Claims:WE CLAIM:

1. A device (100) for cleaning photo-voltaic panels (112), said device comprising:

a center shaft (114A) encapsulated within a roller brush pipe (114), and connecting each other, wherein the pipe (114) is mounted with a roller brush cleaning assembly, wherein one end of the shaft (114A) is connected to a bevel gear assembly (115A) having atleast one electric gear motor (104), and other end of the shaft is connected to a bevel gear assembly (115B);

atleast one planet gear assembly mounted on a gear mounting plate (102C), wherein the planet gear assembly is connected to atleast one end of the center shaft (114A) through a sun gear (126), wherein the gear mounting plate (102C) consist of atleast one side support wheel (124) to prevent sideways movement of the device (100) and from getting toppled from the panel (112);

at least one aluminum support pipe (116), located on either or both side(s) of the roller brush pipe (114) and connected to the gear mounting plate(s) (102C-D) on either or both end(s) of the aluminum support pipes (116), wherein atleast one end of the aluminum support pipes (116) consist of an extended handle (107) to lift or place the device (100) on the photo-voltaic panel (112);

a center plate (118) to provide support to the roller brush pipe (114) and the aluminum support pipe (116) from their respective centers, wherein the center plate (118) consist of atleast one guide wheel (120) for smooth lateral movement of the device (100) over the panel (112) during a cleaning process;

a printed circuit board (PCB) comprising an associated circuitry and components to control the device operation; and

a solar panel (108) mounted on an enclosure cover (110) with a rechargeable battery (106) to power the PCB and the electric gear motor (104), wherein the electric gear motor (104) when suitably powered, drives the bevel gear assemblies (115A-B) connected to the center shaft (114A), the planet gear assembly and a guide wheel assembly (102A-B) to actuate the device (100) to move in lateral forward direction causing rotation of the roller brush cleaning assembly and thereby cleaning the photo-voltaic panel(s) (112).

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the guide wheel assemblies (102A-B) comprises of atleast one planet gear assembly and atleast one side support wheels, wherein the planet gear assembly consists of atleast one planet gear (128), a ring gear (130) and the sun gear (126).

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the roller brush cleaning assembly comprises of a detachable strip brush (131), a strip brush holder (131A), and a cleaning cloth (132) attached to the strip brush holder (131A) at one side, wherein the cleaning cloth (132) is detachable from the roller brush cleaning assembly through a Velcro arrangement.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the enclosure cover (110) comprises a side strip brush (122A) mounted on side walls of the cover, wherein the side strip brush (122A) is detachable from the cover (110).

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one aluminum support pipe (116) is suitably configured and mounted with water or liquid outlet to provide water based cleaning of the photovoltaic panel (112).

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the center plate (118) facilitates modular adaptability of the device as per photo-voltaic panel design.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the electric gear motor (104) is powered by either direct AC or DC current or the rechargeable battery (106).

8. A method for cleaning photo-voltaic panels (112), said method comprising:
powering suitably an electric gear motor (104) having a rechargeable battery (106) and connected to a bevel gear assembly (115A), wherein the bevel gear assembly (115A) is connected to a center shaft (114A) at one end, wherein the shaft (114A) is encapsulated within a roller brush pipe (114) mounted with a roller brush cleaning assembly, and connecting each other, wherein the shaft (114A) at other end is connected to a bevel gear assembly (115B);

driving the bevel gear assemblies (115A-B) when the electric gear motor (104) is powered, wherein the bevel gear assemblies (115A-B) is connected to the center shaft (114A), a planet gear assembly and a guide wheel assembly (102A-B); and

actuating device (100) to move in lateral forward direction after the said assemblies (115A-B) and the shaft (114A) is driven, causing rotation of the roller brush cleaning assembly and thereby cleaning the surface of the photo-voltaic panel(s) (112).

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the method further comprises at least one aluminum support pipe (116), located on either or both side(s) of the roller brush pipe (114) and connected to the gear mounting plate(s) (102C-D) on either or both end(s) of the aluminum support pipe (116), wherein atleast one end of the aluminum support pipe (116) consist of an extended handle (107) to lift or place the device (100) on the photo-voltaic panel (112).

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the guide wheel assemblies (102A-B) comprises of atleast one planet gear assembly and atleast one side support wheels, wherein the planet gear assembly consists of atleast one planet gear (128), a ring gear (130) and a sun gear (126).

