US 2015/0311859 A1Published application

Smart dust-cleaner and cooler for solar pv panels

AssigneeKing Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals

InventorABDULLAH JAMAL HAMDI

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Abstract

The smart dust-cleaner and cooler for solar PV panels is a smooth transparent shield with low absorption coefficient (such as a plastic sheet) placed on the top of the panel to facilitate the removal of dust. Two Membrane Vibrators (MVs) are placed on opposite sides of the panel. The vibrators have the ability to shake and resonate the sheet, dislodging the dust particulates from their positions. A compressor powered by the PV panel compresses air before the cleaning process, which operates in short duration. Release of the compressed air creates an air stream over the panel that removes the loose dust and cools the panel to enhance performance. Using a microcontroller-based timer, the dust cleaning/cooling process is timed for daily operation before noon, when the panel temperature is at its peak to maximize panel efficiency at maximum irradiance time.

Claims8

Dependent claims

A smart dust-cleaner and cooler for solar photo-voltaic (PV) panels, comprising:

a planar, transparent sheet dimensioned and configured to fit on top of a PV panel, the planar sheet being disposed over the panel and covering substantially all of the PV elements;
a plurality of vibrating elements disposed on top of the transparent sheet at opposite sides of the panel;
an air compressor disposed in proximity to the PV panel, the compressor having an electronically controlled output valve;
a compressed air distribution nozzle disposed along an edge of the PV panel, the output valve of the air compressor being connected to the compressed air distribution nozzle;
a switch;
a power source connected to the air compressor and vibrating elements via the switch;
a valve and vibrator timer connected to the switch to actuate the switch at predetermined time intervals to simultaneously energize the vibrating elements and compressed air distribution valve, the timer also being connected to the air compressor for actuating the air compressor at predetermined time intervals before the vibrating elements and compressed air distribution valve are actuated.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 14/698,754Filed 28 Apr 2015
Priority: 28 Apr 2014
Published: 29 Oct 2015
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification16 codes

H02S 40/10
Components or accessories in combination with PV modules, not provided for in groups H02S10/00 - H02S30/00: cleaning arrangements
B08B 5/02
Cleaning by methods involving the use of air flow or gas flow: cleaning by the force of jets, e.g. blowing-out cavities
B08B 7/02
Cleaning by methods not provided for in a single other subclass or a single group in this subclass: by distortion, beating, or vibration of the…
B08B 17/02
Methods preventing fouling: preventing deposition of fouling or of dust