CHAPTER – I

INTRODUCTION

1
1.1 BACK GROUND
Need and comfort are the two major keys of a well-established society. The increase in
the today’s population demand many resources in order to satisfy their needs and to make
themselves comfortable, major part of those resources need electricity to works. So
electricity is the main ultimate requirement of the entire world but the supply of this
electricity is not up to mark to meet the needs of the society. This is due to the limited
number of electricity extraction methods most of them include the extraction through
renewables sources of the universe. The electricity can be extracted through two ways, one
is extraction through renewable sources and the other is extraction through non-renewable
sources.
The extraction of electricity through renewable sources of energy include methods like
extraction from solar, wind, ocean, hydropower, biomass, geothermal resources and biofuels
and hydrogen derived from renewable resources. Out of these methods extraction of
electricity through solar energy by the medium of solar panels is mostly effective now a days
due to its abundance availability in the nature.
1.1.1 ELECTRICITY THROUGH SOLAR ENERGY
The electricity extracted from solar energy is generally termed as “SOLAR
POWER”. Solar power is arguably the cleanest, most reliable form of renewable energy
available, and it can be used in several forms to help power your home or business. Solar-
powered photovoltaic panels convert the sun’s rays into electricity by exciting electrons
in silicon cells using the photons from the sun.
There are many types of solar panels which are in use to capture the solar energy some
of them are listed below:
1. Monocrystalline solar panel (Mono-Si)
2. Polycrystalline solar panel (Poly-Si)
3. Thin-Film solar cells (TFSC)
4. Amorphous silicon solar cell (A-Si)
5. Bio-hybrid solar cell
6. Cadmium telluride solar cell (Cd Te)

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 7. Concentrated PV cell (CVP and HCVP)
1.1.2 WORKING OF A SOLAR PANEL
There are many types of solar panels available in the market each one of them are
made of different materials but most of them generally comprise the composition of
silicon as the main consistency which mean silicon plays a vital role in the generation of
electrons.
Electricity is nothing but the acquisition of electric current which is obtained by the flow
of stream of excited electrons. Silicon is mostly used because of its availability of free
electrons in its outer most orbitals. When sun rays are focused on the surface of a solar
panel the photons of the light rays influence the electrons in the outer most orbitals of the
silicon atom. These electrons absorb the energy from photons and try to go to upper
orbitals in order to match their increased energy levels.
Being outer most orbitals and due to absence of further energy levels these electrons
exits the atomic shells and enter into the passage of current in the form of electron
stream. This is further collectively called as current and is stored in storage batteries and
powered to the organizations or house supplies.
The below shown line diagram show as brief working of a solar panel PV cell

3
 Figure 1 (working of PV solar cell)
1.1.3 FACTORS EFFECTING SOLAR PANEL
The working of solar panel is effected due to many factors which leads to the
decrease in efficiency of the panel efficiency ratings solar panels are only one of any
different factors that have to be taken into account when considering the idea of using
solar panels. The following are the factors which contribute the efficiency of panels in the
aspect of maintenance.

A. SHADE

Shade will obviously affect the output of solar panels. Depending on your setup, a little
shade can even bring down an entire solar system. Micro-inverters offer a possible solution.
Professional solar panel installers will do a thorough analysis of shading in your specific
situation.

F
i
g
u
r

4
 e 2 (shade on solar panels)

B. ORIENTATION

For best efficiency, solar panels should be positioned to maximize the

input of sun light. This means that solar panels should be faced south in the U.S. Solar trackers
were invented in order to adjust the orientation of solar panels to follow the sun`s trajectory
throughout the day. For most homeowners, solar trackers do not pass a cost-benefit analysis –
they are simply too expensive. The pitch of your roof can be altered with racks. In many cases
this will allow your solar panels to stay longer in the sun.

C. TEMPERATURE

Temperature is not something you have to consider unless you live in very hot
areas (e.g. San Antonio and Phoenix in the U.S.). As the temperatures increase, the efficiency of
solar panels usually decreases a little bit.

Professional installers will make sure that the solar panels are positioned to
receive sufficient amounts of airflow. This induces natural cooling, which help keep the
efficiency rates up.

