Star-Bee · GEM

GEM Cleaning system

Patent pending

A water-free cleaning system for CPV optics: segmented receivers and protective covers stay clean without using water.

CPV optics concentrate sunlight onto small, high-efficiency cells, so even a light dust film costs output, and water is often unavailable at the desert sites where CPV performs best. Dust can reduce CPV output by 20–60%.

The GEM Cleaning system brings together six independent water-free cleaning methods and a seventh hybrid controller that chooses between them. It covers surfaces from 10 cm to 50 m+ and flat, dome, parabolic-trough and Fresnel covers. Lightweight variants cut mass by up to 73% (EDR).

In a GEM, cleaning is driven by the GEM controller, and access for cleaning and service is checked as a design rule.

What it does

• Multi-layer nano-coating: a passive surface with no moving parts and no power.
• Electrostatic dust repulsion (EDR): an electric field lifts charged dust off the cover.
• Piezoelectric ultrasonic cleaner (PUC): ultrasonic vibration breaks dust adhesion.
• Compressed air knife array (CAKA): laminar air curtains sweep dust away, including pre-emptive storm sweeps.
• Mechanical dry wiper and autonomous robotic crawler (ARC): dry brushing and vacuum for heavier soiling.
• Hybrid orchestrator: picks the method from dust level, weather and energy conditions, with fallbacks for maximum uptime.