Self-cleaning solar panels and concentrators with transparent electrodynamic screens
US9433336B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 4, 2013 |
| Grant date | Sep 6, 2016 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 16, 2034 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02E10/52
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A transparent electrodynamic screen (EDS) enables automatic removal of dust to protect and enhance performance of solar collectors and similar components. A pattern of transparent conductive electrodes are deposited over a glass or polymer outer surface of a solar collector, and embedded under a thin, transparent dielectric fluoropolymer film or silicon dioxide coating. When energized by three-phase voltages at frequencies in the range 5 to 20 Hz, the electrodes produce an oscillating electric field and a traveling electrodynamic wave that charges the particles on the surface and exerts coulomb and dielectrophoretic forces to lift the dust from the surface and transport it to an edge of the collector, thereby clearing the screen. The EDS can be incorporated in the collector in an integrated way during manufacture or retrofitted to existing conventional collectors.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.