ES1284110U - DEVICE FOR CLEANING SOLAR PANELS - Google Patents

Abstract

Device for cleaning solar panels (100) such that a solar panel (100) comprises a first side (8), a second side (9) opposite the first side (8), a third side (10) and a fourth side (11) opposite the third side (10) and a flat surface (12), characterized in that it comprises: - a guide (1) located on a side to be chosen between the first side (8) and the third side (10), of the solar panel (100); - a screw (5) located either on the second side (9) or on the fourth side (11), depending on whether the guide (1) is on the first side (8) or on the third side (10); - a brush holder (2) that houses a brush (3) and a ball screw (4) at one end; and - a servomotor (6) associated with the screw (5); such that the brush holder (2) is configured to move guided by the guide (1) through the ball screw (4) that surrounds the screw (5) and drags the brush (3) along the flat surface (12) of the solar panel (100). (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding)

Description

DESCRIPTION

DEVICE FOR CLEANING SOLAR PANELS

field of invention

The present invention relates to a device for cleaning solar panels configured to clean solar panels in those areas where access to the panel is complicated and cleaning is very expensive. The device for cleaning solar panels object of the invention is applicable in the renewable energy industry, specifically in the industry associated with renewable energy, since for maintenance of the solar panels it is necessary to periodically clean them.

Background of the invention

Solar energy systems in buildings can be thermal or photovoltaic. Its typical location is on roofs, resulting in complex, dangerous access or being directly inaccessible.

In the case of small single-family homes, where they abound, the user must also put their physical integrity at risk to access them. This casuistry is repeated in multi-family buildings that do not have an accessible flat roof and in any case, cleaning has to be carried out manually, a procedure that is not usually done and has a negative impact on production.

There are remote facilities without human supervision, such as radio stations, road signs, mobile phone networks or pollution measurement systems, among many others where there are photovoltaic systems that feed energy-consuming equipment and no cleaning maintenance is carried out, with associated performance loss and equipment deterioration. In addition, these facilities are often not accessible or in remote areas, or their access requires a specific deployment of personnel.

The existence of dirt in the solar, photovoltaic or thermal panels generates a loss of performance, in addition to reducing the useful life of the installation.

In the state of the art, document US2021050814A1 is known, which discloses a solar panel cleaning apparatus that moves over a solar panel to remove foreign bodies from the solar panel, comprising: a brush unit that includes a first axis, a first timing pulley formed at each of the two opposite ends of the first shaft, and a brush provided around the first shaft; an apparatus moving unit including a second shaft, a second timing pulley formed at each of two opposite ends of the second shaft, and a roller provided at a preset position of the second shaft, the roller contacting the solar panel; a connector connecting the first timing pulley with the second timing pulley; and a motor that provides a rotational force to the first axis of the brush unit, in which the brush unit can move closer to or further away from the solar panel. This system has a panel cleaning functionality, like that of the device object of the invention, but its mechanical foundation is based on another much more complex operating principle that uses a pulley system. The mechanism of the system, due to its intrinsic complexity, is more expensive, it is much more complex and with more mobile elements that are likely to break, in addition to requiring more energy for its operation. Unlike the existing system, the proposed invention does not cast any shadow on the panel during the rest state and can be installed in a personalized way on panels of multiple dimensions and positions. The absence of pulley systems guarantees a smoother and more uniform operation with a very low energy demand, making it feasible to be powered by the panel itself or by a low-capacity battery system.

Description of the invention

The object of the invention is a device for cleaning solar panels where a solar panel comprises a first side, a second side opposite the first side, a third side and a fourth side opposite the third side and a flat surface, such that the object device of the invention comprises a guide located on a side to be chosen between the first side and the third side of the solar panel; a screw located either on the second side or on the fourth side, depending on whether the guide is on the first side or on the third side; a brush holder that houses a brush and a ball screw at one end; and a servo motor associated with the screw; such that the brush holder is configured to move guided by the guide through the ball screw that surrounds the screw and drags the brush along the flat surface of the solar panel.

In the device for cleaning solar panels that is the object of the invention, the brush has a triangular section.

In the device for cleaning solar panels object of the invention, the brush holder comprises a body with a housing configured to receive the brush at one end of the triangular section.

The solar panel cleaning device object of the invention comprises a water diffusion system comprising a plurality of diffusers configured to inject water onto a solar panel.

The solar panel cleaning device comprises a tank for collecting rainwater for the water diffusion system.

The solar panel cleaning device comprises a battery powered from the solar panel to ensure the operation of the device object of the invention.

Brief description of the drawings

To complement the description that will be made below and in order to help a better understanding of the characteristics of the invention, a set of drawings is attached to this specification based on which the innovations will be more easily understood and advantages of the object of the invention.

Figure 1 shows a plan view of a solar panel with the device for cleaning solar panels object of the invention.

Figure 2 shows a plan view of the device for cleaning solar panels object of the invention.

Figure 3 shows a side view of the device for cleaning solar panels object of the invention 2.

