Photovoltaic panel cleaning device based on electrostatic adsorption principle and material thereof

Abstract

The application provides a photovoltaic panel cleaning device based on electrostatic adsorption principle and a material thereof, and relates to the technical field of photovoltaic panel cleaning. The photovoltaic panel cleaning device based on electrostatic adsorption principle and the material thereof comprise a protective film mechanism, an air knife mechanism and a connecting plate, the connecting plate is fixedly arranged on the side of the protective film mechanism, the connecting plate is embedded with a control module, the protective film mechanism comprises an expansion plate and a glass substrate, an ITO electrode is embedded on the upper end of the glass substrate, the contact surface of the expansion plate and the glass substrate is subjected to micro-rough texture treatment, the air knife mechanism is fixedly arranged outside the connecting plate, and the side, close to the protective film mechanism, of the air knife mechanism is provided with an air outlet. An integrated covering structure is adopted, and additional moving components are not needed. The cleaning is cooperatively performed through thermal micro-vibration and electrostatic adsorption, the core components are integrated with protection, the process is mature, the cleaning efficiency and the device durability are significantly improved, and the operation and maintenance cost is reduced.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of photovoltaic panel cleaning technology, specifically to a photovoltaic panel cleaning device and its materials based on the principle of electrostatic adsorption. Background Technology

[0002] Photovoltaic panel cleaning equipment is a specialized operation and maintenance device used in ground-mounted centralized power plants, distributed rooftop photovoltaic modules, and photovoltaic arrays in arid and water-scarce areas. Its core function is to remove dust and particulate matter adhering to the surface of photovoltaic panels, maintaining the light transmittance and power generation efficiency of the panels. Existing cleaning devices mostly adopt mechanical scraping, high-pressure water washing, or a single electrostatic adsorption structure. They are mainly in the form of split-type mobile devices, which need to be equipped with independent walking, driving, and control components. They complete the surface cleaning operation through relative movement with the photovoltaic panel array and are an indispensable key supporting device in the operation and maintenance system of photovoltaic power plants.

[0003] Most existing photovoltaic panel cleaning technologies use separate devices from the photovoltaic panels, requiring independent construction of operating tracks or mobile chassis. This results in complex structures, high costs, and additional space requirements. While single electrostatic adsorption devices offer advantages such as water conservation and low damage, their dust collection components are directly exposed to the outdoor environment, making them susceptible to wind and sand abrasion, UV aging, and rainwater erosion, leading to failure. Furthermore, they cannot form a protective structure for the photovoltaic panels, making it difficult to achieve integrated cleaning and protection functions. Ultimately, this results in a long-term decline in the efficiency of photovoltaic panel operation and maintenance, and an increase in maintenance costs, failing to meet the development needs of large-scale, low-cost operation and maintenance of photovoltaic power plants. Summary of the Invention

[0004] Technical problems to be solved

[0005] To address the shortcomings of existing technologies, this invention provides a photovoltaic panel cleaning device and its materials based on the principle of electrostatic adsorption. This solves the problems of existing photovoltaic panel cleaning devices being mostly split-type, with complex structures, core cleaning components being susceptible to corrosion and failure due to outdoor environments, and failing to achieve integrated cleaning and protection, resulting in high operation and maintenance costs and unstable cleaning efficiency.

[0006] Technical solution

[0007] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides the following technical solution: a photovoltaic panel cleaning device based on the principle of electrostatic adsorption, comprising a protective film mechanism, an air knife mechanism, and a connecting plate;

[0008] The connecting plate is fixedly mounted on the side of the protective film mechanism, and the control module is embedded in the connecting plate;

[0009] The protective film mechanism includes an expansion plate and a glass substrate. An ITO electrode is embedded in the upper end of the glass substrate, and the contact surface between the expansion plate and the glass substrate is treated with a micro-rough texture.

[0010] The air knife mechanism is fixedly installed outside the connecting plate. The air knife mechanism includes a shrink frame, and an air outlet is opened on the side of the shrink frame near the protective film mechanism.

[0011] Preferably, a composite dust collection film is fixedly connected to the upper end of the expansion plate, and a protective plate is fixedly connected to the upper end of the composite dust collection film. The protective plate, the composite dust collection film, the expansion plate, and the glass substrate are arranged in sequence from top to bottom.

[0012] Preferably, the air knife mechanism further includes a connecting frame and two fans. The connecting frame is fixedly disposed on the side of the shrink frame away from the protective film mechanism, and the two fans are symmetrically fixed on the side of the connecting frame away from the shrink frame, and both fans are fixedly connected to the lower end of the connecting plate.

