A soiling measurement device for PV arrays, comprising a clean PV device and a soiled PV device, wherein the soiled PV device is exposed to accumulate soiling, and wherein the clean PV device is maintained clean by a movable cover which normally shields it from accumulation of soiling, and wherein the movable cover opens automatically at periodic intervals for measurement, after which it closes again, and wherein soiling is determined by comparison of measurements from the soiled PV device and the clean PV device. In one embodiment, incident irradiance is measured from the clean device, with or without the presence of the soiled PV device.

A soiling measurement device for PV arrays, comprising a clean PV device and a soiled PV device, wherein the soiled PV device is exposed to accumulate soiling, and wherein the clean PV device is maintained clean by a movable cover which normally shields it from accumulation of soiling, and wherein the movable cover opens automatically at periodic intervals for measurement, after which it closes again, and wherein soiling is determined by comparison of measurements from the soiled PV device and the clean PV device. In one embodiment, incident irradiance is measured from the clean device, with or without the presence of the soiled PV device.

A solar panel washing assembly for automatically cleaning solar panels includes a plurality of solar panels that is each positionable on a support surface to be exposed to sunlight. A fluid supply pipe is fluidly coupled to a pressurized water source w to receive pressurized water and a control unit is positioned proximate the support surface. The control unit is fluidly coupled to the fluid supply pipe to receive the pressurized water. A plurality of distribution pipes is each fluidly coupled to the control unit to receive the pressurized water when the control unit actuated into the open condition. A plurality of spray nozzles is each fluidly coupled to a respective one of the distribution pipes to spray the pressurized water onto a respective solar panel to clean the respective solar panel.

A solar panel washing assembly for automatically cleaning solar panels includes a plurality of solar panels that is each positionable on a support surface to be exposed to sunlight. A fluid supply pipe is fluidly coupled to a pressurized water source w to receive pressurized water and a control unit is positioned proximate the support surface. The control unit is fluidly coupled to the fluid supply pipe to receive the pressurized water. A plurality of distribution pipes is each fluidly coupled to the control unit to receive the pressurized water when the control unit actuated into the open condition. A plurality of spray nozzles is each fluidly coupled to a respective one of the distribution pipes to spray the pressurized water onto a respective solar panel to clean the respective solar panel.

A cleaning mechanism having a self-locking function, comprising a cleaning rack, a cleaning member and a sweeping member, adapted for use on photovoltaic panel, is disclosed. The cleaning rack comprising a first connecting rod, a second connecting rod, a third connecting rod and a fourth connecting rod which are detachably connected. The cleaning member being detachably mounted between the first connecting rod and the third connecting rod, used for stripping off adhesive materials on photovoltaic panel; the sweeping member used for sweeping adhesive materials away from photovoltaic panel. Cleaning mechanism further comprises a cleaning member power unit, detachably connected with the cleaning member and used for driving cleaning member to rotate; and cleaning member power unit comprises a self-locking device, used for preventing cleaning member from idling, and sundries are prevented from being twisted thereon and meanwhile unnecessary wear between cleaning member and photovoltaic panel can be reduced.

A cleaning mechanism having a self-locking function, comprising a cleaning rack, a cleaning member and a sweeping member, adapted for use on photovoltaic panel, is disclosed. The cleaning rack comprising a first connecting rod, a second connecting rod, a third connecting rod and a fourth connecting rod which are detachably connected. The cleaning member being detachably mounted between the first connecting rod and the third connecting rod, used for stripping off adhesive materials on photovoltaic panel; the sweeping member used for sweeping adhesive materials away from photovoltaic panel. Cleaning mechanism further comprises a cleaning member power unit, detachably connected with the cleaning member and used for driving cleaning member to rotate; and cleaning member power unit comprises a self-locking device, used for preventing cleaning member from idling, and sundries are prevented from being twisted thereon and meanwhile unnecessary wear between cleaning member and photovoltaic panel can be reduced.

An image/video capture apparatus is provided, to capture image data of a photovoltaic panel (101) and surroundings, and a controller (502) recognizes a category corresponding to the image data, and generates different instructions to control rotation of a photovoltaic tracker (102), to remove dust or snow accumulating on the photovoltaic panel (101). This does not need continuous heating, but is simple and efficient, saves electric energy, and resolves a technical problem that a conventional snow removal method of heating has low efficiency and wastes electric energy. In addition, a corresponding controller (1200) is further provided.

A system of solar panels over a water reservoir may include a plurality of piers secured to a floor of the water reservoir and extending from the floor to a fixed elevation above a maximum water elevation of the water reservoir. The system of solar panels may also include at least one support structure on the plurality of piers. The system of solar panels may also include a plurality of solar panels supported by the support structure over at least a portion of the water reservoir. The plurality of solar panels both reduce evaporation from the water reservoir and generate solar electricity.

A drive track for a cleaning robot moving on inclined surfaces such as photovoltaic panels has a multilayer structure comprising: an internal layer formed by a continuous belt having an internal face able to engage with means for driving the track; an intermediate layer including a plurality of damping blocks disposed over the entire length of the continuous belt of the internal layer with a predefined separation (e); and an external running layer coming into contact with the surface on which the track moves, the running layer being formed by pads supported by the damping blocks. The damping blocks are made of elastomer material and have a cellular structure with a plurality of parallel trough-channels.

A photovoltaic (PV) module cleaning system can include a robotic cleaning device and a support system. The support system can be configured to provide a metered fill to the robotic cleaning device. In some embodiments, the robotic cleaning device and include a curved cleaning head. Various techniques for deploying a robotic cleaning device on PV modules include out-and-back, leapfrog, among others.