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the roller brush cleaning assembly comprises of a detachable strip brush (131), a strip brush holder (131A) and a cleaning cloth (132) attached to the strip brush holder (131A) at one side, wherein the cleaning cloth (132) is detachable from the roller brush cleaning assembly through a Velcro arrangement.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the method further comprises a solar panel (108) mounted on an enclosure cover (110) with a rechargeable battery (106) to power a PCB and the electric gear motor (104), wherein the enclosure cover (110) comprises of a side strip brush (122A) mounted on side walls of the cover, wherein the side strip brush (122A) is detachable from the cover. , Description:BACKGROUND
Technical Field

The embodiments herein generally relate to an onsite solar panel cleaning device, and more particularly to a device which cleans series of solar panels which are lined up in a site or solar farm. The proposed device herein provides both dry as well as wet cleaning of the photo voltaic panels automatically without any human intervention for a predetermined period and time of the day.

Description of the Related Art

Use of renewable energy is growing at a tremendous pace. INDIA is converting is coal based electricity generating technique towards more ecological friendly technology such as solar and wind power. Solar panels work by allowing light into the solar cells. The more light that hits a panel, the more power will be generated. Due to the upwards angle of solar panels, they are more prone to bird droppings and a build-up of general dust and dirt that does not wash off with just rain. This reduces the amount of light hitting the panel and reduces its output. As the projected energy figures claimed by solar panel manufacturers and installers are based on the optimum performance of clean solar panels, this build-up of dirt can adversely affect the panel’s ability to meet those projections. So it is important to clean solar panels in order to protect and maintain your investment. Regular solar panel cleaning will also help you to make the most of the government feed-in tariff.

Rainwater will not clean your solar panels. A good way to illustrate why rainwater will not clean solar panels is by looking at your car windscreen. If you didn't clean your windscreen for 6 months, how much visibility would you lose is an important question to be addressed. If left, the grime on your windscreen would accumulate and eventually 'green' over. Even if the car is rained on, the rain contains airborne dust particles that settle and attach to the surface after the rainwater evaporates. When we use our windscreen wipers, we clean the centre of the screen, but where the wipers do not reach; there is a film of dirt. The whole of your solar panel is in exactly the same condition as the edge of your car windscreen because they are both exposed to the same elements. Visibility through your windscreen is lost due to the loss of light. Therefore, the same principles hold true for solar panel cleaning. It is very important to maximize the light getting into the solar panel and in turn, increase your financial reward.

As with every technology, solar also requires maintenance of the equipment to make them run more efficiently and more economically. In the solar farm or solar field, PV modules can collect dust, dirt, or other particulates, which can block some amount of solar radiation, which can ultimately reduce the amount of energy produced by the PV modules.

To clean the dust accumulated on to the solar surface the solar farm owners require a huge task force of manual workers to do the cleaning job which is time consuming, inefficient and economically costly too. Using a traditional method of cleaning such as manual workers to clean a large scale utility solar farm which is spread across acre of land is also a challenge.

Most of the solar PV panels, especially in developing countries are poorly installed because of which the panels are not properly aligned. Further, every solar array or table that contains multiple individual single solar PV panels has a gap sideways or are in upward and down condition. Now an automatic cleaning machine or a robot would not travel effectively onto the solar arrays which contain too much gap between individual panels. They would get stuck or will damage the solar panels during the cleaning process.

To overcome misalignment of solar panels is a major challenge, which needs to be addressed through an innovative cleaning solution. Every machine or cleaning equipment requires maintenance to replace their cleaning unit in our case our cleaning unit is our roller brush. In INDIA, the replacement cost of the cleaning unit is considered as major economic burden to the solar farm owners.

In the develop world the cleaning robot is widely used. But developing countries like INDIA the use of Automatic Cleaning Robot is scarce. The non use is because of the initial cost factor associated with each robot, which is very high and the return to investment is poor too. The PV panel cleaning unit must be developed keeping in mind the needs of the developing countries and also provide effective innovative PV cleaning solution which is affordable and should provide a great return on investment. Accordingly, there remains a need for a device or method to provide a solar panel cleaning device or technique that would reduce the replacement cost of the cleaning unit drastically and would be most cost effective cleaning solution in the market.

