Title of Invention | A SOLAR POWER GENERATOR ACTING AS A SENSOR WITH AN AUTOMATIC CLEANING DEVICE AND A METHOD OF CLEANING |
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Abstract | The invention relates to an automatic cleaning device comprising at least one solar module (1) mounted on a support (2,3); a battery (9), a charge controller, a sensor circuit with a timer (8) configured on the solar module (1); a DC pump (5) operably connected to the timer circuit (8) at a first end, a second end of the pump (5) being flowably attached to a water tank (4), the sensor circuit (8) upon sensing a preset level of voltage generated on the at least one solar module (1) transmits a signal to activate the pump (5), wherein water is sprinkled on the module (1) to clean the module (1) for a period pre-set in the timer circuit (8), the sprinkled water is supplied through water holes (10) configured on the discharge side of the pump (5). |
Full Text | FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a solar module/s as a solar power generator as well as a sensor with an automatic module cleaning device for solar modules used in solar power systems. More particularly the proposed invention is related to development of a simple device and method for automatic cleaning of the solar modules by water sprinkling on the solar module for a predetermined time for optimized performance of the solar battery without detaching any module integrated and electrically interconnected into an array once mounted. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION At present large number of solar systems/installations are installed and being installed to meet the energy requirement in village and remote areas. The system/installation relies on seasonal cleaning of the modules during rains and is adapted at higher rating than usual requirement of load. Moreover the system is often encountered with deep discharge of the solar battery and eventuality of getting damaged in the extreme dust conditions as the modules with dust accumulated on it does not generate energy sufficient to meet up the load. Usually in practice, a manual cleaning schedule is recommended for such kind of installations but the said cleaning procedure is cumbersome or difficult as the solar modules are installed at the top of the solar installation to avoid shading effects and thus not easily reachable to make quick cleaning. There was a long felt need of solar industry to develop an undisturbed system of cleaning of solar module/s once they are installed. No prior references has been found in this technological field. The proposed invention is aimed to develop a real time and cost effective installation and method by cleaning the modules automatically on water spray on the solar modules for a predetermined short time without detaching any module of the battery panel or disturbing the continuous operation of the solar battery once the integrated and electrically interconnected modules are formed into an array and mounted. DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION When photovoltaic solar cells are illuminated, a solar cell acts like a battery, pushing positive and negative charges to opposite sides. These charges are collected by conductive films and are available as electrical currents. A solar module is an assembly of one or more solar cells that are electrically interconnected. A module is generally sealed in a frame or encapsulating substance by known art, to protect the cells from damaging effects of dirt, moisture and other environmental hazards. Electrical connections are provided to pass electrical currents out of the frame or encapsulant. A single solar module produces enough energy to charge a 12 volt battery. Solar modules when assembled and electrically connected together in series and parallel to increase the total output voltage and current, such assembly is called an array. A solar module is used as solar power generator as well as a sensor on incidence of sunlight producing voltage to charge the battery or to run the load. But in spite of such protection of the mounted solar cells, the frame or encapsulant cannot prevent the hazardous atmospheric conditions and the cells get damaged in the extreme dust conditions. According to one objective of the proposed invention there is provided an installation for automatic cleaning of the solar module/s by water sprinkling through a DC pump for a preset time of a timer, by a sensor circuit on sensing a preset level of voltage of a module to run the said pump. According to another objective of the invention the cleaning is carried through automatically without disturbing the operation of the solar cells once mounted. According to yet another objective of the invention the modules are cleaned once in a morning for a preset time of 30 seconds to 5 minutes by a timer located on the sensor circuit and connected with the DC pump. A further objective of the invention is to operate a solar module as a solar power generator and charging the battery through a charge controller. According to the invention there is provided a solar module or an array of solar modules as a solar power generator as well as a sensor with an automatic cleaning device comprising of a solar module