[0013] Preferably, the protective plate is made of PMMA or PC, the expansion plate is made of PMMA, and the glass substrate is made of ultra-white float glass or borosilicate glass.

[0014] Preferably, the composite dust collection film is an MXene / SWCNT / WPU composite film, the components of which include, by mass fraction: 60-70% waterborne polyurethane, 15-20% MXene, 5-10% single-walled carbon nanotubes, 1-3% quaternary ammonium salt antistatic agent and 0.5-1% ultraviolet light stabilizer.

[0015] Preferably, the ITO electrodes are made of ITO transparent conductive film or stainless steel fine wire mesh, and the ITO electrodes are arranged in a parallel array.

[0016] Preferably, the protective film mechanism is fixedly connected to the photovoltaic panel frame via a connecting plate, the protective film mechanism covers the entire surface of the photovoltaic panel, and a gap is left between the protective film mechanism and the photovoltaic panel.

[0017] A composite dust collection material for a photovoltaic panel cleaning device, wherein the composite dust collection material is an MXene / SWCNT / WPU composite film, prepared by electrospinning + vacuum drying process, with a volume resistivity ≤100Ω·cm, electrostatic adsorption capacity ≥50g / m², bending times ≥10000 times, and bending radius 5mm.

[0018] Beneficial effects

[0019] This invention provides a photovoltaic panel cleaning device and its materials based on the principle of electrostatic adsorption. It has the following beneficial effects:

[0020] 1. This invention provides a photovoltaic panel cleaning device and its materials based on the principle of electrostatic adsorption. The invention utilizes a protective film mechanism consisting of a protective plate, a composite dust collection film, an expansion plate, and a glass substrate, stacked together. This protective film directly covers the surface of the photovoltaic panel and is fixedly connected to the panel's frame, enabling long-term collaborative operation with the photovoltaic panel. It eliminates the need for additional moving drive components and running tracks, significantly simplifying the device structure and reducing space occupation and maintenance costs. The expansion plate and glass substrate are made of materials with significantly different coefficients of thermal expansion. The contact surfaces are treated with a micro-rough texture. The relative deformation caused by the temperature difference under sunlight generates stable high-frequency micro-vibrations, effectively promoting the loosening and peeling of dust from the photovoltaic panel and protective plate surfaces. Combined with the uniform electrostatic field formed by the ITO electrodes, this achieves efficient dust polarization and cleaning, ensuring stable light transmittance of the photovoltaic panel and improving the thoroughness and sustainability of the cleaning operation.

[0021] 2. This invention provides a photovoltaic panel cleaning device and its materials based on the principle of electrostatic adsorption. The invention embeds an ITO electrode into the upper surface of a glass substrate, and a composite dust-collecting film is fixed to the upper surface of an expansion plate. All core functional components are integrated within a transparent protective structure, effectively isolating the functional components from harsh outdoor environments such as wind, sand, rain, and ultraviolet radiation, significantly extending the device's service life. The accompanying specialized composite dust-collecting material possesses high conductivity, large adsorption capacity, and excellent flexibility, stably adsorbing polarized suspended dust. Combined with the directional blowing action of the air knife mechanism, it achieves self-cleaning and regeneration of the dust-collecting components, optimizing the device's reusability and further improving the long-term stability and power generation efficiency of photovoltaic panels, thus promoting the development of photovoltaic cleaning technology towards integration, low maintenance, and high durability. Attached Figure Description

[0022] Figure 1 This is an isometric view of the present invention;

[0023] Figure 2 This is a bottom-view axial side view of the present invention;

[0024] Figure 3 This is an isometric view of the air knife mechanism of the present invention;

[0025] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the protective film mechanism of the present invention.

[0026] Among them, 1. Protective film mechanism; 2. Air knife mechanism; 3. Connecting plate; 101. Protective plate; 102. Composite dust collection film; 103. Expansion plate; 104. ITO electrode; 105. Glass substrate; 201. Fan; 202. Connecting frame; 203. Shrink frame; 204. Air outlet. Detailed Implementation

[0027] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0028] like Figure 1-4 As shown, this invention discloses a photovoltaic panel self-cleaning device based on the synergistic effect of electrostatic adsorption and thermally induced micro-vibration. The device has an integrated, covered structure, including a protective film mechanism 1, an air knife mechanism 2, and a connecting plate 3. The connecting plate 3 is fixed to the side of the protective film mechanism 1 and has a control module embedded inside. The protective film mechanism 1 includes a protective plate 101, a composite dust collection film 102, an expansion plate 103, an ITO electrode 104, and a glass substrate 105. The air knife mechanism 2 includes a fan 201, a connecting frame 202, a shrink frame 203, and an air outlet 204.

