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Fluid Driven Solar Panel Cleaning System
Abstract: A system for cleaning solar panels (photo-electric and/or water heating etc.) is driven by fluid driven motor (water and/or air driven motor) such as a piston motor or a vane motor. Some or all of the outlet water/air from the motor is used for cleaning the panels. The motor preferably also operates a cleaning mechanism, such as a rotating and or linear brush arrangement. The motor, gear system and/or components may be made from plastic. Optionally, a cleaning device travels along the edges of panels, optionally without requiring an additional rail structure. The cleaning device optionally includes a trailing water/air supply hose. In some embodiments, electrical components of the cleaning device are powered by an internal power supply. Control is optionally via an electrically actuated valve, a timer (for example a real time clock), a wireless receiver and/or a controller.
Notices, Deadlines & Correspondence
Patent Information
Applicants
HMI LTD.
Inventors
1. NAGLER, Ehud
2. SHAMIR, Menashe
Specification
WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:
1. A solar panel cleaning device comprising:
a bi-directional hydraulic motor powered by fluid flow and producing an intermittent fluid output,
a nozzle assembly receiving said intermittent fluid output from said hydraulic powered motor and configured to distribute the fluid output along the solar panel; a drive mechanism receiving mechanical power from said hydraulic motor and configured to provide bi directional movement to said nozzle assembly along a face of the solar panel, a direction of said movement corresponding to a direction of said motor.
2. The device of claim 1, wherein said motor produces a torque between 2 to 25 Nm under input pressure less than 6 bar.
3. The device of claim 1, wherein said motor rotates at a rate between 0 to 100 RPM.
4. The device of claim 1, wherein said fluid flow of said motor is less than 1500 ml per meter of said movement of said nozzle assembly.
5. The device of claim 1, wherein said movement of said nozzle assembly is
controlled by an electronic controller.
6. The device of claim 5, further including a battery supplying power to said
electronic controller.
7. The device of claim 6, further comprising a hydraulic generator configured to charge said battery.
8. The device of claim 5, further comprising a plurality of valves controlled by said controller, said plurality of valves determining fluid input into said motor and wherein a rate and direction of said movement is determined by said fluid input.
9. The device of claim 1, wherein said motor is a piston motor.
10. The device of claim 1, wherein said motor is a vane motor.
11. The device of claim 1, wherein input water to said motor is less than 6 bar.
12. The device of claim 1, wherein said fluid includes water.
13. The device of claim 1, wherein said fluid includes pressurized air.
14. The device of claim 1, The device of claim 1, wherein said fluid includes a liquid- gas mixture.
15. The device of claim 1, wherein said cleaning device is made a least 50 percent by volume of plastic materials.
16. The device of claim 1, wherein said cleaning device weighs less than 25Kg per one PV module.
17. The device of claim 1, wherein said cleaning device include a fluid recirculation system.
18. The device of claim 1, wherein said motor is configured to reverse direction of movement in response to a reversal in a flow direction of the fluid.
19. A method of cleaning a solar panel comprising:
Providing a fluid input at a pressure of less than 6 bar;
Driving bi directional movement of a nozzle assembly along a solar panel with a hydraulic motor powered by said fluid input;
wetting said solar panel with an intermittent water output from said hydraulic motor passing through the nozzle assembly.
20. The method of claim 19, wherein driving includes said motor producing a torque between 2 to 25 Nm under input pressure less than 6 bar.
21. The method of claim 19, wherein driving includes said motor rotating at a rate less than 100 RPM.
22. The method of claim 19, further including outputting said water flow of said motor at a rate less than 1500 ml per meter of said movement of said nozzle assembly.
23. The method of claim 19, further comprising controlling movement of said nozzle assembly with an electronic controller; and
powering said electronic controller from a battery.
24. The method of claim 23, further comprising charging said battery with a hydraulic generator.
25. The method of claim 23, wherein said controlling further includes said controller operating a plurality of valves determining fluid input into said motor and wherein a rate and direction of said movement is determined by said fluid input.
26. The method of claim 19, wherein said driving includes powering a cylinder with said fluid input.
27. The method of claim 19, wherein said driving includes rotating a shaft of a vane motor with said fluid input.
28. The method of claim 19, further comprising reversing a direction of movement of said motor by reversing a fluid flow direction.
WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:
1. A solar panel cleaning device comprising:
a bi-directional hydraulic motor powered by fluid flow and producing an intermittent fluid output,
a nozzle assembly receiving said intermittent fluid output from said hydraulic powered motor and configured to distribute the fluid output along the solar panel; a drive mechanism receiving mechanical power from said hydraulic motor and configured to provide bi directional movement to said nozzle assembly along a face of the solar panel, a direction of said movement corresponding to a direction of said motor.
2. The device of claim 1, wherein said motor produces a torque between 2 to 25 Nm under input pressure less than 6 bar.
3. The device of claim 1, wherein said motor rotates at a rate between 0 to 100 RPM.
4. The device of claim 1, wherein said fluid flow of said motor is less than 1500 ml per meter of said movement of said nozzle assembly.
5. The device of claim 1, wherein said movement of said nozzle assembly is
controlled by an electronic controller.
6. The device of claim 5, further including a battery supplying power to said
electronic controller.
7. The device of claim 6, further comprising a hydraulic generator configured to charge said battery.
8. The device of claim 5, further comprising a plurality of valves controlled by said controller, said plurality of valves determining fluid input into said motor and wherein a rate and direction of said movement is determined by said fluid input.
