Polymer ball bearings in cleaning systems for photovoltaic installations
Humans aren’t the only ones who replenish energy in the sun — photovoltaic systems operate solely on this principle. These are exposed to enormous weather effects all year round, and the surfaces reflect this, especially when the sun shines.
Wind and weather — as well as dust from sources like pollen, agriculture and road traffic — take their toll on solar panels over the course of the year. The problem here is that normal rainwater cannot remove the film of dirt created by these effects. If this film isn’t removed some other way, panels will not get enough exposure to the sun to generate an adequate amount of energy.
To solve this, special friction robots are used, which work with environmentally friendly cleaning agents and carefully remove the film of dirt.
The advantages for system operators are not only in clean solar modules, but are also reflected in their wallets. This is because cleaning means that the system operator benefits from a significantly higher level of performance maintenance and thus prevents yield losses. But let’s take a closer look at the technology.
Application Story: Plastic bearings for photovoltaic tracking system
Why polymers in cleaning robots is impressive
The brushes of the photovoltaic system cleaning robots are the very core of the system. The importance of brush bearings should not be overlooked. Ball bearings are a good choice here, as they can be used successfully even in the tightest installation spaces. But what makes the application so special? The use of cleaning agents means that the ball bearings are always exposed to water and dirt, meaning ball bearings made of metal will not last long.
Metal ball bearings require grease to function properly. Due to the permanent water contact, the grease washes out in the long run, the bearing goes dry, and eventually fails. Therefore, xiros® plastic ball bearings are the perfect alternative. They function entirely without lubricating oil, can be used in the tightest installation spaces, and impress with their good operation and resistance to dirt and dust.
Related: UV-resistant plastic bearings for the solar industry
Consequently, if the cleaning does not work as required, the operator of the photovoltaic systems also has to reckon with yield losses. Reconsider the bearings of the brushes and ask our experts to what extent we can improve your application while reducing costs.
