ABSTRACT

Solar is a safe alternative which can replace current non-renewable energy

sources like coal and gas for generation of electricity that produce air, water, and
land pollution. In India solar installed capacity reached 25.21 GW as of 31
December 2018.But the output efficiency of solar energy is reduced by the
following factors irregular radiation, accumulation of dust and dirt. Though
irregularity of radiation cannot be improved by cleaning the accumulation of dust
regularly the efficiency of solar PV panel is improved. Manual cleaning is high
inefficient ,Therefore self cleaning system is extremely important for solar panels.
Thus a self cleaning mechanism with brushes, water droplets and wiper are used to
clean the dust accumulated on the panel on a regular basis. This mechanism
improves the efficiency of the solar panel by small quantity of water. This paper
gives the brief description of the design and Construction of automated solar PV
panel cleaning system .

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 INTRODUCTION

NEED FOR AUTOMATED SOLAR PV PANEL CLEANING SYSTEM

To make the Solar panel much effective, the solar PV panel should
always receive the maximum intensity of light. For that the panel should always
face perpendicular to the sun and there should not be any dust particles on the
panel . But in some heavy pollution areas the dust particles are directly deposited
on the solar panel, so that most of the light coming from the sun is reflected rather
than refracting because of the dust deposited on the panel by making the front
portion of the panel shaded . The efficiencies of the panels descend because of the
dust depositing even though the panel is tracking the sun. This paper explains the
efficient self-cleaning and tracking mechanism and obtains the results of the panel
for the different conditions such as cleaned panel without tracking, dusty panel
without tracking, dusty panel with a tracking and cleaned panel with tracking,
dusty panel without tracking, dusty panel with tracking and cleaned panel with
tracking.

LITERATURE SURVEY
Some of the methods we have been going through for the project
• The first basic method consists wiper which is placed on the panel is used
for cleaning the dust particles which are deposited on that using dc motors which
can be controlled by the microcontroller.
• An Italian company called ’Wash Panel’ produces robots ‘solar panel
cleaning robot that clean arrays of PV panels by moving a vertical brush
horizontally over a row of panels. Having a length of 1 to 16 meters and containing
a 12V battery it can be deployed automatically. Also, a water hose is attached for

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wetting the panels while cleaning. Washpanel’s system is fully autonomous. It
provides a constant and uniform cleaning.

The information on the effects of soiling on solar panels comes from

research and solar energy-oriented associations. The studies that were examined all
analyzed different aspects of soiling. One study, sponsored by the PowerLight
Corporation in Berkeley California, found a daily loss of 0.2% in power output.
The report also noted a 7.5% to 12% efficiency increase due to rain . Another
study, performed by Boston University’s Department of Electrical and Computer
Engineering, observed the loss of efficiency from soiling in Lovington, New
Mexico. The area had an observed 24% drop in efficiency over the course of a
month. The study also found that while rain is the primary cleaning agent for
panels, it is not sufficient .

The Boston University Study also reported the costs and benefits of three current
methods of cleaning solar panels. These methods include natural cleaning through
rain and snowfall, manual cleaning.In general, it was concluded that in order to
maximize the cleaning effect of rain, the panels needed to have a glass shield and
be oriented in the near vertical position. Manual cleaning by water and detergent
was effective; however, it required costs set aside for labor (45.7% of the total
cost) and fuel (20.5% of the total cost). An emerging technology, called an EDS,
consists of interdigitated electrodes (made of indium oxide) in transparent
dielectric film. The cleaning process is orchestrated by low power, three phase
pulsed voltages (from 5 to 20 Hz). This process led to a reflectivity restoration of
90% after only a few minutes.

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The University of Sonora analyzed the effect of naturally occurring dust and
residue on the energy generation of solar panels4. A standard ‘dirt’ layer was
chosen and was tested on three types of photovoltaic cells, monocrystalline,
polycrystalline, and amorphous. The maximum reduction in electric production
was 6% for monocrystalline and polycrystalline and 12% for amorphous.

An IEEE study conducted by P. Burton and B. King investigated the effects of

different types of dirt on solar panel efficiency. Different types and colors of dirt
were tested with the emphasis on targeting dirt compositions that are found in the
southwest of the United States. The study found that yellow colored dirt scattered
light back into the solar panel and was less detrimental than the other dirt tested.
The other three samples, all shades of red, did not perform as well.

