An analysis of the dust deposition on solar photovoltaic modules

Abstract

Solid particles impair the performance of the photovoltaic (PV) modules. This results in power losses which lower the efficiency of the system as well as the increases of temperature which additionally decreases the performance and lifetime. The deposited dust chemical composition, concentration and formation of a dust layer on the PV surface differ significantly in reference to time and location. In this study, an evaluation of dust deposition on the PV front cover glass during the non-heating season in one of the most polluted European cities, Kraków, was performed. The time-dependent particle deposition and its correlation to the air pollution with particulate matter were analysed. Dust deposited on several identical PV modules during variable exposure periods (from 1 day up to 1 week) and the samples of total suspended particles (TSP) on quartz fibre filters using a low volume sampler were collected during the non-heating season in the period of 5 weeks. The concentration of TSP in the study period ranged between 12.5 and 60.05 μg m while the concentration of PM10 observed in the Voivodeship Inspectorate of Environmental Protection traffic station, located 1.2 km from the TSP sampler, ranged from 14 to 47 μg m. It was revealed that dust deposition density on a PV surface ranged from 7.5 to 42.1 mg m for exposure periods of 1 day while the measured weekly dust deposition densities ranged from 25.8 to 277.0 mg m. The precipitation volume and its intensity as well as humidity significantly influence the deposited dust. The rate of dust accumulation reaches approximately 40 mg mday in the no-precipitation period and it was at least two times higher than fluxes calculated on the basis of PM10 and TSP concentrations which suggest that additional forces such as electrostatic forces significantly influence dust deposition.

An optimisation of the hybrid renewable energy systems

“…The prices for grid energy based on prices for 2017 in Poland for energy purchases 0.146 €/kWh, energy sell 0.117 €/kWh. The CO2 emission for electrical grid system energy is 0.867 kg/kWh [12].…”

“…The results estimate the cost for 1 kWh of electrical energy by about $0.51 and the average of CO2 emissions avoidance by about 1840 kg/year compared with conventionally used in that site. The energy degradation due to the natural dust deposition on the PV module was studied by Jaszczur et al [11] and Styszko et al [12]. They estimated time characteristics of dust deposition distribution as well as its influence on energy production and efficiency loss.…”

Study of dust deposition and temperature impact on solar photovoltaic module

“…The deposited dust particles were removed using deionised water and a scratcher with suction pump [13]. The water with dust was collected in plastic containers, followed by freeze-drying (Liophilizator Alpha 1-4 LD).…”

“…The natural dust deposition on the PV modules front cover glass was experimentally analysed in [13] by means of several PV modules during exposure periods from 1 day up to 1 week. The results showed that dust deposition intensity on the module surface ranged from 7.5 to 42.1 mg/m 2 for exposure periods of one day while the measured dust deposition for one week ranged from 25.8 to 277.0 mg/m 2 .…”

Impact of dust and temperature on energy conversion process in photovoltaic module

“…In all the PV module types, when the cell temperature increases, the energy conversion efficiency significantly decreases [6]. Additionally, accumulative dust deposition on the module front cover surface reduces the incident solar radiation intensity and further reduces the power output [7]. In recent years a number of research studies were performed, reporting in a separate manner the impact of the dust or temperature on PV efficiency .…”