| Work Detail |
Chinese researchers have studied the dust embedding process and various water cleaning methods to optimize maintenance strategies and improve the safety and efficiency of photovoltaic systems. Scientists from the University of Science and Technology of China have conducted a review of research on the dust embedding process on photovoltaic panels and various water cleaning methods. They were able to establish a relationship between the different types of dust encrustations and the parameters of water cleaning. In total, the team examined 250 articles published worldwide up to 2024. “Under complex environmental conditions, dust deposition and fouling mechanisms significantly affect the reduction of power generation efficiency,” researcher Long Shi told pv magazine . “The dynamic relationship between dust fouling patterns and water cleaning parameters under varying climatic and pollution conditions remains poorly understood. To effectively address PV dust and fouling issues, it is essential to study the relationship between dust fouling process and water cleaning parameters.” Their analysis of dust fouling formation took into account dust characteristics and environmental factors. They identified elements, particle size, and surface roughness as key characteristics. Environmental factors included relative humidity, dew, and precipitation in different seasons and geographical environments. Mineral dust, biological dust, and industrial dust form four types of fouling under these environmental influences. The combination of different dust characteristics and environmental factors influences the scale formation mechanisms, affecting the type of scale. “The modes of action of powder fouling formation include adsorption-condensation, recrystallization, solid bridging, chemical reaction, oily adhesion, chemical bonding, rearrangement, agglomeration and compaction,” the researchers add. “The types of powder scale include coarse laminar scale, localized accumulation scale, island scale and gully-shaped laminar scale.” The scientists analyzed hundreds of articles to relate the types, sources, and characteristics of dust fouling to cleaning parameters. They identified water cleaning parameters such as water pressure, flow rate, diffusion angle, distance from panel, and angle of incidence (AOI). “The scales formed by simple mineral dust have little adhesion and are easily cleaned. Scales containing some biological dust and industrial dust are more difficult to clean,” the researchers say. “For the localized accumulation scale, the island-shaped scale and the gully-shaped lamellar scale require a greater impact force for effective detachment. For the large thickness of the dust scales, the impact force should be considered first, and for the small thickness of the dust scales, the coverage area of ??the water flow should be considered.” Dust from desert, urban and coastal sources forms a “mud belt” that reduces efficiency and increases thermal risks. Humidity levels between 40% and 80% enhance capillary forces, making dust more likely to cause fouling. Studies indicate that PV efficiency is most affected in Asia, followed by Africa and Oceania, with weekly losses reaching up to 7.84%, 3.03% and 2.4% respectively. The regions with the highest dust density are North Africa, the Middle East, Western Asia, the Western United States, Australia and parts of China and India. “High-pressure water cleaning improves power generation efficiency by an average of 10.4%,” the academics say. “Weekly water cleaning of photovoltaic panels can effectively remove dust pollution. The minimum water consumption for water cleaning is 0.31 L/m2, the maximum is 4.95 L/m2, and the average water consumption is 2.1 L/m2.” They presented their findings in “ Combining dust scaling behaviors of PV panels and water cleaning methods,” recently published in Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews . Chinese researchers have studied the dust embedding process and various water cleaning methods to optimize maintenance strategies and improve the safety and efficiency of photovoltaic systems. Scientists from the University of Science and Technology of China have conducted a review of research on the dust embedding process on photovoltaic panels and various water cleaning methods. They were able to establish a relationship between the different types of dust encrustations and the parameters of water cleaning. In total, the team examined 250 articles published worldwide up to 2024. “Under complex environmental conditions, dust deposition and fouling mechanisms significantly affect the reduction of power generation efficiency,” researcher Long Shi told pv magazine . “The dynamic relationship between dust fouling patterns and water cleaning parameters under varying climatic and pollution conditions remains poorly understood. To effectively address PV dust and fouling issues, it is essential to study the relationship between dust fouling process and water cleaning parameters.” Their analysis of dust fouling formation took into account dust characteristics and environmental factors. They identified elements, particle size, and surface roughness as key characteristics. Environmental factors included relative humidity, dew, and precipitation in different seasons and geographical environments. Mineral dust, biological dust, and industrial dust form four types of fouling under these environmental influences. The combination of different dust characteristics and environmental factors influences the scale formation mechanisms, affecting the type of scale. “The modes of action of powder fouling formation include adsorption-condensation, recrystallization, solid bridging, chemical reaction, oily adhesion, chemical bonding, rearrangement, agglomeration and compaction,” the researchers add. “The types of powder scale include coarse laminar scale, localized accumulation scale, island scale and gully-shaped laminar scale.” The scientists analyzed hundreds of articles to relate the types, sources, and characteristics of dust fouling to cleaning parameters. They identified water cleaning parameters such as water pressure, flow rate, diffusion angle, distance from panel, and angle of incidence (AOI). “The scales formed by simple mineral dust have little adhesion and are easily cleaned. Scales containing some biological dust and industrial dust are more difficult to clean,” the researchers say. “For the localized accumulation scale, the island-shaped scale and the gully-shaped lamellar scale require a greater impact force for effective detachment. For the large thickness of the dust scales, the impact force should be considered first, and for the small thickness of the dust scales, the coverage area of ??the water flow should be considered.” Dust from desert, urban and coastal sources forms a “mud belt” that reduces efficiency and increases thermal risks. Humidity levels between 40% and 80% enhance capillary forces, making dust more likely to cause fouling. Studies indicate that PV efficiency is most affected in Asia, followed by Africa and Oceania, with weekly losses reaching up to 7.84%, 3.03% and 2.4% respectively. The regions with the highest dust density are North Africa, the Middle East, Western Asia, the Western United States, Australia and parts of China and India. “High-pressure water cleaning improves power generation efficiency by an average of 10.4%,” the academics say. “Weekly water cleaning of photovoltaic panels can effectively remove dust pollution. The minimum water consumption for water cleaning is 0.31 L/m2, the maximum is 4.95 L/m2, and the average water consumption is 2.1 L/m2.” They presented their findings in “ Combining dust scaling behaviors of PV panels and water cleaning methods,” recently published in Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews . |
