IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/renene/v135y2019icp21-31.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Influences of dust deposition on ground-mounted solar photovoltaic arrays: A CFD simulation study

Author

Listed:
  • Lu, Hao
  • Zhang, Li-Zhi

Abstract

Dust deposition processes and behaviors on ground-mounted solar photovoltaic (PV) arrays were investigated by shear stress transport k-ω turbulence model and the discrete particle model. Inlet velocity and turbulent kinetic energy distributions fitted from experimental data were imposed in the simulation to improve prediction accuracy. After mesh independent test and numerical verification, air flow fields over the solar PV array, dust deposition rates for different rows of PV panels and different dust diameters were investigated. It was found that dust deposition rates on solar PV panel array are declined from the front to the back row. Maximum deposition rate from the first to the fifth row of PV panels is 18.89%, 12.35%, 9.62%, 6.83% or 5.71% respectively. The corresponding dust diameter for the peak deposition rate is 350, 250, 200, 150 or 150 μm respectively. The main deposition mechanisms were investigated by analyzing dust motion trajectories on PV panel arrays. Furthermore, Maximum PV output reduction induced by dust can reach 79.77%, 18.16%, 5.88%, 2.66% or 1.89% from the first to the last row of PV panels, respectively. Therefore, the most degradation of PV efficiency appears for the first row of PV panels.

