Washing system for solar panels

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10615740-B2
Application number	US-201916424197-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 28, 2019
Priority date	Jun 22, 2015
Publication date	Apr 7, 2020
Grant date	Apr 7, 2020

Abstract

A method and system for cleaning an array of solar panels. The system can include an applicator apparatus configured with a plurality of cleaning devices, and an automatic position system (APS) configured with the applicator apparatus. The APS can include a first and second sensor coupled to the applicator apparatus. A controller coupled to the first and second sensor devices can be configured to adjust a position of the applicator apparatus to maintain the plurality of cleaning devices in a direction facing a solar panel to facilitate a removal of an undesired material from the solar panel, while the applicator apparatus is moved from a first position to a second position. A mobile vehicle can be configured with the applicator apparatus to move along a row of the array of solar panels to perform the method for cleaning.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A solar panel cleaning device comprising:
an applicator including a plurality of nozzles configured to spay a cleaning fluid;
a plurality of bars, arranged orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of the applicator and extending beyond sides the applicator;
a first pair of sensors, disposed at distal ends a first of the plurality of bars, the first of the plurality of bars located proximate a first end of the applicator;
a second pair of sensors, disposed at distal ends a second of the plurality of bars, the second of the plurality of bars disposed proximate a second end of the applicator; and
a controller coupled to the first and second pairs of sensors and configured to adjust a position of the applicator with respect to a vehicle to maintain an orientation of the plurality of nozzles facing a solar panel to facilitate removal of undesired material by the cleaning fluid.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the sensors are ultrasonic sensors.

3. The device of claim 1 , wherein an axis of the applicator is configured perpendicular to a direction of translational movement of the device.

4. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a wheel configured to roll over a surface of a solar panel and maintain a distance of the applicator from the solar panel.

5. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a brush configured to physically remove undesired material from a surface of the solar panel.

6. The device of claim 5 , wherein the brush is coupled to a bar structure to facilitate tracking of the brush.

7. The device of claim 5 , wherein the brush has a length configured perpendicular to a direction of translational movement.

8. The device of claim 5 further comprising a plurality of air nozzles configured with compressed air to remove the undesired material from the brush.

9. The device of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to maintain an angle of the applicator to a solar panel.

10. The device of claim 1 , wherein each sensor is a proximity sensor configured to position the plurality of nozzles.

Assignees

• Nextracker Inc

Inventors

• Shugar Daniel

Classifications

• B08B3/024

  Cleaning by means of spray elements moving over the surface to be cleaned · CPC title

• A46B13/00

  Brushes with driven brush bodies {or carriers}(power-driven toothbrushes A61C17/16) · CPC title

• H02S40/10 Primary

  Cleaning arrangements · CPC title

• F24S40/20

  Cleaning; Removing snow · CPC title

• B08B1/002

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic