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Self Cleaning Control System for PV Solar Panel Street Light

Conference Paper · March 2015

DOI: 10.1109/IREC.2015.7110890

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2015 6th International Renewable Energy Congress (IREC)

Self Cleaning Control System for

PV Solar Panel Street Light
Falah Mustafa*, Adeel Abd Sahb A. Salam Al-Ammri, Areej Ghazi
Solar energy research center, Renewable energy Directorate Department of Mechanical Engineering
Ministry of science and Technology, Baghdad University
Baghdad, Iraq Baghdad, Iraq
[email protected] [email protected]

Abstract— This work present a design, build a wet and dry self and nano- technology: Titan Shield Solar Coat) are suggested
cleaning system to the street light solar panel. It is simple, removing the dust particulate from surfaces.
lightweight, slight to maintain, portable, withstand the Much research studied the effect of dust, impurities
environment; low-cost, long life, takes its power from the battery on the solar panel and how to deal with this problem. Maurice
of the solar panel, and controlled automatically, by a remote C. Hanafin[2], Presented a solar panel cover assembly which
control or a timer. The experimental model is based on a DC
is used with solar panel of semiconductor type. The film
motor intelligently controls by a dedicated drive unit that move a
cleaning head on the panel upwards and downwards with moves along a loop and passes through a cleaning solution to
without using, spraying system. The performance and remove a foreign matter from it. Thun Lin. et al [3], used a
characteristics of the self cleaning system is experimentally transparent protection pane covering the solar cells with
analyzed. spraying device. Hunkyun Park. et al[4], designed a control
system for cleaning a surface of a solar cell panel through a
measurement the decrease of the power generation beyond a
Keywords—solar energy; PV solar Panel; electronic control
reference value. Lee. Willard S. MacDonaldet al [5], presented
automatic cleaning device provides expelled air that can be
I. INTRODUCTION directed over the glass top of a solar panel by a jet. Han-Lung
Solar energy is tremendous available as a most important Lee et al[6], Presented a cleaning system work through image-
energy source. The solar cells are used for many applications, processing data and the controller send a signal for sputtering
including street lights to generate luminescent night. The fluid to clean the outer surface. Mark Anderson et al[7] , used
accumulation of dust particles, deposits left by birds or the a robotic cleaning device (PV Cleaner Robot V1.0). Mitcli
fallen leaves, on the surface of photo-voltaic PV panel will Levy et al [8], presented an automated spray system for
reflect the incident light falling on the panel, preventing a cleaning. The control mechanism starts a cleaning cycle by
portion of the radiation from being used. This problem could mixing water with a surfactant and fed to a spray nozzle via
reduce the ability of cells to allow free entrance of photons the feeder line. Yong-Bum Parket al [9], used a super hydro-
and absorb solar energy, which greatly affects its efficiency, phobic and water-repellent surface. The structural advantages
reducing the lifetime of its storage power after a few months of a super hydro-phobic cylindrical nano-shell array, a micro
from its instillation, leading to a permanent or long-term shell array was formed on a transparent and flexible poly-dim
failure, especially in the desert areas. Other factors such as ethyl siloxane (PDMS) elastomeric surface.Pierre Attan et al
panel orientation or panel surface material can contribute to [10]; presented single phase electric curtains that create a
the deposition of the impurities. Experiments have shown that standing wave but, in certain conditions can expel the powder
almost 2 milligrams per cm2 of fine dust on solar panel can deposited above it. The results of experiments performed in an
reduce its output by nearly 30%, Mark N. Horensteinet al [1] , atmospheric air as well as in carbon dioxide for electrodes
presented EDS technology for the automatic and continuous coated with an insulating material .R. A. Simset al[11],
removal of dust without water or moving parts. They find the presented a transparent electro-dynamic shield to protect
values of electrode spacing, excitation frequency, and voltage panels from dust deposition. The shield contains a clear panel
magnitude that yields maximum particle removal efficiency. with embedded parallel electrodes connected to a single-phase
Solar panels surface, particularly of the type employing semi- AC supply for producing an electromagnetic wave. TLuis
conductor photo transducers, must be permanently free of dust Mareno et al [12], presented a robotic dust wiper device based
to operate efficiently; the cost of cleaning would need to be on Shape memory alloy; it does not require lubrication, and it
accounted for in the gross outcome of the solar panel’s is immune to dust. R.Sharma, C.A.Wyatt et al[13], presented
economic benefits. There are several possible of cleaning an electro-dynamic‘’ screen, the performance of electro-
methods (wind clearing, rainfall, washing with various liquids, dynamics for surface cleaning was characterized with respect
air blowing, shacking, rotating, wiping, vibrating the surface, to the efficiency of a screen with different rates of dust
deposition; electrical power requirements on the screen
operation with respect to dust removal efficiency and the tubes, easy change wiper and small container, figure (4).The
optical transmission efficiency of the transparent electro- cleaning solution could be adding each three month to the tank
dynamics‘ screen and the corresponding power loss, when which is fixed at the back to the device.
these screens were placed on solar panels. Khansaa Khudher
Abbas et al [14], used a mechanism to reduce the quantity of
accumulated dust over the solar panel surface by using two-
axis solar tracking system and compare it with the
accumulation of dust on the fixed solar panels installed at tilt
angles (30° and 45°) under outdoor measurements to estimate
the performance of solar panels under all weather conditions
such as rainfall, dust storm's wind and humidity. Seamus
Curran [15], presented a Nano-thin coating for solar panels
that repels, dust, pollen and other particles without sacrificing
the panel’s ability to absorb light. Niederberger [16], used a
robot for cleaning flat and disposed surfaces of high-rise
buildings and combines. It has been rotating soft brush
technique, including a built in sensor controlled micro water
injection system.
All the previous methods are expensive comparing to
the cost of one solar panel and most of them west a large
quantity of water. This work deal with the design and
execution of Self cleaning system for PV solar panel to ensure
the optimization of the conversion to solar energy into
electricity by removing dirt and other impurities from the
surface of the solar panel.
II. DESIGN OF SELF CLEANING DEVICE
In this study, an autonomous simple and low cost cleaning
system that can clean efficiently with no or little water is to
clean one street light panel developed, figure 1.

