the following briefly introduces the drawings required for use in the embodiments or the description of the prior art. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present disclosure. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without any creative work.

[0017] Figure 1 is a schematic structural diagram of a photovoltaic cleaning system disclosed in an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0018] Figure 2 is a structural schematic diagram of another photovoltaic cleaning system disclosed in an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0019] Figure 3 It is a flow chart of a photovoltaic cleaning method disclosed in an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0020] Description of reference numerals:

[0021] 1. Data acquisition unit; 2. Main control unit; 3. Cleaning device; 4. Water storage tank; 301. Spraying system; 302. Cleaning robot; 401. Electric valve; 402. Water level monitoring device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0022] The following embodiments of the present disclosure are further described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and examples. The detailed description of the following examples and the accompanying drawings are intended to illustrate the principles of the present disclosure, but are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. The present disclosure can be implemented in many different forms and is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed herein, but rather includes all technical solutions within the scope of the claims.

[0023] The present disclosure provides these embodiments in order to make this disclosure thorough and complete, and to fully convey the scope of the present disclosure to those skilled in the art. It should be noted that: unless otherwise specifically stated, the relative arrangement of parts and steps, the composition of materials, numerical expressions and numerical values ​​set forth in these embodiments should be interpreted as merely exemplary, and not as limiting.

[0024] It should be noted that, in the description of this disclosure, unless otherwise specified, "plurality" means greater than or equal to two; terms such as "upper," "lower," "left," "right," "inner," and "outer" indicating directions or positional relationships are intended solely to facilitate and simplify the description of this disclosure, and do not indicate or imply that the devices or elements referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed, or operate in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this disclosure. When the absolute position of the object being described changes, the relative positional relationship may also change accordingly.

[0025] In addition, the terms "first," "second," and similar terms used in this disclosure do not denote any order, quantity, or importance, but are merely used to distinguish different parts. "Perpendicular" does not mean perpendicular in the strict sense, but rather means within the tolerance range. "Parallel" does not mean parallel in the strict sense, but rather means within the tolerance range. "Include" or "comprising" and similar terms mean that the elements preceding the term include the elements listed after the term, and do not exclude the possibility of also including other elements.

[0026] It should also be noted that, in the description of this disclosure, unless otherwise expressly specified or limited, the terms "installed," "connected," and "connected" should be understood in a broad sense. For example, they can refer to fixed connections, detachable connections, or integral connections; they can refer to direct connections or indirect connections through an intermediary. Those skilled in the art will understand the specific meanings of the above terms in this disclosure depending on the specific circumstances. When a specific device is described as being located between a first device and a second device, there may or may not be an intervening device between the specific device and the first or second device.

[0027] All terms used in this disclosure have the same meaning as understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure belongs, unless otherwise specifically defined. It should also be understood that terms defined in, for example, common dictionaries should be interpreted as having a meaning consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art, and should not be interpreted in an idealized or highly formal sense, unless explicitly defined as such herein.

[0028] Technologies, methods, and equipment known to ordinary technicians in the relevant art may not be discussed in detail, but where appropriate, the technologies, methods, and equipment should be considered part of the specification.

[0029] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a photovoltaic cleaning system disclosed in an embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 1 As shown, the system includes the following structure.

[0030] The data acquisition unit 1 is used to acquire first data and send the first data to the main control unit 2.

[0031] The main control unit 2 is configured to receive the first data and issue an instruction to the cleaning device 3 based on a comparison result between the first data and the second data. The first data is the current power generation per unit time of the photovoltaic module, and the second data is the average power generation per unit time of the photovoltaic module.

[0032] The cleaning device 3 is used to clean the photovoltaic components based on the instructions of the main control unit 2.

[0033] The photovoltaic cleaning system proposed in this invention uses data acquisition unit 1 to collect the current power generation per unit time of the photovoltaic modules in real time and transmit this data to main control unit 2. Main control unit 2 compares the collected data with the average power generation per unit time of the photovoltaic modules. If the current power generation decreases significantly, it determines that the photovoltaic modules may be covered with dust or dirt and issues a cleaning instruction to cleaning device 3 accordingly. Upon receiving the instruction, cleaning device 3 cleans the photovoltaic modules, thereby maintaining their cleanliness, restoring their working condition, and improving power generation efficiency. This automated cleaning method not only improves cleaning efficiency, but also eliminates the need for manual wiping and cleaning, reducing labor costs.

