posted 3 years ago
Has anyone tried to build a compressed air snow removal systems for solar panels or roofs?
Thinking a bunch of jets aimed down the panel or down the roof simply creating an air cushion under the snow letting it lift a bit so it slides/blows off. It should take a lot of air but only for a few seconds at a time. Nozzles probably built like air blades. Even if each square foot of snow vertically weighed a ton 14 psi would be enough to lift it. Once it is no longer holding onto the surface then it should slide off under simple gravity. If the nozzle are aimed correctly it should even be able to scrub a limited area of all snow.
Since the dream home / garage includes an air compressor this would be a matter of opening and closing one value inside the house to shovel the snow off the roof or off a set of panels. If you can't get enough air to do it all at once what if it was done by zones?
Country oriented nerd with primary interests in alternate energy in particular solar. Dabble in gardening, trees, cob, soil building and a host of others.