D. LIFETIME

The efficiency of solar panels does degrade a little bit over time. The general rule
of thumb is that the power output drops by 0.5% every year. Solar panel manufacturers often
offer a warranty that guarantees the power output stays above 80% after 25 years.

E. SOILING

Soiling is the most influential aspect on the efficiency of the solar panel.
Soiling is the deposition of smooth and minute dust particles on the surface of the solar panel
is called as soiling. The deposited soil remains forms a layer obstructing the path of sun rays
onto the surface of the panel leading the cause of drop in efficiency of the panel.

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 Figure 3 (soiled solar panel)
1.1.4 MAINTENANCE OF SOLAR PANEL

In order to get the most possible outcome from the solar panel it must be taken
good care and time to time checking. This sought of care taken towards it is called as
maintenance. The maintenance of solar panel is the most important aspect to be followed for
sure. The maintenance includes cleaning, replacing, checking of the solar panels between
different time periods.

Soiling is controlled by taking proper maintenance of the solar panels the

following are the generally used methods to clean the surfaces of the solar panels in order to
prevent the panels from soiling.

1. Forced flow from air conducting system.

2. Rainfall cleaning
3. Water-based cleaning
4. Manual cleaning
5. Mechanical cleaning
6. Electrodynamic screens (EDS)
7. Super hydrophobic plane (SHOP)
8. Super hydrophilic plane (SHIP)

FORCED FLOW FROM AIR CONDUCTING SYSTEM

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 This method is mostly applied in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and could also
be implemented in various other developed countries with wide availability of air conditioners,
uses air flow from the fan of air-conditioners to force the flow on solar panels for dust removal.
The below figure shows how it works,

Figure 4 (flow forced air conducting system)

RAINFALL CLEANING

In this method of natural cleaning, the rainwater incident on the tilted solar panels
to clean the loose dust on panel surface. This process usually leaves behind the dust that is stuck
onto the panels due to moisture, and generally requires heavier rainfall to remove it. Reliability
of such a method to wash off the deposited soil is debatable when there is intense soiling and
inadequate rainfall. Although rains are not accurately predictable, panel surface property can be
improvised to increase the efficiency of this soiling prevention method. Such improvisations will
increase capital costs, but would be effective in remote areas where maintenance is not always
feasible.

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 Figure 5 (rainfall cleaning system)

WATER BASED CLEANING SYSTEM

This method requires water in large amounts and under continuous high pressure
to ward off any soiling particulate matter stuck on the PV panel surface. The pressurized water is
sometimes mixed with a special cleansing agent that will help ward off dust and can also be
useful for cooling down the PV panels installed in semi-arid regions and deserts. This method
can be considered as a significant improvisation of rainfall cleaning. There are many drawbacks
of this method, such as lack of reliability when applied in water scarce regions, loss of water in
huge quantities, chances of chemical deposition on PV panel edges, reduced efficiency as the
pressurized water system consumes significant amount of power, risks of water clogging,

8
refilling of water tanks (if any), a fear of thermal shock in the hot PV panels because the water is
cooler than the panel surface, and the attraction of more dust particles when the PV panel surface
is wet after cleaning. These drawbacks are avoided by regulating the timing of cleaning to avoid
thermal shocks and by using power efficient pumps to facilitate pressurized water.

Figure 6 (water based cleaning)

MANUAL CLEANING

This method is analogous to the procedure one uses in the cleaning of high-rise
building windows/glasses. Dust particles are scrubbed using special brushes equipped with
bristles to avert any scratches. Brushes connected with a direct water supply enable simultaneous
scrubbing and washing. It is considerably more efficient in reinstating the solar panel surface to
cleaner condition than rainfall cleaning. However, since the movement of brushes over panel
surface is uneven, a risk is always there that the direct contact of brush with PV panel may have
an abrasive effect. It is also an expensive cleaning method as it requires skilled labor to clean off

9
the soiling. Abrasion risk of PV panels may be reduced by using soft cleaning cloth or brush with
soft bristles.

