IL296254A - A system for cleaning solar surfaces - Google Patents

Description

SOLAR PANEL CLEANING SYSTEM SOLAR PANEL CLEANING SYSTEM SOLAR PANEL CLEANING SYSTEM SOLAR PANEL CLEANING SYSTEM The present invention relates to cleaning solar panels with air.

BACKGROUND BACKGROUND BACKGROUND BACKGROUND Solar panels are used to generate electricity. One of the most difficult problems that exist is the accumulation of dust and dirt on the solar panels, which reduce the efficiency of the solar panels' electricity production.

Today, solar panels are cleaned using several methods, most of which are based on cleaning with water The existing methods are cumbersome and require both expensive machines and expensive operators as well as a large amount of water and still the end result is that with this method most of the time the panel is dirty and the cleaning is done according to the ability and not according to the need.

The existing cleaning methods are based on a cleaning process with brushes and water and some of them are based only on water.

The disadvantages of the existing methods A. Expensive machines B. Most of them require operators to operate the machines C. Water use is a precious commodity in deserts or desert areas.

D. The use of water damages the panels and creates, among other things, corrosion in the panel frames and operating systems The dirt/mud layer that forms on the panels is a result of a dust-water combination.

The dust accumulates on the panels during the day. The dew/mist comes at night, mixes with the dust, and then the sun rises and dries the mixture creating a solid layer of dirt.

There is a long felt need to provide a solution to the above-mentioned and other problems of the prior art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE THE THE THE DRAWINGS DRAWINGS DRAWINGS DRAWINGS Embodiments, features, and aspects of the invention are described herein in conjunction with the following drawings: Diagram 1 depicts a perspective scheme of a solar installation.

Diagram 2 describes a perspective scheme of the structure of the air knife.

Diagram 3 depicts a perspective diagram of an air knife viewed from below.

Diagram 4 describes a perspective scheme of cleaning a panel.

Diagram 5 describes a perspective scheme of the continued cleaning of the dirt.

The drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale.

DETAILED DETAILED DETAILED DETAILED DESCRIPTION DESCRIPTION DESCRIPTION DESCRIPTION The invention will be understood from the following detailed description of embodiments of the invention, which are meant to be descriptive and not limiting. For the sake of brevity, some well-known features are not described in detail.

The reference numbers have been used to point out elements in the embodiments described and illustrated herein, in order to facilitate the understanding of the invention. They are meant to be merely illustrative, and not limiting. Also, the foregoing embodiments of the invention have been described and illustrated in conjunction with systems and methods thereof, which are meant to be merely illustrative, and not limiting.

The present invention relates to cleaning solar panels with air including a compressed air supply system that is fed into an air knife that is driven over solar panels according to an autonomous algorithm with the help of sensors that receives a selected timing and cleans the solar panels with air flow and is carried out in a selected and limited period of time and this before dew dries on the panel and creates a thin layer of mud. 2. The way to prevent the aforementioned mud from forming is to prevent the dew from drying out on the panel. 3. Since the dew drying starts from the moment the temperature rises above the "dew point", the cleaning must be finished between this moment and before the natural drying. 4. Since this period of time is approximately from sunrise to an hour or two after it, and since it happens on most days, the solution is an autonomous air-based system (Air is available everywhere) that will be operated according to a sensor-based algorithm (dew presence, calculation and prediction of the dew point, the amount of dew ).

The system removes the water/dust mixture before it dries and every time it occurs. Of course, it is also able to remove any other dirt that lands on the panel regardless of water presence.

The description herein is of an air knife that is driven across the panel and fed with compressed air, but there is a variety of possibilities for each component/ This system consists of 4 subsystems: 1. Air processing and delivery system 2. Air powered cleaning device 3. Propulsion system 4. System control and operation center.

Air processing and delivery system. 1. Air processing device (blower) 2. Air containers, pipes and hoses. 3. Air valves and regulators.

Air powered cleaning device. 1. Flow of air and Airknife and blower devices. 2. A misting system might be added, depending on cleaning needs.

Propulsion system. 1. The propulsion system Carries the cleaning device and moves it along the panels. 2. This system might be self propelled/pulled or pushed. It might move inside rail or without rails.

Control and operations. 1. Sensors (weather, touch, water, actuators…) 2. Operation timing and initiation. 3. Air use management. 4. Cleaning sequence and management.

. Visual inspection of cleaning process and adjustments. (requires a video camera to be mounted on each cleaning device) The system performs cleaning before the dew dries on the panels and creates a layer of mud.

The principle is to prevent the mixture of dew and dust from drying out on the panel.

In fact, the flowing air pushes and dries the dew and everything connected to it and cleans both the dew and the dust.

When the air pressure hits the dew it both pushes the dew and dust and breaks it up and dries the area.

According to one of the preferred configurations in the present invention, one option for operation, the device can also be operated with a blower.

An air knife is driven along the panel and "blows away" everything on it (water, dust or both). The system can operate at any hour and not necessarily at sunrise (if there is no dew you can still blow away the dust), the knife can work with with a blower, the result is blowing away what is on the panel.

The system can operate autonomously or receive a command from the control center. The cleaning management will be performed by the controller, not all the knives will work at the same time.

Diagram 1 depicts a perspective scheme of a solar installation (10) built from a solar panel (12) and an automatic cleaning system built from an air knife (14) and a blower (22) connected to an electric motor (24) (see enlargement (16) A coil of spring wire (18) supplies electricity to the motor (24), a drive system of rails (20) and a traction belt (26) moves the air knife (14) up and down along the solar panel (12) Diagram 2 describes a perspective scheme of the structure of the air knife (14).

The electric motor (24) rotates a blower (22) and supplies air to the entire length of the air knife (14), The opening (air outlet) of the airknife is adjustable to let more or less air out.

Diagram 3 depicts a perspective diagram of an air knife (14) viewed from below.

Diagram 5 describes a perspective scheme of the continued cleaning of the dirt (32,34).

The zones (28a,28c,28d,28f,28g,28h,28i28j) were closed and the zones (28b,28e) remained open so that all the airflow currently flows only through the zones (28b,28e) and the flow becomes 5 times stronger and the dirt (32, 34) Cleaning, at this stage all areas (28) are opened and the knife (14) continues to clean as usual.

The foregoing description and illustrations of the embodiments of the invention have been presented for the purpose of illustration, and are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the above description in any form.

Any term that has been defined above and used in the claims, should be interpreted according to this definition.

The reference numbers in the claims are not a part of the claims, but rather used for facilitating the reading thereof.

These reference numbers should not be interpreted as limiting the claims in any form.

Claims (2)

- 8 - CLAIMS CLAIMS CLAIMS CLAIMS What is claimed is:

1. A solar panel cleaning system, comprising: an air blower/compressor; an air knife, for receiving air flow from said air blower/compressor, and for blowing air along said air knife; a moving mechanism for moving said air knife along one solar panel;

2. The system of claim 1, wherein a controller moves and flows air into said air knifes at a short period of each calendar day based on sensors or as determined by the control center