Fundamental studies on dust fouling effects on PV module performance

Syed A.M. Said; Husam M. Walwil

doi:10.1016/j.solener.2014.05.048

Fundamental studies on dust fouling effects on PV module performance

Syed A.M. Said^*
, Husam M. Walwil

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

271 Scopus citations

Abstract

This paper presents the results of study on the effect of dust fouling on the transmittance of PV module glass cover. The study included the effect of dust fouling on overall plane glass transmittance, spectral transmittance of anti-reflective coated glass and characterization of the physical and chemical properties of dust particles. Also, micro-adhesion forces of dust particles on flat glass substrates are included. The results indicated a 20% reduction in glass transmittance and a 5g/m² of dust accumulation on the glass cover of PV modules tilted at 26° (Lat of Dhahran) and exposed for 45days. The anti-reflective coated glass exhibited less reduction in transmittance compared to non-coated plane glass. The adhesion forces of particles on flat surfaces increased with increase in particle size due to increase in contact area between the particles and the surface. At high humidity level there is an increase in the vertical adhesion due to the generated capillary forces between dust particles and glass surface.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	328-337
Number of pages	10
Journal	Solar Energy
Volume	107
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2014.05.048
State	Published - Sep 2014

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
The authors would like to acknowledge the support of Center of Research Excellence in Renewable Energy (CoRE-RE) and Center of Research Excellence in Clean Water and Clean Energy (CoRE-CWCE) at King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals in conducting this study.

Keywords

Dust adhesion
Dust characterization
Dust fouling
Glass transmittance

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment
General Materials Science

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10.1016/j.solener.2014.05.048

Cite this

@article{3ca45da3029c4cc387ead8da7d742a57,

title = "Fundamental studies on dust fouling effects on PV module performance",

abstract = "This paper presents the results of study on the effect of dust fouling on the transmittance of PV module glass cover. The study included the effect of dust fouling on overall plane glass transmittance, spectral transmittance of anti-reflective coated glass and characterization of the physical and chemical properties of dust particles. Also, micro-adhesion forces of dust particles on flat glass substrates are included. The results indicated a 20\% reduction in glass transmittance and a 5g/m2 of dust accumulation on the glass cover of PV modules tilted at 26° (Lat of Dhahran) and exposed for 45days. The anti-reflective coated glass exhibited less reduction in transmittance compared to non-coated plane glass. The adhesion forces of particles on flat surfaces increased with increase in particle size due to increase in contact area between the particles and the surface. At high humidity level there is an increase in the vertical adhesion due to the generated capillary forces between dust particles and glass surface.",

keywords = "Dust adhesion, Dust characterization, Dust fouling, Glass transmittance",

author = "Said, \{Syed A.M.\} and Walwil, \{Husam M.\}",

note = "Funding Information: The authors would like to acknowledge the support of Center of Research Excellence in Renewable Energy (CoRE-RE) and Center of Research Excellence in Clean Water and Clean Energy (CoRE-CWCE) at King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals in conducting this study.",

year = "2014",

month = sep,

doi = "10.1016/j.solener.2014.05.048",

language = "English",

volume = "107",

pages = "328--337",

journal = "Solar Energy",

issn = "0038-092X",

publisher = "Elsevier Ltd.",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - Fundamental studies on dust fouling effects on PV module performance

AU - Said, Syed A.M.

AU - Walwil, Husam M.

N1 - Funding Information: The authors would like to acknowledge the support of Center of Research Excellence in Renewable Energy (CoRE-RE) and Center of Research Excellence in Clean Water and Clean Energy (CoRE-CWCE) at King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals in conducting this study.

PY - 2014/9

Y1 - 2014/9

N2 - This paper presents the results of study on the effect of dust fouling on the transmittance of PV module glass cover. The study included the effect of dust fouling on overall plane glass transmittance, spectral transmittance of anti-reflective coated glass and characterization of the physical and chemical properties of dust particles. Also, micro-adhesion forces of dust particles on flat glass substrates are included. The results indicated a 20% reduction in glass transmittance and a 5g/m2 of dust accumulation on the glass cover of PV modules tilted at 26° (Lat of Dhahran) and exposed for 45days. The anti-reflective coated glass exhibited less reduction in transmittance compared to non-coated plane glass. The adhesion forces of particles on flat surfaces increased with increase in particle size due to increase in contact area between the particles and the surface. At high humidity level there is an increase in the vertical adhesion due to the generated capillary forces between dust particles and glass surface.

AB - This paper presents the results of study on the effect of dust fouling on the transmittance of PV module glass cover. The study included the effect of dust fouling on overall plane glass transmittance, spectral transmittance of anti-reflective coated glass and characterization of the physical and chemical properties of dust particles. Also, micro-adhesion forces of dust particles on flat glass substrates are included. The results indicated a 20% reduction in glass transmittance and a 5g/m2 of dust accumulation on the glass cover of PV modules tilted at 26° (Lat of Dhahran) and exposed for 45days. The anti-reflective coated glass exhibited less reduction in transmittance compared to non-coated plane glass. The adhesion forces of particles on flat surfaces increased with increase in particle size due to increase in contact area between the particles and the surface. At high humidity level there is an increase in the vertical adhesion due to the generated capillary forces between dust particles and glass surface.

KW - Dust adhesion

KW - Dust characterization

KW - Dust fouling

KW - Glass transmittance

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/84903455739

U2 - 10.1016/j.solener.2014.05.048

DO - 10.1016/j.solener.2014.05.048

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:84903455739

SN - 0038-092X

VL - 107

SP - 328

EP - 337

JO - Solar Energy

JF - Solar Energy

ER -

Fundamental studies on dust fouling effects on PV module performance

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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