Figure 7 (manual cleaning)

MECHANICAL CLEANING

A set of mechanical apparatus like motors or robot are required to operate the
brushes or wipers and a water storage tank with sprinklers is used to clean the PV panel surface.
This method uses automation where the system is controlled by a micro-controller with the help
of sensors. It is a reduced labor system of cleaning panel surfaces. However, it becomes very
helpful under conditions when water-based cleaning is not feasible and when unmanned
operation is essential. Although water can be used additionally to cool down the PV panels, the
direct contact of such brushes and mechanized apparatus can prove to be abrasive for cleaning
panel surfaces. More energy is consumed than any of the other above mentioned cleaning
methods, and maintenance of the mechanical parts is also needed. Its efficiency is uncertain and
may prove to be not quite efficient in case of high dust accumulation. These drawbacks can be
improved by adapting few measures to regulate the timing of cleaning to avoid thermal shocks,
by using power efficient motors to operate brushes or wipers, and by using softer cleaning
materials to avoid panel surface abrasion.

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ELECTRODYNAMIC SCREENS (EDS)
An electrodynamic screen (EDS) placed on a solar panel can ensure
automated and continuous removal of deposited dry dust without the use of water or any
mechanical moving parts. It is an active dust removal method that utilizes high voltage supplies
to power electrodes (to generate an electric field) of a clear screen which helps remove the
charged and uncharged dust particulate matter from the PV panel by shifting them over an edge
of the panel surface. Over 90% of dust is detached within two minutes by this method which
proves to be useful in dry, arid and desert regions. This cleaning method is distinctively faster
than other methods; consumes less power and the system is controlled by a micro-controller with
the help of sensors. However, there is a risk of screen degradation due to UV rays. Also, the
system requires high voltage supply to generate electric field, thus reducing the generation
efficiency by 15%. It also proves to be not effective for wet or cemented dust particulates, and so
it is less efficient for small sized particles. It is highly efficient for dry conditions and can be
more effective against degradation of screen by UV if weather proof polymer or glass is used
instead of the clear screens for increased durability.

SUPER HYDROPHOBIC PLANE (SHOP)

This method utilizes tailor-made hydrophobic surface or chemical
coating/screen layer which does not require any power whatsoever, and so it is a passive cleaning
method. The risk of screen degradation due to UV is also there but can be reduced by using a
good weatherproof glass or coating on it. SHOP is moderately efficient when it rains but
inefficient when it is dry. The coating does not allow dust to stick to surface, but needs water for
dust removal. Thus, it becomes necessary to have rainfall or water to make this cleaning method
effective. Some studies have proved that these modified PV panel surfaces tend to lessen the
accumulation of soiling in atmospheric conditions.
Various studies have been conducted to realize super-hydrophobic
surfaces by developing micro-structures or Nano-structures. The principle behind a hydrophobic
coating is that the layer forms a barrier and hence water accumulates on the surface in an almost
spherical shape, but is blocked from adhering to the surface by this barrier. When a treated
surface is tilted at an angle, the water rolls off the surface like “a sphere rolling down a slide”.
Rain and water accumulated due to atmospheric condensation settle in the micro depressions

11
present in the glass surface where they attract particulate matter. The water quickly evaporates,
leaving residues that need to be removed. Nano-hydrophobic layer fills in the micro-depressions,
and provide a smooth glass surface that prevent the holding of water. However, it is needed to
verify the applicability and feasibility of the use of super-hydrophobic surface in diverse
environmental conditions.

SUPER HYDROPHILIC PLANE (SHIP)

Super Hydrophilic plane or surface can be achieved by using Nano film of
titanium oxide, chemical coating and Nano-patterned fabrication of glass surface. This method
utilizes tailor-made hydrophilic surface or chemical coating/screen layer for soiling mitigation.
In addition to the benefits like SHOP, this process can chemically break down the organic dirt
through the reaction to UV light (photocatalytic effect). Thus, SHIP acts as a suspender material
between dust and PV panel surface. It is more durable as it does not make use of polymer based
coating, and so it can function for much longer periods than SHOP surface. However, it
accumulates more dust when the coating deteriorates due to UV rays. It is moderately efficient in
rains and regular washing is required to wash off dust in dry climates. The usage of TiO2 film
(photocatalytic) has been described as chemically stable, durable, non-toxic, economical, and
transparent to visible light.

1.2 AIM

 The main aim is to fabricate a mechanized solar panel cleaning system that is powered by
DC supply to enhance the efficiency of a solar panel.
 The entire theme consists of the design of the frame and selection of required equipment
like selection of type of motor to be used and building the setup.

