Journal of Modern Mechanical Systems and Machining

Volume 2 Issue 2

Design and development of solar panel cleaning system

Santhosh A*, Sharan H J*, Sumanth H A*, Sujith N S**

Student*, Assistant Professor**
Department of mechanical engineering
Coorg Institution of Technology, Ponnampet, India
Corresponding author’s email id: santhosh974133@gmail.com *

Abstract
The main method for harnessing solar power is with arrays made up of
photovoltaic (PV) panels. Accumulation of dust and debris on even one
panel in an array reduces their efficiency in energy generation
considerably and emphasizes the need to keep the panel’s Surface as
clean as possible. In this Project a novel design is to be develop a AC
current based automatic cleaning of solar panels. A tool is designed
based on the array size, and water pumping/sprinkling mechanism is
designed based on the amount/nature of dust accumulated. In terms of
daily energy generation, the presented automatic-cleaning scheme
provides about 30% more energy output when compared to the dust
accumulated PV module.

Keywords: Solar panels, Dust accumulated, Automatic cleaning.

INTRODUCTION
There is more than enough solar radiation
available around the world to satisfy the
demand for solar power systems. The
proportion of the sun’s rays that reaches
the earth’s surface is enough to provide for
global energy consumption 10,000 times
over. On average, each square metre of
land is exposed to enough sunlight to
produce 1,700 kWh of power every year.
“Photovoltaic” is a union of two words:
“photo”, meaning light, and “voltaic”,
meaning electricity. Photovoltaic
technology, the scientific term used to
describe what we use to convert solar
energy into electricity, generates electricity
from light. We use a semi-conductor
material which can be adapted to release

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 Journal of Modern Mechanical Systems and Machining
electrons, the negatively charged particles
that form the basis of electricity.
Accumulation of dust on the solar panels
leads to reduction of the transmittance of
the panel. Solar desalination plants in
some of the middle-east countries like the
solar desalination plant of Abu Dhabi
suffers from the deposition of dust on its
solar plates. The effect of the accumulated
dust will be reduced with the increasing of
tilt angle, since the tilt angle will affect the
exposure time to the sunlight also. But the
best way to eliminate the effect of the
accumulated dust on the solar panels is to
clean the panels. In practice cleaning of
solar panels should be frequently done.
The objective of the project work is to
design a cleaning mechanism that runs
across the length of the pannels so that we
can improve overal solar panel efficiency.
LITERATURE SURVEY
Shaharin A et.all [1] has wriiten in his
article the accumulation of dust from the
outdoor environment on the panels of solar
photovoltaic (PV) system is natural. There
were studies that showed that the
accumulated dust can reduce the
performance of solar panels, but the results
were not clearly quantified. The objective
of this research was to study the effects of
dust accumulation on the performance of
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Volume 2 Issue 2
solar PV panels. Experiments were
conducted using dust particles on solar
panels with a constant-power light source,
to determine the resulting electrical power
generated and efficiency. It was found
from the study that the accumulated dust
on the surface of photovoltaic solar panel
can reduce the system’s efficiency by up to
50%.
Rupali Nazar et.all [2] have found that
study on improving the efficiency of solar
panel is very necessary. There are various
methods to improve the efficiency of the
solar panel. We can improve efficiency of
solar panel by using solar tracker with
panel which continuously tracks sunlight
throughout the day to get maximum solar
energy. Second method to improve the
efficiency is dust cleaning. Dust is barrier
between sunlight and solar panel.
Minu K.S et.all [3] says that shading and
overheating of photovoltaic cells can result
in a significant energy reduction of PV
systems. Tilting and natural ventilation
allows the build-up of fine sand to be
blown off from the PV array’s surface.
However, a dust particle tend to gradually
accumulate on the PV surface making the
cleaning task more difficult and reduces
the overall PV panel efficiency due to the
combined effect of shading and heating.
 Journal of Modern Mechanical Systems and Machining
Volume 2 Issue 2

frame which moves up and down on

Halbhavi S. G et.all [4] in this research the vertical rails to clean or wipe out
paper suggested that, the current labour- the dust on the panel. A wiper is fixed
based cleaning methods for photovoltaic to this carriage and 4 trolley wheels are
arrays are costly in time, water and energy attached to this in order to provide the
usage and lack automation capabilities. In movement. (Fig d) shows the assembly
this paper a novel design is presented for of the model.
the first ever human portable robotic
cleaning system for photovoltaic panels,
which can clean and maneuver on the glass
surface of a PV array at varying angles
from horizontal to vertical. In order to
regularly clean the dust, a automatic
cleaning system has been designed, which
senses the dust on the solar panel and also
cleans the module automatically.

