Description
The project's primary goal is to create a device that is capable of cleaning solar panels and other similar flat surfaces in an eco-friendly energy-efficient and cost-effective manner, and of course, it meets the regulatory standards as well. In order to operate PV-panels economically, regular cleaning is necessary. Lack of cleaning can cause up to 10-15 percent loss in efficiency, depending on the degree of contamination. The water consumption of the present cleaning technologies is quite high and sometimes wasteful. It is our common interest to try to preserve and use economically the available water supply. This Solar Panel Cleaner Robot idea only requires a minimized amount of water, a small place to store and it can be operated at low energy costs. Brief description of the technology: 1. Power and liquid supplied from internal sources autonomously 2. The device has a frame that contains the operating units, a cleaner rail and a driver. The frame is moving longitudinally while the cleaning unit is moving perpendicularly on the solar cell panel by a driver. 3. Practically, cleaning is not performed with water but in an efficient manner, saving water by softening the contamination with a cleaning liquid containing environmentally sound chemicals and by wiping the contamination by winding the wiping material (microfiber) from one drum onto another 4. Cleaning is always performed with clean wiping material, with very advantageous water consumption, approximately 0,015 l/m2.
Summary of project results
The project's primary goal was to create a device that is capable of cleaning solar panels and other similar flat surfaces in an eco-friendly energy-efficient and cost-effective manner, and of course, it meets the regulatory standards as well. In order to operate PV-panels economically, regular cleaning is necessary. Lack of cleaning can cause up to 10-15 percent loss in efficiency, depending on the degree of contamination. The water consumption of the present cleaning technologies is quite high and sometimes wasteful. It is our common interest to try to preserve and use economically the available water supply. This Solar Panel Cleaner Robot idea only requires a minimized amount of water, a small place to store and it can be operated at low energy costs. Brief description of the technology: 1. Power and liquid supplied from internal sources autonomously 2. The device has a frame that contains the operating units, a cleaner rail and a driver. The frame is moving longitudinally while the cleaning unit is moving perpendicularly on the solar cell panel by a driver. 3. Practically, cleaning is not performed with water but in an efficient manner, saving water by softening the contamination with a cleaning liquid containing environmentally sound chemicals and by wiping the contamination by winding the wiping material (microfiber) from one drum onto another 4. Cleaning is always performed with clean wiping material, with very advantageous water consumption, approximately 0,015 l/m2.
Summary of bilateral results
During the project the Donor Partner focused on the issues of finding the most suitable detergents and cleaning materials, and monitor the robot’s efficiency in use.