ABSTRACT

1
ABSTRACT
The project is about the design and development of a solar panel cleaning
system. The main object of this design prototype is to clean the solar panel
using an electrical mechanism, such that efficiency or quality of solar panel is
not compromised. As a matter of fact, gulf region -especially Saudi Arabia- are
facing a lot of dust storms and the solar panels need to be cleaned frequently. If
task is performed manually, it will be very costly and time consuming. Water
sprinklers and a special wiping material shall be used in the conceived
mechanism design to insure quality of cleaning.

2
 CHAPTER-1

INTRODUCTION

3
CHAPTER-1

1.1 INTRODUCTION

There is more than enough solar radiation available around the world to satisfy
the demand for solar power systems. The proportion of the sun’s rays that reach
the earth’s surface is enough to provide for global energy consumption 10,000
times over. On average, each square meter of land is exposed to enough sunlight
to produce 1,700 kWh of power every year. Solar Panel has a huge effect on our
world. It can helps our environment to be better without using other power
generation plants that can harm the environment, but solar power plant needs to
be cleaned at least every 3 days. It generally depends on the country for
example in the Middle East, it needs to be cleaned every day so it will cost so
much. There are a lot of techniques for cleaning the solar panels; our idea is to
design a smart solar panel that cleans itself automatically and remotely in order
to maintain a high level of efficiency of the solar panel.

1.3LITERATURE REVIEW

1.3.1 PROJECT BACKGROUND

One of the major issues that people face with the installation and the use
of solar panels is the cost that is involved in it. But the cost can be drastically
reduced by increasing the efficiency of each solar panel and hence reducing the
number of solar panels that needs to be installed. Using less number of solar
panels in order to get the required electricity will not only be cost efficient but
will also help in having a positive impact on the environment. In order to
improve the efficiency of the solar panels, there are two main aspects that need
to be considered; the first aspect is the amount of light that falls directly on the
solar, and the second aspect is how much of this light energy is capable of using
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effectively in order to generate power. The issue that is faced with the use of
solar panels is the dust that forms over it. Dust on the cells of the solar panels
reduces the efficiency of the solar panels to a large extent especially in Saudi
Arabia where dust and sand storms are very common. Hence there will be an
automated system that will periodically clean the solar panels in order to make
sure that they perform at peak performance level. The use of right fabrication
and controllers will help in making this project .

5
 CHAPTER-2

BLOCK DIAGRAM

6
CHAPTER-2

BLOCK DIAGRAM

MOTOR

MCU
SENSOR DRIVE

MOTOR

CLEANING
MOTOR

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 CHAPTER-3

EMBEDDED SYSTEM

8
CHAPTER-3

3.1EMBEDDED SYSTEM

An embedded system is a combination of computer hardware, software

and additional mechanical parts, designed to perform a specific function .An
embedded system is designed to do a specific task within a given time frame,
repeatedly, without human interaction. Embedded system do not need a
complete operating system, but only the basic functionalities of an operating
system in a real-time environment, that is, a real time operating system.
(RTOS). Frequently, embedded system does not have a user interface.

Application Area of embedded system include aerospace/defense

systems, telecommunication equipments and switches, mobile computing,
broadcast, automotives, industrial process control and monitoring, medical
electronics, consumer electronics, etc. Main hardware components of an
embedded system are microprocessor or micro controller, and supporting ICs.
The combination of micro-controller and ICs are application specific.
Commonly used microprocessors include the following. Motorola 680XX
series, IBM PowerPC series processors, MIPS processors, Intel 386 and
compatible CPUs, ARM processors, Sun SPARC series, etc. Embedded systems
need memory for storing programs and data, and usually programs are stored in
ROM or EPROM. Often these systems have a serial port network interface, I/O
interface for interacting with sensors and actuators in the case of process
controlling systems.

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3.2 MICROPROCESSOR Vs MICROCONTROLLER

Microcontroller is a general-purpose device which has an in-built CPU,

Memory and peripherals, which make it, function as a mini computer.

Both Microcontroller and microprocessor can be employed for designing

products or applications in Embedded System. But Microcontroller has its own
advantages over microprocessor. They are as follows:

 For transfer of data from external memory to the CPU, microprocessor needs
many operational codes. But in Microcontroller, one or two codes are
enough.

 Microcontrollers have many bit-handling instructions, but microprocessors

have only one or two.

 Microcontrollers have built-in peripherals whereas microprocessors lack in-

built peripherals.

