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 filth. It could actually reportedly take away almost 95% of mud from a PV panel in lower than a minute, at a decrease value than different methods.
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 outfitted with white light-emitting diodes (LEDs) to light up the floor of an object for coloration detection, with the thing reflecting the sunshine again to the sensor. to find out coloration depth.
“The TCS3200 can detect the colour of incident gentle and output sq. waves with 50% responsibility cycles,” the scientists mentioned. “In comparison with different scientific devices, this sensor is sensible at a low value.”
The microcontroller is the important thing ingredient of the entire 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 offers a sweeping movement for cleansing panel surfaces by rotating at the next velocity 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. This contains the connecting rods, the case that protects the digital parts, and the comb drive gear.
The system detects filth on the photo voltaic panels by measuring the colours, calibrating the colours, and evaluating the measured outcomes with the reference outcomes.
“When the controller detects that the humidity threshold stage sign has reached 80%, the motor driver activates to wash the photo voltaic panel,” the lecturers 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 filth.”
The workforce estimates the system’s annual value 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 mud on PV panel surfaces could be eliminated with this system,” the workforce mentioned.
Scientists describe the brand new cleansing system in “Photo voltaic panel floor filth detection and elimination primarily based on Arduino coloration recognition,” which was just lately printed in Technique X.
“The researched mission is an enchancment on present methods as a result of it eliminates many drawbacks, comparable to the necessity for water, handbook cleansing, the necessity for labor,” the scientists concluded. “The system can function for a few years earlier than needing upkeep.”
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