Solar Boat Panel Cleaning Using Compressed Inflow Water
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional solar panel cleaning methods are not suitable for solar boats operating on water, as they do not effectively address the reduction in power production efficiency due to foreign substances like dust and dirt on the panels.
Innovation Solution
A device and method using inflow water introduced through a front water inlet port, compressed, and filtered to clean solar panels on solar boats, with optional salinity, pH, and temperature regulation, and pollution-level adjustment for efficient cleaning in various water conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional cleaning methods are used for solar panels on solar boats, then the cleaning process can be simple, but the cleaning effectiveness is insufficient and power production efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning device uses a movable robotic platform that can dynamically position itself and adjust its cleaning operations based on the solar panel configuration and contamination levels, enabling effective cleaning on the moving solar boat while maintaining power production efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning system operates autonomously on the solar boat, using onboard resources such as water storage tanks and power from the solar panels themselves to drive the cleaning process, allowing the system to service itself without external intervention
2Ease of operation
If cleaning water is stored in advance for solar panel cleaning, then cleaning can be performed, but the device complexity increases and storage space is required
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the water storage function from the cleaning system by utilizing the solar boat's existing operational water intake capability, separating the cleaning water supply from dedicated storage tanks and using the boat's movement through water bodies as the source of cleaning water
Solution Approach 2:
The water intake system serves multiple functions: it provides cleaning water for solar panels, supplies water for ballast control, and can be used for cooling, eliminating the need for separate dedicated water storage systems while simplifying the overall device complexity
3Reliability
If cleaning solution is applied to solar panels, then cleaning effectiveness improves, but the method is not suitable for solar boats operating on water
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning method transitions from using chemical cleaning solutions to using pressurized water spray, changing the fundamental parameter of cleaning medium from chemical to physical, which adapts the system to the solar boat environment operating on water while maintaining effective cleaning capability
Solution Approach 2:
The invention employs hydraulic principles by using high-pressure water spray delivered through hoses and nozzles to clean the solar panels, leveraging the availability of water in the boat's operational environment and using pressure-driven fluid delivery to achieve effective cleaning without chemical solutions
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Improves power production efficiency by providing effective cleaning and temperature control for solar panels on solar boats, allowing operation in both freshwater and seawater environments.
Implementation Method 1
a compression unit compressing the impurities-removed water
Implementation Method 2
a spray nozzle spraying the compressed water to the solar panel
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a device and method of cleaning a solar panel of a solar boat using, as cleaning water, water externally introduced and compressed during operation of the solar boat. The device includes a water inlet port disposed on the front side of the solar boat, a filtration unit removing impurities from water introduced through the water inlet port during operation of the solar boat, a compression unit compressing impurities-removed water, and a spray nozzle spraying the compressed water to the solar panel.