Automated Self-Cleaning Solar Panel

Project Title

Automated Self-Cleaning Solar Panel

Project Area of Specialization Electrical/Electronic EngineeringProject Summary

Solar energy is a big energy useful resource on hand, on the globe. Sun radiation can be captured in the shape of warmth to produce electrical energy (Concentrated Solar Power Plant) or direct conversion of photo voltaic power to electrical energy (Photovoltaic Module) is also possible. The photo voltaic power is a renewable useful resource which nearly comes with zero carbon emission. The electrical energy era the usage of solar panel is the fine and promising alternative.

Solar panels work when it absorbs the solar radiation through the solar cells. The cells are made up of semiconductor which converts the photo voltaic radiation into electrical power. The more the radiation hits the panels, the more power it generates.
• Due to the upward attitude of solar panels, they are greater    prone to birds shedding and a buildup of dust, sand and that does not just wash with rain. This reduces the amount of light hitting the panels and reduces the efficiency and output
• Mostly solar parks are established in desert area, where dust is the main problem by which effects the efficiency of solar panels and reduce the production. Manual cleansing increases the labor price and it takes an awful lot extra time to clean.

Project Objectives

• Design a system which cleans the solar panel and saves the      loss of power.
• Design a cleaning system that continues running over the            length of the panel.
• Increase the solar panel efficiency
• To avoid manual work and reduce the labor cost
• To clean the solar panel effectively
• To avoid dust associated problems on solar panels.

Project Implementation Method

METHODOLOGY:
In our project we introduce the idea of special robot for PV cleaning, specialized in cleaning solar cell from dirt accumulation as well as to reduce the power loses.
PV cleaning robot can be used without need for human intervention to speed up the work in the large PV farms. The robot moves in the tracks that are mounted on the stand.
This project consists of two parts i.e. Stand and Frame.
 

STAND:
The first part of the project is stand. The solar panel is place on the stand, there are two tracks for the frame movement and also water drainage system for the water recycling.

FRAME:
The second part is the frame which moves horizontally on the stand. It consists of eight bearing. (We have use bearing as a wheel). It runs with the help of a dc gear motor. A wiper is fixed with frame for wiping out water from the surface of the panel when wet cleaning has been performed.

WORKING:
The third part is the robot which moves horizontally by a Dc gear motor. Dc gear motor consists of gerarry which move through chain. A brush is attached in the robot which performs dry cleaning.
The overall process is done with the help of Arduino mega. When the cleaning is required the signal is send to the Arduino. When the Arduino is turned ON the frame motor starts and move towards panel.. When one portion completed the frame moves forward on next position and repeat the process of cleaning. A sonar sensor is placed at the end of the panel, which will sense the frame position. And through microcontroller the process of wet cleaning start.Water start pouring from side of the frame, at the same time the motor will start moving in reverse direction with the help of H-bridge, here a wiper is attached to the frame in horizontal direction which will wipe out the water from the surface of the panel and clean the solar panel more effectively. When the wet cleaning is completed the frame will go to its shelter and Arduino will be turned off. There is a drainage system of water, the water used in the cleaning of panels can be recycled and can be used for the next cleaning.

Benefits of the Project

Features:

• One-time installation
• Effective wiping system
•   Easily replaceable wipers
•   Waterproof
• Adjustable degrees of elevation of panels
• Charging system compatible with regular 12V lead acid batteries.

Technical Details of Final Deliverable

The performance analysis is purely based on the amount of power generated on the dusty panels and cleaned panels. The output power may reduce by the large amount of dust accumulation on the panels. Dry cleaning can eliminate the dust particles on the surface of the panels but the effective cleaning is done by wet cleaning.There is no external power is required for the cleaning purpose because the solar panels itself can generate the sufficient amount iof power required for microcontroller operation which can be stored in the battery first then supplied to the robot.The assembly is found to be light –weight, efficient, and less costly.

Final Deliverable of the Project HW/SW integrated systemCore Industry Energy Other IndustriesCore Technology Clean TechOther Technologies Internet of Things (IoT), RoboticsSustainable Development Goals Affordable and Clean Energy, Climate ActionRequired Resources

Item Name	Type	No. of Units	Per Unit Cost (in Rs)	Total (in Rs)
			Total in (Rs)	30880
Solar Panel	Equipment	1	4000	4000
DC Motors	Equipment	2	1800	3600
Steel Pipe (used for Frame and Stand)	Equipment	1	9000	9000
Foundry Work	Equipment	1	7500	7500
Battery	Equipment	1	1200	1200
Arduino Mega	Equipment	1	1400	1400
LCD Display Module	Equipment	1	350	350
Acrylic Sheet	Equipment	1	150	150
Ultrasonic Sensors	Equipment	2	130	260
Motor Driver	Equipment	1	230	230
Sprayer	Equipment	1	400	400
Resistor Sheet	Equipment	1	120	120
Voltage Sensor	Equipment	1	150	150
Current Sensor	Equipment	1	250	250
DHT11	Equipment	1	220	220
Spocket Chain	Equipment	1	1600	1600
Relay	Equipment	1	150	150
Jumper Wires	Equipment	1	300	300