JP2018015681A - Solar panel washing device and method for washing solar panel - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a solar panel washing device and a method for washing a solar panel which have high washing efficiencies and can wash a wide area for a short time.SOLUTION: A device for washing a surface of a solar panel while advancing the surface in a horizontal direction includes: a frame having a length equal to or longer than a length in an inclination direction of the solar panel; a plurality of horizontal rotary brushes provided on the lower part of the frame; a plurality of drive means provided on the lower part of the frame; a power source which drives the drive means; and water supply means which supplies washing water to the horizontal rotary brush. The frame includes a first array at the front side in the advancing direction and a second array at the rear side in the advancing direction, where the plurality of horizontal rotary brushes are arranged on the lower part of the first array and the lower part of the second array. A method for washing a solar panel washes the surface of the solar panel using a solar panel washing device while advancing the surface in the horizontal direction to form a washing surface by washing water between the first array and the second array.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a solar panel cleaning apparatus and a solar panel cleaning method.

With the spread of large-scale solar power generation facilities called mega solar, maintenance technologies for power generation facilities are being developed. In particular, there are many technologies related to solar panel cleaning operations.
For example, clean the solar panel by flushing dirt with water flowing from the tip of a long brush, and brushing the panel up and down at the same time, or use a portable high pressure washer to spray water on the panel surface. There was a method of spraying dirt with high pressure.
Patent Document 1 discloses a solar panel cleaning device including a cleaning liquid supply member that supplies a cleaning liquid to a light receiving surface of a solar panel, a cleaning member that cleans the light receiving surface, and a case member. . This cleaning device cleans the light receiving surface with a cleaning means protruding from the lower surface of the case member while running vertically and horizontally on the light receiving surface of the solar panel along the cleaning line.
Furthermore, Patent Document 2 discloses a solar panel cleaning device including a cleaning unit that cleans the light receiving surface of the solar panel and a traveling unit that moves the cleaning unit along the light receiving surface of the solar panel. Yes. This cleaning device has a rod-shaped rotating brush for cleaning the light receiving surface in the cleaning unit, and the cleaning unit rotates the rotating brush while the traveling unit moves horizontally on the light receiving surface of the solar panel. Clean the light receiving surface.

JP2015-159152A Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2015-12086

The prior art has the following problems.
<1> In the method using human power, the panels are cleaned one by one by the manual operation of the worker, so that the work efficiency is low, and the cleaning requires a lot of time and a high labor cost.
<2> Since the technique of Patent Document 1 performs cleaning while moving in two vertical and horizontal directions on the panel, cleaning takes time and wastes extra power.
<3> The method of Patent Document 2 cleans the panel while moving one rotating brush in the horizontal direction. This is so-called linear cleaning in which the lower part of the rotating brush and the panel are in linear contact. If the rotating brush passes before the dust on the panel surface is sufficiently scraped off, the cleaning becomes insufficient. In order to avoid this, since the moving speed of the rotating brush has to be reduced, cleaning takes time.
<4> In the method of Patent Document 2, wind pressure is applied in the direction of the panel surface due to the rotation of the brush, so that the contact pressure between the brush and the panel is lowered, and sufficient cleaning power cannot be exhibited.
<5> Since tap water that contains inorganic salts such as calcium carbonate, calcium sulfate, silica, etc. or iron composition is used as washing water, evaporation residue (scale) is generated on the surface of the panel after evaporation, generating electricity. There is a possibility that the efficiency may be deteriorated or the panel may be ignited as a hot spot.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a solar panel cleaning apparatus and a solar panel cleaning method that solve these problems of the prior art.

  The solar panel cleaning apparatus of the present invention for solving the above-described problems includes a frame having a length equal to or longer than the length of the solar panel in the inclination direction, and a plurality of horizontal rotations attached to the lower portion of the frame. A brush, a plurality of driving means attached to the lower part of the frame, a power source for driving the driving means, and a water supply means for supplying cleaning water to the horizontal rotating brush. 1 array and the 2nd array of the advancing direction back, The some horizontal rotation brush is each arrange | positioned at the lower part of the 1st array, and the lower part of the 2nd array, It is characterized by the above-mentioned.