 Microcontroller work faster than microprocessor because of rapid movement

of bits within the chip.

 Microcontrollers have simple circuit structure compared to microprocessor.

 Microcontrollers have only 35 instructions whereas microprocessors have

75.

 Microcontrollers are costly when compared with microprocessor.

 Microcontroller can function as a mini computer without any additional

parts.

 Microcontroller instructions are simple, single word instructions.

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 CHAPTER-4

SYSTEM DESIGN

11
CHAPTER-4

4.1 SYSTEM DESIGN

4.1.1 DESIGN CONSTRAINTS

Design constraints are conditions that need to happen for a project to be
successful. In this project, we tried to relate our project to the Engineering
Standards as much as we could; and that was through reading and searching
about previous research papers that were conducted by expert people, and they
have the same idea of our project in general. If we start with the body structure
of the system, we can see the materials that we used are suitable for each part.
We designed the cleaner with a body that is made from stainless tail to avoid the
iron corrosion reactions because the corrosion will affect the cleaning process
and the movement of the cleaner itself. Also, we used stainless tail for the water
pan for the same reason. We used the aluminium as a stand of the solar panel
and at the same time as a rail of the cleaner to keep the wheels running
smoothly. The second important constraint is the environmental constraint. The
water recollecting process was added in the design for environmental purposes,
to save and not waste the water, to reuse the water in the cleaning process or
other such as plant irrigations. The water recollecting depends on the
engineering design like the angle of the panel and the slope of the water. Based
on that, we designed the water pan. In order to increase the reliability of our
design, we had to think about something that makes our system more practical.
When we brought the idea of the trolley, the trolley is carrying the whole
system and it has four wheels with its stoppers just to make sure that it will not
move by any condition. We designed the trolley to organize the structure,
especially the circuits' wirings and the other mechanical parts in the system.

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 CHAPTER-5
HARDWARE REQUIREMENT

13
 CHAPTER-5

5.HARDWARE REQUIREMENT

5.1POWER SUPPLY DESCRIPTIONS

The present chapter introduces the operation of power supply circuits built
using filters, rectifiers, and then voltage regulators. Starting with an ac voltage, a
steady dc voltage is obtained by rectifying the ac voltage, then filtering to a dc
level, and finally, regulating to obtain a desired fixed dc voltage. The regulation is
usually obtained from an IC voltage regulator unit, which takes a dc voltage and
provides a somewhat lower dc voltage, which remains the same even if the input
dc voltage varies, or the output load connected to the dc voltage changes.

A block diagram containing the parts of a typical power supply and the
voltage at various points in the unit is shown in fig 19.1. The ac voltage, typically
120 V rms, is connected to a transformer, which steps that ac voltage down to the
level for the desired dc output. A diode rectifier then provides a full-wave rectified
voltage that is initially filtered by a simple capacitor filter to produce a dc voltage.
This resulting dc voltage usually has some ripple or ac voltage variation. A
regulator circuit can use this dc input to provide a dc voltage that not only has
much less ripple voltage but also remains the same dc value even if the input dc
voltage varies somewhat, or the load connected to the output dc voltage changes.
This voltage regulation is usually obtained using one of a number of popular
voltage regulator IC units.

Transformer Rectifier Filter IC regulator Load

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 5.2 IC VOLTAGE REGULATORS:

Voltage regulators comprise a class of widely used ICs. Regulator IC units

contain the circuitry for reference source, comparator amplifier, control device,
and overload protection all in a single IC. Although the internal construction of
the IC is somewhat different from that described for discrete voltage regulator
circuits, the external operation is much the same. IC units provide regulation of
either a fixed positive voltage, a fixed negative voltage, or an adjustably set
voltage.A power supply can be built using a transformer connected to the ac
supply line to step the ac voltage to a desired amplitude, then rectifying that
ac voltage, filtering with a capacitor and RC filter, if desired, and finally
regulating the dc voltage using an IC regulator.

5.3 THREE-TERMINAL VOLTAGE REGULATORS:

Fig shows the basic connection of a three-terminal voltage regulator IC to

a load. The fixed voltage regulator has an unregulated dc input voltage, Vi,
applied to one input terminal, a regulated output dc voltage, Vo, from a second
terminal, with the third terminal connected to ground. For a selected regulator,
IC device specifications list a voltage range over which the input voltage can
vary to maintain a regulated output voltage over a range of load current. The
specifications also list the amount of output voltage change resulting from a
change in load current (load regulation) or in input voltage (line regulation).

