Waterless cleaning system and method for solar trackers using an autonomous robot
A solar tracker waterless cleaning system for cleaning solar panels of a solar tracker being able to be positioned at a pre-determined angle, including a docking station and an autonomous robotic cleaner (ARC), the docking station coupled with an edge of the solar tracker, the ARC including at least one rechargeable power source, at least one cleaning cylinder, at least one edge sensor, at least one cleaning cylinder direct current (DC) drive motor including a built-in encoder, a cleaning cylinder drive belt and a controller, the cleaning cylinder including a plurality of fins which rotates for generating a directional air flow for pushing dirt off of the surface of the solar tracker without water, the cleaning cylinder DC drive motor for driving the cleaning cylinder, the controller for controlling a cleaning process of the ARC, the built-in encoder for determining a revolutions per minute (RPM) of the cleaning cylinder.
1. A solar tracker waterless cleaning system for cleaning solar panels of a solar tracker, said solar tracker being able to be positioned at a pre-determined angle, said solar tracker waterless cleaning system comprising:
a docking station, coupled with an edge of said solar tracker; and
an autonomous robotic cleaner (ARC),
said ARC comprising:
at least one rechargeable power source;
at least one cleaning cylinder, for cleaning dirt off of a surface of said solar tracker without water;
at least one edge sensor;
at least one cleaning cylinder direct current (DC) drive motor, for driving said at least one cleaning cylinder;
a cleaning cylinder drive belt, for coupling said at least one cleaning cylinder DC drive motor with said at least one cleaning cylinder; and
a controller, for controlling a cleaning process of said ARC and for transmitting and receiving signals to and from said ARC,
said at least one cleaning cylinder further comprising a plurality of fins which rotates for generating a directional air flow for pushing said dirt off of said surface of said solar tracker;
said docking station comprising at least one electrical connector for recharging said rechargeable power source,
wherein said ARC can anchor in said docking station;
wherein said plurality of fins touches said surface of said solar tracker when said plurality of fins rotates;
wherein said at least one cleaning cylinder DC drive motor comprises a built-in encoder, for determining a revolutions per minute (RPM) of said at least one cleaning cylinder;
wherein said plurality of fins exerts a variable pressure on said surface of said solar tracker, said variable pressure changing as a function of said RPM; and
wherein said ARC cleans said solar tracker by said directional air flow and said touch of said plurality of fins pushing said dirt off of said surface of said solar tracker.
2. The solar tracker waterless cleaning system according to claim 1 , said solar tracker comprising:
a first section of solar panels;
a second section of solar panels;
a bridge, for coupling said first section to said second section; and
a recharging section of solar panels.
3. The solar tracker waterless cleaning system according to claim 2 , said docking station further comprising a conductive wire, for coupling said at least one electrical connector with said recharging section of solar panels, wherein electricity generated by said recharging section of solar panels is used for recharging said rechargeable power source.
4. The solar tracker waterless cleaning system according to claim 1 , said ARC further comprising:
at least two drive wheels;
at least two respective direct current (DC) drive motors, for respectively driving each of said at least two drive wheels;
at least two respective drive belts, for coupling each of said at least two drive wheels to said at least two respective DC drive motors;
a support structure, for supporting a rear section of said ARC; and
at least two recharge connectors, coupled with said rechargeable power source, for electrically coupling said rechargeable power source with said at least one electrical connector of said docking station,
wherein each one of said at least two respective DC drive motors comprises at least one respective built-in encoder.
5. The solar tracker waterless cleaning system according to claim 1 , said ARC further comprising an angular flat element, for directing said directional air flow generated by said plurality of fins forward.
6. The solar tracker waterless cleaning system according to claim 1 , wherein said plurality of fins is fabricated from a material selected from the list consisting of:
microfiber;
fabric;
textile; and
cloth materials.
7. The solar tracker waterless cleaning system according to claim 1 , wherein said plurality of fins is impregnated with a material for making said plurality of fins at least one of waterproof and water-resistant.