  In the solar panel cleaning device of the present invention, each of the plurality of horizontal rotating brushes may have a pair of brush bodies arranged in parallel.

  In the solar panel cleaning apparatus of the present invention, horizontal rotating brushes may be arranged in a staggered manner in one array and the second array.

  The solar panel cleaning method of the present invention uses a solar panel cleaning apparatus to clean the surface of the solar panel while proceeding in the horizontal direction, and between the first array and the second array, It is characterized by forming a cleaning surface.

  The solar panel cleaning method of the present invention may use pure water as cleaning water.

Since the solar panel cleaning apparatus and the solar panel cleaning method of the present invention have the above-described configuration, they have the following effects.
<1> Since the solar panels can be cleaned in units of arrays, the work efficiency is very high, and cleaning can be performed in a short time and with a small number of people.
<2> Since the entire surface of the panel can be cleaned only by moving in one direction on the panel surface, the cleaning time is fast and there is no wasteful movement, so cleaning can be performed with low power.
<3> A two-row arrangement of horizontal rotating brushes forms a cleaning surface on the panel and cleans the surface (FIG. 4). Therefore, cleaning can be effectively performed with less cleaning leakage.
<4> Since a horizontal rotating brush is employed, wind pressure does not occur in the panel surface direction even by rotation. Therefore, the cleaning power is not reduced by the wind pressure.
<5> Since pure water is used as the washing water, even if the remaining washing water evaporates, scale is unlikely to occur.
<6> Since pure water is used as the washing water, it is possible not to simply wash away the dirt but to dissolve the dust in the pure water and absorb it. Therefore, a high cleaning effect can be exhibited with a small amount of water.

Explanatory drawing of the solar panel cleaning apparatus which concerns on this invention. The elements on larger scale of the solar panel cleaning apparatus which concerns on this invention. The elements on larger scale of the solar panel cleaning apparatus which concerns on this invention. The conceptual diagram of the washing | cleaning method of the solar panel which concerns on this invention.

Hereinafter, a solar panel cleaning apparatus and a solar panel cleaning method of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
In this specification, the “inclination direction” is a vertical direction from the inclined lower side of the solar panel to the upper side, and the “horizontal direction” is a direction perpendicular to the inclination direction, and is a continuous direction of the solar panel. Means.
“Dust” includes not only dust, sand particles, pollen, ash fall, but also materials that are up to several centimeters in size and contaminate the surface of the solar panel, such as leaves and bird droppings.

[Solar panel cleaning equipment]
<1> Overall configuration (FIG. 1).
The solar panel cleaning apparatus 1 of the present invention is an apparatus that cleans the surface of the solar panel A while proceeding in the horizontal direction.
The solar panel cleaning apparatus 1 includes at least a frame 10, a plurality of horizontal rotating brushes 20, a plurality of driving means 30, a power source 40, and a water supply means 50.

<2> Frame (FIG. 2).
The frame 10 is a frame that is a main structure of the solar panel cleaning device 1.
The frame 10 has a ladder-like shape in which the first array 11 at the front in the traveling direction and the second array 12 at the rear in the traveling direction are connected by a plurality of horizontal rails.
The frame 10 is desirably formed of a member having light weight, strength, and rust prevention. Therefore, in this example, the frame 10 is made of an aluminum member.
The length of the frame 10 in the longitudinal direction corresponds to the width of the panel A in the tilt direction.
Both end portions in the longitudinal direction of the frame 10 extend downward to constitute two guide portions 13.
The guide portion 13 guides both sides of the panel A in the tilt direction. In order to make the solar panel cleaning device 1 proceed smoothly, the guide portion 13 may be provided with a rubber tire or the like along the side of the panel A.

