Design and Implementation of Automatic Solar Panel Cleaning Robot

Abstract

Photovoltaic panels, organized in arrays within solar farms or systems, serve as the primary source of solar power generation. While solar energy is favored in sun-rich regions for its cleanliness, the efficiency of PV panels is susceptible to decreased performance due to the accumulation of dust and debris, even on a single panel within an array. This has sparked a global interest in sustainable energy production and being more energy-efficient. Many industrial applications now rely on solar panels as their primary source of electrical power, In order for the photovoltaic cells to operate at optimum efficiency without any loss of energy, the panel surface should be free of dust and any other kind of particle which obstructs the flow of photons. Consequently, regular cleaning of PV panels is essential. Analysis of dust composition revealed a variety of pollutants, such as ash, sand, silica, calcium carbonate, and crimson soil. By employing a computerized cleaning scheme, the research demonstrated the potential to expand power output by approximately 30%. Current manual cleaning methods consume significant time, water, and energy resources and also there is a lack of automation. To overcome this problem, a fully automatic solar panel cleaning robot is proposed. The robot's movements during the cleaning process are controlled by an Arduino controller system. It is equipped with a microfiber brush and a water pump system to effectively remove dust and debris from the PV panel surfaces.