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1.3 OBJECTIVE

 The main objective is to fabricate a water free solar panel cleaning system to prevent the
solar panel getting effected by soiling.
 This system is built in such a way that it is controlled by an instructor using a HC 5
Bluetooth module.
 The second main objective is to learn different ways of building the frame and various
methods of controlling it.

13
 CHAPTER – II
LITERATURE REVIEW

LITERATURE REVIEW

Basically lot of inventions had been made and developed regarding a solar panel
cleaning system, among all of those this entire project is made from the basic ideology from a
journal published by Dipankar Deb and Nisarg L. Brahmbhatt. This journal had given us a
detailed layout of how the actual methodization is done and it also illustrated about the other
phenomenal methods of cleaning. This paper represents a control strategy of controlling the

14
cleaning system. The proposed model is modified and fabricated as an extensional background of
this paper. It is later tested to know its manner of execution and working.

In addition to this, the other journal published by Shaikh Tariq Mobin of NIT RKL
in the year 2015 had stated a different methodology regarding the motion and working of the
cleaning system. However different the strategies might be but they helped us in getting a basic
theoretical idea of the system we came through.

Apart from these journals there were some other paper from which the basic
studies where made before coming up with a concluded model. They were listed below

1. El-Shobokshy MS, Hussein FM. Degradation of photovoltaic cell performance due to

dust deposition on to its surface. J Renew Energy 1993;3 (6/7):585e90.
2. Park Y B, Im H, Im M, et al. Self-cleaning effect of highly water-repellent microshell
structures for solar cell applications. Journal of Materials Chemistry, 2011; 21:633–636.
3. Segev A. India’s need for water free solar panel cleansing, Energética India, Aug 2015.
4. Librandi G, Narain J, Yu H. Autonomous Photovoltaic Panels Cleaning System,
Mechatronics, 2012.

15
 CHAPTER – III
METHODOLOGY

3.1 LOCOMOTION UNIT

The locomotion unit is responsible for the movement of the entire system.
The system is powered motion by the 4 DC motors which are clamped onto the frame and
placed on panel edges as a platform for the movement. These DC motors are
accommodated with 4 small wheels which achieves the motion. Here 4 gear motors each
of 12V and 45 rpm are used for moving the system parallel to the length of the panel.

16
Another 12V, 100 rpm DC motor is used for the brushes to put into rotation in order to
clean the surface of the panel. The motors are powered by a DC power supply which is a
dry battery of 12V and 1.5Ah. The entire locomotion unit looks like the design drawn
below

Figure 8 (mounted motors and accommodated wheels)

The above drawn CAD model shows a brief description about the manner of arrangement
of the motors and the wheel arrangements. It shows three DC gear motors two were

17
 attached to wheels and another will be connected to the brush. The specifications of the
motors are tabulated below.

S. No TYPE OF MOTOR DESCRIPTION SPECIFICATION

1 DC Motor Used for wheels 12V 45 rpm
2 DC motor Connected to brush 12V 100 rpm

Table 1 (specifications of motors)

3.2 FRAME

The entire frame is made into three parts and named as part A, part B, part C.
This is just to facilitate the ease of work and study. The part A lies parallel to the length of the
solar panel and part B is perpendicular to the part A and part C is the lower most part of the
frame on which the entire setup is mounted. The battery is placed on the upper portion of the
frame, placed on a cardboard piece in order to quit the chances of slipping, as the frame is made
of smooth surfaces. The frame is actually an aluminium channel, the reason behind choosing
aluminium as the material is to enhance the ease of material handling and working. The main
reason is because of its availability in less weight and low cost compared to other materials.
The main problem we have faced during the fabrication is the detailing of the
frame. The three parts A, B, C, are attached to each other using L-clamps and nut-bolt fitting.
The below given sketch is a basic model of the frame.

Parts B mounted on part C

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 Figure 9 (part B on part C)
Part A is the largest portion of the frame and is clamped onto the part C. The arrangement of the
three parts are along the three axis of the co-ordinate system.

