Journal of the Semiconductor & Display Technology (반도체디스플레이기술학회지)

The Korean Society Of Semiconductor & Display Technology (한국반도체디스플레이기술학회)
권호 표지

Development of Unmanned Cleaning Robot for Photovoltaic Panels

태양광발전시설 무인 유지보수 로봇 개발

  • Lee, Hyungyu (School of Mechatronics Engineering, Korea University of Technology and Education) ;
  • Lee, Sang Soon (School of Mechatronics Engineering, Korea University of Technology and Education)
  • 이현규 (한국기술교육대학교 메카트로닉스공학부) ;
  • 이상순 (한국기술교육대학교 메카트로닉스공학부)
  • Received : 2019.09.26
  • Accepted : 2019.09.27
  • Published : 2019.09.30
Download PDF
⟨ Previous Next ⟩

Abstract

This paper describes the results of a study on the unmanned maintenance robot that simultaneously performs the cleaning and inspection of the photovoltaic panels. The robot has a special adsorptive device, an infrared sensor, a vacuum level sensor and a camera. The robot uses two SSC (Sliding Suction Cup) adsorptive devices to move up and down the slope. First, the forces generated when the robot moves up the slope are mechanically analyzed, and the required design and control of the adsorption system are suggested. The robot was designed and manufactured to operate stably by using the presented results. Next, the normal force between the panel and the wheel was measured to confirm that the robot was manufactured and operated as intended, and the robot motion was tested on the inclined panel. It has been proven that robots are well designed and built to clean and inspect sloped panels.

Keywords

References

  1. Köntges, M. et al., "The risk of power loss in crystalline silicon based photovoltaic modules due to micro-cracks," Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells, Vol.95, pp. 1131-1137, 2011. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solmat.2010.10.034
  2. Chaichan, M. T., Bashar A. M., and Hussein A. K.,. "Effect of pollution and cleaning on photovoltaic performance based on experimental study," International Journal of Scientific and Engineering Research Vol.6 , pp.594-601, 2015.
  3. Macomber, H. L., John B. R., and Frederick A. C., "Photovoltaic Stand Alone Systems," DOE/NASA/0195-1, 1981.
  4. Sayyah, A., Mark N. H., and Malay K. M., "Energy yield loss caused by dust deposition on photovoltaic panels," Solar Energy Vol.107, pp. 576-604, 2014. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2014.05.030
  5. Song, Y. K., et al., "Development of wall climbing robotic system for inspection purpose," 2008 IEEE/RSJ International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems. IEEE, 2008.
  6. Miyake, T. and Hidenori, I., "Mechanisms and basic properties of window cleaning robot," Advanced Intelligent Mechatronics, IEEE/ASME International Conference, Vol.2, 2003.