South African researchers have developed a brand new cleansing system for photo voltaic panels that makes use of a color-sensing light-to-frequency converter to detect grime. It might reportedly take away round 95% of the mud from a PV panel in lower than a minute, at a decrease price than different techniques.
Researchers from the College of Johannesburg in South Africa have developed a cleansing system for photo voltaic modules primarily based on the TCS3200 coloration sensor and the Arduino Uno open-source microcontroller.
The TCS3200 is a programmable coloration light-to-frequency converter geared up with white light-emitting diodes (LEDs) to light up an object’s floor for coloration detection, with the thing reflecting mild to the sensor to find out coloration intensities.
“TCS3200 can detect the colour of the sunshine incident and output sq. waves with 50% responsibility cycles,” the scientists mentioned. “In comparison with different scientific devices, this sensor within reason at a low price.”
The microcontroller is the important thing factor of the complete system, which additionally features a 46 V motor driver, two 12 V DC motors, a cost controller, a chargeable battery, a voltage regulator, and a curler brush.
“The curler brush supplies a sweeping movement for cleansing the panel surfaces by spinning at a better pace than the motion wheels,” mentioned the analysis workforce.
The system additionally makes use of Arduino IDE software program to put in writing, compile and add sketch codes for the system. It contains the connecting rods, the case shielding the digital parts, and the brush-driving gadgets.
The system can detect grime on photo voltaic panels by measuring colours, calibrating colours, and evaluating measured outcomes with reference outcomes.
“When the controller detects that the humidity threshold degree sign has reached 80%, the motor driver will activate to scrub the photo voltaic panel,” the teachers defined. “Motor A of the 2 DC motors within the setup strikes the colour sensor throughout the photo voltaic panel for coloration monitoring, whereas Motor B drives the cleansing robotic to take away grime.”
The group estimates annual system prices at €1.50 ($1.60) per panel, with capital and upkeep prices accounting for a lot of the related prices.
“In a single minute, as much as 95% of the mud on the PV panel surfaces could be eliminated by this system,” claimed the group.
The scientists described the brand new cleansing system in “Solar panel surface dirt detection and removal based on Arduino color recognition,” which was lately revealed in MethodsX.
“The researched venture is an enchancment over current techniques because it eliminates most of the drawbacks, corresponding to the necessity for water, handbook cleansing, the necessity for labor,” the scientists concluded. “The system can function for a few years earlier than requiring upkeep.”