<3> Horizontal rotating brush (FIG. 3).
The horizontal rotating brush 20 is a cleaning body for cleaning the panel A by washing away dust while rotating on the panel A.
The horizontal rotating brush 20 is rotatably attached to the lower part of the first array 11 and the second array 12 of the frame 10.
In this example, the horizontal rotating brush 20 is composed of a combination of a pair of brush bodies 20A and 20B that are rotatably arranged in parallel.
The brush body 20A and the brush body 20B rotate in opposite directions. That is, at the time of cleaning, the pair of brush bodies 20A and 20B rotate inward with respect to the traveling direction.
It is also possible to reverse this and rotate it outward with respect to the direction of travel.
The rotation of the horizontal rotating brush 20 may be electrically driven in addition to using the water pressure of the washing water supplied from the water supply means 50.

<3.1> Arrangement of horizontal rotating brush.
The solar panel cleaning apparatus 1 of the present invention is characterized in that the horizontal rotating brush 20 is arranged in two rows of the first array 11 and the second array 12.
In this example, three horizontal rotating brushes 20 are arranged in the first array 11 and two in the second array 12 in a staggered manner.
The arrangement and number of horizontal rotating brushes 20 are not limited to this, and various arrangements are possible. However, the cleaning trajectory of the horizontal rotating brush 20 of the first array 11 and the cleaning of the horizontal rotating brush 20 of the second array 12 are possible. Arrange them so that there is no gap between them.
By arranging the horizontal rotating brushes 20 in two rows, it is possible to form the cleaning surface W between the arrays and clean the panel A in a planar shape. The formation of the cleaning surface W will be described later.

<4> Driving Unit The driving unit 30 is a mechanism for traveling on the panel A in the horizontal direction.
In this example, a crawler attached to the lower part of the frame 10 is employed as the driving unit 30. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and tires and other known mechanisms may be employed.
The drive means 30 is driven by the power of a power source 40 described later.

<5> Power source.
The power source 40 is a mechanism that provides driving power to the driving unit 30.
In this example, a combination of a battery attached to the end of the frame 10 and a waterproof motor is employed as the power source 40. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and other known mechanisms may be employed.
In this example, a shaft 41 is extended at an intermediate position between the first array 11 and the second array 12 and connected to the driving means 30 (FIG. 3).
By rotating the shaft 41 in the axial direction with a waterproof motor, the rotation of the shaft 41 is transmitted to the driving means 30, and thereby the driving means 30 travels.

<6> Water supply means.
The water supply means 50 is a mechanism that supplies cleaning water to the horizontal rotating brush 20.
In this example, a combination of a tank and a water supply pump is adopted as the water supply means 50. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and other known mechanisms may be employed.
The water supply means 50 and the horizontal rotating brush 20 are connected by a water supply pipe 51.
The water supply means 50 is well known and will not be described in detail here.

<7> Cover.
The solar panel cleaning apparatus 1 of the present invention may further include a cover 70 that covers the upper portion of the frame 10.
By providing the cover 70, it is possible to prevent scattering of sewage due to cleaning.
However, the cover 70 is not an essential component.

[How to clean solar panels]

The solar panel cleaning method of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
<1> Installation of a solar panel cleaning device (FIG. 1).
The solar panel cleaning apparatus 1 is installed on the panel A.
The solar panel cleaning device 1 is placed on the panel A so that the longitudinal direction of the solar panel cleaning device 1 is aligned with the inclination direction of the panel A, and the guide portions 13 at both ends of the frame 10 are protruded downward from the side of the panel A. As a result, the solar panel cleaning device 1 is positioned on the panel A.

<2> Cleaning the panel.
The power source 40 is activated to drive the driving unit 30. At the same time, cleaning water is supplied from the water supply means 50 to the horizontal rotary brush 20 through the water supply pipe 51 to rotate the horizontal rotary brush 20.
Thereby, the solar panel cleaning apparatus 1 proceeds in the horizontal direction (arrow in FIG. 1) while cleaning the panel A.
At this time, since the guide portion 13 of the frame 10 guides the upper and lower sides of the panel A, the solar panel cleaning device 1 does not leave the panel A and can move straight on the panel A in the horizontal direction. .

