Dust Mitigation on Solar Panels in the Desert Environment by Single-Phase Electro-Dynamic Dust Shield: Optimization Using Electrical and Geometrical Parameters

Abstract

In order to harness the abundant solar energy in the desert environment, more and more large-scale photovoltaic systems have been installed in deserts terrains. However, the typical sandstorms and accumulation of dust on the solar panels are the challenges to reckon with in order to effectively harvest the high intensity solar radiation. The conventional dust mitigation techniques demand large instrumentation, electric power, and huge quantity of water, enormous manpower and logistics at the remote and hostile locations. A very low power consuming instant dust repelling system, based on electrostatic and electro-dynamic forces has been developed and tested for its dust mitigating performance. The design of the system is basically fabricating an interdigitated electrode on the surface of the solar panel, energized by the low power, low frequency single-phased alternating voltage source. The standing electric wave established in between the electrode levitates the dust particles and is simultaneously repelled by electrostatic forces. The system design was electrically and geometrically optimized and tested in the lab and also in real-life condition, and the efficiency of dust removal as high as 90 ± 1 ℅ was achieved, and this dust elimination helped to restore the initial open circuit voltage and the short current of the tested solar cells. The attractive features of the developed electro-dynamic dust repelling system are that it is automatic, unmanned, low cost, low power, and quite efficient.