Figure 4 shows a schematic view of the water diffusion system of the device for cleaning solar panels object of the invention.

Figure 5 shows a schematic view of a section of the brush holder and the brush used in the device for cleaning solar panels object of the invention.

The numerical references used in the figures are:

1. guide,

2. brush holder,

3. brush,

4. ball screw,

5. screw,

6. servo motor,

7. diffusers,

8. first side of solar panel,

9. second side of solar panel,

10. third side of the solar panel,

11. fourth side of the solar panel,

12. flat part of the solar panel,

100. solar panel.

Detailed description of the invention

The object of the invention is a device for cleaning solar panels (100) that is low cost and easy to implement, based on a connecting rod-crank window cleaning mechanism, with a water spray system and fully automatic, which allows cleaning in a comfortable, fast way. and safe installation of panels when required, without the physical presence of people.

Solar panels known in the state of the art have a rectangular shape and comprise a first side (8), a second side (9) opposite the first side (8), a third side (10) and a fourth side (11) opposite to the third side (10), such that these four sides (8, 9, 10, 11) facing each other form the frame of the solar panel (100) and a flat surface (12) inside the frame.

The device for cleaning solar panels (100) object of the invention comprises a guide (1) on which rests a brush holder (2) that houses a brush (3) for cleaning the solar panel (100), and such that the The brush holder (2) comprises a ball screw (4) through which a screw (5) passes, driven by a servomotor (6), so that the servomotor (6) rotates the screw (5) and with the rotation of the screw (5) together with the ball screw (4) of the brush holder (2) moves said brush holder (2) together with the brush (3) along the solar panel (100).

The guide (1) of the device object of the invention is located on one side of the solar panel (100) to be chosen between the first side (8) and the third side (10), and the screw (5) is located as it is. the guide (1) either on the second side (9) if the guide is on the first side (8) or on the fourth side (11) if the guide is on the third side (10), such that the guide (1 ) and the screw (5) are located on opposite sides within said solar panel (100), opposite being understood as two facing sides with the flat part (12) of the solar panel (100) between them. With this configuration, the brush holder (2) supported on the guide (1) and on the screw (5) has the ability to go through the solar panel (100) in its entirety and the brush (3) cleans the flat part (12) of said solar panel (100) in its entirety.

Both the guide (1) and the screw (5) are located on the frame of the solar panel (100), so that neither of them casts a shadow on the solar panel (100) when the system is at rest.

The brush (3) of the device object of the invention in the preferred embodiment of the invention, is formed by a contact element with the panel and a fixing element to the brush holder (2), such that the contact element with the panel has triangular section with one end for attachment to the brush holder (2). This shape causes the shadow that the brush (3) and the brush holder (2) produce on the solar panel (100) to be reduced even when the device is working.

The brush holder (2) comprises a body that has a housing for one end of the brush (3), so that the brush (3) is inserted through one end of the brush holder (3) and is fixed to the brush holder (2).

The device object of the invention may comprise a water diffusion system comprising a plurality of diffusers (7) through which the device injects water onto the solar panels (100) for subsequent cleaning of the solar panel (100). through the brush (3).

To obtain water from the water diffusion system, the device object of the invention can be fed from the conventional drinking water network or use rainwater that will be stored in a small tank with a funnel-type device for its collection.

For its operation, the device object of the invention can have electrical power from the network, but for autonomous operation, two additional power supply options are proposed:

1. In photovoltaic installations, a battery powered from the photovoltaic installation itself will be used.

2. In thermal solar installations, a small photovoltaic panel will be used, installed together with the battery.

Claims (1)

1- Device for cleaning solar panels (100) such that a solar panel (100) comprises a first side (8), a second side (9) opposite the first side (8), a third side (10) and a fourth side (11) opposite the third side (10) and a flat surface (12), characterized in that it comprises: - a guide (1) located on a side to be chosen between the first side (8) and the third side (10), of the solar panel (100); - a screw (5) located either on the second side (9) or on the fourth side (11), depending on whether the guide (1) is on the first side (8) or on the third side (10); - a brush holder (2) housing a brush (3) and a ball screw (4) at one end; Y - a servomotor (6) associated with the screw (5); such that the brush holder (2) is configured to move guided by the guide (1) by means of the ball screw (4) that surrounds the screw (5) and drags the brush (3) along the flat surface (12) of the solar panel (100). 2- Device for cleaning solar panels (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that the brush (3) has a triangular section. 3- Device for cleaning solar panels (100) according to claim 2, characterized in that the brush holder (2) comprises a body with a housing configured for the brush (3) at one end of the triangular section. 4- Device for cleaning solar panels (100) according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it comprises a water diffusion system comprising a plurality of diffusers (7) configured to inject water onto a solar panel (100) . 5- Device for cleaning solar panels (100) according to claim 4, characterized in that it comprises a tank for collecting rainwater. 6- Device for cleaning solar panels (100) according to any of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that it comprises a battery powered from the solar panel (100).