Evaluation on Drive Ability of Dielectric Elastomer and the Application on Removal of Piled Snow on Solar Panels

Abstract

Dielectric elastomer is one of the new types electronic materials that have both drive ability and electric generating capacity. In this research, fundamental tests were performed to evaluate abilities of dielectric elastomer. As the result, it was found that dielectric elastomer had very efficient drive ability and electric generating capacity, and that it was applicable to both slow and high speed motions. This means many effective applications are expected using this material. As one of the applications, dielectric elastomer was applied to remove piled snow on solar panels. Dielectric elastomer can generate slight-vibration, and the vibration decreases the frictional resistance between the surface of solar panels and piled snow. As the result of the test, it was found that snow removal by slight-vibration was very effective and that energy spent to remove snow using vibration was about 1/20 of melting.