Sand winds effect on the degradation of photovoltaic modules in desert environments - PART I: Simulator design and Database creating

: Current research on photovoltaic generators is focused on improving operational efficiency and ensuring a long-life service, previous studies indicate that the degradation of photovoltaic generators generally results from the stress of various climatic factors in the natural environment; Sandstorms being among them and possibly the most influential where surface erosion is generated. In this paper, a novel simulator to test wind and sandstorms blowing in the southwestern Algeria Desert is presented. The developed simulator was able to generate winds at different speeds, with varying sand grain densities. as well as we rotated the samples using 360° to allow the wind to reach them from all directions. These properties adopted in the simulator will be used in subsequent research in accelerated tests to predict and estimate the degradation under the influence of sandstorms separately from any other climatic factor. We created an actual database of sand and wind density, taking measurements during the monsoon season. the obtained results confirming in consistency with those measured. We have succeeded to estimate the photovoltaic unit lifetime, and ensure better operating conditions.