[0034] In some embodiments, the data acquisition unit 1 is also used to collect the average power generation per unit time of the photovoltaic components over the years and send it to the main control unit 2. The main control unit 2 is also used to receive the average power generation per unit time of the photovoltaic components over the years and update the second data based on the average power generation per unit time of the photovoltaic components over the years.

[0035] In actual operation, the power generation of photovoltaic panels during normal operation is not constant. The photovoltaic enterprise's system stores historical power generation data. Data acquisition unit 1 periodically collects the average power generation per unit time of the photovoltaic panels from the photovoltaic enterprise's system, for example, once every year, and transmits it to main control unit 2. Main control unit 2 updates the average power generation value of the photovoltaic panels based on the collected historical average power generation per unit time, for example, by taking the average, median, or other representative value of the historical data. This more accurately reflects the actual power generation performance of the photovoltaic panels, more accurately determines whether the photovoltaic panels need cleaning, and improves the cleaning effect of the photovoltaic panels.

[0036] In some embodiments, the cleaning device 3 includes: a spraying system 301, including a pressure pump and a preset number of nozzles, the nozzles are fixed on a bracket, and cover a fan-shaped area by rotation during spraying, so as to spray the photovoltaic modules; and a cleaning robot 302, for cleaning the photovoltaic modules.

[0037] In order to make the nozzle more stable, the bracket can be a metal bracket. The cleaning robot 302 can be an existing cleaning robot 302 that can receive external instructions to clean the photovoltaic components.

[0038] The number of nozzles can be selected based on actual conditions. A preset number of nozzles rotate to cover a sector-shaped area during spraying, evenly spraying the photovoltaic panels. This reduces blind spots and effectively increases the spraying area. Cleaning robot 302 can further physically clean the photovoltaic panels, ensuring the cleanliness of the panel surfaces and improving their power generation efficiency.

[0039] In some embodiments, based on the comparison results of the first data and the second data, issuing instructions to the cleaning device 3 includes: when the first data is less than the second data and the difference is greater than a preset threshold, the main control unit 2 issues instructions to the spray system 301 and the cleaning robot 302 in turn for cleaning.

[0040] In a specific implementation, when the first data is less than the second data, and the difference is greater than a preset threshold, the photovoltaic module's power generation decreases, and it is determined that the photovoltaic module needs to be cleaned. Main control unit 2 first issues a command to spray system 301 to spray water, which can remove most of the dust and stains on the photovoltaic module. Main control unit 2 then issues a command to cleaning robot 302, which further cleans the module to ensure that the surface of the photovoltaic module is clean and free of residue. The coordinated operation of spray system 301 and cleaning robot 302 effectively improves the cleaning effect of the photovoltaic module.

[0041] In some embodiments, cleaning the photovoltaic components based on the instructions of the main control unit 2 includes: the spraying system 301 receives the instructions of the main control unit 2 and sprays the photovoltaic components, and the spraying time is a preset first time; and the cleaning robot 302 receives the instructions of the main control unit 2 and cleans the photovoltaic components, wherein the main control unit 2 issues the instructions to the cleaning robot 302 after the spraying is completed.

[0042] The length of the first duration can be adjusted through multiple actual tests to achieve a better cleaning effect while avoiding excessively long spraying time and waste of water resources.

[0043] It should be noted that the time when the main control unit 2 issues instructions to the cleaning robot 302 is automatically adjusted according to the first time length. After the main control unit 2 issues instructions to the spray system 301, it waits for a time not less than the first time length before issuing instructions to the cleaning robot 302.

[0044] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of another photovoltaic cleaning system disclosed in the embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 2 As shown, in some embodiments, the system also includes a water tank 4, which is provided with: a water inlet for adding water to the water tank 4; an electric valve 401, which is arranged at the water inlet of the water tank 4 and is controlled to open and close by the main control unit 2, for controlling the addition of water to the water tank 4; and a water outlet, which is connected to the spray system 301 and is used to supply water to the spray system 301.

