Self-Cleaning Steered Solar Array


Solar energy could be a significant part of energy portfolio in Middle East due to large solar irradiation available. It is relatively clean with no operational carbon footprint. A significant hurdle to solar energy in Saudi Arabia is the dusty climate that causes rapid deterioration of system efficiency. A major objective of this project is to demonstrate active cleaning technology to a solar array system. The cleaning mechanism would include multiple methods of cleaning included in one mobile robotic unit. This entails two tasks: designing a cleaning robotic unit and providing mobility to this robotic unit.

A second aspect of this project is to demonstrate 2 dimensional solar concentration on a small to medium size application area. The solar energy is low in density averaging 2200kWh/m2/year. Concentrating the solar energy reduces the cost of solar photovoltaic panels and allows optimizing the large reflective surface in both material selection and weight. In addition the area of the costly high efficiency solar photovoltaic target is reduced which make it feasible to select high efficiency type. An objective of this project is to construct solar reflector array covering around 100 m2 with small area reflectors around 0.6x0.6 m2 reflectors. We will also demonstrate steering this array with a centralized pressurized-fluid drive. At each reflector an actuator will convert the pressure difference to a proper orientation if controlled electrically operated valves.

In summary, this project will develop a solar reflecting array of small size. It will include active cleaning robotic unit with mobility. The 2 axes steering will be done by a centralized hydraulic or pneumatic drive. Our technical approach is about concentrating the complexity in a few units and leaving the bulk of the system very simple. The complex units are the robotic cleaning module, the mechanical drive, and the target. The bulk of the system is the reflector array. Upon successful demonstration of this approach, it would encourage spread of solar energy at small and medium scales in Saudi Arabia and the region. It would also demonstrate active robotic cleaning as a solution to the persistent dust problem for other forms of solar energy.