Fig.1 Flow Chart for Basic Component

The system consists of the mechanical and electrical

parts.
2-1 Mechanical part
Mechanical part is used to perform two modes dry and wet
cleaning mode for one time for each three and seven days in
every week respectively . The 21 o’clock at is chosen to
beginning the cleaning to avoid any thermal shock, which may
happen during the day due to the rapid change in temperature
caused by spraying. A simple structure is designed for easy
installation disassembles and assembles by bolts at the
standard holes at the back into the frame of the panel Figure (2
& 3), without any change in the panel structure. The Fig.2 Self cleaning structure
mechanical part consists of aluminum structure, pulley
(distance=130 cm), auxiliary pulley (add the necessary
tension), belt (V=10 m/s), shaft, two DC motor (rated voltage
24 V, rated current 2 A, maximum speed 3400 rpm), nozzles,
 MSSP (Master synchronous serial port module I2C modes)
module is available with several PIC models. MikroC PRO for
PIC provides library, which supports the master I2C mode.
Library requires MSSP module on PORTB or PORTC. In
PIC18F452, port C pin is SCL Synchronous serial clock
input/output for I2C and pin 4 is SDA I2C data, I/O,
Whenever the I2C is started, the DS1307 begins accounts the
Fig.3 The cleaning head of the cleaning device second, minute, hours, days and years.
B- Initialization of the mode of port's C, D project, pin (0, 1,
3, and 4) of the Port C is used as digital input.RC0 and RC1
2-2 The Electronic Parts receive a signal from the limit switch and its state change from
The electronic parts consist of three circuits, the main circuit, High to Low while RC3and RC4 receives synchronous pulses
L298n H-bridge circuit and a remount control circuit figure from the DS1307. All pins of Port D are set to output. RD0
(4).The remot control is IR circuit and consists of two mini- and RD1 states are changed according to the state of RC0 and
circuits, the receiver and the transmitter. L298N dual H-bridge RC1; these two pins are responsible for the DC motor of the
circuit is used to overcome induction current problems in DC driving system. While RD2 states high or base depend on the
motors. A limit switch is used as position sensors to control data received from DS1307. RD3 always set base to make the
the direction as the DC motor and determine the distance motor of the container run in forward direction.
required. Close loop control is used to determine the number C- Calling for interrupt: Two types of interrupt here, the
of passes through Position sensor feedbacks the micro primary one dry cleaning subroutine interrupts, which is called
controller each time complete one pass. The counter at the initial on the program and the inside the delay loop. And
increments by one and the motor drive continue running until wet cleaning subroutine interrupts, which is called at the delay
the counter reaches the desired number. Dry cleaning or wet loop.
cleaning phase are by RTC. RTC accounts from the date and D- Delay loop :After initial calling for the dry cleaning, the
the time and sends data pulses to the micro controller which in circuit enters, delay loop, and the micro controller begins to
it’s turn chooses the right cleaning phase depending on the check the days and the hours if it was the 3'rd day and the time
selecting day and hour. is 9 o'clock to inter the initial interrupt, or it is the 7'Th day
and 9 o'clock to enter the second interrupt.

