CLEAROSO: A Cleaning Robot for the Solar Panels

Nikheel N. Deshmukh; Devendra Chitale; Raghavendra C. Kamath

doi:10.57159/gadl.jcmm.1.2.22013

Authors

Nikheel N. Deshmukh Bilfinger UK Limited, Wilson House, Kelburn Court, Daten Park, Birchwood, Warrington WA3 6UT
Devendra Chitale DC Automation, Kothrud, Pune, Maharashtra, India 411038
Raghavendra C. Kamath Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Manipal Institute of Technology, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, India 576104

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.57159/gadl.jcmm.1.2.22013

Keywords:

Photovoltaic panel cleaning, Sensors, Robotics, Water-free cleaning, Real-time systems

Abstract

Non-renewable power sources being sustainable have a major impact on controlling global warming. Solar energy is one of the prominent non-renewable energy sources that has been increasingly utilized in recent years to generate solar power using solar panels. The accumulation of dust (also known as soiling) on the surface of solar panels reduces the quantity of sunlight reaching the solar cells beneath, lowering the efficiency of the solar panel. To fully utilize their specified capacity, they must be cleaned regularly, often with water. Cleaning solar panels, especially when large in numbers, consumes much time. The cleaning of solar panels has become complex, complicated, and ultimately costly due to the growing water shortage problem in most parts of the world. The current study also suggests the development of a solar panel cleaning robot to address the issues connected with the traditional technique of solar panel cleaning. In the present work, an appropriate methodology was developed to balance the robot on the solar panel, having the ability to clean the panels with no wastage of water and no damage to the panels. Since the proposed cleaning process is automated, cleaning time was significantly reduced, and the usage of water and the effort of the personnel was eliminated. Several cleaning trials were conducted using the robot, and the result indicated an increase in the overall efficiency of the solar panel cleaning process.

Author Biographies

Nikheel N. Deshmukh, Bilfinger UK Limited, Wilson House, Kelburn Court, Daten Park, Birchwood, Warrington WA3 6UT

Devendra Chitale, DC Automation, Kothrud, Pune, Maharashtra, India 411038

Raghavendra C. Kamath, Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Manipal Institute of Technology, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, India 576104

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