International Journal of Innovations & Advancement in Computer Science

IJIACS
ISSN 2347 – 8616
Volume 7, Issue 3
March 2018

Solar Panel Dust Cleaning System

Prof. Dr. Sanjeev Sharma, Kulkarni Amruta, Nagdev Kiran

SITRC , Nasik

ABSTRACT
The Solar energy is the most abundant source of energy for all the forms of life on the planet Earth. It is the basic source
for all the sources of energy. But the solar technology has not matured to the extent of the conventional sources of
energy. It is faces lots of challenges such as cost, unpredictable in nature, and low efficiency of the panel. The
performance of solar panels depends on various types of factors; the energy generated by farm can decreased if dust is
present on the panel, this is the main aim of project for reduction. One can generally assume a reduction of about 40% -
55%, if the panels are not clean properly for 1-2 months. So to overcome this problem and to increase the efficiency of
power production cleaning of module on regular basis is necessary. The main project aim is to increase the efficiency of
solar power plants by solving the problem of dust is present on the surface of panel which to reduce in plant output and
overall the panel efficiency. It is the proposes to develop a Solar Panel Cleaning System which remove the dust on the
surface on a regular basis and maintain the plant output. The system is automatic system which move automatic on the
surface of solar panels and use dry methods for cleaning .such as rotating cylindrical brush keeping in mind the limited
availability of water in areas where such plants are mainly located. This project aims to reduce the human involvement
in the process of solar panel cleaning as it is a very dangerous to sun.
Keywords: BRUSH, MICROCONTROLLER, LDR

INTRODUCTION
The robots are alternative method to the convenient method and they design so to avoid the wastage of water
andto reduce thehuman effort to clean solar panels. Method to go the human workers to wash and wipe panels
manually or use a different method to wash panels. Dirty panels produce less electricity, so to increase the
production of electricity cleaning of panels should be maintain properly, but the need to use water for cleaning
this panels, especially in dirty regions, it makes a clean power plant project i.e less ecofriendly. In certain
panel areas, the water not wipe properly, also it contains the corroded elements; it is not work properly, due to
this it is increase in production cost of a solar power plant. In dusty areas such as the East side of India, solar
panels lose electricity production by 15 %to 30 % if They are not washed on regular. Robot assembly clean
each panel and move from the top to bottom of row of panels. There is increase in 5-6 % more electricity
production . The challenges to keeping the solar panels are dust free it will grow as more solar power projects
are built over the country. The labor and insufficient of water supply will able to do for making manual
washing the low-cost for solar power plant. The natural way to clean is air; air flow removes a bulk of the dust
while the brushes get rid of rest. So to avoid the wastage of water, to reduce the human effort and time
require cleaning the panels. A robot is developed which will help to clean the panels on regular interval of
time, and it will overcome all the problems arise. The robot itself is a solar power charged but it will runs on
battery at night. Solar electricity recharges the batteries during the day time. The assembly will clean the
panels to on regular interval of time. After completing its task the robot assembly returns back to starting
place.

BLOCK DIAGRAM :
The block diagram mainly consists of
• AVR Micro-controller

316 Prof. Dr. Sanjeev Sharma, Kulkarni Amruta, Nagdev Kiran

 International Journal of Innovations & Advancement in Computer Science
IJIACS
ISSN 2347 – 8616
Volume 7, Issue 3
March 2018

• Solar panel
• Light Dependent resister
• Motor
• Brush

Sensor
DC MOTOR
A Mot
D or
Comparator C Driv
er

Microcontroller

Panel Output
Cleaning
Assembly

Fig 1 Solar panel dust cleaning system

Above fig. is the block diagram representation of automatic solar panel dust cleaning system. In that sensor
senses the intensity of atmosphere and its output is given to the comparator. Comparator receives the 2 signals
i.e. panel output and sensor output. If the sensor out is high and panel out is low as compare to standard rating
,then the dust accumulated on the solar panel and comparator give the positive signal for cleaning. If the
sensor out is low and panel out is also low as compare to the standard rating, therefore i.e. night time or rainy
season.no dust on solar panel so comparator does not give any positive signal for cleaning.
Comparator out is given to ADC for converting into DC signal. ADC out is given to the microcontroller for
performing the further process.
According to the comparator output microcontroller gives the instruction for performing the cleaning. Motor
driver IC is used for the driving the motor for moving and clean assembly.

THE PROPOSED SOLUTION:

The Major Factors Consider while Developing the System are
1) The assembly is compact in size; also it should be maintenance free.
2) It should clean the panels automatically.
3) The material used for cleaning the solar panel should not damage the solar frames.
In Order to overcome above Problems following steps has been taken
1) Using water-free element and cleaning system, it clean almost 90% dust free panels, and the production is
increased.
2) The design should be easy to manufacture purpose, and low cost.
3) Design is drawn in solid works for the better understanding.

ADVANTAGE:
 Increase the efficiency of solar panel.
 Sometimes dust or other particles long time placed on solar cells so it damage the aluminum strip of the
solar plate so we avoid this damage by this system.
 By this is a system we make the life of plate longer than other plates.

317 Prof. Dr. Sanjeev Sharma, Kulkarni Amruta, Nagdev Kiran

 International Journal of Innovations & Advancement in Computer Science
IJIACS
ISSN 2347 – 8616
Volume 7, Issue 3
March 2018

LIMITATION:
 Require high maintence.

RESULT
I. the Following Result Obtained after Analyzing the Robot system
1) Brush length can be adjustable according to panel.
2) Timer is set on assembly along with sensor.
3) All system is Designed to run autonomous (No human is required)
II. There are some Benefits which are as follows
1) Improvement in the performance of solar system.
2) Extend the life span of solar panels

CONCLUSION:
Dust accumulation on PV panels can significantly reduce their power output. While the particular region solar
energy rich, the desert conditions are the quite dusty threatening the PV systems power generation potential
.The automatic system proposed in this project is a simple way to solve this challenge effectively.

REFERENCES
1. “Robotic Device for Cleaning Panel Array” by mark Anderson, Ashton Grandy, Jeremy Hastie, Andrew Sweezey,
Richard Ranky, ConstantinosMavroidis
2. “Development of an automatic robotic cleaning system for photovoltaic plants”, by NawafAlbaqawi and
AlirezaGheitasi, Waikato Institite of Tecgnology, New Zealand, 2014
3. “Microcontroller Based Automatic Cleaning of Solar Panels” by S.B. Halbhavi, G. Kulkarni, Dr. D. B. Kulkarni,
IJLTET Vol. 5 Issues 4th July,2015, ISN: 2278-621X
4. “Effects of Dust on Performance of PV Panels” by Shaharin A. Sulaiman, Haizatul H. Hussain, NikSiti H. NikLeh,
and Mohd S. I. Razali
5. Gradual Reduction of energy production of PV plants through continuous soiling. Prof. Dr. H. Haberlin and Ch.
Renken. University of Applied Science Bern. University of Technology and Architecture Burgdor
6. Salim, F. Huraib, and N. Eugenio, " PV power-study of system options and optimization," in Proceedings of the 8th
European PV Solar, Energy Conference, Florence, Italy, 1988.
7. R. H. Hamid, F. El-Hussainy, M.M. Beheary, K. M. Abdel-Moneim, Energy Conversion and Management, 47, 3192
(2006).

318 Prof. Dr. Sanjeev Sharma, Kulkarni Amruta, Nagdev Kiran