Figure 10 (part A)

The dimensional aspects are tabulated below:

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S.No NAME OF THE PART DIMENSIONS
1 PART-A Length 198cm
2 PART-B Height 20cm
3 PART-C Length 45cm

Table 2 (specifications of the frame)

3.3 CLAMPING
As aluminium is not that much good to be welded we have opted for clamping, the
clamping is done using L-clamps. These clamps were fitted using nut and bolt arrangement. The
clamping is made making sure of restricting the movement of the parts in other directions and
holded firm at the mountings. The below figure reflects the clamp used:

Figure 11 (L-clamp)

3.4 ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS

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 The system is driven by DC motors and the directional instructions are feeded to
the motors using the electronic component setup. The electronic setup consists of the following
components:
1. Arduino UNO board
2. 5V 4 Channel Relay module
3. HC 05 bluetooth module

3.4.1 ARDUINO UNO

An arduino board is an open source electronic component used to read inputs from
the instructor through a special coded language. The aurdinos are used to contol the
relays by taking inputs written in IDE. IDE means integrated development environment,
it is a platform which enables the coders to program and edit the programs for software
developments. Here an arduino UNO is used, its input is connected to a bluetooth module
and the output to a 5V 4 relays. The coded program is written and dumped into the
aurdino UNO, the coding consists of the list of instructions for the motor to move
forward, backward and stop when instructed.

The program written is given below:

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//code for 4 relay module
int in1=9;
int in2=8;
int in3=7;
int in4=6;
int state;
int flag=0;
void setup()
{
digitalWrite(in1,OUTPUT);
digitalWrite(in2,OUTPUT);
digitalWrite(in3,OUTPUT);
digitalWrite(in4,OUTPUT);
Serial.begin(9600);
}
void loop()
{
if(Serial.available()>0)
{
state=Serial.read();
flag=0;
}
if (state=='1')
{
digitalWrite(in1,HIGH);
digitalWrite(in2,LOW);
digitalWrite(in3,HIGH);
digitalWrite(in4,LOW);
}
else if (state=='2')
{

22
 digitalWrite(in1,LOW);
digitalWrite(in2,HIGH);
digitalWrite(in3,LOW);
digitalWrite(in4,HIGH);
}
else if (state=='3')
{
digitalWrite(in1,LOW);
digitalWrite(in2,LOW);
digitalWrite(in3,LOW);
digitalWrite(in4,LOW);
}
}
The above program is written for 4relay module and to control 5 motors just by giving one signal
and the signal may be forward or backward depending upon the requirement.
The following figure is an Arduino UNO board.

Figure 12 (Arduino UNO)

23
3.4.2 5V 4 CHANNEL RELAY MODULE
4-Channel 5V Relay Module. The Arduino Relay module allows a wide
range of microcontroller such as Arduino, AVR, PIC, and ARM with digital outputs to
control larger loads and devices like AC or DC Motors, electromagnets, solenoids,
and incandescent light bulbs. The 4 channel relay module acts as a bridge between
electrical signal and mechanical output. When the signal is sent to Arduino it is
transmitted to the 4 channel relay module and the module receives the signal and
analyzes the instruction encrypted in the signal. The analyzed instruction is then executed
depending upon the operation. Here the code is written just to make the motors move in
to and fro motion. When an instructor gives a signal through the Bluetooth module it is
sent to Arduino and then from Arduino to 4channel relay module and then at last it is sent
to motor to follow the instruction.
Basically the input to the Arduino board is a 12V signal it is converted to 5V
signal and sent to relay module.

`
Figure 13 (5V 4 channel relay board)

3.4.3 HC 05 BLUETOOTH MODULE

HC‐05 module is an easy to use Bluetooth SPP (Serial Port Protocol) module,
designed for transparent wireless serial connection setup. The HC-05 Bluetooth Module can be
used in a Master or Slave configuration, making it a great solution for wireless communication.
This serial port Bluetooth module is fully qualified Bluetooth V2.0+EDR (Enhanced Data Rate)
3Mbps Modulation with complete 2.4 GHz radio transceiver and baseband.
24
 It uses CSR Blue core 04‐External single chip Bluetooth system with CMOS
technology and with AFH (Adaptive Frequency Hopping Feature). Here the Bluetooth is
connected to a portable controlling device and the instructions are fed through it. The signaling
from mobile to the electronic setup is given through an application named Arduino Bluetooth
controller.