SUMMARY

The embodiment herein provides a device for cleaning photo-voltaic panels in a site or solar farm. The device herein provided includes a center shaft encapsulated within a roller brush pipe, and connecting each other, wherein the pipe is mounted with a roller brush cleaning assembly, wherein one end of the shaft is connected to a bevel gear assembly having atleast one electric gear motor, and other end of the shaft is connected to a bevel gear assembly; atleast one planet gear assembly mounted on a gear mounting plate, wherein the planet gear assembly is connected to atleast one end of the center shaft through a sun gear, wherein the gear mounting plate consist of atleast one side support wheel to prevent sideways movement of the device and from getting toppled from the panel; at least one aluminum support pipe, located on either or both side(s) of the roller brush pipe and connected to the gear mounting plate on either or both end(s) of the aluminum support pipe, wherein atleast one end of the aluminum support pipe consist of an extended handle to lift or place the device on the photo-voltaic panel; a center plate to provide support to the roller brush pipe and the aluminum support pipe from their respective centers, wherein the center plate consist of atleast one guide wheel for smooth lateral movement of the device over the panel during a cleaning process; a printed circuit board (PCB) comprising an associated circuitry and components to control the device operation; and a solar panel mounted on an enclosure cover with a rechargeable battery to power the PCB and the electric gear motor, wherein the electric gear motor when suitably powered, drives the bevel gear assembly connected to the center shaft, the planet gear assembly and a guide wheel assembly to actuate the device to move in lateral forward direction causing rotation of the roller brush cleaning assembly and thereby cleaning the photo-voltaic panel(s).

In an embodiment, the guide wheel assembly comprises of atleast one planet gear assembly and atleast one side support wheels. The planet gear assembly consists of atleast one planet gear, a ring gear and the sun gear. In another embodiment, the roller brush cleaning assembly comprises of a detachable strip brush, a strip brush holder and a cleaning cloth attached to the strip brush holder at one side. The cleaning cloth is detachable from the roller brush cleaning assembly through a Velcro arrangement.

In one embodiment, the enclosure cover comprises a side strip brush mounted on side walls of the cover, wherein the side strip brush is detachable from the cover. In another embodiment, at least one aluminum support pipe is mounted with water or liquid outlet to provide water based cleaning of the photovoltaic panel.

In an example embodiment, the center plate facilitates modular adaptability of the device as per photo-voltaic panel design. The electric gear motor may be powered by either direct AC or DC current or rechargeable battery.

A method for cleaning photo-voltaic panels is provided herein. The method includes powering suitably an electric gear motor having a rechargeable battery and connected to a bevel gear assembly, wherein the bevel gear assembly may be connected to a center shaft at one end, wherein the shaft is encapsulated within a roller brush pipe mounted with a roller brush cleaning assembly, and connecting each other, wherein the shaft at other end is connected to a bevel gear assembly; driving the bevel gear assembly, wherein the bevel gear assembly is connected to the center shaft, a planet gear assembly and a guide wheel assembly, when the electric gear motor is powered; and actuating the device to move in lateral forward direction after the said assembly and shaft is driven, causing rotation of the roller brush cleaning assembly and thereby cleaning the photo-voltaic panel(s).

These and other aspects of the embodiments herein will be better appreciated and understood when considered in conjunction with the following description and the accompanying drawings. It should be understood, however, that the following descriptions, while indicating preferred embodiments and numerous specific details thereof, are given by way of illustration and not of limitation. Many changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the embodiments herein without departing from the spirit thereof, and the embodiments herein include all such modifications.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Reference will be made to embodiments of the invention, examples of which may be illustrated in the accompanying figures. These figures are intended to be illustrative, not limiting. Although the invention is generally described in the context of these embodiments, it should be understood that it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to these particular embodiments:

The embodiments herein will be better understood from the following detailed description with reference to the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a device for cleaning photo-voltaic panels according to an embodiment mentioned herein;

FIG. 2 illustrates the device for cleaning photo-voltaic panels placed on a solar panel according to an embodiment mentioned herein;

FIG. 3 illustrates an exploded view of the device according to an embodiment mentioned herein;

FIG. 4 illustrates a cross section back view of the device according to one example embodiment mentioned herein; and

FIG. 5 illustrates a method for cleaning photo-voltaic panels according to an embodiment mentioned herein.

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and may have not been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figure may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of various exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure.

Throughout the drawings, it should be noted that like reference numbers are used to depict the same or similar elements, features, and structures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Although specific terms are used in the following description for the sake of clarity, these terms are intended to refer only to the particular structure of the invention selected for illustration in the drawings, and are not intended to define or limit the scope of the invention.

References in the specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” member that a particular feature, structure, characteristics, or function described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the invention. The appearances of the phrase “in one embodiment” in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment.

