Wind-Cleaned Solar Panel Layout for Uniform Dust Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional wind-displaced cleaning elements for solar panels often result in non-uniform cleaning, leading to reduced efficiency and potential hot spots due to uneven dirt distribution, which can cause permanent damage.
Innovation Solution
A wind-cleaned photovoltaic solar panel with a two-dimensional array of short, lightweight cleaning elements anchored at specific locations on the panel surface, ensuring uniform cleaning and hot spot detection through thermochromic indicators.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If lightweight cleaning elements are used to be displaced by wind, then cleaning capability is improved, but cleaning uniformity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning system is divided into multiple independent cleaning elements distributed across the panel surface. Each element is a separate lightweight component that can be individually displaced by wind, rather than using a single large cleaning mechanism. This segmentation allows different parts of the panel to be cleaned independently, improving overall cleaning uniformity while maintaining the ease of operation provided by wind-driven lightweight elements.
2Area of stationary object
If cleaning elements are positioned close to panel edges, then coverage area is improved, but shading of PV cells increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning elements are strategically positioned at specific locations away from the panel edges rather than uniformly distributed. This local quality approach places cleaning elements only where they can effectively clean without casting shadows on the PV cells. The positioning is optimized so that elements are spaced from edges by a distance that prevents shading while still providing adequate cleaning coverage of the active PV cell areas.
3Area of stationary object
If cleaning elements are long to cover more area, then coverage is improved, but wind displacement capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using long cleaning elements that extend in one dimension, the system uses multiple short cleaning elements distributed across two dimensions of the panel surface. This dimensional transition allows the system to achieve comprehensive coverage area through spatial distribution rather than through the length of individual elements. Each short element remains highly responsive to wind displacement, while the collective arrangement of multiple elements covers the entire panel area.
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 solution achieves uniform cleaning across the panel, preventing hot spots and maintaining efficiency by using short, flexible cleaning elements and anchoring arrangements that minimize shading, with optional hot spot detection for prompt maintenance.
Implementation Method 1
hot spot detection through thermochromic indicators
Data Source
AI summary
A wind-cleaned photovoltaic solar panel (10) has an array of photovoltaic cells (12) under a panel surface (14). A two-dimensional array of cleaning elements (18) are anchored to the panel surface at cleaning-array locations (20) on the panel surface, at least one of which is spaced away from edges of the panel. Each of the cleaning elements (18) is an elongated wind-displaceable element having a length less than 50 percent of a width of the panel surface (14).