Fixed Positive Voltage Regulators:

IN OUT

UNREGULATE 7805
D DC
VOLTAGE

GND

15
 The series 78 regulators provide fixed regulated voltages from 5 to 24 V.
Figure 19.26 shows how one such IC, a 7812, is connected to provide voltage
regulation with output from this unit of +12V dc. An unregulated input voltage
Vi is filtered by capacitor C1 and connected to the IC’s IN terminal. The IC’s
OUT terminal provides a regulated + 12V which is filtered by capacitor C2
(mostly for any high-frequency noise). The third IC terminal is connected to
ground (GND). While the input voltage may vary over some permissible
voltage range, and the output load may vary over some acceptable range, the
output voltage remains constant within specified voltage variation limits. These
limitations are spelled out in the manufacturer’s specification sheets. A table of
positive voltage regulated ICs is provided in table

Positive Voltage Regulators in 7800 series

IC Output Voltage Minimum Vi (V)

Part (V)
7805 +5 7.3
7806 +6 8.3
+8 10.5
7808
+10 12.5
7810
+12 14.6
7812
+15 17.7
7815
+18 21.0
7818

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5.4 LCD DISPLAY

The most commonly used Character based LCDs are based on Hitachi's
HD44780 controller or other which are compatible with HD44580. In this
project document, we will discuss about character based LCDs, their interfacing
with various microcontrollers, various interfaces (8-bit/4-bit), programming,
special stuff and tricks you can do with these simple looking LCDs which can
give a new look to your application.

17
5.5 MICRO CONTROLLER

The ATmega328P is a popular microcontroller chip developed by Atmel, which

is now a part of Microchip Technology. It belongs to the AVR family of
microcontrollers and is widely used in various embedded systems and DIY
electronics projects. Some key features of the ATmega328P include:

ARCHITECTURE: It is based on the Harvard architecture with a modified Harvard

architecture, 8-bit RISC architecture.
MEMORY: The ATmega328P has 32KB of flash memory for program storage, 2KB
of SRAM for data storage, and 1KB of EEPROM for non-volatile data storage.
CLOCK SPEED: It can operate at speeds up to 20 MHz (though typically used at 16
MHz), making it suitable for a wide range of applications.
PERIPHERALS: It has a variety of built-in peripherals including timers/counters,
analog-to-digital converters (ADC), serial communication interfaces (USART, SPI,
I2C), PWM outputs, and more.
LOW POWER CONSUMPTION: It features several power-saving modes, making
it suitable for battery-powered applications.
I/O PORTS: It has a number of General PurposeInput/Output (GPIO) pins that can be
configured and used for various purposes.

18
 DEVELOPMENT ENVIRONMENT:The ATmega328P is typically programmed
using the Arduino development environment, making it very popular among hobbyists
and professionals alike.
Overall, the ATmega328P is known for its versatility, ease of use, and wide range of
applications, from simple LED blinking projects to complex embedded systems.

5.6 SOLAR PANEL

A solar panel (photovoltaic module or photovoltaic panel) is a packaged,

interconnected assembly of solar cells, also known as photovoltaic cells. The
solar panel can be used as a component of a larger photovoltaic system to
generate and supply electricity in commercial and residential applications.

Because a single solar panel can produce only a limited amount of power,
many installations contain several panels. A photovoltaic system typically
includes an array of solar panels, an inverter, and sometimes a battery and
interconnection wiring.

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5.7 BATTERIES

The batteries are used in order to store the electricity that is produced
from wind and solar energy. The capacity of battery may vary depending on the
size of wind turbine or solar power plant. Battery should be having low
maintenance and charge leakage should also be low.

Lead-acid batteries are a type of rechargeable battery that has been used
for over a century and remains one of the most common types of batteries in use
today. They are known for their reliability, relatively low cost, and ability to
deliver high surge currents, making them suitable for a wide range of
applications, from automotive starting batteries to uninterruptible power
supplies (UPS) for data centers.

