Design and Performance Evaluation of a Mechanical Duster-Based Solar Panel Cleaning System for Dust Removal

Abstract

Dust accumulation on photovoltaic (PV) solar panels significantly reduces electricity generation efficiency and shortens panel lifespan. This study presents the design and performance evaluation of a mechanical duster-based solar panel cleaning system aimed at restoring panel efficiency through effective dust removal. The system detects obstruction via a voltage drop on the voltmeter, upon which the cleaning mechanism is manually activated by switching ON the electrical control circuit, which consists of relays, a DC motor, a battery, and a switch. A pulley-belt mechanism positioned within an aluminum track attached to the sides of the solar panel drives the duster in a to-and-fro motion across the panel surface, while a secondary pulley connects the DC motor to the internal pulley assembly. Testing was conducted under four conditions — dusty and clean panels, each with and without tilt — to evaluate the effect of cleaning and panel orientation on performance. Results showed that the clean panel with tilt achieved the highest maximum power output of 14.96 W and an efficiency of 20.78%, compared to 8.14 W and 10.60% for the dusty panel without tilt, representing a 96% improvement. The constructed cleaner effectively removed fine dust particles within 1–2 minutes of operation, outperforming other conventional cleaning methods. These findings confirm that the integration of mechanical cleaning systems in PV installations can substantially improve energy output and panel durability.