[0029] Example 1: Overall Assembly and Structural Forming of the Device

[0030] Layer structure preparation

[0031] The protective plate 101 is made of 3mm thick PMMA board, which is treated with ultraviolet curing and has a surface roughness Ra≤0.05μm; the expansion plate 103 is made of 2mm thick PMMA board, and the contact surface with the glass substrate 105 is treated with micro-rough texture, with a texture depth of 5-10μm; the glass substrate 105 is made of 4mm ultra-white float glass, and ITO transparent conductive film is deposited on its surface by magnetron sputtering, and parallel array electrodes are formed by photolithography etching, with a line width of 200μm and a spacing of 1mm.

[0032] Lamination

[0033] The protective plate 101, composite dust collection film 102, expansion plate 103, and glass substrate 105 are laminated sequentially from top to bottom using transparent epoxy flexible adhesive; lamination parameters: temperature 80℃, pressure 0.3MPa, holding pressure for 30min, to ensure no air bubbles or peeling between layers.

[0034] Air knife mechanism assembly

[0035] Two fans 201 are symmetrically fixed below the connecting plate 3, with the air outlet 204 facing the surface of the composite dust collection film 102 at an angle of 30°; the shrink frame 203 is integrally injection molded with the connecting frame 202, and the air outlet gap is 1.5mm wide to ensure uniform airflow.

[0036] Installation method

[0037] The protective film mechanism 1 is fixed to the photovoltaic panel frame with bolts via the connecting plate 3, and covers the entire surface of the photovoltaic panel. A gap of 3-5mm is maintained between the protective film mechanism 1 and the photovoltaic panel to avoid contact wear and ensure electrostatic field space.

[0038] Example 2: Preparation and Performance Testing of Composite Dust Collection Film

[0039] Experimental materials and proportions

[0040] Waterborne polyurethane (WPU): 65%; MXene (Ti3C2T) x ): 18%; Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs): 8%; Quaternary ammonium salt antistatic agents: 2%; Ultraviolet light stabilizers: 1%.

[0041] Laboratory preparation steps

[0042] MXene powder and SWCNT were added to deionized water at a ratio of 5wt% and ultrasonically dispersed for 30 min at 300W intermittently. WPU emulsion, antistatic agent, and UV stabilizer were added and mechanically stirred for 60 min at 500 r / min to adjust the viscosity to 800-1200 mPa·s. Electrospinning was performed at 15 kV, 15 cm receiving distance, 0.8 mL / h feed rate, 25℃ ambient temperature, and 40% RH humidity. Vacuum drying was carried out at 60℃ for 12 h at a heating rate of 2℃ / min. After cooling, the product was cut and electroless nickel-plated to prepare the electrode interface.

[0043] Performance testing

[0044] Volume resistivity: 76 Ω·cm, ≤100 Ω·cm, measured using a four-probe tester; Electrostatic adsorption capacity: 62 g / m², ≥50 g / m², measured using standard SiO2 dust as a simulated pollutant, electric field strength 3 kV / cm, adsorption for 30 min; Bending fatigue: 10,000 cycles of bending with a bending radius of 5 mm, resistivity change rate <10%, no cracks or peeling; UV aging resistance: 500 h of irradiation at 340 nm and 0.89 W / m², tensile strength retention rate >85%, conductivity retention rate >80%.

[0045] Table 1 Key Performance Test Data of Composite Dust Collection Film

[0046] Volume resistivity Four-probe method 76Ω·cm ≤100Ω·cm Electrostatic adsorption capacity 3kV / cm, 30min 62g / m² ≥50g / m² Bending fatigue performance R=5mm, 10000 times No cracks, resistivity change <10% satisfy UV aging resistance 500h, 340nm Strength retention rate >85% satisfy

[0047] Example 3: Cleaning Effect Verification and Electric Field Control Example

[0048] Experimental platform construction

[0049] Simulated light source: Xenon lamp simulating sunlight, irradiance 1000W / m²; Test sample: Protective film structure sample 300mm×300mm; Test dust: Desert sand + SiO2 mixed standard dust, particle size 10-100μm; Testing equipment: Transmittance meter, high-speed camera, electrostatic field tester, data acquisition card.

