Parabolic Trough Cleaner Arms for Obstacle-Aware Surface Coverage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cleaning vehicles for parabolic trough solar collectors face challenges in accessing and cleaning hard-to-reach areas due to structural obstacles, leading to incomplete cleaning of the collector surface.
Innovation Solution
A motorized cleaning vehicle with telescopic arms, pivot heads, and high-pressure water systems, equipped with proximity sensors and retraction actuators to navigate around obstacles, and a control system for precise positioning and automatic operation, allowing for complete cleaning by rotating and pivoting arms to access all areas.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the cleaning vehicle uses fixed cleaning arms, then the structure is simple, but the brushes cannot access hard-to-reach areas due to structural obstacles
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning arms are made dynamic through telescopic sections that can extend and retract, and pivot joints that allow angular adjustment. This enables the brushes to reach previously inaccessible areas of the collector surface while maintaining a relatively simple base structure when retracted.
Solution Approach 2:
The telescopic cleaning arms use nested sections where one arm segment is inserted within another, allowing compact storage when not in use and extended reach when needed. This nesting principle resolves the contradiction by providing both simplicity (compact form) and versatility (extended accessibility).
2Reliability
If the cleaning brushes are retracted to avoid obstacles, then the brushes are protected from damage, but the cleaning coverage is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
Proximity sensors detect obstacles in real-time and provide feedback to the control system, which automatically adjusts the cleaning arm extension and brush position. This feedback mechanism allows the system to maintain optimal cleaning coverage while avoiding obstacles, protecting brushes without significantly reducing productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning system dynamically adjusts brush extension based on real-time obstacle detection, allowing maximum reach for cleaning coverage while automatically retracting when obstacles are detected, thus protecting brushes while maintaining productivity.
3Manufacturing precision
If the cleaning vehicle operates manually, then the system is simple to control, but the cleaning precision and completeness are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning vehicle operates autonomously using onboard proximity sensors that detect obstacles and automatically adjust cleaning arm positions and brush extensions. The system serves itself by making real-time decisions without manual intervention, achieving high cleaning precision while the control complexity is managed through automated algorithms.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system uses feedback from proximity sensors to automatically adjust cleaning parameters, achieving precise cleaning coverage. The automated feedback control reduces the need for manual operation while maintaining or improving cleaning precision.
4Productivity
If the cleaning arms are extended to reach all areas, then the cleaning coverage is maximized, but the risk of collision with obstacles increases
Solution Approach 1:
Proximity sensors detect obstacles before the cleaning arms can collide with them, allowing the system to preemptively adjust arm extension and avoid collisions. This preliminary detection and action prevents harmful collisions while maintaining maximum cleaning coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning arms dynamically adjust their extension based on real-time obstacle detection, extending to maximum reach for cleaning coverage while automatically retracting or redirecting when obstacles are detected, thus maximizing productivity while minimizing collision risk.
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
The vehicle ensures thorough cleaning of parabolic trough solar collectors by overcoming structural obstacles and utilizing high-pressure water systems to clean both upper and lower surfaces, achieving comprehensive coverage and minimizing manual intervention.
Implementation Method 1
high-pressure pump for feeding water from the tank to the spray nozzles
Implementation Method 2
a head that supports at least one cleaning brush which can rotate around its axis
Implementation Method 3
proximity sensors for the brushes
Implementation Method 4
retraction actuator moves the shaft connected to the affected cleaning brush in order to overcome said obstacle
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle and method for cleaning parabolic trough solar collectors (2) by means of a motorized vehicle (1) which includes a water tank (4); front (5) and rear (6) cleaning arms, with a telescopic part having several sections, coupled at one end to a pivoting head (8) which supports a rotary cleaning brush (9) and comprises spray nozzles (10), as well as proximity sensors (12) for the brushes (9). It comprises the same number of front and rear transverse guide rails (13) which include a linear movement means (14) coupled, by means of a pivot (15), to the cleaning arms (5, 6). The brushes (9) are movable in relation to the head (8) by means of a shaft (21) actuated by a retraction actuator (27) for overcoming obstacles (26).