MUMBAI, India, Nov. 2 -- Intellectual Property India has published a patent application (202641122973 A) filed by Psna College Of Engineering And Technology on October 14, 2026, for Self-Sustaining Photovoltaic Panel Cleaning System With Selective Localized Surface Treatment.
Inventors include Dr. S. Vijayprasathi; Vikash. V; Rudhra. G; Sri Sivapriya. M; Muthu Bhuvan. M; and Vishwanathan. B.
The application for the patent was published on October 30, 2026, under issue no. 44/2026.
Abstract: The present invention discloses an automated solar photovoltaic (PV) panel cleaning and defect analysis system configured to perform continuous surface cleaning, inspection, and selective treatment of contaminants and defects during a forward movement over a photovoltaic panel. The system comprises a primary cleaning frame having a dry-cleaning mechanism, a sensing unit configured to continuously monitor the surface of the photovoltaic panel, a controller configured to identify contamination and abnormal surface conditions, and 15 a secondary treatment frame selectively deployable in response to detection of localized hard contaminants or conditions requiring additional treatment. Upon detection of such a condition, the secondary treatment frame performs localized water application and wet wiping at the identified region, while the primary cleaning frame continues its cleaning operation. The sensing unit further enables detection and analysis of panel and cleaning- 20 system conditions including edge and corner contamination, track or rail damage or misalignment, photovoltaic surface or layer damage, thermal abnormalities, wheel slipping, motor overload, and failure of frame retraction. The controller processes the sensed information to determine the corresponding operating condition and selectively initiates or modifies the cleaning and inspection operation. The system thereby integrates continuous dry cleaning, surface inspection, selective localized wet treatment, and defect-condition monitoring within a coordinated automated cleaning sequence, reducing unnecessary water application and repeated traversal while enabling identification of conditions affecting cleaning performance and photovoltaic panel operation. A cleaning apparatus for cleaning solar photovoltaic (PV) panels is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a cleaning head unit having a cleaning head adapted to remove one or more contaminants from a surface of a solar PV panel, a load application unit adapted to control pressure applied by the cleaning head on the surface of the solar PV panel, and a driving unit operatively coupled to the cleaning head unit and adapted to drive the cleaning head unit long the surface of the solar PV panel with the applied pressure. The cleaning apparatus may further comprise a positioning unit for adjusting the distance and alignment of the cleaning head with respect to the PV panel, a water inlet for wet cleaning, and a wiper for cleaning the surface after the cleaning operation. The invention discloses an intelligent robotic cleaning system for solar panels, comprising an image capturing device, an image processing unit, and a controlling unit. The image capturing device captures images of the solar panel, while the image processing unit 5 processes the captured images to identify regions requiring cleaning and determines corresponding dimensional details. The controlling unit controls movement of the robotic cleaning system to selectively clean the identified regions, including localized contaminants such as hardened dust and bird droppings. The system thereby enables targeted cleaning of identified portions of the solar panel based on image-processing information. The invention discloses a solar panel cleaning device comprising a main frame having elongated support members and mounting assemblies at respective ends, a cleaning brush, 15 roller belt assemblies, and an actuation assembly for traversing the device over a solar panel surface. The device further includes a height adjustment mechanism for adjusting the position of the cleaning brush relative to the solar panel, along with wheels configured to support and secure the device during movement. The actuation assembly synchronously drives the roller belt assembly and cleaning brush to facilitate cleaning of dust and debris from the solar panel 20 surface, while the frame length may be adjusted according to the panel dimensions. The invention discloses a solar-panel cleaning system comprising a self-driven wheeled trolley, a cleaning-fluid storage and pumping system, a cleaning system, and a guiding system for controlled movement within a solar-panel installation. The cleaning system includes an adjustable support and articulation arrangement with an inflatable fluid bag, multiple adjustable arms, a pivotable collar, bristle rollers, a fluid-absorbing roller, and 10 nozzles for applying cleaning fluid to the panel surface. The system further includes sensors for detecting the separation and inclination of the cleaning mechanism relative to the solar panel, shock-absorbing elements for reducing contact force, and a metal-strip-based guiding arrangement for controlling trolley movement. The controller coordinates trolley movement, fluid delivery, cleaning mechanisms, and 15 positional adjustment to facilitate automated cleaning of solar panels having different heights,
Disclaimer: Curated by HT Syndication.
