Automatic Solar Panel Cleaning System

Abstract

This paper is about the cleaning of a solar panel. In rural areas, most of the solar street lights are used. After the installation of the solar street light, it only works for two to three months. Because, that panels are installed at a height near about 15 to 20 feet, at this hight cleaning is not possible by using a ladder. If the solar panel is not cleaned regularly, then the dust in environment accumulates on the surface of the solar panel. This dust converts into a thick sticky layer due to morning dewdrops. Due to this dust solar panels not give a sufficient charging current that required for the charging of a battery. if the battery is not fully charged, then it does not gives the desired output and we have to replace that battery. It increases the cost of maintenance. In this paper, we design a cleaning system for a solar street light. which can be operated automatically and it helps us to clean solar panels without any efforts. This system reduces human efforts, it saves time, it works automatically at a specified time. Overall it increases the efficiency of the solar street light. This system is designed using an ATmega16A microcontroller due to it's advance features. It also uses GSM module, linear actuator, limit switches, DC gear motors, Roller brush, and DC submersible pump. Here, GSM Module is used for real-time operation, linear actuators for the movement of the brush. The gear motors are coupled with a brush for the rotation of brush, the pump is used to lift the water from ground surface to upper surface of a solar panel for water cleaning purpose.