IoT based Smart Solar Cleaning System

Solar photo-voltaic panel are the fundamental source of renewable energy, now-a-days the installation of solar panels are increasing day by day on industrial basis as well as on domestic level, onetime cost for longer life time but there is requirement of their maintenance, factor that causes to red

Project Title

IoT based Smart Solar Cleaning System

Project Area of Specialization

Robotics

Project Summary

Solar photo-voltaic panel are the fundamental source of renewable energy, now-a-days the installation of solar panels are increasing day by day on industrial basis as well as on domestic level, onetime cost for longer life time but there is requirement of their maintenance, factor that causes to reduce efficiency of PV panels are bird dropping, snow falling, soil and dust accumulation etc. Which causes lower output power.

Industrial as well as domestic level both are utilizing different method to maintain their efficiency. Manual cleaning is most time consuming, wastage of water, may scratch on panels and require technical skilled labour. Anti-soiling method is also applied for cleaning purpose but expensive because replacement of coating.

The purposed system will analyze the causes to decrease efficiency due to dirt and soil and to monitor the real time parameters on that basis of analysis, it commands the designed prototype which will move on solar panel and scrubbed all the dirt and soil, hence it overcome the above factor and increase the efficiency of solar panel, that is water-free and energy independent system

Project Objectives

• To analysis the current problem which cause to decrease the efficiency of solar panel.
• To design the water free and energy independent automatic solar cleaning robot
• To design the system which increase the durability in harsh environment.
• To monitoring the real time parameters through IOT

Project Implementation Method

The design of rail track system is decided after selection of size of solar panel system, two types of chassis will be designed first is cleaning robot with microfiber cloth, flexible microfiber cloth mounted on rotating shaft that span the panel. Second chassis is carrier cart which moves the shaft along the row of panels to clean the entire array. The design of system will be lightweight and easy to assemble.

Power rating of solar plates will be monitored in regular interval of time through voltage and current sensor, power ratings will be calculated with the help of voltage and current sensor, that real time data monitoring of system will be done through internet of things (IOT). Measured values will be compared with set value. Robot will perform its cleaning functionality if compared value is less than set value

Benefits of the Project

The growth in installation of solar panel is increased rapidly but their maintenance and efficiency with time is main issue nowadays in Pakistan, country also aims to build the world's largest solar power park (Quaid-e-Azam solar park) because Photo-voltaic material has low price globally and compatible with Pakistani climatic conditions. The efficiency of system will be increased if the above proposed system implemented. This system is energy independent and water free cleaning system so it will decrease the cost and also will fulfill the maintenance requirement.

• On-board dedicated solar module, allowing batteries to quickly charge in between operations which make it energy independent.
• Water free cleaning system.
• Autonomous and remotely managed
• Minimum cost and maximum efficiency

Technical Details of Final Deliverable

The final product of purposed system will be able to clean the two solar panel of 60W through micro fiber cloth which wrapped on shaft, the rolling of shaft via servo motor, and it geared with dc motors, wheels will be capping on dc motors for moving the robot up and down on track.12v H-bridge motor shield is used to drive the motors and other sensors will connect with Arduino mega to operate the intend system.

The total efficiency will be analyzed by calculating the power rating across solar panels before and after cleaning. For monitoring the real time data will be collected from field through IOT. The system will be monitoring the real time parameters. A solar panel with battery of 12V is connected in the end of robot carrier cart, which make the system energy independent, it will not require water for cleaning so it also water free system. The 5 mint required for robot to clean the both panel and return to original position. The automatic solar cleaning robot will be reducing 40% cost as compare to cleaning by manual or other methods

Final Deliverable of the Project

HW/SW integrated system

Core Industry

Energy

Other Industries

Others

Core Technology

Internet of Things (IoT)

Other Technologies

Robotics

Sustainable Development Goals

Affordable and Clean Energy

Required Resources

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