Solar Surface Condensation Cleaning Using Compressed Air Cooling
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Solar systems with transmissive or reflective light receiving surfaces face performance issues due to particulate contamination, particularly in urban, remote, or offshore locations where high particle and dirt concentrations occur, leading to operational efficiency drops.
Innovation Solution
A solar system comprising a condensation subassembly that uses compressed air expansion to cool the light receiving surface, condensing humidity, which is collected and used for cleaning through a water collection and cleaning subassembly, featuring a water dispensing unit with spray nozzles and optional filtration and recycling systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If the light receiving surface is exposed to ambient air for solar energy collection, then solar energy conversion is enabled, but particulate contamination accumulates on the surface reducing performance
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses ambient humidity from the air to clean the light receiving surface itself. The light receiving surface serves dual purposes: solar energy collection and water collection media. Condensed water naturally flows to collection vessels and is then used to clean the surface, creating a self-sustaining cleaning cycle without external water supply or complex cleaning mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention converts the harmful effect of ambient humidity (which could cause condensation and reduce solar performance) into a beneficial resource. By actively managing condensation through controlled cooling, the system transforms excess humidity into clean water for surface cleaning, turning a potential performance-reducing factor into a useful cleaning agent.
2Quantity of substance
If compressed air expansion is used to cool the light receiving surface for condensation, then water collection is enabled, but energy is consumed for compression
Solution Approach 1:
The compressed air system serves multiple functions: it cools the light receiving surface to enable condensation, pressurizes the collected water for efficient delivery to nozzles, and can potentially be used for cleaning. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate systems and justifies the energy investment by achieving multiple objectives with a single energy input.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the temperature parameter of the light receiving surface through compressed air expansion (Joule-Thomson effect), enabling condensation of ambient humidity. This parameter change transforms the surface into an active water collection medium, allowing water harvesting from atmospheric moisture without requiring external water sources.
3Extent of automation
If water collection and cleaning systems are integrated, then self-sustaining operation is achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the water collection system and cleaning system into a single integrated unit. The light receiving surface serves as both the solar energy collector and the water collection media. Condensed water flows directly to collection vessels positioned at the bottom edges, and the same water is then pressurized and delivered back to clean the surface, creating a closed-loop self-sustaining system.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses pneumatic principles (compressed air) for multiple functions: cooling the surface for condensation, pressurizing collected water for delivery, and potentially for actuating cleaning mechanisms. This pneumatic integration reduces the need for separate electric pumps and motors, simplifying the overall system architecture while achieving self-sustaining operation.
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
Effectively addresses particulate contamination by inducing condensation, collecting, and using water for efficient cleaning, enhancing the operational efficiency of solar systems while minimizing energy consumption and maintaining performance across varying environmental conditions.
Implementation Method 1
expansion of compressed air in the expansion chamber, as controlled by the compressed air expansion valve, encourages humidity condensation on the light receiving surface by reducing the temperature of the light receiving surface
Implementation Method 2
The expansion chamber of the condensation subassembly is thermally coupled to the light receiving surface and thermally insulated from the ambient
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2~5
Figure 6~7
AI summary
A solar system (100) is provided comprising a light receiving surface (10), a condensation subassembly (20), a water collection subassembly (30), and a cleaning subassembly (40). The expansion chamber (24) of the condensation subassembly is thermally coupled to the light receiving surface and thermally insulated from the ambient such that expansion of compressed air in the expansion chamber, as controlled by the compressed air expansion valve (22), encourages humidity condensation on the light receiving surface by reducing the temperature of the light receiving surface. The water collection subassembly comprises a water collection vessel and water direction hardware (34) positioned to direct condensed water on the light receiving surface to the water collection vessel. The cleaning subassembly comprises a water dispensing unit (42) positioned to dispense water from the water collection vessel over the light receiving surface of the solar system (100).