Hardware solution to degradation of solar PV module

Solar energy is generated when sunlight is used to produce electrical energy. Photovoltaic modules use solar cells which converts solar radiation into direct electricity. It is necessary to keep the photovoltaic panels cleaned regularly to gain the maximum power output from the sun. It is inexorable

Project Title

Hardware solution to degradation of solar PV module

Project Area of Specialization

Robotics

Project Summary

Solar energy is generated when sunlight is used to produce electrical energy. Photovoltaic modules use solar cells which converts solar radiation into direct electricity. It is necessary to keep the photovoltaic panels cleaned regularly to gain the maximum power output from the sun. It is inexorable that such things as bird droppings, dust, pollen and mud will collect on the photovoltaic (solar cells) modules. Because of these things the performance and power efficiency of PV panel will decreases rapidly. If the photovoltaic cells not clean properly, so it is unable to collect the maximum sunlight from the sun radiation, then automatically the produced electricity is also reduces. This estimates the power losses up to 30% to 40% of maximum power consumptions. Generally dust on the solar panels quite natural.

The factor that affects the solar panel has being observed. The most significant is the temperature dependence of the voltage which decreases with increasing temperature while the current of cells slightly increases by temperature. The degradation of all current-voltage (I-V) parameters helps to determine the cause of the degradation and also gives handy information for the design of the system. The dust accumulation on the module surface has a significant impact on module power. As the dust deposition density increases from 0 to 0.36 mg cm^-2, the corresponding reduction of PV output efficiency as well as short circuit current degraded by 17.71%. The average degradation of power and efficiency over the entire period of work (30 days) is 9.86%. Also the result show the dust effect on the thin film PV modules becoming more significant in cloudy weather day than clear day and the degradation in performance reaches about 16.01% in cloudy day.  We have mainly worked on dust factor to improve the efficiency of solar modules. The aim of the proposed system is to develop prototype system based on cleaning system that can able to clean the solar modules when the power efficiency of modules reduces. This system can reduce the power losses up to 10% of maximum power consumption.  

Project Objectives

The dust has a major impact on performance and efficiency of the solar panel. The reduction in the peak power generates can be up to 30%, under greater irradiation the effects of dust can be slightly reduced but not negligible. By the observation it is observed that power reduction because of dust accumulated on the panel and it can be improved by using the cleaning method, there is increase in power up to 35%. In practice microcontroller and actuator based architecture in order to ensure the highest performance of PV panel under different types of artificial dust conditions. By studying the previous methods selecting microcontroller and DC gear motor based solar panel cleaning system which is not mentioned in those methods. This is easily maintainable and low-cost. Power consumption is also less for this process. One can conclude that there can be a signi?cant amount of loss due to soiling as it can reduce transmittance to about 40%. A daily cleaning cycle is recommended in high dust density area. Low latitudes area even having medium dust density should also have daily cleaning cycle since they shall have lower tilt angle giving higher dust deposition. In mid latitude regions tilt angle shall be moderate giving lower dust devotion rates hence weekly cleaning shall be adequate. For high latitude regions dust shall not be a bigger problem as panels shall have close to vertical angle but snow shall be a great problem which should be immediately addressed. Finally results showed that reduction in the peak power generated can be up to 10%.

Project Implementation Method

The aim of the proposed system is to develop prototype system based on cleaning system that can able to clean the solar modules when the power efficiency of modules reduces . First of all we have studied different parameters that affect the efficiency of solar PV modules. Different parameters were temperature, corrosion, Discoloration on Metallization, panel cracking, encapsulant delamination, dust. We have analyzed these issues and proposed the cause, effects and solution to the problems. In recent era dust is the common factor that reduces the efficiency of solar PV module. So we have worked on dust factor to improve the efficiency of solar PV module. It is necessary to keep the photovoltaic panels cleaned regularly to gain the maximum power output from the sun. It is inexorable that such things as bird droppings, dust, pollen and mud will collect on the photovoltaic (solar cells) modules. Because of these things the performance and power efficiency of PV panel will decreases rapidly. If the photovoltaic cells not clean properly, so it is unable to collect the maximum sunlight from the sun radiation, then automatically the produced electricity is also reduces. This estimates the power losses up to 30% to 40% of maximum power consumptions. Generally dust on the solar panels quite natural. So controlling the amount of dust on solar panel, efficiency of the plate can be improved. upto 35% power of panel can be improved.

Step 1:    Start

Step 2: Declare and initialize the variables

Step 3: Timer is set in seconds

Step 4: Counter will count the required sec

Step 5: Motor will start its operation

Step 6: The wiper will clean the dust on solar panel

Step 7: if viper touches the limit switch it will stop its operation

 

Step 8: if viper does not touch the limit switch, go back to step 3

END

Benefits of the Project

Panel Efficiency will increase. Life span of solar PV module will increase. power can be increase upto 40%.

Technical Details of Final Deliverable

As we know that dust is one of the factor that reduces the life span of solar panels. The dust accumulation on the module surface has a significant impact on module power. The aim of the proposed system is to develop prototype system based on cleaning system that can able to clean the solar modules when the power efficiency of modules reduces. our project will increase the solar panel efficiency . as the dust will start on panel system will starts its operation and the dust will be removed. before that this wasnt done in industry level. Quaid e azam solar power plant start losing its efficeincy because there was no proper system to remove the dust particels. our system will sustain then panel life span. 

Final Deliverable of the Project

Hardware System

Type of Industry

Energy

Technologies

Robotics

Sustainable Development Goals

Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

Required Resources

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