9. The device of claim 1, wherein said motor is a piston motor.
10. The device of claim 1, wherein said motor is a vane motor.
11. The device of claim 1, wherein input water to said motor is less than 6 bar.
12. The device of claim 1, wherein said fluid includes water.
13. The device of claim 1, wherein said fluid includes pressurized air.
14. The device of claim 1, The device of claim 1, wherein said fluid includes a liquid- gas mixture.
15. The device of claim 1, wherein said cleaning device is made a least 50 percent by volume of plastic materials.
16. The device of claim 1, wherein said cleaning device weighs less than 25Kg per one PV module.
17. The device of claim 1, wherein said cleaning device include a fluid recirculation system.
18. The device of claim 1, wherein said motor is configured to reverse direction of movement in response to a reversal in a flow direction of the fluid.
19. A method of cleaning a solar panel comprising:
Providing a fluid input at a pressure of less than 6 bar;
Driving bi directional movement of a nozzle assembly along a solar panel with a hydraulic motor powered by said fluid input;
wetting said solar panel with an intermittent water output from said hydraulic motor passing through the nozzle assembly.
20. The method of claim 19, wherein driving includes said motor producing a torque between 2 to 25 Nm under input pressure less than 6 bar.
21. The method of claim 19, wherein driving includes said motor rotating at a rate less than 100 RPM.
22. The method of claim 19, further including outputting said water flow of said motor at a rate less than 1500 ml per meter of said movement of said nozzle assembly.
23. The method of claim 19, further comprising controlling movement of said nozzle assembly with an electronic controller; and
powering said electronic controller from a battery.
24. The method of claim 23, further comprising charging said battery with a hydraulic generator.
25. The method of claim 23, wherein said controlling further includes said controller operating a plurality of valves determining fluid input into said motor and wherein a rate and direction of said movement is determined by said fluid input.
26. The method of claim 19, wherein said driving includes powering a cylinder with said fluid input.
27. The method of claim 19, wherein said driving includes rotating a shaft of a vane motor with said fluid input.
28. The method of claim 19, further comprising reversing a direction of movement of said motor by reversing a fluid flow direction.
Documents
Application Documents
| # | Name | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 202117009238-TRANSLATIOIN OF PRIOIRTY DOCUMENTS ETC. [05-03-2021(online)].pdf | 2021-03-05 |
| 2 | 202117009238-STATEMENT OF UNDERTAKING (FORM 3) [05-03-2021(online)].pdf | 2021-03-05 |
| 3 | 202117009238-PRIORITY DOCUMENTS [05-03-2021(online)].pdf | 2021-03-05 |
| 4 | 202117009238-NOTIFICATION OF INT. APPLN. NO. & FILING DATE (PCT-RO-105) [05-03-2021(online)].pdf | 2021-03-05 |
| 5 | 202117009238-FORM 1 [05-03-2021(online)].pdf | 2021-03-05 |
| 6 | 202117009238-FIGURE OF ABSTRACT [05-03-2021(online)].pdf | 2021-03-05 |
| 7 | 202117009238-DRAWINGS [05-03-2021(online)].pdf | 2021-03-05 |
| 8 | 202117009238-DECLARATION OF INVENTORSHIP (FORM 5) [05-03-2021(online)].pdf | 2021-03-05 |
| 9 | 202117009238-COMPLETE SPECIFICATION [05-03-2021(online)].pdf | 2021-03-05 |
| 10 | 202117009238-FORM-26 [18-03-2021(online)].pdf | 2021-03-18 |
| 11 | 202117009238-Proof of Right [02-06-2021(online)].pdf | 2021-06-02 |
| 12 | 202117009238-FORM 3 [03-06-2021(online)].pdf | 2021-06-03 |
| 13 | 202117009238-FORM 3 [29-09-2021(online)].pdf | 2021-09-29 |
| 14 | 202117009238.pdf | 2021-10-19 |
| 15 | 202117009238-FORM 3 [04-02-2022(online)].pdf | 2022-02-04 |
| 16 | 202117009238-FORM 3 [19-07-2022(online)].pdf | 2022-07-19 |
| 17 | 202117009238-FORM 18 [13-09-2022(online)].pdf | 2022-09-13 |
| 18 | 202117009238-FER.pdf | 2023-01-20 |
| 19 | 202117009238-PETITION UNDER RULE 137 [19-07-2023(online)].pdf | 2023-07-19 |
| 20 | 202117009238-OTHERS [19-07-2023(online)].pdf | 2023-07-19 |
| 21 | 202117009238-Information under section 8(2) [19-07-2023(online)].pdf | 2023-07-19 |
| 22 | 202117009238-FORM 3 [19-07-2023(online)].pdf | 2023-07-19 |
| 23 | 202117009238-FER_SER_REPLY [19-07-2023(online)].pdf | 2023-07-19 |
| 24 | 202117009238-DRAWING [19-07-2023(online)].pdf | 2023-07-19 |
| 25 | 202117009238-COMPLETE SPECIFICATION [19-07-2023(online)].pdf | 2023-07-19 |
| 26 | 202117009238-CLAIMS [19-07-2023(online)].pdf | 2023-07-19 |
| 27 | 202117009238-ABSTRACT [19-07-2023(online)].pdf | 2023-07-19 |
| 28 | 202117009238-US(14)-HearingNotice-(HearingDate-06-03-2025).pdf | 2025-02-17 |
| 29 | 202117009238-Correspondence to notify the Controller [03-03-2025(online)].pdf | 2025-03-03 |
| 30 | 202117009238-Annexure [03-03-2025(online)].pdf | 2025-03-03 |
| 31 | 202117009238-Written submissions and relevant documents [18-03-2025(online)].pdf | 2025-03-18 |
Search Strategy
| 1 | SS202117009238E_19-01-2023.pdf |