SETTING UP AND OPTIMIZATION OF NOVEL CLEANING SYSTEMS FOR SOLAR PANELS USED FOR IRRIGATION


Taşkın O.

The 6th International Symposium on Agricultural Engineering, Belgrade, Serbia, 19 - 21 October 2023, pp.1-7

  • Publication Type: Conference Paper / Full Text
  • City: Belgrade
  • Country: Serbia
  • Page Numbers: pp.1-7
  • Bursa Uludag University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Thanks to developing technology, agriculture has required more energy in recent years. However, the energy cost has increased due to the ever-increasing demand and some geopolitical tensions. A renewable energy source such as solar is one of the alternatives. On the other hand, a decrease occurs in the efficiency of solar panels if the dust and dirt on the surface prevent sunlight from reaching the cells. Therefore, it is essential to constantly maintain and clean the solar panels. This research developed the cleaning method for solar panels used for irrigation purposes. To clean 80 panels with a length of 40 meters, 7 Pop-up type sprinklers were used. The transmitted water and rainwater to the panels were collected and returned through a 1000-liter water tank. The system was operated via a timer to optimize regular cleaning instructions. It was run for 5 min (sunrise), 10 min (sunrise), 2x5 min (sunrise and sunset), and 2x10 min (sunrise and sunset) in a day. As a result, a portable cleaning system was carried out with a low-cost and sustainable system.