NUST Researchers Designed a Water-Based Solar Cleaning Module

Schematic Diagram of Cleaning System

National University of Science and Technology

Solar panels are mounted in open areas where sunlight is abundantly available. However, the factor that affects the performance of PV panels is dirt accumulation on solar panels. Rooftop solar panels’ performance is indeed affected by soiling. Considering dirt smearing as an obstacle for solar power production, a group of researchers from NUST designed a cleaning system that automatically cleans the surface of solar panels and reduces their temperature to ensure maximum efficiency.

The Solar module cleaning technology is a tremendous breakthrough in the PV industry. 

Adeel Waqas, the lead author of the research, stated that

“The proposed solar panel cleaning system can be effortlessly integrated into residential and commercial solar PV installations.” 

He also mentioned;

 “Designed to function autonomously, the system uses a microcontroller to manage the cleaning process, eliminating the need for manual intervention.”

Here are the comprehensive details about the solar panel cleaning system.

The solar panel cleaning device consists of a 76.2-centimeter steel bar. The steel bar is attached to the upper side of the solar module.

The PV panel cleaning system has eight flat-fan nozzles to provide a uniform water flow through a convex spray pattern.

Each fan nozzle is placed at a distance of 14 centimeters to ensure a water flow of 0.49 L/m.

A DC water pump of 36 W is attached to the cleaning system that brings water into the steel bar.

Waqas, the lead researcher, explained that

“After cleaning, the used water is collected and filtered using a Whatman filter. This process allows for a water recovery efficiency of 85%, with the filtered water being recycled back into the system's tank. The water recovery feature makes this system especially beneficial for water scarcity regions. The electrical and temperature parameters were constantly monitored over 24 h, with 1 min intervals between each set of values.”

The experiment and testing of the whole solar panel cleaning system were conducted at the National University of Science and Technology, Islamabad, Pakistan. 

Researchers conducted their developmental research between January and February 2023, in which three PV modules were tested at tilt angles of 23, 33, and 43 degrees.

The performance of PV panels integrated with the cleaning system to the solar panels with no cleaning device to evaluate the real-time efficiency of the developed product.

The researchers found that cleaned solar panels achieved up to 13.74% more current than the reference group. Researchers also found that water following water from the cleaning system cools down the temperature of the solar panel surface by up to 0.8 C.

“The automated cleaning system, operating for 5 min daily with pressured water through flat fan nozzles, recovers power loss due to soiling up to 80%,” they mentioned.

Regarding the price of a solar panel cleaning system, researchers estimated that a solar panel module with a cleaning system would cost $65.48. 

Waqas said that;

After performing the economic analysis, the cost recovered from additional power after cleaning is $0.0332 per day, resulting in a payback period of 2.51 years in Islamabad for additional cleaning system costs. The system's operating cost is negligible since it is automatically operated using an Arduino board; also, the economic feasibility of the proposed system is relatively viable since the system's cost is recovered quickly.

Also Read: Leaf-Like PV Devices Can Generate More Power Than Solar Panels