[0045] The system proposed in the present invention supplies water to the spray system 301 through a water tank 4. An electric valve 401 is provided at the water inlet of the water tank 4. The main control unit 2 sends instructions to the electric valve 401 to accurately control the water inlet of the water tank 4.

[0046] In some embodiments, the water tank 4 is further provided with a water level monitoring device 402 for monitoring the water level in the water tank 4 and transmitting the monitoring result to the main control unit 2 .

[0047] In a specific implementation, the water level monitoring device 402 transmits the detection results of the water level in the water tank 4 to the main control unit 2 in real time. The staff can obtain the water level information of the water tank 4 through the main control unit 2. If the water level in the water tank 4 is low, the staff will open the electric valve 401 through the main control unit 2 to add water to the water tank 4 and monitor the water level information in real time. When the water level reaches a level that can normally supply the spray system 301, the staff will close the electric valve 401 through the main control unit 2, thereby preventing insufficient water in the water tank 4 from reducing the cleaning effect of the photovoltaic system.

[0048] In order to further improve the automation level of the system and reduce labor costs, the main control unit 2 can automatically control the opening and closing of the electric valve 401. In some embodiments, the main control unit 2 is further configured to control the opening and closing of the electric valve 401 based on the monitoring results of the water level monitoring device 402. When the water level is greater than a first water level threshold, the electric valve 401 is controlled to be closed. When the water level is less than a second water level threshold, the electric valve 401 is controlled to be opened. The first water level threshold is greater than the second water level threshold.

[0049] In practice, the first water level threshold can be set slightly lower than the total capacity of water tank 4 and can be adjusted based on actual conditions to prevent overflow. A second water level threshold is set based on the water supply from the outlet to the sprinkler system 301 to promptly replenish water in the water tank 4 and prevent the water level from being too low and affecting the spraying of the sprinkler system 301. The main control unit 2 compares the actual water level monitored by the water level monitoring device 402 with the first and second water level thresholds to automatically control the opening and closing of the electric valve 401, ensuring that the water level remains within an appropriate range. This achieves automated, immediate water replenishment, improves cleaning effectiveness, and reduces labor costs.

[0050] The photovoltaic cleaning system proposed in the present disclosure is simple and flexible to install, easy to operate, low in cost, and reliable in function, and can be widely used in photovoltaic modules in various scenarios.

[0051] Figure 3 This is a schematic flow chart of a photovoltaic cleaning method disclosed in an embodiment of the present disclosure, such as Figure 3 As shown, the method includes the following steps S101-S102.

[0052] Step S101: Receive first data.

[0053] Step S102: Compare the first data with the second data. When the first data is smaller than the second data and the difference is greater than a preset threshold, send instructions to the spray system 301 and the cleaning robot 302 in turn.

[0054] The first data is the current power generation per unit time of the photovoltaic module, and the second data is the average power generation per unit time of the photovoltaic module.

[0055] In some embodiments, the method also includes: controlling the opening and closing of the electric valve 401 of the water tank 4 based on the water level in the water tank 4, when the water level is greater than a first water level threshold, controlling the electric valve 401 to close, and when the water level is less than a second water level threshold, controlling the electric valve 401 to open, wherein the first water level threshold is greater than the second water level threshold.

[0056] The specific working principle and benefits of the photovoltaic cleaning method provided by the embodiment of the present invention are similar to the specific working principle and benefits of the photovoltaic cleaning system provided by the embodiment of the present invention, and will not be repeated here.

[0057] Thus far, various embodiments of the present disclosure have been described in detail. To avoid obscuring the concept of the present disclosure, some details known in the art have not been described. Based on the above description, those skilled in the art can fully understand how to implement the technical solutions disclosed herein.

[0058] Although some specific embodiments of the present disclosure have been described in detail through examples, those skilled in the art will understand that the above examples are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. Those skilled in the art will understand that the above embodiments may be modified or some technical features may be replaced with equivalents without departing from the scope and spirit of the present disclosure. In particular, as long as there are no structural conflicts, the various technical features mentioned in the various embodiments may be combined in any manner.