<3> Formation of cleaning surface (FIG. 4).
The solar panel cleaning method of the present invention is characterized in that a cleaning surface is formed on the panel A and cleaned by two rows of horizontal rotating brushes 20 arranged.
The cleaning water supplied from the horizontal rotating brush 20 of the first array 11 spreads around the brush as the brush rotates, and as the solar panel cleaning device 1 progresses, the horizontal rotating brush 20 of the first array 11. It flows in the direction of the second array 12 from the gap between them.
When this cleaning water is supplied from the horizontal rotating brush 20 of the second array 12 and comes into contact with the cleaning water spreading around it, the contact portion between the cleaning waters is pulled around by the surface tension, and the contact area increases.
In this way, the cleaning water of the first array 11 and the second array 12 is connected, and the cleaning surface W by the cleaning water is formed between both arrays.
The cleaning surface W is continuously maintained on the panel A between the first array 11 and the second array 12 by supplying cleaning water from the horizontal rotating brush 20.
Further, if the horizontal rotating brushes 20 are arranged in a staggered pattern, the cleaning water in the first array 11 that flows obliquely downward as the solar panel cleaning device 1 travels easily comes into contact with the horizontal rotating brushes 20 in the second array. The cleaning surface W can be formed more efficiently.
As a result, the number of horizontal rotating brushes 20 can be reduced to reduce the manufacturing cost, and power saving related to cleaning and weight saving of the airframe can be achieved.

<4> Cleaning mechanism.
The cleaning mechanism in the solar panel cleaning method of the present invention will be described.
As the solar panel cleaning device 1 proceeds, the horizontal rotating brush 20 scrapes dust, and the cleaning surface W dissolves the dust, takes it into the cleaning surface W, and flows it down.
The solidified dust that has not been sufficiently scraped off by the horizontal rotating brush 20 is also exposed to the cleaning surface W, so that it is dissolved and absorbed in the cleaning surface W and discharged together with the cleaning water.
As described above, the solar panel cleaning method of the present invention is different from the conventional spot-like or line-like cleaning in that the panel A is cleaned in a planar shape, so that the dust solidified on the panel A is also in the cleaning surface W. Can be melted and cleaned.
Therefore, no cleaning leakage occurs and the cleaning efficiency is very high.

[Example of using pure water for cleaning water]
Next, another embodiment in which pure water is used as cleaning water will be described.
Pure water means high-purity water that contains no or almost no impurities.
Since pure water does not contain impurities such as organic components, inorganic components, and fungi, it has a very high ability to dissolve substances. In addition, since pure water is an insulator, static electricity is easily generated, and the surrounding dirt is attracted to and captured by the static electricity.
In this example, the cleaning surface W formed by pure water actively attracts and dissolves the dust on the panel A in a wide range. For this reason, the cleaning efficiency is even higher.
In addition, since pure water does not leave a residue even if it evaporates, scale is unlikely to occur on the surface of panel A after cleaning.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Solar panel cleaning apparatus 10 Frame 11 1st array 12 2nd array 13 Guide part 20 Horizontal rotating brush 20A Brush main body 20B Brush main body 30 Drive means 40 Power source 41 Shaft 50 Water supply means 51 Water supply pipe 70 Cover A Panel W Washing surface

Claims (5)

A solar panel cleaning device for cleaning the surface of the solar panel while proceeding in the horizontal direction,
A frame having a length equal to or greater than the length of the solar panel in the tilt direction;
A plurality of horizontal rotating brushes attached to the lower part of the frame;
A plurality of driving means attached to the lower part of the frame;
A power source for driving the driving means;
Water supply means for supplying cleaning water to the horizontal rotating brush,
The frame includes a first array forward in the traveling direction and a second array rearward in the traveling direction,
The plurality of horizontal rotating brushes are respectively disposed in a lower portion of the first array and a lower portion of the second array.
Solar panel cleaning equipment.   The solar panel cleaning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of horizontal rotating brushes includes a pair of brush bodies arranged in parallel.   The solar panel cleaning apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the horizontal rotating brushes are arranged in a staggered manner in the first array and the second array. A solar panel cleaning method using the solar panel cleaning device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the solar panel cleaning apparatus cleans the solar panel while proceeding in a horizontal direction.
A cleaning surface with cleaning water is formed between the first array and the second array,
Solar panel cleaning method.   The method for cleaning a solar panel according to claim 4, wherein pure water is used as the cleaning water.

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