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5.8 L293D

The L293D is an integrated circuit commonly utilized for motor control

applications, particularly in robotics and other projects involving DC motors.
Functioning as a quadruple high-current half-H driver, it facilitates bidirectional
control of up to two DC motors. Employing an H-bridge configuration, it allows
motors to operate in both clockwise and counterclockwise directions by
manipulating the polarity of applied voltage. With a peak current handling
capacity of up to 600mA per channel (1.2A peak), it suits a broad spectrum of
low to medium-power motors. Featuring built-in clamp diodes for inductive
load protection, it mitigates voltage spikes during motor deactivation. Its control
inputs accept low-level signals (TTL or CMOS), enabling precise manipulation
of motor direction and speed. Operating within a voltage range of 4.5V to 36V,
it accommodates various power sources, including batteries and power supplies.
Available in different package types like DIP and SOIC, it offers versatility and
ease of integration into diverse circuit designs, making it a favored choice for
motor control solutions.

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5.8 DC MOTOR

DC Motor – 30RPM – 12Volts geared motors are generally a simple DC

motor with a gearbox attached to it. This can be used in all-terrain robots and
variety of robotic applications. These motors have a 3 mm threaded drill hole in
the middle of the shaft thus making it simple to connect it to the wheels or any
other mechanical assembly.
30 RPM 12V DC geared motors widely used for robotics applications.
Very easy to use and available in standard size. Also, you don’t have to spend a

22
lot of money to control motors with an Arduino or compatible board. The most
popular L293D H-bridge module with onboard voltage regulator motor driver
can be used with this motor that has a voltage of between 5 and 35V DC or you
can choose the most precise motor diver module from the wide range available
in our Motor divers’ category as per your specific requirements.
Nut and threads on the shaft to easily connect and internally threaded
shaft for easily connecting it to the wheel. DC Geared motors with robust metal
gearbox for heavy-duty applications, available in the wide RPM range and
ideally suited for robotics and industrial applications. Very easy to use and
available in standard size. Nut and threads on the shaft to easily connect and
internally threaded shaft for easily connecting it to the wheel.

5.9 IR SENSOR

An infrared (IR) sensor is a device that detects infrared radiation in its

surrounding environment. Infrared radiation is a type of electromagnetic
radiation with wavelengths longer than those of visible light, but shorter than
those of microwaves. IR sensors are commonly used for various applications,
including proximity sensing, motion detection, temperature measurement, and
object detection.
Here's a brief explanation of how IR sensors work:
INFRARED RADIATION: All objects with a temperature above absolute
zero emit infrared radiation. The intensity and characteristics of this radiation
depend on the temperature and surface properties of the object.

23
SENSOR COMPONENTS:An IR sensor typically consists of an IR emitter
and an IR receiver. The emitter emits infrared radiation, while the receiver
detects it. In some cases, the emitter and receiver may be integrated into a single
component.
DETECTION PRINCIPLE:When the emitted IR radiation encounters an
object in its path, some of the radiation is reflected or absorbed by the object.
The receiver detects the changes in the intensity or wavelength of the IR
radiation caused by these interactions with objects.

DETECTION METHODS:
REFLECTION:In proximity sensors or object detection applications, the
receiver detects the IR radiation reflected back from nearby objects.
BREAK BEAM: In motion detection systems, the receiver detects interruptions
in a continuous beam of IR radiation emitted by the emitter.
THERMAL SENSING:In temperature measurement applications, the receiver
detects the thermal radiation emitted by objects, which correlates with their
temperature.
OUTPUT SIGNAL:The output signal of an IR sensor varies depending on the
specific application and design. It could be a simple binary signal indicating the
presence or absence of an object, an analog voltage or current proportional to
the detected IR radiation intensity, or a digital signal indicating temperature or
distance measurements.
:Applications: IR sensors find applications in various fields, including:
Proximity sensors for detecting the presence of objects.
Motion detectors for security systems and automatic lighting.
Temperature measurement in industrial processes and medical devices.
Remote controls for consumer electronics.
Object detection and tracking in robotics and automation.

24
Overall, IR sensors play a crucial role in enabling various technologies by
providing a means to detect, measure, and interact with objects based on their
thermal characteristics and interactions with infrared radiation.

25
 CHAPTER-6
PROGRAMMING

26
CHAPTER-6

6.PROGRAMMING

The Arduino Uno can be programmed with the (Arduino Software

(IDE)).The ATmega328 on the Arduino Uno comes preprogrammed with a
bootloader that allows you to upload new code to it without the use of an
external hardware programmer. It communicates using the original STK500
protocol.

6.2 POWER

The Arduino Uno board can be powered via the USB connection or with
an external power supply. The power source is selected automatically.

