Systems and Methods for Self-Cleaning Solar Panels Using an Electrodynamic Shield

Abstract

Systems and methods for self-cleaning a surface of an object where an electrodynamic shield is mounted to a surface of the object. The electrodynamic shield includes one or more sets of electrodes atop a substrate, at least one or more sets of electrodes being covered in a protective film. A coating is applied to the top surface of the protection film. A signal pulse generator is connected to the one or more sets of electrodes. The signal pulse generator generates a pulse signal that causes the one or more sets of electrodes to generate an electric field. The pulse signal comprises a plurality of different pulse signals which have phase differences between consecutive signals, and the electric field causes a particle atop the coating to experience an electrostatic force and be repelled away from the coating. These pulse signals (including shapes, amplitudes, shifts, and frequencies) can be tuned to increase efficiency of removal depending on dust type and relative humidity.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for self-cleaning a surface of an object using an electrodynamic shield, comprising:
 generating, by a pulse signal generator, a pulse signal through one or more sets of electrodes atop a substrate, the at least one or more sets of electrodes being covered in a protective film, and a coating being applied to the top surface of the protection film, wherein:
 the pulse signal causes the one or more sets of electrodes to generate an electric field; 
 the pulse signal comprises a plurality of different pulse signals which have phase differences between consecutive signals; and 
 wherein the electric field causes a particle atop the coating to experience an electrostatic force and be repelled away from the coating. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining, by an activation subsystem, a light intensity, wherein the light intensity is an amount of light reaching a solar cell; and   activating the signal pulse generator when the light intensity falls below a predetermined threshold.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein when the pulse signal generator is connected to a single electrode set of the one or more sets of electrodes, the pulse signal generator generates an electric field using a standing-wave pulse signal. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein when the pulse signal generator is connected to four electrode sets of the one or more sets of electrodes, the pulse signal generator generates an electric field using a traveling-wave signal pattern. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein an amplitude of the pulse signal is in a range between 400-1000 volts, and a frequency of the pulse signal is in a range of 30-100 Hertz.