In the following description, for purposes of explanation and not limitation, specific details are set forth such as particular architectures, interfaces, techniques, etc. in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced in other embodiments that depart from these specific details. That is, those skilled in the art will be able to devise various arrangements which, although not explicitly described or shown herein, embody the principles of the invention and are included within its spirit and scope. In some instances, detailed descriptions of well-known devices, circuits, and methods are omitted so as not to obscure the description of the present invention with unnecessary detail. All statements herein reciting principles, aspects, and embodiments of the invention, as well as specific examples thereof, are intended to encompass both structural and functional equivalents thereof. Additionally, it is intended that such equivalents include both currently known equivalents as well as equivalents developed in the future, i.e., any elements developed that perform the same function, regardless of structure.

Thus, for example, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that block diagrams herein can represent conceptual views of illustrative circuitry embodying the principles of the technology. Similarly, it will be appreciated that any flow charts, state transition diagrams, pseudo code, and the like represent various processes which may be substantially represented in computer readable medium and so executed by a computer or processor, whether such computer or processor is explicitly shown.

As mentioned, there remains a need for a device or technique to provide a solar panel cleaning device or technique that would reduce the replacement cost of the cleaning unit drastically and would be most cost effective cleaning solution in the market. The PV panel cleaning unit must be developed keeping in mind the needs of the developing countries and also provide effective innovative PV cleaning solution which is affordable and should provide a great return on investment.

The present embodiments herein provide an onsite solar panel cleaning device which cleans series of solar panels which are lined up in a site or solar farm. The proposed device herein further provides both dry as well as wet cleaning of the photo voltaic panels automatically without any human intervention for a predetermined period and time of the day. Referring now to the figures, more particularly to FIG. 1 and FIG. 5, where similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the figures, preferred embodiments are shown.

FIG. 1 illustrates a device 100 for cleaning photo-voltaic panels according to an embodiment mentioned herein. The device includes a gear mounting plate 102A and 102B, an electric gear motor 104, a rechargeable battery 106, a solar panel 108 mounted on an enclosure cover 110. In an embodiment, the gear mounting plate 102A may be located towards the front plane of the device 100.

In another embodiment, the gear mounting plate 102A may be connected to the electric gear motor 104 through a bevel gear assembly. In an embodiment, the gear mounting plate 102B may be located towards back plane of the device 100. In an example embodiment, the solar panel 108 may be mounted or placed in any location over the enclosure cover 110. The associated circuitry of the solar panel 108 may be connected to the rechargeable battery 106. In an embodiment, the rechargeable battery 106 may power the electric gear motor 104.

FIG. 2 illustrates the device 100 for cleaning photo-voltaic panels placed on a solar panel 112 according to an embodiment mentioned herein. The device 100 may be placed over a solar panel or panels 112 through an extended handle 107. In an embodiment, the extended handle 107 may be located at the front plane and/or at the back plane of the device 100. In one example embodiment, the handle 107 may be detachable from the device 100.

In an embodiment, the solar panels on which the device may be placed may be a huge non standard dimensions which may be part of the solar farm. In an example embodiment, the size of the device 100 required for cleaning the aforementioned panels may be customized. In an embodiment, the device 100 may be able to clean a predefined portion of the solar panels 112, when vertically placed on the panels 112(as shown in Fig. 2). In an example embodiment, the device 100 may adaptively be configured to clean the solar panels depending on the predefined dimensions of the panels 112.

FIG. 3 illustrates an exploded view of the device 100 according to an embodiment mentioned herein. In an embodiment, the device 100 further includes a roller brush pipe 114, an aluminum support pipes 116, a center plate 118, and a gear mounting plate 102C. The center plate 118 may include at least one guide wheel 120, wherein the guide wheel helps the device 100 for smooth rollover the panel 112 during the cleaning process. In an embodiment, the center plate 118 additionally provides support to the roller bush pipe 114 and the aluminum support pipes 116 from their respective centers. In one example embodiment, the center plate 118 may facilitate modular adaptability of the device 100 as per photo-voltaic panel 112 designs.

In an embodiment, the roller brush pipe 114 may be mounted with a roller brush cleaning assembly. In an example embodiment, the aluminum support pipe 116 may be replaced with any rigid structure with functions similar to the pipe 116. In an embodiment, the rechargeable battery 106 may be mounted on one end of the gear mounting plate 102C. In an example embodiment, the aluminum support pipes 116 may be suitably configured and mounted with water or liquid outlet to provide water based cleaning of the photovoltaic panel 112.

In an embodiment, the electric gear motor 104 may be connected to a bevel gear assembly 115A. In an embodiment, the electric gear motor 104 when suitably powered drives the bevel gear assemblies 115A-B. In an embodiment, the electric gear motor 104 may be powered by either direct AC or DC current or the rechargeable battery 106.

