A Device for Dedusting the Solar Panel Optical Surface

Recent years have witnessed a global climate change, one of the consequences of which is that dust levels in certain areas often exceeded their normal values, and there is a growing likelihood of dust storms, which negatively affect the efficiency of solar panels. Therefore, the need to dedust their surfaces by using cleaning devices is becoming increasingly more important. The purpose of this work is to develop, construct and analyze the use of a rationally designed device that would effectively dedust the solar panel surface, thereby increasing its efficiency. The research activities were carried out in the Tashkent city in the fall of 2023 and were based on measurement and experimental methods. The developed dedusting device comprises a frame, a small-capacity electric motor, a low-voltage water pump, a cleaning part, a liquid reservoir, a cleaning sponge, a headpiece, a rope, a rotation unit, a pulley, cylindrical guides, a linear bearing, a motion switchover button, and a mechatronic part. As a result of using the developed solar panel dedusting device, the panel surface temperature was decreased by 3.6°С, and the minimum efficiency value in the day of measurement was 9.53%, which is by 11.46% higher than the minimum efficiency of a solar panel without a cleaning system. On the average, the efficiency of the panel equipped with the cleaning device is by 9.13% higher, and its short circuit current has been increased by 4.05% on the average. It is advsable to use the presented design for small-capacity solar photovoltaic stations and solar panels that are installed on the roofs of buildings, social facilities and dwelling houses.