2-2-2 Interrupt Process

Interrupt processes occurs in each three or seven days. The
micro controller will execute the program for the interrupt
process instead of main program that is running when it
receives the interrupt flag. There are three interrupt processes.

a- Dry cleaning interrupt: The dry-cleaning interrupts to

occur at the beginning of the program and at the middle of
the delay loop. It is responsible for the running from the
DC motor and the number of passes of the cleaning head.
The counter accounts 5 passes up and five passes down. At
each pass, the state of the input pins check to change the
direction as the DC motor. Figure (5a) shows the flow
chart of the dry interrupt.
b- Wet Cleaning Interrupts: Wet cleaning interrupt occurs in
the day 7'Th off every week. It's responsible to running of
head and spraying solution( Isopropanol , Mono Butyl
Glycol and water.) from the sprinkles. It has the same loop
as in the dry-cleaning interrupt. The cleaning heads runs 10
times (5 up and 5 down), at each time the micro controller
Fig. 4 the control circuits of the self- cleaning system
will check if the number of passes is between 1-4 to run
the sprinkles. Figure (5b), shows the flow chart of the wet
2-2-1 Main Programs interrupt.
There are four main parts of main program in a micro
c- DS1307 writing interrupts pulses are in and out to the
controller: initializations of the I2C of the mode of port,
DS1307 continuously to count the time. The micro
calling of interrupt, delay loop.
controller checks the data from the DS1307 after each 500
A- Initialization of the I2C
ms then determines if I2C bus is free and START signal.
Address and data are transferred serially from the DS1307 to
Data's byte is sent (guideline data) via I²Cbus. The data at
PIC through an I2C; bidirectional bus. The I2C full mastered
 the specific address are written and saved in a register in III. RESULTS AND DISCUSING
the micro controller to compare with then the signal is The mono crystalline panels, rated at 80 watts of peak output,
stopped. was used for the experiment to measure the efficiency of the
start
device Solar radiation measurements were taken at the solar
noon time, which was roughly around 11:30 a.m.-12 am in
set RD
,RD
LOW ,i=
August, and the three panels were exposed to the same
condition. It was bright sunlight, little to no cloud coverage,
stop running dc
low wind, with temperature equal to 46 Cº, and solar radiation
motor reverse about 670w/m2. Panels are numbered as 1,2,3 according to the
check RC state period not cleaned one day ,one week , one month
Low respectively..
High
run DC motor
forward
stop running dc
motor forward
check RC state
Low
High