CONCLUSION

First, economical benefit, where there is no more money will be paid to

a cleaning agency. Second, it is time saving, where there is no time will be spent to
clean those solar panels. Besides that, frequently cleaning will ensure that the solar
panel works with a good transmittance. Finally, safety and health of workers in
sites. Since robots are capable of working in hazardous environments, more
dangerous operations are being handled by robots. Thus the safety and health of
workers is ensured, thereby reducing expenditures on health and medicines.

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OBJECTIVES :

• The goal of the project is to create a automated solar PV panel cleaning

system to clean the dust over the panel.

• A solar panel PV cleaning system is proposed in order to make a panel

operate at the best power generation state.

• To develop a product to clean solar PV panel automatically.

• To design a cleaning mechanism that runs across the length of the panel that
improves the overall solar panel efficiency.

BLOCK DIAGRAM

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3.1 MECHANICAL INPUT

The solar panel cleaning system is placed on frame. They are fixed since
they are made of wood. They comprises of wiper whose length is across the panel.
It plays a vital role in tapping the mechanical movement with the help of track
system.

DESIGN SYSTEM SKETCH

The initial design of the device was a rolling brush that traverses along an
array of solar panels. The device would attach to the array using rollers that grip
the frame of the panels and use them as rails to roll along the panel. The system
cleans the panel using a spinning brush to clear any dust or debris. Ideally, the
device would not use water and would not need to be connected to any source of
water.

CLEANING SUBSYSTEM OPTIONS :

The major decision to be made for the design of the cleaning

subsystem was the selection of the cleaning method. The design that was finally
chosen was a set of brushes built into a spinning axle that will brush away any dust
or debris on the panel’s surface. The criteria for choosing this method were the
effectiveness of cleaning, the cost of manufacturing (which includes the cost of the
material itself) and the reliability of the material over the device’s entire lifespan.
The options that were considered for the cleaning subsystem were both a variety of

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materials as well as methods of moving the cleaning material across the panels.
The materials for cleaning that were considered were the bristles on a typical
brush, the microfiber clothes found in car washes, just water or other cleaning
solution, a sponge, and a mop head. The bristles of a brush were chosen because of
their affordability, reliability, and ease of manufacturing

MECHANICAL POWER SUBSYSTEM :MOTOR CHOICE

In order to ensure that the system would be able to move down the length of the
panel, the motor chosen to drive the device needed to be able to provide the torque
required. Calculations were done using the estimated weight of the system and the
estimated driving force needed to push the brushes across the panel. The torque
and horsepower were both calculated and used as the main criteria for choosing a
motor. Other criteria included power required, the motor needed to be able to drive
using a small 12 volt battery, and size, the motor needed to be compact enough that
it could fit on the device without weighing the system down.

SYSTEM INTEGRATION:

While assembling the prototype, time was taken to secure the Mechanical
Subsystem to the Cleaning Subsystem. Due to the stress from the brushes on the
Cleaning Subsystem and the small contact area with the gears in the Mechanical
Subsystem, the connection between these two subsystems was an area showing
higher stress concentrations and the highest possibility for failure.

CLEANING MECHANISM

This block of the project takes care of the required cleaning functions. The water
pump pumps the water onto the panel, and the wiper mechanism wipes the panel.

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Wiper :The wiper mechanism, which wipes the PV Panel in a linear motion,
which was fixed along the cleaning system.

Brush :The Brush mechanism consists of a two sponges, which was fixed along
the center length of the panel frame, driven by a DC motor.

Water pump :The water pump mechanism consists of pipes stretched along the
side of the panel.water pumps on the solar cell is present on the pipe. The source of
water is stored in small container. This was a manual setup.

COMPONENTS:

S.NO COMPONENT QUANTITY TOTAL COST

1 Arduino mega2560
2 L298n motor drive
3 DC motor
(4 kg-cm)
4 DC moto(300rpm)
5 Dc battery (12V)
6 wiper
7 Main hull(wood)
8 Pump
9 Wheel
(10diameter)
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1 243
4 235
4 57
2 50
1 55
1 4
2 8
1 25
4 14

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DESIGN :

The 3D model of Automated solar panel PV panel cleaning system is drawn

using AutoCAD

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