Maintaining a solar power module

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10658970-B2
Application number	US-201916410907-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 13, 2019
Priority date	Jan 3, 2017
Publication date	May 19, 2020
Grant date	May 19, 2020

Abstract

A method for cleaning a solar power system includes operating a solar power system that comprises a plurality of solar power cells mounted on a spherical frame; rotating the spherical frame to move the plurality of solar power cells into a volume of a hemispherical reservoir that is mounted to the spherical frame; rotating the spherical frame to move the plurality of solar power cells into a solar cell cleaning solution fluid enclosed within the volume of the hemispherical reservoir defined between an interior surface of the reservoir and the spherical frame; and removing, with the solar cell cleaning solution, a plurality of particulates attached to the plurality of solar power cells.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for cleaning a solar power system, comprising:
operating a solar power system that comprises a plurality of solar power cells mounted on a spherical frame, where the plurality of solar power cells are mounted on an upper hemispherical portion of the spherical frame;
rotating the spherical frame to move the plurality of solar power cells into a volume of a hemispherical reservoir that is mounted to the spherical frame, the hemispherical reservoir mounted to the spherical frame to enclose a lower hemispherical portion of the spherical frame;
rotating the spherical frame to move the plurality of solar power cells mounted on the upper hemispherical portion of the spherical frame into a solar cell cleaning solution fluid enclosed within the volume of the hemispherical reservoir defined between an interior surface of the reservoir and the spherical frame;
rotating the spherical frame to move another plurality of solar power cells mounted to the lower hemispherical portion of the spherical frame out of the solar cell cleaning solution; and
removing, with the solar cell cleaning solution, a plurality of particulates attached to the plurality of solar power cells.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of solar power cells comprise a plurality of photovoltaic (PV) cells, the method further comprising generating electrical power from the PV cells.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein rotating the spherical frame comprises rotating the spherical frame with at least one motor mounted to the spherical frame.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein rotating the spherical frame comprises rotating the spherical frame about an axis of rotation of the spherical frame that extends through a geometric center of the spherical frame.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
flowing solar cell cleaning solution from a source of the solar cell cleaning solution to the volume of the reservoir; and
flowing solar cell cleaning solution and at least a portion of the particulates from the reservoir to a solar cell cleaning solution waste tank.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising:
filtering the portion of the particulates from the solar cell cleaning solution; and
recirculating the filtered solar cell cleaning solution to the reservoir.

7. The method of claim 5 , wherein flowing solar cell cleaning solution from the source of the solar cell cleaning solution comprises pumping the solar cell cleaning solution from the source of the solar cell cleaning solution.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising sealing the solar cell cleaning solution within the volume of the reservoir.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising cooling, with the solar cell cleaning solution, the plurality of solar power cells.

10. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:
rotating the spherical frame comprises rotating the spherical frame about an axis of rotation of the spherical frame that extends through a geometric center of the spherical frame;
flowing solar cell cleaning solution from a source of the solar cell cleaning solution to the volume of the reservoir;
flowing solar cell cleaning solution and at least a portion of the particulates from the reservoir to a solar cell cleaning solution waste tank;
filtering the portion of the particulates from the solar cell cleaning solution; and
recirculating the filtered solar cell cleaning solution to the reservoir.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
sealing the solar cell cleaning solution within the volume of the reservoir; and
cooling, with the solar cell cleaning solution, the plurality of solar power cells.

12. A method for cleaning a solar power system, comprising:
operating a solar power system that comprises a plurality of solar power cells mounted on a spherical frame;
rotating the spherical frame to move the plurality of solar power cells into a volume of a hemispherical reservoir that is mounted to the spherical frame;
rotating the spherical frame with at least one motor mounted to the spherical frame to move the plurality of solar power cells into a solar cell cleaning solution fluid enclosed within the volume of the hemispherical reservoir defined between an interior surface of the reservoir and the spherical frame;
removing, with the solar cell cleaning solution, a plurality of particulates attached to the plurality of solar power cells;
flowing solar cell cleaning solution from a source of the solar cell cleaning solution to the volume of the reservoir; and
flowing solar cell cleaning solution and at least a portion of the particulates from the reservoir to a solar cell cleaning solution waste tank.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the plurality of solar power cells comprise a plurality of photovoltaic (PV) cells, the method further comprising generating electrical power from the PV cells.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein rotating the spherical frame comprises rotating the spherical frame about an axis of rotation of the spherical frame that extends through a geometric center of the spherical frame.

15. The method of claim 12 , wherein the plurality of solar power cells are mounted on an upper hemispherical portion of the spherical frame, and the hemispherical reservoir is mounted to the spherical frame to enclose a lower hemispherical portion of the spherical frame.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein rotating the spherical frame to move the plurality of solar power cells into the solar cell cleaning solution fluid enclosed within the volume of the hemispherical reservoir comprises rotating the spherical frame to move another plurality of solar power cells mounted to the lower hemispherical portion of the spherical frame out of the solar cell cleaning solution.

17. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
filtering the portion of the particulates from the solar cell cleaning solution; and
recirculating the filtered solar cell cleaning solution to the reservoir.

18. The method of claim 12 , wherein flowing solar cell cleaning solution from the source of the solar cell cleaning solution comprises pumping the solar cell cleaning solution from the source of the solar cell cleaning solution.

19. The method of claim 12 , further comprising sealing the solar cell cleaning solution within the volume of the reservoir.

20. The method of claim 12 , further comprising cooling, with the solar cell cleaning solution, the plurality of solar power cells.

Assignees

• Saudi Arabian Oil Co

Inventors

• Hassell Jr James Clyde
• Do Val Luiz Gustavo

Classifications

• B08B3/08

  the liquid having chemical or dissolving effect · CPC title

• F24S2020/17

  Arrangements of solar thermal modules combined with solar PV modules · CPC title

• Y02E10/44

  Heat exchange systems · CPC title

• B08B3/042

  the loose articles or bulk material travelling gradually through a drum or other container, e.g. by helix or gravity · CPC title

• B08B3/14

  Removing waste, e.g. labels, from cleaning liquid · CPC title