Qatari researchers appeared on the diploma to which cleansing robots may threaten the bodily integrity of photo voltaic panels. They discovered that the cleansing machines had little or no impact and that modules of the identical dimension tended to point out roughly the identical quantity of vibration.
Scientists on the Qatar Atmosphere and Power Analysis Institute (QEERI), a part of Hamad Bin Khalifa College (HBKU), tried to guage the mechanical stress to which photo voltaic modules are uncovered throughout robotic cleansing operations.
“One specific concern is vibration – how a lot the modules shake as a robotic spreads them,” mentioned researcher Ben Figgis. pv journal. “We discovered that the important thing issue is how huge the modules are and that, whatever the variations in glass thickness and framing, modules of the identical dimension have a tendency to point out of the identical quantity of vibration.”
The examine identifies the threshold of deflection the place photo voltaic cell harm happens. The scientists arrange an experimental setting on the QEERI testing facility in Doha and ran a number of assessments on a five-crystal silicon panel and a thin-film module based mostly on copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS) tech. All panels are oriented to the south and put in in panorama orientation, with a tilt angle of twenty-two levels.
“The modules have totally different body thickness, so to attain the identical peak the module on the floor spacers added underneath the frames of some modules, in clamps,” they defined. “The thin-film CIGS, module F, mounted on vertical steel clamps profiles, which additionally convey its entrance face to the identical peak as the opposite modules.”
For his or her experiments, teachers used a linear rotating dry-brush robotic provided by Saudi producer Nomadd Photo voltaic Desert Options. “The vibration reThe outcomes noticed on this examine are particular to the robotic used, and so forth robots have a tendency to provide totally different vibrations,” they warned. “Every module is measured thrice, ie there are three robots that move in a single course, on non-windy days.”
The analysis group discovered that transferring modules from their NEUTRAL place, or deflection magnitude, underneath robotic cleansing is “too small” for all panels.
“There’s reasonable consistency within the severity and variety of vibrations above three robotic move created for every module,” they mentioned, noting that the robotic shouldn’t be a risk to the modules. “On the whole, plainly the primary motive for the amplitude of the module’s vibration is its dimension.”
Scientists have additionally decided this An hour of sturdy wind makes the panels vibrate greater than when uncovered to the cleansing robotic.
“This reinforces the early conclusion that this specific robotic doesn’t appear to be a threat for flexing-related PV module degradation, because the pure wind has a stronger affect;” they mentioned.
They introduced their findings in “PV module vibration by means of robotic cleansing,” which was not too long ago revealed in Photo voltaic Power.
This content material is protected by copyright and might not be reused. If you wish to cooperate with us and wish to reuse a few of our content material, please contact: editors@pv-magazine.com.