run DC motor
reverse

increment i

check i
i<
i=

End

(a)
start

set RD
,RD Fig.6 Panel after a) 3 months from February-April

LOW ,i=
b) six months from February - July
<i>
check i
Low
The output powers is measured for the panels before after
stop running dc (dry, with water and solution) ,figure (6), The figures shows
>i>
check RC state
motor reverse
High
that the sequence of the increase of the performance (output
stop running dc
check RC state motor reverse power, current and voltage) of cleaned PV solar panel is dry
run DC motor
Low
forward ,water and curve jump with the solution
High
run sprinkles
run DC motor
High Table (1) The efficiency and gain in power of the cleaning
forward run DC motor
delay s check RC state
stop running dc reverse after each type of cleaning
motor forward
Low
Before Dry Cleaning Cleaning with
check RC state stop sprinkles
Low
stop running dc Cleaning Cleaning with Water Solution
motor forward
High Panel 1
run DC motor
reverse
run sprinkles 74.21* 76.146 77.775 81.9245
0** 1.936 3.565 7.7145
increment i delay s 0%*** 2.608% 4.803% 10.395%
Panel 2
i< stop sprinkles
check i 71.07 77.366 78.02 78.3128
0 6.2957 6.9479 7.2425
i= increment i
0% 8.858% 9.776% 10.19%
End
Panel 3
54.70 81.631 84.072 83.083
(b) 0 26.9236 29.3646 28.3756
Fig.5 The flowchart of the: a-Dry cleaning, b-Wet cleaning 0% 49.213% 53.675% 51.867%
interrupt *P(VA) ,**ΔP(VA),***η
The table shows that cleaning by using cleaning solution The output powers increased rapidly from the first pass to 6th
increase the efficiency by 10% while cleaning by using water pass, after 6th pass, the increasing becomes small until it a
4.8%. the maximum gain power is 10% by using cleaning proximately stopped at the tenth pass as shown in Figure
solution.This table show that the minimum and maximum (5.23).based on this cleaning head movement made to
efficiency of the self cleaning device is about 76%-81% with be10times upward and downward.
dry cleaning, 77%-84%by using water, and 78%-83% by Figure (8) shows dirty PV panel before cleaning and after
using cleaning solution. cleaning by various type of cleaning.

Table (2)The efficiency for different of panels

Panel 1 Panel 2 Panel 3 Control
Pf(VA) Pf(VA) Pf(VA) panel PCVA
Dry cleaning
76.146 77.366 81.631 99.917
76.2% 77.43% 81.69% 100%
Cleaning with water
77.775 78.02 84.072 99.917
77.83% 78.08% 84.14% 100%
Cleaning by cleaning solution
81.9245 78.3128 83.083 99.917
81.99% 78.37% 83.15% 100%

To specify how many passes are needed to clean the PV solar

panel, PV solar panel instilled at a surface of the solar-energy
research center for one month. At the last day of the month,
dry cleaning is tested on the PV solar panel and ISC and is
recorded after each passes. This operation continues until
current value is settled down. The current and the voltage are
shown in Figure (7).
Voltage (V)

Fig.8 The PV panel with the self cleaning device A) before

cleaning B) after dry cleaning C) after cleaning with water D)
after cleaning with cleaning solution

It is also important to take the costs of cleaning and

maintenance into account. According to the Department of
solar and research center, maintenance and operation costs of
a solar-powered system are roughly $3 per watt. Self cleaning
system would cost about 141000 Dinar. The gain of power
when using a self cleaning device is about 10% for one week,
40% for one month, and 480% for one year. When the costs of
maintenance and cleaning are considered, it is estimated that
recouping the costs of solar-energy savings would take
between five and ten years depending on the size of the
system. A solar-energy system has an expected lifetime of
twenty years on average; therefore, over the life of the system,
the owner would earn around four times more than the cost of
installing, cleaning, and maintaining a solar system. It is found
that the cleaning with the solution is the best . It is raising the
efficiency, beside the cleaning liquid acts as cooling factor to
the panel and that can improve its performance.
Fig.7 The output power, voltage and current after each
cleaning passes
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