Fig a: Base frame

DESIGN AND FABRICATION
a) The Base Frame: The base frame (Fig
a) will help to place the glass frame
and it also provides the path for the
vertical rails which moves
horizontally. The material used to
construct this frame is mild steel.

b) Vertical Rails: Vertical rails (Fig b) are

used to provide path and support the up
and down movement of cleaning
Fig b: Vertical rails
mechanism carriage. It is made up of
aluminum.

c) Carriage: The Cleaning mechanism

(Fig c) carriage is an aluminum square

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 Journal of Modern Mechanical Systems and Machining
Volume 2 Issue 2

Fig c: Carriage

Fig d: Assembly of the model

WORKING OF SYSTEM is in actuated position or in ON condition.

The carriage moves on the surface part of Thus current is supplied to the gear motor
the solar panel in a forward and backward which runs in a forward direction
motion. At this point when the cleaning (clockwise). As the gear motor starts
tool is at its initial state, the limit switch 1 moving, the pumps get actuated and the

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 Journal of Modern Mechanical Systems and Machining
Volume 2 Issue 2

spraying action starts. The wiper mounted
on the carriage also starts moving in the
forward direction. This carriage moves in
the track on the vertical rail. Along the
entire path, the water is spread on the solar
panel it forces the dust to move in the
direction of the motion of the cleaning unit
and simultaneously the wiper wipes the
panel finally flows it away at the edge of
the panel. Once the cleaning unit reaches
the other end, limit switch 2 gets actuated.
Thus the current is reversed and supplied
to the gear motor which now runs in
backward direction (anti clockwise). As
the cleaning tool comes to the initial
position the cycle completes and the
process is stop.
RESULT
A cleaning mechanism is designed and
fabricated in such a way that it runs across
the length of the panels and removes the
dust accumulated on the solar panel. Since
this cleaning system is portable, it easy to
carry over a long distance. The
maintenance cost of this system is not so
significant.

Figure:e Working Model of Automatic Cleaning System

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 Journal of Modern Mechanical Systems and Machining
Volume 2 Issue 2

CONCLUSION b) Moment of the vertical rail can be

The main conclusions can be summarized automated.
as: The dirt and bird drop make a hotspot
in the panel, and it can result in the c) Replacing the existing track
temporary failure of panel. Dry cleaning mechanism with other type of
cannot remove all the dirt on the surface of mechanism like rack and pinion for the
the solar panel, but it is able to remove the motion of the system.
outer layers of the dust. Cleaning solar
panel with water increases the cleaning d) Interfacing with VFD (variable-
efficiency by removing majority of the dirt frequency drive) drives for optimizing
deposited on the panel. This device is the power consumed by the system.
made up of light weight material, so there
will be no much weight, applied on to the ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
panel. Comparing the costs of cleaning by We are very happy to acknowledge the
Manual operation and Automatic operation numerous personalities involved in lending
the cost for automatic cleaning is proved to their help to make our project “Design and
be more economic and significantly less development of solar panel cleaning
cumbersome particularly in systems system” a successful one.
having large number of solar panels. Also
frequent periodic cleaning ensures that the We take immense pleasure in
solar panel works with a good acknowledging our guide Mr. Sujith N S,
transmittance consistently at all times. Assistant Professor Department of
Mechanical Engineering for his guidance,
SCOPE FOR FUTURE WORK support, suggestions, co-operation and a
a) Wireless transmission:- the movement source of constant encouragement and
of the tool can be done wireless by inspection throughout the project extended
using radio frequency which will to in all instance of our need.
reduce the cost involved in installing
the system and also the complexity in REFERENCES
maintaining the system will be I. Shaharin A. Sulaiman, Haizatul H.
reduced. Hussain, NikSiti H. Nikleh, and
Mohd S. I. Razali, Effecta os dust
on the performance of PV panels,

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 Journal of Modern Mechanical Systems and Machining
Volume 2 Issue 2

International Science Index,

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II. Rupali Nazar , Improvement of

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III. Minu K.S., Self-cleaning of solar

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