Washing system for solar panels

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11316468-B2
Application number	US-202016842479-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 7, 2020
Priority date	Jun 22, 2015
Publication date	Apr 26, 2022
Grant date	Apr 26, 2022

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 cleaning device comprising:
an applicator including a plurality of nozzles configured to spay a cleaning fluid;
a plurality of bars extending beyond the applicator;
sensors, disposed at distal ends of the plurality of bars; and
a controller coupled to the sensors and configured to adjust a position of the applicator 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 , 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.

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

5. The device of claim 4 , wherein the brush is coupled to a bar structure to facilitate tracking of the brush.

6. The device of claim 4 further comprising a plurality of air nozzles configured with compressed air to remove the undesired material from the brush.

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

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

9. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a vehicle including an extension arm operably connected to the applicator and configured for movement along a solar tracker.

10. The device of claim 9 , wherein an axis of the applicator is configured perpendicular to a direction of movement of the vehicle along the solar tracker.

11. The device of claim 9 , further comprising a brush configured to physically remove undesired material from a surface of the solar panel wherein the brush has a length configured perpendicular to a direction of movement of the vehicle along the solar tracker.

12. The device of claim 9 , further comprising a gutter device coupled to the vehicle and configured to capture the cleaning fluid after having been sprayed by the plurality of nozzles to clean the solar panel.

13. The device of claim 10 , further comprising a storage container supported by the vehicle and configured to store the cleaning fluid and supply the cleaning fluid to the plurality of nozzles.

Assignees

• Nextracker Inc

Inventors

• Shugar Daniel

Classifications

• B08B1/34

  rotating about an axis parallel to the surface · CPC title

• H02S40/10 Primary

  Cleaning arrangements · CPC title

• A46B13/02 Primary

  power-driven {carriers} · CPC title

• B08B3/024

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

• F24S40/20

  Cleaning; Removing snow · CPC title