Longitudinal airflow-assisted double-electrode electrostatic adsorption dust collection approach for photovoltaic modules

Dust deposition can considerably reduce the power generation efficiency of photovoltaic (PV) modules. Therefore, developing an efficient dust collection method is essential. To this end, this study proposes a longitudinal airflow-assisted double-electrode electrostatic adsorption (ESA) dust collection method. The mechanism of this method was first investigated, and based on this investigation, an experimental platform was constructed for the method. Transparent conductive films charged dust particles by releasing free electrons through four main mechanisms: contact charging, water ionization, field electron emission, and secondary electron emission. Furthermore, as the electric field strength increased, the dust collection rate (ω) rose slowly, then sharply, and finally stabilized. The ω increased with increasing airflow velocity and dust collection time. Additionally, the proposed method was numerically simulated using COMSOL Multiphysics software. Simulation results showed that at an airflow velocity of 1 m/s, ω initially increased and then decreased with increasing the particle radius. Experimental results showed that at a dust collection electric field strength of 4 kV/cm, the optimum airflow velocity and dust collection time were 1 m/s and 2 s, respectively. At this time, ω reached 91.14 % and the normalized value of PV module power generation efficiency (η*) increased by 47.45 % relative to that before dust collection. For cemented dust particles, the η* increased by 57.20 % relative to that before dust collection. Overall, this study provides a solution for efficient and low-cost dust collection for PV modules.