[0050] Experimental steps

[0051] Sample preparation: The protective film structure was placed horizontally, and 2g / m² standard dust was evenly sprinkled on it. After standing for 10 minutes, the initial transmittance T0 was measured to be 82.3%. Thermally induced micro-vibration excitation: Xenon lamp was turned on for continuous irradiation. When the temperature difference between the expansion plate 103 and the glass substrate 105 was ΔT=25℃, high-frequency micro-vibration was generated, and the dust loosened and entered a suspended state. Electrostatic adsorption cleaning: A DC high voltage of 2.5kV was applied to the ITO electrode, and the composite dust collection film was simultaneously loaded with adsorption voltage for 10 minutes. Transmittance test: After cleaning, the transmittance T1 was measured to be 92.1%, and the transmittance recovery rate was 97.8%. Air knife self-cleaning and regeneration: The fan was started, the wind speed was 12m / s, and the dust removal rate was >95% after 60s. Cyclic stability: After 50 cycles of repeated contamination-thermal vibration-electrostatic cleaning-air knife regeneration, the transmittance remained above 90%.

[0052] Table 2 Cleaning effect and cycle stability test data

[0053] Initial transmittance 82.3% Light transmittance after cleaning 92.1% transmittance recovery rate 97.8% Dust removal rate of air knife regeneration >95% transmittance after 50 cycles ≥90%

[0054] Example 4: Comparison of different electrode structures

[0055] Experimental Group A: ITO transparent conductive thin film electrode, prepared by magnetron sputtering + photolithography; with excellent electric field uniformity, light transmittance of 92.5%, and high cleaning efficiency.

[0056] Experimental Group B: Stainless steel fine wire mesh grid electrode, prepared by weaving + electrochemical polishing process; good electric field uniformity, light transmittance of 88.3%, lower cost and stronger resistance to damage.

[0057] At the same voltage, ITO electrodes have a cleaning efficiency 6.2% higher than that of wire mesh electrodes; stainless steel fine wire mesh electrodes are more suitable for large-scale outdoor applications.

[0058] Table 3 Comparison of performance of different electrode structures

[0059] ITO transparent conductive film 92.5% excellent high higher Stainless steel wire mesh 88.3% good higher Low

[0060] Example 5: Cleaning efficiency under different ambient temperatures

[0061] Low temperature group (5℃): The temperature difference between the expansion plate and the glass substrate ΔT=12℃, the micro-vibration intensity is relatively weak, and the cleaning efficiency is 86.4%.

[0062] Medium temperature group (25℃): The temperature difference between the expansion plate and the glass substrate is ΔT=25℃, the micro-vibration is stable, and the cleaning efficiency is 95.7%.

[0063] High temperature group (45℃): The temperature difference between the expansion plate and the glass substrate is ΔT=38℃, the micro-vibration is strong, and the cleaning efficiency is 96.1%.

[0064] Experiments show that the higher the ambient temperature, the stronger the thermally induced micro-vibration and the higher the cleaning efficiency. This device has a better cleaning effect in high temperature and high dust environments.

[0065] Table 4. Cleaning efficiency test data under different temperature conditions

[0066] 5℃ 12℃ Weak 86.4% 25℃ 25℃ Stablize 95.7% 45℃ 38℃ strong 96.1%

[0067] Working Principle: During installation, this device is fixedly connected to the photovoltaic panel frame via connecting plate 3. The protective film mechanism 1 covers the entire upper surface of the photovoltaic panel, with a pre-set gap between the protective film mechanism 1 and the photovoltaic panel surface to ensure the photovoltaic panel receives sunlight normally and avoids physical damage caused by direct contact. During operation, the heat generated by the photovoltaic panel receiving sunlight is gradually transferred to each layer of the protective film mechanism 1. Because the expansion plate 103 and the glass substrate 105 are made of materials with significantly different coefficients of thermal expansion, they undergo expansion and contraction deformation of varying degrees during temperature changes. Due to the micro-rough texture treatment of the contact surfaces, continuous high-frequency micro-vibrations are formed during the relative deformation process. This vibration is transmitted to the protective plate 101 and the photovoltaic panel surface, promoting the loosening and peeling of attached dust particles, causing the dust to enter a suspended state.

[0068] The control module embedded in the connecting plate 3 synchronously outputs a high-voltage electrical signal to the ITO electrodes on the upper end of the glass substrate 105. The ITO electrodes are arranged in a parallel array, forming a uniformly distributed electrostatic field after being energized. This electrostatic field penetrates the expansion plate 103 and the composite dust collection film 102, acting on the suspended dust particles to achieve full polarization of the dust particles, significantly weakening the binding force between the dust particles and each plate surface, thus creating the basic conditions for dust adsorption and collection. After the composite dust collection film 102 is connected to the high-voltage DC signal output by the control module, a strong adsorption electric field is formed. The polarized suspended dust migrates directionally to the surface of the composite dust collection film 102 under the action of the electric field force, and is stably adsorbed and fixed, completing the in-situ cleaning of dust on the photovoltaic panel surface.