External (non-USB) power can come either from an AC-to-DC adapter

(wall-wart) or battery. The adapter can be connected by plugging a 2.1mm
center-positive plug into the board's power jack. Leads from a battery can be
inserted in the GND and Vin pin headers of the POWER connector.

Arduino Power Supply

6.3 MEMORY

The ATmega328 has 32 KB (with 0.5 KB occupied by the bootloader). It also

has 2 KB of SRAM and 1 KB of EEPROM

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6.4 ARDUINO DEVELOPMENT "IDE"

The Arduino integrated development environment (IDE) is a cross-

platform application written in Java, and is derived from the IDE for the
Processing programming language and the Wiring projects. It is designed to
introduce programming to artists and other newcomers unfamiliar with software
development. It includes a code editor with features such as syntax highlighting,
brace matching, and automatic indentation, and is also capable of compiling and
uploading programs to the board with a single click. There is typically no need
to edit make files or run programs on a command-line interface

Developer(s) Arduino Software

Stable release 1.0.3 / December 10, 2012; 3months ago

Written in Java, C and C++

Operating system Cross-platform

Type Integrated development environment

Website arduino.cc

28
 Arduino programs are written in C or C++ The Arduino IDE comes with
a software library called "Wiring" from the original Wiring project, which
makes many common input/output.

Operations much easier. Users only need define two functions.

To make a run able cyclic executive program:

 Setup (): a function run once at the start of a program that can initialize
settings.

 Loop (): a function called repeatedly until the board powers off

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CHAPTER-7

CONCLUSION

30
CHAPTER-7
CONCLUSION

The Solar Panel Cleaning System project aimed to bring a better solution
for maintaining solar efficiency. The main scope was to develop a machine that
can clean a solar panel by a proper control system. This project is a developed
prototype to expand on a new and increasing market. The project team hit many
obstacles along the way.
Designing the control system required learning Raspberry Pi
configurations, python coding and its interference with the electrical
components. Using soldering boards to implement the designed circuit,
hardware wiring, relays and machinery were new experiences. This being said,
the project fulfilled the desired design with the planned control and mechanism.
The DC motors were controlled by both relays and drivers to accomplish speed
and directions control. Also, control code for the DC motors and the water
pump were written then implemented in the system.

31
CHAPTER-8
REFERENCES

32
CHAPTER-8
REFERENCES

1. Adinoyi, M. J., & Said, S. A. (2013). Effect of dust accumulation on the

power outputs of solar photovoltaic modules. Renewable energy, 60, 633-636.

2. ShajanK .Thomas ,Shelvin Joseph ,Sarrop T S ,and Sahad Bin Haris" ,Solar
Panel Automated Cleaning (SPAC) System ",in 2018 International Conference
on Emerging Trends and Innovations In Engineering And Technological
Research (ICETIETR), 2018.

3. SurajitMondal ,Amit Kumar Mondal ,Abhishek Sharma, and Vindhya

Devalla" ,An overview of cleaning and prevention processes for enhancing
efficiency of solar photovoltaic panels ",Current Science, vol. 115, no. 6,
pp .1065-1077 ,September 2018.

4. Marcel Grando ,EliasRenãMaletz ,Daniel Martins ,and Henrique

Simas" ,Robots for Celaning Photo Voltaic Panels: State of the Art and Future
Prospects ",in IX JORNADAS ARGENTINAS DE ROBÓTICA, Cordoba,
Argentina, 2017, pp. 29-34.

5. Andrew Sweezey ,Mark Anderson, Ashton Grandy ,and Jeremy

Hastie" ,Robotic Device for Cleaning Photovoltaic Arrays ",in International
Conference on Climbing and Walking Robots , 2009.

6. Victronenergy.com. 2020. VE.Direct Protocol FAQ [Victron Energy].

[online] Available at:
<https://www.victronenergy.com/live/vedirect_protocol:faq>

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7. 2020. CP12650F-X 12V 65Ah(10Hr). 2nd ed. [ebook] Shenzhen Center
Power Technology Co., Ltd, p.2. Available at: <https://meibat.com/wp-
content/uploads/2016/10/CP12650F-X.pdf>

8. 2015. Grid-Connected System: Loss Diagram. 1st ed. [ebook] Seneca:

Canadian Solar, p.07. Available at: <https://ww3.arb.ca.gov/fuels/lcfs/crude-
oil/innovative-crude/2016-0804_seneca-attachments.pdf>

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