Figure 14 (HC 05 Bluetooth Module)

3.5 BRUSHES
Here we have used 6 brushes each attached to one another by plastic welding. The
brushes are attached to the DC motor at one end and the other end is attached to bearing to ease
the rotation of the brushes on the solar panel.

Figure 15 (cleaning brushes)

25
3.6 ROLLERS
Rollers are bolted to the frame on the part C in such a way that they were kept in
contact with the edge of the solar panel along the path of the motion of the system. These rollers
are also gripped wheels having rubber lining around it and acts as supports for the cleaning
setup.

Figure 16 (rollers bolted to the frame)

The above figure shows the arrangement of rollers to the frame.

26
 CHAPTER – IV
CONSTRUCTION AND FABRICATION

27
4.1 CONSTRUCTION
The construction of the automated solar panel cleaning system is done in a
manner that the mountings are made by clamping with bolts and nuts. The construction is in such
a way that first the part B is mounted on part C and part A is mounted perpendicular to the part B
and part C.
Then the motors are clamped on the part C of the frame. The appropriate layout
of the model looks like the CAD model given below.

Figure 17 (project layout left side)

This CAD model shows only left side of the model and the right side is also
established with the same kind of arrangement. Only one thing changes at the right side of the
mode, that is the motor at the middle is replaced with a bearing which is clamped and held to the
frame.
At last the rollers are bolted to the lower side of the frame, they were bolted
to a small sized bolt in order to make it free to rotate along the edge of the solar panel. These
rollers rotate along the length of the path followed by the solar panels arrangement.
After completion of the frame arrangement the wiring is done on a cardboard
sheet and the electronic components are placed on it and the entire cardboard is mounted on the
part A of the frame and the wires are pulled from inside of the channels.

28
4.2 FABRICATION
First the aluminum channel is dimensioned into divisions like two parts with
45cm length and one part with 198cm length. Now the markings are made for the drilling of
holes and clamping of motor.
Now the marked pieces are cut and made into individual structures, now the
different parts of the frame are clamped using L-clamps and holes are drilled to clamp the
motors.
Now the motors are clamped using U-clamps.
After clamping of motors the brushes are joined into one long brush by plastic
welding, these brushes are then bolted to the motor at one end and the other end to a bearing
which is clamped at the right side of the frame. After engaging the brushes the rollers at the
bottom are bolted parallel to the frame’s lower portion.
The connections of the electrical components are made based on the programed
order. All the outputs of the Bluetooth are connected to the inputs of the Arduino UNO and then
the outputs of the Arduino are connected to inputs of the 4 channel relay module. Now the
outputs of the relays are connected to the motors. All the 5 motors are made to rotate in the same
direction throughout the time of operation of the cleaning system.

Figure 18 (electronic components)

29
The above figure shows way the connections made between the Arduino and the relays. All the
connections between the boards are made using jumper wires.

Figure 19 (clamping of motors on the frame)

The above figure shows the clamping of motors to the frame.

Figure 20 (solar panel cleaning system)

30
The figure 20 shows the model of Bluetooth controlled solar panel cleaning system.

CHAPTER – V
CONCLUSION

31
 CONCLUSION
The model supposed to be fabricated is first designed using solid works and then
fabricated taking the CAD module design as reference. Therefore, the proposed model of
automated solar panel cleaning system is fabricated.

32
 REFERENCES
1. Al-Jawah MJ. A Decision Aiding Framework for Investing in Cleaning Systems for Solar
Photovoltaic (PV) Power Plants in Arid Regions, 2014, The George Washington University.
2. El-Shobokshy MS, Hussein FM. Degradation of photovoltaic cell performance due to dust
deposition on to its surface. J Renew Energy 1993;3 (6/7):585e90.
3. Park Y B, Im H, Im M, et al. Self-cleaning effect of highly water-repellent microshell
structures for solar cell applications. Journal of Materials Chemistry, 2011; 21:633–636.
4. Segev A. India’s need for water free solar panel cleansing, Energética India, Aug 2015.
5. Librandi G, Narain J, Yu H. Autonomous Photovoltaic Panels Cleaning System,
Mechatronics, 2012.

33