[0069] When the composite dust collection film 102 reaches its saturation threshold for adsorbed dust, the control module activates the air knife mechanism 2 according to a preset cycle. Two fans 201 operate synchronously, generating high-pressure airflow. This airflow converges through the connecting frame 202 and enters the shrinking frame 203. It then blows the surface of the composite dust collection film 102 through the air outlet 204 on the side of the shrinking frame 203 closest to the protective film mechanism 1, sweeping the adsorbed dust to the preset dust collection area, thus completing the self-cleaning and regeneration of the composite dust collection film 102. After the cleaning operation is completed, the air knife mechanism 2 stops operating, and the composite dust collection film 102 and the ITO electrode return to their working state. The synergistic effect of thermally induced micro-vibration and electrostatic adsorption continues, achieving long-term stable cleaning of dust on the photovoltaic panel surface and ensuring the efficient and stable operation of the photovoltaic modules.

[0070] Although embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes, modifications, substitutions and alterations can be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A photovoltaic panel cleaning device based on the principle of electrostatic adsorption, characterized in that, It includes a protective film mechanism (1), an air knife mechanism (2), and a connecting plate (3); The connecting plate (3) is fixedly installed on the side of the protective film mechanism (1), and the connecting plate (3) has an embedded control module. The protective film mechanism (1) includes an expansion plate (103) and a glass substrate (105). An ITO electrode (104) is embedded in the upper end of the glass substrate (105). The contact surface between the expansion plate (103) and the glass substrate (105) is treated with a micro-rough texture. The air knife mechanism (2) is fixedly installed outside the connecting plate (3). The air knife mechanism (2) includes a shrink frame (203). The shrink frame (203) has an air outlet (204) on the side near the protective film mechanism (1).

2. The photovoltaic panel cleaning device based on the principle of electrostatic adsorption according to claim 1, characterized in that, The expansion plate (103) is fixedly connected to the upper end of a composite dust collection film (102), and the composite dust collection film (102) is fixedly connected to the upper end of a protective plate (101). The protective plate (101), the composite dust collection film (102), the expansion plate (103), and the glass substrate (105) are arranged in sequence from top to bottom.

3. The photovoltaic panel cleaning device based on the principle of electrostatic adsorption according to claim 1, characterized in that, The air knife mechanism (2) also includes a connecting frame (202) and two fans (201). The connecting frame (202) is fixedly installed on the side of the shrink frame (203) away from the protective film mechanism (1). The two fans (201) are symmetrically fixed on the side of the connecting frame (202) away from the shrink frame (203), and both fans (201) are fixedly connected to the lower end of the connecting plate (3).

4. A photovoltaic panel cleaning device based on the principle of electrostatic adsorption according to claim 2, characterized in that, The protective plate (101) is made of PMMA or PC, the expansion plate (103) is made of PMMA, and the glass substrate (105) is made of ultra-white float glass or borosilicate glass.

5. A photovoltaic panel cleaning device based on the principle of electrostatic adsorption according to claim 2, characterized in that, The composite dust collection film (102) is an MXene / SWCNT / WPU composite film, and its components include, by mass fraction: 60-70% waterborne polyurethane, 15-20% MXene, 5-10% single-walled carbon nanotubes, 1-3% quaternary ammonium salt antistatic agent and 0.5-1% ultraviolet light stabilizer.

6. The photovoltaic panel cleaning device based on the principle of electrostatic adsorption according to claim 1, characterized in that, The ITO electrode (104) is made of ITO transparent conductive film or stainless steel fine wire mesh, and the ITO electrode (104) is arranged in a parallel array.

7. A photovoltaic panel cleaning device based on the principle of electrostatic adsorption according to claim 1, characterized in that, The protective film mechanism (1) is fixedly connected to the photovoltaic panel frame via a connecting plate (3). The protective film mechanism (1) covers the entire surface of the photovoltaic panel, and a gap is left between the protective film mechanism (1) and the photovoltaic panel.

8. A composite dust collection material for a photovoltaic panel cleaning device, characterized in that, The composite dust collection material is an MXene / SWCNT / WPU composite film, prepared by electrospinning and vacuum drying process. Its volume resistivity is ≤100Ω·cm, electrostatic adsorption capacity is ≥50g / m², bending times are ≥10000 times, and bending radius is 5mm.

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