Washing system for solar panels
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for cleaning ground-mounted solar panels are inefficient, costly, and difficult to use, leading to reduced energy production due to soiling, especially in desert environments with limited rain, resulting in power production losses of up to 20% or more.
Innovation Solution
An automated system with an applicator apparatus and automatic position system (APS) equipped with sensors and a mobile vehicle that navigates between solar panels using proximity and GPS sensors, ensuring effective cleaning with minimal water and labor requirements, and includes a filtration system to recycle cleaning fluid.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If manual cleaning methods are used for solar panels, then cleaning can be performed, but water consumption and labor requirements become excessive
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning system is fully automated with a mobile vehicle that autonomously navigates to solar panels, positions itself, and performs cleaning operations without human intervention. The system self-manages the entire cleaning process including movement, positioning, and cleaning execution, eliminating the need for manual labor while optimizing water usage through controlled application.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical cleaning with an automated mobile vehicle system equipped with sensors and controllers. The vehicle uses GPS navigation, proximity sensors, and automated positioning mechanisms to perform cleaning tasks, substituting human-operated mechanical systems with automated electromechanical systems that reduce water consumption and labor requirements.
2Ease of operation
If conventional cleaning methods are used, then solar panels can be cleaned, but the process becomes costly and difficult to operate
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-navigation, self-positioning, and self-cleaning operations autonomously. The mobile vehicle independently locates solar panels using GPS and proximity sensors, positions itself correctly, and executes cleaning without requiring complex manual operation or human intervention, thereby simplifying ease of operation despite the advanced technology involved.
Solution Approach 2:
The mobile vehicle is designed as a multi-functional platform that combines navigation, positioning, and cleaning capabilities in a single system. This universal design integrates multiple functions (movement, detection, positioning, cleaning) into one apparatus, reducing operational complexity compared to separate systems while maintaining ease of use through automation.
3Productivity
If solar panels are not cleaned regularly, then maintenance costs are reduced, but energy production decreases due to soiling
Solution Approach 1:
The automated cleaning system enables continuous or frequent cleaning operations without the time constraints of manual labor. The mobile vehicle can systematically service multiple solar panels in sequence, maintaining continuous cleaning action across the array, which prevents energy production loss from soiling while optimizing the time investment through efficient automated operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces time-consuming manual cleaning operations with automated electromechanical systems that can operate more efficiently and consistently. The automated vehicle performs cleaning tasks faster and more uniformly than manual methods, reducing the total time required for effective cleaning while maximizing energy production recovery from soiled panels.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and system for cleaning an array of solar panels. The system can include an applicator apparatus configured with a plurality of cleaning devices, and an automatic position system (APS) configured with the applicator apparatus. The APS can include a first and second sensor coupled to the applicator apparatus. A controller coupled to the first and second sensor devices can be configured to adjust a position of the applicator apparatus to maintain the plurality of cleaning devices in a direction facing a solar panel to facilitate a removal of an undesired material from the solar panel, while the applicator apparatus is moved from a first position to a second position. A mobile vehicle can be configured with the applicator apparatus to move along a row of the array of solar panels to perform the method for cleaning.