Why do we need to clean solar panels?
It is very important to clean your solar panels. Dirt on the solar panels prevents the entry of light. Moreover, solar panels are made to work by allowing light enters the solar cells. Bird poop, dust or pollen prevent the light from reaching the solar cells which eventually leads to less energy production.
Solar Panel Cleaning Equipment’s
Cleaning solar panels, for the most part, is not that difficult. The most difficult part might actually be having the tools to reach the entire surface area of the panel, and this will depend on how big your panels are.
There are two types of cleaning methods are followed
- Dry Cleaning Method
- Wet Cleaning Method
Dry Cleaning Method
Dry cleaning method used to remove the dust, sand, other particles which are not sticky on the surface. In this method everyone using brush, mop or some other soft materials, robot with brushes to wiping the surface and removing the sand, dust particles. Soft materials are used to avoid damage on the surface.
Wet Cleaning Method
Wet Cleaning method used to remove dust, sand, bird drops, leafs and sticky materials on the surface of the solar panel. In this method everyone using water to clean the surface with the help of brush, mop, soft materials, and robots with brush, specially made equipment’s for cleaning the solar panels.
If we using dry cleaning method even though it is necessary to wet clean the solar panels after a particular time interval. The sticky particles and bird dropping cannot be cleaned in dry cleaning method, it will affect the productivity.
We have listed few of the solar panel cleaning equipment’s or machines available in the industry
1.Solar Panel Cleaning Kit
2.Solar Panel Cleaning Robot
3. Solar Panel Sprinkler Cleaning Technology
4. Hiring professionals Panel Cleaners
5. Solar Panel Cleaning Tractor
- Solar Panel Cleaning Kit
The Solar Panel Cleaning kit normally consists a brush, stick and a water line hose for wet cleaning. The stick is expandable for a particular length for cleaning the entire surface of the solar panel system.
While using this equipment one can clean their solar panels by themselves or by hiring few peoples for the purpose.
The brush providing by those industries are vary based on the need by the consumers like round shaped, cylindrical shaped or rectangular shaped etc.,
The kit water line hose consists one or few nozzles or water outlets for the wet cleaning purpose.
Img 1,2,3: Pictures shows few of the kits available on the market
- Solar Panel Cleaning Robot
The Solar Panel Cleaning robots are mostly available for the dry cleaning purpose.
The robots are available in various size and weights. The robot draws its energy from solar energy using small solar modules on the robot itself. The robots having a rotating brush and moving wheels for the cleaning purpose. The entire operation are controlled by preprograms or by an operator.
There are two types of robot are majorly used
- Manually operated robot
- Automatic solar cleaning robot
Manual Operating robots are small in size; they can be controlled by an operator to clean the entire solar array. We have to shift the robot by ourselves to each array.
Img 4: Manually operated robot cleaning the solar panel
The Automatic cleaning robots can clean the entire length of the panel at a time. They are operating through the right-left direction of the solar array be programed commands.
To clean a large plant we need to install many robots as much as possible. Also we need people to shift the robot from one array to another array.
Img 5: Automatic PV Cleaning robot
- Solar Panel Sprinkler Cleaning Technology
The Solar Panel Sprinkler Cleaning technology is cleaning the Panels by applying pressurized water on the panels for the entire array. We need to frame water lines for each array in the entire plant.
Img 6: Water Sprinkler system to clean the solar panels
In this method pressurized water sprayed on the panels with a time interval for the entire day. By spraying the pressurized water the dust, sand particles will be drawn to the bottom of the panels. The sprinkler system is used for only wet cleaning purpose which compulsory need water supply.
- Hiring professionals Panel Cleaners
In this method few professionals with cleaning brush and kit will clean the solar panels with rinse and swipe method.
Img 7: A professional cleaning the solar system
In this method a set of peoples will clean the system by applying water on the panels and swipe the panels with the brush. The Cleaning time and water consumption is quite high in this method.
The professionals will evaluate and clean the panels by applying both the dry cleaning and wet cleaning methods.
- Solar Panel Cleaning Tractor
The solar panel cleaning tractor is a tractor mounted system which is used to clean the solar panel.
Img 8: Next Automation Solar Track cleaning the solar panels
In this method a tractor mounted hydraulic system is used for the cleaning purpose. This system can be used for both dry and wet cleaning purposes.
This method a water carrying tank is provided for the water supply. The rotating brush can clean the entire panel length at a time easily. The time taken for the cleaning cycle is less in this method compared to the other cleaning method. Also water usage is less than other methods.
References
- https://hycleaner.eu/en/produkte/hycleaner-black-solar/
- https://www.solarexpertsindia.com/solar-accessories/solar-panel-cleaning-kit-system-price/
- https://www.enfsolar.com/directory/component/panel_cleaning_equipment
- https://www.soeasyrobot.com/product/soeasy-solar-panels-dry-clean-robot-automatic-solar-panel-cleaning-machine/
- https://nextautomation.co.in/solartrac-solar-panel-cleaning-tractor/
- https://www.yellowhaze.in/solar-panel-cleaning-guidelines/
- https://ratedpower.com/blog/clean-solar-panels/