mounted on a support, a charge controller, sensor and a timer running a DC pump for predetermined time by a timer adapted in the sensor circuit on sensing a preset level of voltage of the module, wherein water is sprinkled on the module to clean the module from any dust through water holes in the module repeatedly on every morning on sensing incident sunlight to produce a voltage to charge the battery or to run a load continuously. According to the invention there is also provided a method of automatic cleaning from dust a solar module or an array of modules as a solar power generator and a sensor comprising the steps of running a DC pump by a timer adapted in a sensor circuit for a predetermined time to sprinkle water on the module/s to clean the module/s on sensing a preset level of voltage of the module/s and operating the solar module as a power generator and sensor optimisingly through sensing incident sunlight to produce a voltage to charge a battery or to run a load continuously. The proposed invention will be better understood from the following description with reference to the accompanying drawing in which Figure 1 represents an automatic cleaning installation of a solar module and Figure 2 represents circuit diagram illustrating schematically mode of operation of the automatic cleaning device. Figure 1 shows a solar module (1) mounted by a vertical column (2) and a horizontal support (3). On the column a charge controller, sensor and timer circuit (8) are fixed. The sensor circuit (8) is connected with a DC pump (5), which sprinkles water from a water tank (4) on the solar module (1) through water holes (10). The solar module used as a solar power generator as well as a sensor, on incidence of sunlight produces voltage to charge the battery (9) or run a load (7), viz a lamp. The sensor circuit on sensing a preset level of voltage of the module runs the small DC pump (5) for a time (-60 seconds) set by a timer. The pump (5) being connected with the load (7) through a connector (6) via the sensor circuit (8). The pump stops after predetermined time and the system continues to charge the 12 volt battery (9) via the charge controller IC 7815 on incidence of sunlight and run load (lamp) at night. The timer can be preset or can be varied from 30 seconds to 5 minutes through a preset timer located on the sensor circuit. It has been observed that 60 seconds of running of the pump is enough to clean the solar module. The solar module also functions as solar power generator and charges the battery through a charge controller. The charged battery either runs a light or any other load, which can be run through a switch, or some other automatic switching device such as a dusk to dawn switch. The charged battery alternately can be used for running any other load such as fan etc. also. The mode of sequential operation of the automatic cleaning device is illustrated in Figure 2 as narrated below: 1. At dawn, relay Rl starts and remains on till dusk. 2. Relay Rl operates Timer which also remains powered till dusk. 3. Timer operates relay R2 for a preset period ranging 0.5-5.0 minutes. 4. R2 in turn operates the pump for the time it remains on. 5. Pump sprinkles water on the module for cleaning for a preset time. 6. The cycle repeats next day and so on. . The invention is illustrated with the help of the following example. An automatic module cleaning system is installed on a 70—watt solar lighting system. The system had a CFL based luminaire consisting of a solar charge controller, CFL inverter, and dusk to dawn switch. The solar module charges a sealed maintenance/low maintenance lead acid battery in the day time so that battery is available for running a lighting load in the night. A sensing circuit along with IC 555 based timer has been installed independently to sense the voltage of the module and run a DC pump on battery for a predetermined time. A 12-volt DC pump used for water sprinkling of the windscreen in the cars was installed for sprinkling of water on the module. The Dc pump was found to consume about 36 watt at 12 volt while sprinkling the water. As the pump runs only for short time (about 60 seconds), it consumes less than a watt-hour, which is much less than the power generated by the system (200 to 300 watt hours per day). The present invention is applicable to dozens of integrated solar modules and can be used optimisingly to an array of precalculated designed size of preformed multiple number of modules. The invention as herein narrated and illustrated should not be read and construed in a restrictive manner as various adaptations, alterations and modifications are possible within the scope and limit of the invention defined in the appended claims. We Claim: 1. An automatic cleaning device comprising at least one solar module (1) mounted on a support (2,3); a battery (9), a charge controller, a sensor circuit with a timer (8) configured on the solar module (1); a DC pump (5) operably connected to the timer circuit (8) at a first end, a second end of the pump (5) being flowably attached to a water tank (4), the sensor circuit (8) upon sensing a preset level of voltage generated on the at least one solar module (1) transmits a signal to activate the pump (5), wherein water is sprinkled on the module (1) to clean the module (1) for a period pre-set in the timer circuit (8), the sprinkled water is supplied through water holes (10) configured on the discharge side of the pump (5). 2. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sensor circuitry comprises a first relay (R1) operating the timer (8) , the timer (8) in turns operates a second relay (R2) for a pre-determined period, and wherein the second relay (R2) activates the pump (5) for a period corresponding to said predetermined period. 3. The device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the battery is enabled to power an indication lamp or any other load (7), controllable through an automatic switching device such as a dusk to dawn switch. 4. The device as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the sensing circuit along with the timer (8) is enabled to sense the voltage of the module (1) and correspondingly activate the DC pump (5) through the power from the battery (9). 5. The device as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the DC pump (5) consumes about 36 watt for sprinkling water for a period of 60 seconds as compared to the power generation of 200 to 300 watt/hour, by the solar module (1). 6. The device as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the pump (5) is deactivated via the timer circuit (8) after operation of a predetermined time upon cleaning the module (1) through water sprinkling, and wherein the module (1) continues solar power generation. 7. A method of automatic cleaning of dust on a solar module or an array of modules acting as a solar power generator, the method comprising the steps of: periodically running a DC pump to be activated by a sensor circuit integrated on the module for a predetermined time to sprinkle water on the module/s, the pump being activated upon sensing availability of a preset level of voltage on the module/s, wherein, the solar module acting as a power generator, and continuously charging a battery via a charger to run a load, and wherein the sensor is sensing incidence of sun rays on the module including the generated voltage. 8. An automatic cleaning device for cleaning dust on a solar module as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 9. A method of automatic cleaning of dust of a solar module or an array modules acting as a solar power generator as herein described reference to the accompanying drawings. ABSTRACT TITLE: " A SOLAR POWER GENERATOR ACTING AS A SENSOR WITH AN AUTOMATIC CLEANING DEVICE AND A METHOD OF CLEANING" The invention relates to an automatic cleaning device comprising at least one solar module (1) mounted on a support (2,3); a battery (9), a charge controller, a sensor circuit with a timer (8) configured on the solar module (1); a DC pump (5) operably connected to the timer circuit (8) at a first end, a second end of the pump (5) being flowably attached to a water tank (4), the sensor circuit (8) upon sensing a preset level of voltage generated on the at least one solar module (1) transmits a signal to activate the pump (5), wherein water is sprinkled on the module (1) to clean the module (1) for a period pre-set in the timer circuit (8), the sprinkled water is supplied through water holes (10) configured on the discharge side of the pump (5). |
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00224-kol-2007-correspondence.pdf
0224-kol-2007-correspondence others.pdf
0224-kol-2007-description(complete).pdf
224-KOL-2007-(16-12-2011)-ABSTRACT.pdf
224-KOL-2007-(16-12-2011)-AMANDED CLAIMS.pdf
224-KOL-2007-(16-12-2011)-CORRESPONDENCE.pdf
224-KOL-2007-(16-12-2011)-DESCRIPTION (COMPLETE).pdf
224-KOL-2007-(16-12-2011)-DRAWINGS.pdf
224-KOL-2007-(16-12-2011)-FORM-1.pdf
224-KOL-2007-(16-12-2011)-FORM-2.pdf
224-KOL-2007-(29-02-2012)-CORRESPONDENCE.pdf
224-KOL-2007-AMANDED CLAIMS-1.1.pdf
224-KOL-2007-AMANDED CLAIMS-1.2.pdf
224-KOL-2007-CORRESPONDENCE 1.2.pdf
224-KOL-2007-CORRESPONDENCE-1.1.pdf
224-KOL-2007-CORRESPONDENCE.pdf
224-KOL-2007-DESCRIPTION (COMPLETE) 1.1.pdf
224-KOL-2007-EXAMINATION REPORT REPLY RECIEVED.pdf
224-KOL-2007-EXAMINATION REPORT.pdf
224-KOL-2007-GRANTED-ABSTRACT.pdf
224-KOL-2007-GRANTED-CLAIMS.pdf
224-KOL-2007-GRANTED-DESCRIPTION (COMPLETE).pdf
224-KOL-2007-GRANTED-DRAWINGS.pdf
224-KOL-2007-GRANTED-FORM 1.pdf
224-KOL-2007-GRANTED-FORM 2.pdf
224-KOL-2007-GRANTED-SPECIFICATION.pdf
224-KOL-2007-REPLY TO EXAMINATION REPORT.pdf
Patent Number | 254391 | ||||||||||||
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Indian Patent Application Number | 224/KOL/2007 | ||||||||||||
PG Journal Number | 44/2012 | ||||||||||||
Publication Date | 02-Nov-2012 | ||||||||||||
Grant Date | 31-Oct-2012 | ||||||||||||
Date of Filing | 12-Feb-2007 | ||||||||||||
Name of Patentee | BHARAT HEAVY ELECTRICALS LIMITED | ||||||||||||
Applicant Address | REGIONAL OPERATIONS DIVISION(ROD), PLOT NO:9/1, DJ BLOCK, 3RD FLOOR, KARUNAMOYEE, SALTLAKE CITY, KOLKATA-700091 HAVING ITS REGISTERED OFFICE AT BHEL HOUSE,SIRI FORT NEW DELHI-110049, | ||||||||||||
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PCT International Classification Number | E04D13/00 | ||||||||||||
PCT International Application Number | N/A | ||||||||||||
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