| JPH10135503A | 1998-05-22 | |||
| JPS60235442A | 1985-11-22 | |||
| US20200194603A1 | 2020-06-18 | |||
| CN210016438U | 2020-02-04 |
| Patent Claims 1. The technique of the snow and ice removal from the PV panels is characterized by, the snow and ice being removed from such PV panels using the heat generated by these panels as they act as resistors for the electric current flowing through them. 2. The technique according to the Claim 1 is characterized by the fact that it utilizes the electrical energy stored in the suitable batteries, with such electrical energy previously produced by the same PV panels or supplied from the other batteries and electrical energy sources. 3. The technique according to the Claim 1 characterized by the fact that the snow or ice removal process from the PV panels can be controlled manually or be automated with the support of the typical controllers and sensors applied in the anti-icing systems for roofs and gutters. |
Description of the Invention
The subject of the invention is the snow and ice removal from PV farms and PV panels installed on roofs and in other locations with a difficult or limited access.
According to the current state of the art, the snow and ice that covers the PV panels, preventing them from a proper functioning, is removed by means of the mechanical tools like the shovels, the brushes or other mechanical systems (f. ex. using ropes or boards) . There is also an automated snow and ice removal system in existence, namely "No Frost", which functions on a basis of a resistive layer applied directly on the surface of the PV panel, which removes snow and ice thanks to the heat generated by applying an electric power onto the additional resistive layer itself. Moreover, the electrical heating cables and mats are also used in the snow and ice removal from PV panels. However, both of the afore-mentioned electrical heating systems reduce the intensity of the sunlight exposure and receipt by the PV panels , which consequently decreases their efficiency and significantly increases the cost of the PV installations.
The invention of the snow and ice removal from the PV panels uses the heat generated by the PV panels themselves as they are powered by the external source of the direct electrical current.
The proposed solution is not obvious due to the fact that the active components of the photovoltaic cells are semiconductors which are not always reacting like metallic resistive elements and may be prone to the overheating and the mechanical damage. Moreover, the unauthorized interference into the photosensitive element of the PV panel may deprive its user of a long term warranty offered by the manufacturer. In addition, the residue water from the melted snow and ice can be an issue as well as the additional energy needed for the phase transition. The residue water from the melted snow or ice , if re-frozen, may create construction hazards (f. ex. on roofs) which requires a preparation of the drainage project each time. Even the PV panel envelope frame may become a source of difficulties as it can obstruct the gravitational ice movement.
The author of the invention proposes the unique technology that resolves all of the afore-mentioned issues and which has been validated through the real-life