OCS Energy: A working example of the Solar Wash

A working demonstration of the OCS Solar Wash system. This is a pressure washing system used to clean solar panels, which increases their output. This also eliminates the need for a manual clean.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Solar
• maintenence
• photo
• voltiac
• solar
• panels
• pressure
• wash
• cleaning

[donnietodd89]

This video went viral on Panama



[enticed2zeitgeist]

is it just regular water? How often does it come on? I think as long as you run this system at least once a day to get rid of random dust particles and such it would probably do a good job. It would be pretty simple to filter out arbitrary dirt particles from the water as well.

Are the panels "dimpled"? I hear dimpled glass is incredibly easy to clean with just running water. I believe this how nature designs leaves and other foliage.

[1PVPRO]

@Mammutinside- The equipment that you are not seeing is (patent pending) and is a WPU that allows the operator of a large PV plant to control the cleaning of hundreds of panels via a web portal or operator login. Most people in the solar industry do not have the 39 years of industrial power that I do and the industry is in the "Model T" phase of maintenance and operation. Once you have gone through the process of lining up a cleaning crew to actually clean a MW you will come to appreciate it.

[1PVPRO]

@solarcity- I am not supprised that you think this is not the best use of water and will not clean the modules. The fact is that it does clean the system and is designed to RECOVER AND REUSE the same water. OCS decided to NOT put the Water Processing Unit (WPU) on the web BECAUSE OF THE MANY IMITATORS that seem to spring up overnight. My background is in Wastewater Treatment Plant design and operation so I understand that this is some what above the ordinary persons understand.

[Mammutinside]

I agree!

[1PVPRO]

@solarcity 

[solarcity]

It is insane to think that this system will clean the modules. It is a total waste of water, a natural resource that we can't afford to waste in California or anywhere else for that matter. I would like to see data that supports such a system. Until then, I am not impressed!!

[froshmasta]

That's excellent!

I would imagine that the watering of the panels would also serve to cool them and increase their efficiency slightly for a short while.

[1PVPRO]

Not really...cleaning solar panels is becoming a real issue here in the US. The process of scheduling a crew, shutting down the system (electrical lock and tag NFPA70e&B) requires that a crew be "trained" on working around "live" electrical systems. So having an automated way of cleaning them eliminates the "down time" and reduces the safety issues for working on the systems. Keep in mind that these are high voltage solar electrical systems and you can not turn off the sun.

[coluche1981]

Totally useless...