초록 ▼

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 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.

대표청구항 ▼

1. 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 d

1. 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. 2. The smart dust-cleaner and cooler for solar PV panels according to claim 1, wherein the timer comprises a microprocessor. 3. The smart dust-cleaner and cooler for solar PV panels according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of spacers disposed on a frame of the PV panel, the planar, transparent sheet being supported on the spacers. 4. The smart dust-cleaner and cooler for solar PV panels according to claim 1, wherein the planar, transparent sheet is directly affixed to a frame of the PV panel. 5. The smart dust-cleaner and cooler for solar PV panels according to claim 1, wherein the vibrating elements comprise membrane vibrators. 6. The smart dust-cleaner and cooler for solar PV panels according to claim 5, wherein the plurality of membrane vibrators consist of two membrane vibrators disposed on opposite sides of the PV panel. 7. The smart dust-cleaner and cooler for solar PV panels according to claim 1, wherein said power source comprises: a battery module connected to the PV panel; anda power inverter connected to the battery module and connected directly to the PV panel. 8. The smart dust-cleaner and cooler for solar PV panels according to claim 7, further comprising a step-up element connected between the power inverter and the switch, the step-up element boosting power for operation of the air compressor and vibrating elements.