8. The solar tracker waterless cleaning system according to claim 7 , wherein said material is selected from the list consisting of:
an epoxy; and
a resin.
9. The solar tracker waterless cleaning system according to claim 1 , wherein said rechargeable power source is a rechargeable battery selected from the list consisting of:
a Ni-MH battery;
a lead acid battery;
a lithium ion battery;
a LiFePO4 battery; and
a NiCad battery.
10. The solar tracker waterless cleaning system according to claim 1 , said controller further comprising:
a processor; and
a transmitter-receiver.
11. The solar tracker waterless cleaning system according to claim 1 , wherein said pre-determined angle is substantially zero degrees from said horizontal angle.
12. The solar tracker waterless cleaning system according to claim 1 , wherein said at least one edge sensor is selected from the list consisting of:
a proximity sensor;
an ultrasonic proximity sensor;
an IR sensor; and
a capacitance sensor.
13. The solar tracker waterless cleaning system according to claim 1 , wherein said ARC pushes said dirt off of said surface of said solar tracker using a pre-defined path.
14. The solar tracker waterless cleaning system according to claim 13 , wherein said pre-defined path is selected from the list consisting of:
a zigzag path;
a scanning path; and
a sweeping path.
15. The solar tracker waterless cleaning system according to claim 1 , further comprising a master controller, for receiving and transmitting data to and from said solar tracker and said ARC.
16. The solar tracker waterless cleaning system according to claim 15 , wherein said master controller is coupled with a weather source for locally determining the weather at a location of said solar tracker.
17. The solar tracker waterless cleaning system according to claim 16 , wherein said at least one weather source is a weather information center via a network.
18. The solar tracker waterless cleaning system according to claim 16 , wherein said at least one weather source is a weather instrument selected from the list consisting of:
a thermometer;
a hygrometer;
a barometer; and
an anemometer.
19. The solar tracker waterless cleaning system according to claim 16 , wherein said variable pressure is less than 0.1 g/cm 2 when said weather source determines the absence of snow present on said solar panels.
20. The solar tracker waterless cleaning system according to claim 16 , wherein said variable pressure is between 0.5 g/cm 2 and 1.0 g/cm 2 when said weather source determines the presence of snow on said solar panels.
21. The solar tracker waterless cleaning system according to claim 20 , wherein said master controller provides a clean command to said ARC when said weather sources determines said snow to have a relative humidity of below 75%.
22. A fixed angle solar table waterless cleaning system for cleaning solar panels of a solar table, said solar table being fixed at a pre-determined angle, said solar table waterless cleaning system comprising:
a docking station, coupled with an edge of said solar table; and
an autonomous robotic cleaner (ARC),
said ARC comprising:
at least one rechargeable power source;
at least one cleaning cylinder, for cleaning dirt off of a surface of said solar table without water;
at least one edge sensor;
at least one cleaning cylinder direct current (DC) drive motor, for driving said at least one cleaning cylinder;
a cleaning cylinder drive belt, for coupling said at least one cleaning cylinder DC drive motor with said at least one cleaning cylinder; and
a controller, for controlling a cleaning process of said ARC and for transmitting and receiving signals to and from said ARC,
said at least one cleaning cylinder further comprising a plurality of fins which rotates for generating a directional air flow for pushing said dirt off of said surface of said solar table;
said docking station comprising at least one electrical connector for recharging said rechargeable power source,
wherein said ARC can anchor in said docking station;
wherein said plurality of fins touches said surface of said solar table when said plurality of fins rotates;
wherein said at least one cleaning cylinder DC drive motor comprises a built-in encoder, for determining a revolutions per minute (RPM) of said at least one cleaning cylinder;
wherein said plurality of fins exerts a variable pressure on said surface of said solar table, said variable pressure changing as a function of said RPM; and
wherein said ARC cleans said solar table by said directional air flow and said touch of said plurality of fins pushing said dirt off of said surface of said solar table.