ITPE20100010A1 - BRUSHED AUTOMATED SYSTEM TO WASH PHOTOVOLTAIC MODULES DURING OPERATION. - Google Patents

Description

DESCRIPTION of the invention having as TITLE:

"Automated brush system to wash the photovoltaic modules during operation",

Summary

The system cleans the upper glass of the capturing surface of the photovoltaic modules by moving a brush holder shaft on them during rotation, while a system of purified water jets guarantees a layer of surface water that acts as a detergent and lubricant.

All this takes place in a completely automatic way assisted by a pie to which anemometer and temperature sensor are connected to ensure optimal weather conditions. Furthermore, the machine is equipped with a remote control system.

The current state of the art on the cleaning of smooth surfaces is based either on the use of atomized water jets with or without detergent, or with the association of small brush systems; but in any case it remains semi-manual.

The system that seems to resemble them is that of car washes; but even this remains different both because it is the car that goes where the system is, and not vice versa, and because it is not totally automatic.

Description of the machine

The module washing machine cleans thanks to brushes mounted on a variable length shaft (depending on the number of modules mounted in parallel along the tilt) (see table 1 figure 1).

The machine is composed of two fundamental bodies:

the carriage which, moving on one of the guides, generates and transmits the translation of the machine (see table 2 figure 4);

the brush holder shaft and nozzle holder tube that performs the actual cleaning.

The module washing machine runs along 2 or more guides. Specifically: one of the guides is crossed by a wagon (see table 2 figure 3).

The carriage consists of a gearmotor connected to the wheels (see table 2 figure 4). Together with the guide, the wheels guarantee the alignment, grip and stability of the carriage with respect to the guide. A support with hinge is fixed to the bearing structure of the carriage which allows to vary the angle of inclination between the brush-holder shaft and the carriage axis in order to follow the appropriate positioning with respect to the inclination of the modules (see table 1 figure 2).

This support also has the function of supporting the brush holder shaft gearmotor, the brush holder shaft and the nozzle holder tube.

The wheels are attached to the brush holder shaft by means of a support and a flange (see table 2 figure 3).

In addition to the translation, the system guarantees the perpendicularity of the brushes to the photovoltaic modules to be cleaned (see table 1 figure 1).

The motors have variable power depending on the width and length of the string of modules to be cleaned.

For particularly wide strings, a system of intermediate guides is provided to avoid arching of the structure.

The shaft and brushes are similar to those in car washes; but of different sizes.

As already mentioned above, a nozzle holder tube is connected to this system, placed in front of the brush holder shaft and parallel to the modules. It guarantees a constant and homogeneous spray of water that dissolves the dirt and acts as a lubricant (see table 1 figure 1).

The water taken from various sources is purified and demineralized (in the purifier positioned far from the photovoltaic string) and through a system of pipes reaches the nozzle holder tube.

The plant can be equipped with a water recovery system.

The water pipes and power cables are held parallel to one of the guides. The translation takes place forwards until the end of the flap and backwards until it stops under the protective casing. Under it, the brush holder shaft undergoes a washing cycle both before departure and on return.

The casing remains coplanar to the modules thanks to the folding system which lowers the guides and the casing once the machine is positioned inside (see table 3 figure 5).

The command is regulated by a PLC which decides when to make the movement and the directions of travel. It controls by means of limit switches that the machine never stops on the modules but that it always reaches the rest position (under the casing) (see table 3 figure 5).

In other words, if this position is not reached, the PLC, after a waiting period of the expected cycle time, gives the movement command again and waits again for the cycle time, if at the end it does not receive the machine position signal under the casing, from signal d error by means of a specific alarm signal.

If the machine encounters an obstacle such as to force the motor, it stops and restarts after a waiting time. After the second attempt, it stops and gives an error signal by means of a special alarm signal.

The movement can also be controlled remotely, just as it is possible to receive alarm messages on the mobile phone.

An anemometer and a temperature sensor are connected to the PLC in order to guarantee the non-functioning of the cleaning system if the weather conditions do not allow it. In this case, the cleaning command is given again the next day at the same time (if the weather conditions allow it).

Movement can also be carried out manually by moving the selector on the PLC to manual position and pressing the appropriate keys.

Claims (10)

Claims 1. The photovoltaic module cleaning machine is characterized by the fact that it cleans the photovoltaic modules without interrupting the power supply to and from the modules. 2. The machine for cleaning photovoltaic modules is characterized by the fact that thanks to the variable hinge support, which guarantees the freedom of inclination of the brush-holder shaft with respect to the inclination of the carriage, it is possible to vary its inclination adapting it to that of the modules photovoltaic. 3. The machine for cleaning the photovoltaic modules is characterized by the fact that the control system set in the pie guarantees that the timing of the movement occurs when it does not produce shadows. 4. The photovoltaic module cleaning machine is characterized by the fact that it is fully automatic. That is, it activates and runs the entire cycle automatically at scheduled times and established weather conditions. 5. The machine for cleaning photovoltaic modules is characterized by the fact that it cleans thanks to the rotation of the washing brushes and their sliding with an inclination parallel to the modules. 6. The machine for cleaning photovoltaic modules is characterized by the fact that the protective casing, during the rest position and the self-washing position of the brushes, descends in a position coplanar with the modules. 7. The machine for cleaning photovoltaic modules is characterized by the fact that it is equipped with a remote control system, connected to the pie, for remote activation and reception of alarm messages. 8. The machine for cleaning photovoltaic modules is characterized by the fact that it is equipped with an anemometer and temperature sensor connected to the pie to ensure movement in optimal weather conditions. 9. The machine for cleaning photovoltaic modules is characterized by the fact that it can vary in the size of the shaft and power of the motors depending on the width or length of the surface to be cleaned. 10. The machine for cleaning photovoltaic modules is characterized by the fact that it only uses purified water from its own purifier, thus allowing the use of recovery water as well.