Suggested Citation

  • Lu, Hao & Zhang, Li-Zhi, 2019. "Influences of dust deposition on ground-mounted solar photovoltaic arrays: A CFD simulation study," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 135(C), pages 21-31.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:135:y:2019:i:c:p:21-31
    DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2018.11.096
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960148118314150
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.renene.2018.11.096?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Connolly, D. & Lund, H. & Mathiesen, B.V. & Leahy, M., 2010. "A review of computer tools for analysing the integration of renewable energy into various energy systems," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 87(4), pages 1059-1082, April.
    2. Alajlan, Saleh A., 1999. "Photovoltaic grid-connection system as load-shaving tool in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 63(2), pages 91-99, June.
    3. Vadiee, Amir & Martin, Viktoria, 2013. "Thermal energy storage strategies for effective closed greenhouse design," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 109(C), pages 337-343.
    4. Sarver, Travis & Al-Qaraghuli, Ali & Kazmerski, Lawrence L., 2013. "A comprehensive review of the impact of dust on the use of solar energy: History, investigations, results, literature, and mitigation approaches," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 22(C), pages 698-733.
    5. Piliougine, M. & Cañete, C. & Moreno, R. & Carretero, J. & Hirose, J. & Ogawa, S. & Sidrach-de-Cardona, M., 2013. "Comparative analysis of energy produced by photovoltaic modules with anti-soiling coated surface in arid climates," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 112(C), pages 626-634.
    6. Marzband, Mousa & Ghadimi, Majid & Sumper, Andreas & Domínguez-García, José Luis, 2014. "Experimental validation of a real-time energy management system using multi-period gravitational search algorithm for microgrids in islanded mode," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 128(C), pages 164-174.
    7. Lu, Hao & Lu, Lin & Wang, Yuanhao, 2016. "Numerical investigation of dust pollution on a solar photovoltaic (PV) system mounted on an isolated building," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 180(C), pages 27-36.
    8. Kaldellis, J.K. & Kapsali, M., 2011. "Simulating the dust effect on the energy performance of photovoltaic generators based on experimental measurements," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 36(8), pages 5154-5161.
    9. Kalogirou, Soteris A. & Agathokleous, Rafaela & Panayiotou, Gregoris, 2013. "On-site PV characterization and the effect of soiling on their performance," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 51(C), pages 439-446.
    10. Lu, Hao & Zhao, Wenjun, 2018. "Effects of particle sizes and tilt angles on dust deposition characteristics of a ground-mounted solar photovoltaic system," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 220(C), pages 514-526.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Raillani, Benyounes & Salhi, Mourad & Chaatouf, Dounia & Amraqui, Samir & Mezrhab, Ahmed, 2022. "Optimization of a porous wind barrier to reduce soiling and avoid shading losses of photovoltaic panels," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 189(C), pages 510-523.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Lu, Hao & Zhao, Wenjun, 2018. "Effects of particle sizes and tilt angles on dust deposition characteristics of a ground-mounted solar photovoltaic system," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 220(C), pages 514-526.
    2. Lu, Hao & Zhao, Wenjun, 2019. "CFD prediction of dust pollution and impact on an isolated ground-mounted solar photovoltaic system," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 131(C), pages 829-840.
    3. Lu, Hao & Lu, Lin & Wang, Yuanhao, 2016. "Numerical investigation of dust pollution on a solar photovoltaic (PV) system mounted on an isolated building," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 180(C), pages 27-36.
    4. Conceição, Ricardo & González-Aguilar, José & Merrouni, Ahmed Alami & Romero, Manuel, 2022. "Soiling effect in solar energy conversion systems: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 162(C).
    5. You, Siming & Lim, Yu Jie & Dai, Yanjun & Wang, Chi-Hwa, 2018. "On the temporal modelling of solar photovoltaic soiling: Energy and economic impacts in seven cities," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 228(C), pages 1136-1146.
    6. Pan, Anjian & Lu, Hao & Zhang, Li-Zhi, 2019. "Experimental investigation of dust deposition reduction on solar cell covering glass by different self-cleaning coatings," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 181(C), pages 645-653.
    7. Karim Menoufi, 2017. "Dust Accumulation on the Surface of Photovoltaic Panels: Introducing the Photovoltaic Soiling Index (PVSI)," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(6), pages 1-12, June.
    8. Simone Pedrazzi & Giulio Allesina & Alberto Muscio, 2018. "Are Nano-Composite Coatings the Key for Photovoltaic Panel Self-Maintenance: An Experimental Evaluation," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(12), pages 1-13, December.
    9. Saidan, Motasem & Albaali, Abdul Ghani & Alasis, Emil & Kaldellis, John K., 2016. "Experimental study on the effect of dust deposition on solar photovoltaic panels in desert environment," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 92(C), pages 499-505.
    10. Micheli, Leonardo & Fernandez, Eduardo F. & Aguilera, Jorge T. & Almonacid, Florencia, 2020. "Economics of seasonal photovoltaic soiling and cleaning optimization scenarios," MPRA Paper 104104, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    11. Fan, Siyuan & Wang, Xiao & Cao, Shengxian & Wang, Yu & Zhang, Yanhui & Liu, Bingzheng, 2022. "A novel model to determine the relationship between dust concentration and energy conversion efficiency of photovoltaic (PV) panels," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 252(C).
    12. Yu Jiang & Lin Lu, 2016. "Experimentally Investigating the Effect of Temperature Differences in the Particle Deposition Process on Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Modules," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(11), pages 1-9, October.
    13. Isaacs, Stewart & Kalashnikova, Olga & Garay, Michael J. & van Donkelaar, Aaron & Hammer, Melanie S. & Lee, Huikyo & Wood, Danielle, 2023. "Dust soiling effects on decentralized solar in West Africa," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 340(C).
    14. Wiesinger, F. & Sutter, F. & Fernández-García, A. & Wette, J. & Hanrieder, N., 2021. "Sandstorm erosion on solar reflectors: A field study on height and orientation dependence," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 217(C).
    15. Song, Zhe & Liu, Jia & Yang, Hongxing, 2021. "Air pollution and soiling implications for solar photovoltaic power generation: A comprehensive review," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 298(C).
    16. Mohammed Al-Housani & Yusuf Bicer & Muammer Koç, 2019. "Assessment of Various Dry Photovoltaic Cleaning Techniques and Frequencies on the Power Output of CdTe-Type Modules in Dusty Environments," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(10), pages 1-18, May.
    17. Kaiss, El-Cheikh Amer & Hassan, Noha M., 2024. "Optimizing the cleaning frequency of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems using numerical analysis and empirical models," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 228(C).
    18. Rafi Zahedi & Parisa Ranjbaran & Gevork B. Gharehpetian & Fazel Mohammadi & Roya Ahmadiahangar, 2021. "Cleaning of Floating Photovoltaic Systems: A Critical Review on Approaches from Technical and Economic Perspectives," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-25, April.
    19. Yao, Wanxiang & Kong, Xiangru & Xu, Ai & Xu, Puyan & Wang, Yan & Gao, Weijun, 2023. "New models for the influence of rainwater on the performance of photovoltaic modules under different rainfall conditions," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 173(C).
    20. Micheli, Leonardo & Fernández, Eduardo F. & Aguilera, Jorge T. & Almonacid, Florencia, 2021. "Economics of seasonal photovoltaic soiling and cleaning optimization scenarios," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 215(PA).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:135:y:2019:i:c:p:21-31. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/renewable-energy .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.