Autonomous Robotic Solar Tracker Cleaning Under Wind Constraints
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing solar tracker cleaning systems face challenges in maintaining efficiency due to dust and soiling, as they often require water and heavy robotic cleaners that can damage anti-reflective coatings and are not safe under varying wind conditions.
Innovation Solution
A waterless solar tracker cleaning system using lightweight autonomous robotic cleaners (ARCs) with low-pressure cleaning cylinders and a docking station that anchors the ARC during extreme winds, allowing for efficient cleaning without damaging coatings and ensuring safety under various wind conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If heavy robotic cleaners are used to clean solar trackers, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but the anti-reflective coating on solar panels is damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical brush-based cleaning systems with a robotic cleaner that uses controlled mechanical contact through soft brushes or cloths. The robotic system substitutes heavy manual cleaning equipment with a lightweight autonomous platform that applies gentler, more controlled cleaning forces to preserve the anti-reflective coating while maintaining cleaning effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the weight parameter of the cleaning robot from heavy to lightweight design. This parameter change allows the robot to clean solar trackers without exerting excessive force that would damage the anti-reflective coating, while still maintaining sufficient cleaning capability through optimized cleaning mechanisms and materials.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If lightweight robotic cleaners are used to avoid damaging coatings, then coating preservation is improved, but the robot safety under wind conditions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic anchoring mechanisms that allow the lightweight robotic cleaner to adapt its stability in real-time. The robot can deploy anchors or locking mechanisms when wind conditions are detected, transforming from a static lightweight design to a dynamically stabilized system that maintains both light weight for coating protection and safety for wind resistance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces anchoring mechanisms as an intermediary between the lightweight robot and the solar tracker structure. These anchors serve as a mediator that transfers wind loads from the lightweight robot to the robust solar tracker framework, allowing the robot to remain lightweight for coating protection while achieving wind resistance through the intermediary anchoring system.
3Productivity
If water-based cleaning systems are used, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but water consumption and installation complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the water-based cleaning component from the cleaning system. Instead of using water as the cleaning medium, the system employs dry cleaning mechanisms such as electrostatic attraction, adhesive rollers, or dry brushes that collect dust and debris without requiring water, thereby eliminating water consumption while maintaining cleaning effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces hydraulic water-based cleaning with pneumatic or air-based cleaning mechanisms. The system uses controlled air flows to lift and remove dust particles from the solar panel surface, substituting the hydraulic water delivery system with a pneumatic approach that reduces water consumption while achieving effective cleaning through air pressure and flow dynamics.
Data Source
AI summary
A solar tracker waterless cleaning system for cleaning solar panels of a solar tracker under varying wind conditions, the solar tracker being able to be positioned at a pre-determined angle, the waterless cleaning system including a docking station, an autonomous robotic cleaner (ARC) and a master controller, the docking station being coupled with an edge of the solar tracker, the master controller for receiving and transmitting data to and from the solar tracker and the ARC, the ARC including a controller, for controlling a cleaning process and for transmitting and receiving signals, the docking station including a plurality of locking bars, coupled with the docking station, for protecting the ARC during the varying wind conditions, the ARC can anchor in the docking station and the master controller determines an average wind speed and provides a clean command to the ARC if the average wind speed is below a predetermined threshold.