EXPERIMENTAL ANALYSIS OF THE OUTPUT PERFORMANCE OF THE ABRASIVE EFFECT OF DUST ON PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS

Abstract

This article presents an evaluation of the power-voltage (P-V) and I-V characteristics of PV cells after exposure to artificial dust spraying. The dusted cells and other clean cells have been to the tested, exposed to five different radiation ranges, and used a solar simulator. In the experiment, a solar simulator analyzer was used to define the PVs' electrical performance, meantime a Sandblasting Cabinet and Atomic Force Microscope were used to inspect the properties abrasive of the dust on the cells. A significant reduction in both I-V and P-V properties was observed when dust accumulation on the surface of photovoltaic solar cells was compared to the same parameters of the clean cells. The average yield loss rate of solar cells exposed to dust spraying has decreased by 5-25% compared to clean cells, considering the inclination angle of the cells.

Keywords

• Photovoltaic cell
• dust effect
• solar energy
• dust spraying
• renewable energy

References

1. [1] Kok, B., Benli, H. (2017), Energy diversity and nuclear energy for sustainable development in Turkey. Renew. Energy, 111, 870–877. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2017.05.001
2. [2] Jiang Y., Lu L. (2016), Experimentally investigating the effect of temperature differences in the particle deposition process on solar photovoltaic (PV) modules. Sustainability. 8 (11),1091. https://doi.org/10.3390/su8111091
3. [3] Darwish, ZA., Kazem, HA., Sopian, K, Al-Gou, M.A., Alawadhi, H. (2015), Effect of dust pollutant type on photovoltaic performance. Renew. Sustain. Energy Rev. 41, 735–744. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2014.08.068
4. [4] Jiang, Y., Lu, L., Ferro, A.R., Ahmadi, G. (2018), Analyzing wind cleaning process on the accumulated dust on solar photovoltaic (PV) modules on flat surfaces. Solar Energy. 159, 1031–1036. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2017.08.083
5. [5] Gholami, Aslan., Ahmad, Saboonchi A.A.A., (2017), Experimental study of factors affecting dust accumulation and their effects on the transmission coefficient of glass for solar applications. Renewable Energy. 112, 466–473.
6. [6] Gholami, A., Khazaee, I., Eslami, S., Zandi, M., and Akrami E. (2018). Experimental investigation of dust deposition effects on photo-voltaic output performance. Solar Energy. 159, 346–352. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2017.11.010
7. [7] Fountoukis, C., Figgis, B., Ackermann, L., and Ayoub, M.A. (2018). Effects of atmospheric dust deposition on solar PV energy production in a desert environment. Solar Energy. 164, 94–100. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2018.02.010
8. [8] Saidan, M., Albaali, A.G, Alasis, E., and Kaldellis, J.K. (2016). Experimental study on the effect of dust deposition on solar photovoltaic panels in desert environment. Renewable Energy. 92, 499–505. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2016.02.031

9. [9] Al Shehri, A., Parrott, B., Carrasco, P., Al Saiari, H., and Taie, I. (2016). Impact of dust deposition and brush-based dry cleaning on glass transmittance for PV modules applications. Solar Energy. 135, 317–324. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2016.06.005
10. [10] Mehmood, U., Al-Sulaiman, F.A., and Yilbas, B.S. (2017). Characterization of dust collected from PV modules in the area of Dhahran, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and its impact on protective transparent covers for photovoltaic applications. Solar Energy. 141, 203–209. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2016.11.051
11. [11] Lu, H., Zhao, W. (2018). Effects of particle sizes and tilt angles on dust deposition characteristics of a ground-mounted solar photovoltaic system. Applied Energy. 220, 514–526. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2018.03.095
12. [12] Menoufi, K., Farghal, H.F.M., Farghali, A.A., and Khedr, M.H. (2017). Dust accumulation on photovoltaic panels: A case study at the East Bank of the Nile (Beni-Suef, Egypt). Energy Procedia. 128, 24–31. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.egypro.2017.09.010
13. [13] Ahmed, O.K., Mohammed, Z.A. Dust effect on the performance of the hybrid PV/Thermal collector. Therm. Sci. Eng. Prog. 2017; 3, 114–122. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tsep.2017.07.003
14. [14] Fountoukis, C., Ackermann, L., Ayoub, M.A., Gladich, I., Hoehn, R.D., and Skillern, A. (2015). Impact of atmospheric dust emission schemes on dust production and concentration over the Arabian Peninsula. Model Earth Syst. Environ. 2, 115. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40808-016- 0181-z
15. [15] Lay-Ekuakille, A., Ciaccioli, A., Griffo, G., Visconti, P., and Andria, G. (2018). Effects of dust on photovoltaic measurements: A comparative study. Meas. J. Int. Meas. Confed. 113, 181–188. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.measurement.2017.06.025
16. [16] Mejia, F., Kleissl, J., and Bosch, J.L. (2013). The effect of dust on solar photovoltaic systems. Energy Procedia. 49, 2370–2376. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.egypro.2014.03.251
17. [17] Tanesab, J., Parlevliet, D., Whale, J., and Urmee, T. (2017). Seasonal effect of dust on the degradation of PV modules performance deployed in different climate areas. Renewable Energy. 111, 105–115. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2017.03.091
18. [18] Wang, P., Xie, J., Ni, L., Wan, L., Ou, K., Zheng,L., and Sun, K. (2018). Reducing the effect of dust deposition on the generating efficiency of solar PV modules by super-hydrophobic films. Solar Energy. 169, 277–283. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2017.12.052
19. [19] Gürtürk, M., Benli, H., and Ertürk, N.K. (2018). Effects of different parameters on energy - Exergy and power conversion efficiency of PV modules. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews. 92, 426–439. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2018.04.117.
20. [20] Sze, S.M. (1969). Physics of semiconductor devices, John Wiley and Sons NY.