[0059] The acquisition, transmission, storage, use, and processing of data in the technical solution of this application comply with the relevant provisions of national laws and regulations.

[0060] It should be noted that in the embodiments of the present application, certain software, components, models and other existing solutions in the industry may be mentioned. They should be regarded as exemplary. Their purpose is only to illustrate the feasibility of implementing the technical solution of the present application, but it does not mean that the applicant has or will necessarily use the solution.

Claims

1. A photovoltaic cleaning system, characterized in that: The system comprises: A data acquisition unit (1) is used to acquire first data and send the first data to a main control unit (2); A main control unit (2) is used to receive the first data and issue an instruction to the cleaning device (3) based on a comparison result between the first data and the second data; and A cleaning device (3) is used to clean the photovoltaic module based on the instruction of the main control unit (2), The first data is the current power generation per unit time of the photovoltaic component, and the second data is the average power generation per unit time of the photovoltaic component.

2. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that The data acquisition unit (1) is also used to collect the average power generation per unit time of the photovoltaic assembly over the years and send it to the main control unit (2); the main control unit (2) is also used to receive the average power generation per unit time of the photovoltaic assembly over the years and update the second data based on the average power generation per unit time of the photovoltaic assembly over the years.

3. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that The cleaning device (3) comprises: A spraying system (301), comprising a pressure pump and a preset number of spray heads, wherein the spray heads are fixed on a bracket and rotate to cover a fan-shaped area during spraying, so as to spray the photovoltaic module; and A cleaning robot (302) is used to clean the photovoltaic assembly.

4. The system according to claim 3, characterized in that Based on the comparison result between the first data and the second data, issuing an instruction to the cleaning device (3) comprises: When the first data is smaller than the second data, and the difference is greater than a preset threshold, the main control unit (2) sends instructions to the spray system (301) and the cleaning robot (302) in sequence to perform cleaning.

5. The system according to claim 4, characterized in that Cleaning the photovoltaic assembly based on the instruction of the main control unit (2) includes: The spraying system (301) receives an instruction from the main control unit (2) to spray the photovoltaic assembly, and the spraying duration is a preset first duration; and The cleaning robot (302) receives the instruction from the main control unit (2) and cleans the photovoltaic assembly. The main control unit (2) issues an instruction to the cleaning robot (302) after the spraying is completed.

6. The system according to claim 3, characterized in that The system further comprises a water storage tank (4), on which is provided: A water inlet, used for adding water to the water storage tank (4); An electric valve (401) is arranged at the water inlet of the water storage tank (4), and is opened and closed by the main control unit (2) to control the addition of water to the water storage tank (4); as well as A water outlet is connected to the spray system (301) and is used to supply water to the spray system (301).

7. The system according to claim 6, characterized in that The water storage tank (4) is also provided with a water level monitoring device (402) for monitoring the water level in the water storage tank (4) and transmitting the monitoring result to the main control unit (2).

8. The system according to claim 7, characterized in that The main control unit (2) is further used to control the opening and closing of the electric valve (401) based on the monitoring result of the water level monitoring device (402); when the water level is greater than a first water level threshold, the electric valve (401) is controlled to be closed; when the water level is less than a second water level threshold, the electric valve (401) is controlled to be opened; Among them, the first water level threshold is greater than the second water level threshold.

9. A photovoltaic cleaning method, characterized in that: The method comprises: receiving first data; and The first data is compared with the second data, and when the first data is smaller than the second data and the difference is greater than a preset threshold, instructions are issued to the spray system (301) and the cleaning robot (302) in sequence, The first data is the current power generation per unit time of the photovoltaic component, and the second data is the average power generation per unit time of the photovoltaic component.

10. The method according to claim 9, characterized in that The method further comprises: The opening and closing of the electric valve (401) of the water storage tank (4) is controlled based on the water level in the water storage tank (4); when the water level is greater than a first water level threshold, the electric valve (401) is controlled to be closed; when the water level is less than a second water level threshold, the electric valve (401) is controlled to be opened; Among them, the first water level threshold is greater than the second water level threshold.

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