A Solar Panel Cleaning Robot Design and Application

Abstract

Solar energy, which is one of the renewable energy sources, has an important role in meeting the increasing electrical energy demand of our globe. In recent years, many countries have established their energy policies based on solar energy, and researchers have been working on solar panel efficiency, maximum energy extraction from the sun, control and power electronics. The energy extracting from the sun is converted into electrical energy via solar panels. To extract continuously maximum energy level from the sun reduces installation costs and makes it easier to meet the demanded peak electrical power. Physical conditions such as muddy rain, snow and dusting place between the solar panel and the sun. This situation results the reduced electrical power extraction level which can be technically produced with clean solar panel surface. Therefore, it is also very important to keep the solar panels clean as well as the maximum power point tracking devices. In this study, a solar panel cleaning robot (SPCR) has been designed and tested in real time. The designed dual-motor and crawler robot moves horizontally and the cleaning brush runs on the vertical axis. In addition, the length of the solar panel array can be detected by position switches to keep the SPCR in desired working area. 

Keywords

• Photovoltaic system
• Solar panel efficiency
• Solar panel cleaning robot
• Arduino software development board

Güneş Paneli Temizleme Robotu Tasarımı ve Uygulaması

Abstract

Yenilenebilir enerji kaynaklarından olan güneş enerji, yer küremizin artan elektrik enerji talebinin karşılanmasında önemli bir konuma gelmiştir. Son yıllarda ülkelerin çoğu enerji politikalarını güneş enerjisi tabanlı kurmakta ve araştırmacılar da güneş paneli verimi, güneşten maksimum enerji çıkarımı, denetimi ve güç elektroniği üzerine çalışmalarını sürdürmektedir. Güneşten gelen gelen enerji güneş panelleri yardımıyla elektirik enerjine çevrilmektedir. Panellerden alınan enerjinin sürekli maksimumda tutulması kurulum maliyetini düşürerek talep edilebilecek tepe elektrik gücünün karşılanmasını da daha kolay duruma gelmektedir. Çamur halinde yağan yağmur, kar ve tozlanma gibi fiziksel durumlar panel ile güneş arasına girerek üertilebilecek güç seviyesini azaltmaktadır. Bu nedenle maksimum güç noktası izleyici cihazların yanında güneş panellerinin temiz tutulması da hayli önem arz etmektedir. Bu çalışmada bir güneş paneli temzileme robotu (GPTR) tasarlanmış olup sistemin gerçek zamanlı testleri de yapılmıştır. Tasarlanan çift motorlu ve paletli robot yatay düzlemde hareket ederken temizleme fırçası ise dikey eksende çalışmaktadır. Ayrıca konum anahtarları ile güneş paneli dizisinin boyutları algılanarak GPTR istenilen çalışma alanı içinde tutulabilmektedir. 

Keywords

• Fotovoltaik sistem
• Güneş paneli verimi
• Güneş paneli temizleme robotu
• Arduino yazılım geliştirme kartı

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