Automatic solar power surface-cleaner

Abstract

Various embodiments herein include at least one of systems, methods, and software to facilitate automatic solar power surface-cleaning Such embodiments include at least one automatic solar power surface-cleaning robot that uses no water or external power, continuously cleans the solar power surfaces and requires no maintenance or external power. The solar power surface-cleaning robot is easy to retrofit in an existing solar power generation plant. An automatic solar power surface-cleaner uses high-voltage AC electric fields to sweep particulates and debris as the robot traverses the surface to be cleaned. Photovoltaic solar cells supply the power for the robot. No external power is required. The robot clamps to the surface to be cleaned at the edges using motor driven rollers. Electronics inside the device generate high-voltage AC that is applied to conductors close to the surface to be cleaned.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A device for cleaning a solar power surface, the device comprising:
 a first cleaning head, the first cleaning head directed toward the solar power surface;   a photovoltaic cell, the photovoltaic cell directed away from the solar power surface;   a motor to move the first cleaning head with respect to the solar power surface; and   a power generator configured to:
 receive solar power from the photovoltaic cell; 
 power the motor to move the first cleaning head with respect to the solar power surface; and 
 power the generation of a first electrostatic cleaning field around the first cleaning head, to move particulates in the same direction as the first cleaning head; 
   wherein moving the first cleaning head with respect to the solar power surface while the first electrostatic cleaning field is generated moves particulates off of the solar power surface.   
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2 , further including a second cleaning head configured to clean the photovoltaic cell, the second cleaning head directed toward the photovoltaic cell, wherein the power generator is further configured to power the generation of a second electrostatic cleaning field around the second cleaning head. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 2 , further including a first cleaning device motion control module configured to move the first cleaning head in at least a first direction. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 2 , further including a first edge detection module configured to detect a first edge of the solar power surface. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein the first cleaning device motion control module is configured to move the first cleaning head in at least a second direction, responsive to the first edge detection module detecting the first edge of the solar power surface. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 5 , further including:
 a second edge detection module configured to detect a second edge of the solar power surface; and   a second cleaning device motion control module configured to:
 move the first cleaning head in at least a first direction; and 
 move the first cleaning head in at least a second direction, responsive to the second edge detection module detecting the second edge of the solar power surface. 
   
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein:
 the first edge detector is configured to detect the first edge of the solar power surface at a first time;   the second edge detector is configured to detect the second edge of the solar power surface at a second time, the second time occurring later than the first time; and   the first cleaning device motion control module is configured to:
 suspend the motion of the first cleaning head, responsive to the first edge detector detecting the first edge of the solar power surface; and 
 resume the motion of the first cleaning head, responsive to the second edge detector detecting the second edge of the solar power surface. 
   
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 2 , further including a light detection and power management module configured to:
 detect when the voltage level generated by the photovoltaic cell is below a first voltage threshold; and   prevent the power generator from powering the motor or powering the generation of the first electrostatic cleaning field, responsive to the light detection and power management module detecting the voltage level generated by the photovoltaic cell is below the first voltage threshold.   
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the light detection and power management module is configured to:
 detect when a voltage level generated by the photovoltaic cell is higher than a second voltage threshold, wherein the second voltage threshold is higher than the first voltage threshold; and   allow the power generator to power the motor or power the generation of the first electrostatic cleaning field, responsive to the light detection and power management module detecting the voltage level generated by the photovoltaic cell is above the second voltage threshold.   
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the first cleaning head includes:
 a first high-voltage supply, wherein the first high-voltage supply applies a first multiphase high-voltage waveform to a first positive conductor and to a first negative conductor using a first duty cycle; and   a second high-voltage supply, wherein the second high-voltage supply applies a second multiphase high-voltage waveform to a second positive conductor and to a second negative conductor using a second duty cycle, wherein the wherein the first duty cycle is out of phase with the second duty cycle.   
     
     
         12 . A method for cleaning a solar power surface, the method comprising:
 receiving solar power from a mobile photovoltaic cell, the photovoltaic cell directed away from the solar power surface;   providing power received from the mobile photovoltaic cell to a first cleaning head and to a motor;   generating a first electrostatic cleaning field around the first cleaning head, the first cleaning head directed toward the solar power surface; and   moving, using the motor, the first cleaning head with respect to the solar power surface, wherein moving the first cleaning head with respect to the solar power surface while the first electrostatic cleaning field is generated moves particulates off of the solar power surface.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further including:
 providing power received from the mobile photovoltaic cell to a second cleaning head; and   generating a second electrostatic cleaning field around the second cleaning head, the second cleaning head directed toward the mobile photovoltaic cell;   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , further including controlling the motor, using a first cleaning device motion control module, to move the first cleaning head in at least a first direction. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , further including detecting a first edge of the solar power surface using a first edge detection module. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further including moving the first cleaning head in at least a second direction, responsive to the first edge detection module detecting the first edge of the solar power surface. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , further including:
 detecting, using a second edge detection module, a second edge of the solar power surface; and   moving the first cleaning head in the first direction, responsive to the second edge detection module detecting the second edge of the solar power surface.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further including:
 suspending the motion of the first cleaning head, responsive to the first edge detector detecting the first edge of the solar power surface; and   resuming the motion of the first cleaning head, responsive to the second edge detector detecting the second edge of the solar power surface.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 12 , further including:
 detecting, using a light detection and power management module, when a voltage level generated by the photovoltaic cell is below a first voltage threshold; and   preventing, responsive to detecting the voltage level generated by the photovoltaic cell is below the first voltage threshold, power from being provided to the first cleaning head or to the motor.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further including
 detecting when the voltage level generated by the photovoltaic cell is higher than a second voltage threshold, wherein the second voltage threshold is higher than the first voltage threshold; and   resuming, responsive to detecting the voltage level generated by the photovoltaic cell is above the second voltage threshold, power being provided to the first cleaning head or to the motor.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the first cleaning head includes:
 applying a first multiphase high-voltage waveform, using a first high-voltage supply, to a first positive conductor and to a first negative conductor using a first duty cycle; and   applying a second multiphase high-voltage waveform, using a second high-voltage supply, to a second positive conductor and to a second negative conductor using a second duty cycle, wherein the wherein the first duty cycle is out of phase with the second duty cycle.