FIG. 4 illustrates a cross section back view of the device 100 according to one example embodiment mentioned herein. In an embodiment, the device 100 further includes a center shaft 114A encapsulated within a roller brush pipe 114 such that they are connecting each other. The device 100 also includes a planet gear assembly mounted on a gear mounting plate 102D.

In an embodiment, the planet gear assembly may be connected to atleast one end of the center shaft 114A through a sun gear 126. In an embodiment, the gear mounting plate 102C may include at least one side support wheel 124. The guide wheel may be provided to prevent sideways movement or misalignment of the device 100.

In an embodiment, the guide wheel assemblies’ 102A-B may include atleast one planet gear assembly and atleast one guide wheels. In an embodiment, the planet gear assembly includes atleast one planet gear 128, a ring gear 130 and the sun gear 126. In an embodiment, the planet gear assembly may be mounted within the gear mounting plate 102D. In an embodiment, the guide wheels ensure that the device 100 doesn’t require any additional channel or guide railings to be placed at the bottom edges of the panels 112.

In an embodiment, the roller brush cleaning assembly includes a detachable strip brush 131, a strip brush holder 131A and a cleaning cloth 132. The cleaning cloth 132 may be attached to the strip brush holder 131A at one side. In an embodiment, the cleaning cloth 132 may be detachable from the roller brush cleaning assembly through a Velcro arrangement. The cleaning cloth 132 may be made from non-abrasive material such as micro fiber cloth or soft nylon bristle.

In an embodiment, the enclosure cover 110 may include a side strip brush 122A mounted on side walls of the cover 110. The side strip brush 122A may be detachable from the cover 110. The side strip brush 122A may be attached to a side strip brush holder 122 to hold the brush 122A in place. The side strip brush 122A may be made from a soft non-abrasive material such as micro fiber or soft nylon bristle.

FIG. 5 illustrates a method for cleaning the photo-voltaic panels 112 according to an embodiment mentioned herein. In step 502, an electric gear motor 104 may be suitably powered. In an embodiment, the electric gear motor 104 may be powered through a rechargeable battery 106. The electric gear assembly may be connected to a bevel gear assembly 115A.

In step 504, the bevel gear assemblies 115A-B may be driven by the electric gear motor 104, when the electric gear motor 104 is powered. In an embodiment, the bevel gear assemblies 115A-B may be connected to the center shaft 114A, a planet gear assembly and a guide wheel assembly 102A-B.

In step 506, the device 100 may be actuated to move in lateral forward direction when the assemblies 115A-B and the shaft 114A may be driven. In an embodiment, when the device 100 is actuated the roller brush cleaning assembly may be rotated and thereby performs a cleaning operation of the surface of the photo-voltaic panel or panels 112.

In an example embodiment, when the device 100 is actuated the aluminum support pipes 116 may be suitably configured and mounted with water or liquid outlet to provide water based cleaning of the photovoltaic panel 112.

In an example embodiment, the device 100 may be fitted with a long roller brush which may be made from nylon bristles water sprinkle system which sprinkles pure water on to the surface of the panels 112.
In an embodiment, the mechanical function of cleaning a glass surface of the panel 112 may be done with a rotary roller brush or the strip brush 131. Now ideally when the roller brush rotates with certain predefined speed, the brush 131 throws back some dust behind the clean glass surface of the panel 112. To tackle this problem the device 100 may be added with another strip brush called as side strip brush 122A. This strip brush may be made from nylon bristles and may be place horizontally towards the side edge of the device 100.

Thus adding another process of cleaning so that when the device 100 travels sideways and the roller brush 131 rotates and performs the cleaning function. In an embodiment, the nylon strip brush 122A placed sideways pushes the dust away and may provide extra cleaning process than the conventional method of cleaning.

In an embodiment, the device 100 also provides with inter changeable brush design which may easily replace the damaged single strip brush with fresh, clean strip brush made from nylon or from micro fibre cloth. The device uses very unique micro fibre strip brushes which may be interchangeable in nature using a VELCRO (loop and hoop) technology. The interchangeable brush design provides many benefits over rigid roller brush design, therefore, providing less expensive and time consuming solution to the solar panel cleaning process.

Thus, the embodiments of the present disclosure herein provides both dry as well as wet cleaning of the photo voltaic panels automatically without any human intervention for a predetermined period and time of the day.

The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so fully reveal the general nature of the embodiments herein that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Therefore, while the embodiments herein have been described in terms of preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments herein can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope.