Design, Development, and Evaluation of Electrodynamic Screens for Self-Cleaning Solar Panels and Concentrating Mirrors

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Annie Bernard ◽  
Sean M. Garner ◽  
Mark N. Horenstein ◽  
Malay K. Mazumder ◽  
Cristian Morales ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Solar Panels ◽  
Design Development ◽  
Self Cleaning

Recent advances in superhydrophobic polymers for antireflective self-cleaning solar panels

2021 ◽  
Vol 151 ◽  
pp. 111538
Author(s):  
Nizamudeen Cherupurakal ◽  
Mohammad Sayem Mozumder ◽  
Abdel- Hamid I. Mourad ◽  
Shubra Lalwani
Keyword(s):  
Solar Panels ◽  
Recent Advances ◽  
Self Cleaning

Development of Transparent Electrodynamic Screens on Ultrathin Flexible Glass Film Substrates for Retrofitting Solar Panels and Mirrors for Self-Cleaning Function

MRS Advances ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 1 (15) ◽  
pp. 1003-1012 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. K. Mazumder ◽  
J. W. Stark ◽  
C. Heiling ◽  
M. Liu ◽  
A. Bernard ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Transmission Efficiency ◽  
Silver Nanowire ◽  
Dust Particles ◽  
Glass Film ◽  
Solar Collectors ◽  
Solar Panels ◽  
Labor Costs ◽  
Adhesive Film ◽  
Self Cleaning

ABSTRACTDevelopment of transparent electrodynamic screens (EDS) printed on ultrathin flexible glass film substrates for retrofitting on solar panels and solar mirrors to perform self cleaning function is reviewed. Large-scale solar plants are generally installed in semi-arid and desert areas where dust layers build up on solar collectors causes major energy-yield loss. Maintaining designed plant capacities requires more than 90% reflectivity for CSP mirrors and 90% transmission efficiency for PV modules; solar collectors must therefore be cleaned at a frequency depending on the rate of dust deposition. Scarcity of water in these regions requires a cleaning method that drastically reduces or eliminates water and the associated labor costs for high efficiency operation of large-scale solar plants. An EDS film consists of rows of interdigitated, transparent conducting parallel electrodes embedded within a flexible ultrathin glass film and an optically clear adhesive film used for retrofitting the film on the surface of solar collectors. When phased voltage pulses activate the electrodes, the dust particles are first electrostatically charged, then repelled and removed from the surface of the solar collectors by Coulomb force, restoring transmission efficiency greater than 90%. The electrodes of EDS are either made from silver nanowire or another conductive transparent material printed on a highly transparent, ultrathin (100-μm thick), flexible borosilicate glass film. Applications of different conducting transparent electrodes and methods of printing are reviewed for optimizing self-cleaning function of solar panels and mirrors.

STUDY OF ELECTRIC MOTORS FOR AUTOMATED SOLAR PANEL CLEANING SYSTEMS

2020 ◽  
pp. 74-85
Author(s):  
D.I. Amirov ◽  
◽  
Yu.N. Zatsarinnaya ◽  
A.G. Logacheva ◽  
E.A. Fedotov ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Power Consumption ◽  
Low Power ◽  
Electric Drive ◽  
Payback Period ◽  
Solar Panel ◽  
Automated System ◽  
Low Power Consumption ◽  
Electric Motors ◽  
Solar Panels ◽  
Design Development

One of the main problems faced during solar panels operation is the contamination of their front surfaces. This paper presents the results of solving that problem by means of new equipment design development. The authors have proposed an autonomous and reliable cleaning method with low power consumption and no possibility of panel shading. In connection with the noted criteria, an automated system with a short payback period was created. The article presents a description of the developed device, the results of a study on the choice of an engine, an electric drive. The use of an automated system for cleaning solar panels will allow minimizing the share of human participation in the solar panels cleaning.

A Novel Power Supply to Drive Electrodynamic Screens for Use by Water-Free Self-Cleaning Solar Panels

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benjamin R. Livney ◽  
Annie R. Bernard ◽  
Ryan S. Eriksen ◽  
Malay K. Mazumder ◽  
Mark N. Horenstein
Keyword(s):  
Power Supply ◽  
Solar Panels ◽  
Self Cleaning

Development and Evaluation of Prototype Transparent Electrodynamic Screen (EDS) Integrated Solar Collectors for Automated Dust Removal

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
John N. Hudelson ◽  
Jeremy Stark ◽  
Hannah Gibson ◽  
Fang Hao ◽  
Zhongkai Xu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Specular Reflection ◽  
Short Circuit ◽  
Test Chamber ◽  
Short Circuit Current ◽  
Dust Particles ◽  
Laboratory Evaluation ◽  
Solar Collectors ◽  
Solar Panels ◽  
Dust Deposition ◽  
Self Cleaning

The integration of transparent electro-dynamic screen (EDS) on the front surface of solar mirrors and glass cover plates of photovoltaic panels has a strong potential to significantly reduce the frequency of water-based cleaning needed to mitigate losses from dust depositions present in arid regions. The objective of our research was to develop and evaluate prototype transparent EDS-integrated mirrors and solar panels for their self-cleaning functions, with an aim to keep the collectors clean at a low cost without water or manual labor. This paper focuses on the design, fabrication, and laboratory evaluation of a prototype EDS integrated second surface mirrors and solar panels. The EDS consists of a set of parallel transparent electrodes screen-printed on the optical surface and embedded in a thin transparent dielectric film. By applying three-phase, low current, low frequency high voltage-pulses to the electrodes, electro-dynamic repulsion forces and a traveling wave are created for removing dust particles from the surface of the collectors. Design and construction of an environmental test chamber to simulate different atmospheric conditions of semi-arid and arid areas with respect to temperature, RH, and dust deposition conditions are briefly described. A non-contact specular reflectometer was designed, constructed and calibrated for measuring specular reflection efficiency of the mirrors. Laboratory evaluation of the performance of the EDS-integrated collectors was completed using humidity controlled environment test chamber where the prototype mirrors and panels were examined for their self-cleaning action. In each experiment, the solar collectors were loaded with dust until the specular reflectance of the test mirror or the short circuit current of the panel showed a significant decrease. The EDS was then operated for one minute and the relative output was recorded. The results show that the specular reflectivity of EDS mirrors and the short circuit current of the EDS panels can be restored by more than 90% of the values measured under the clean conditions.

scholarly journals Cymatics Inspired Self-Cleaning Mechanism for Solar Panels

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edwin Babu ◽  
Sumith Yesudasan ◽  
Sibi Chacko
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Structural Integrity ◽  
Mechanical Vibration ◽  
Solar Panel ◽  
Solar Array ◽  
Great Effort ◽  
Solar Panels ◽  
Element Analysis ◽  
Solar Arrays ◽  
Self Cleaning

The Photovoltaic modules are usually installed on the ground which exposes it to surface deposition of foreign particles. In the Middle East and North Africa region, the primary culprit is dust and sand. They form an insulating and opaque layer on the surface of the glass, which obstructs its heat transfer and optical properties, thereby reducing the overall yield efficiency of the solar panel. Cleaning of this layer is critical to the operation of the solar panel and often requires great effort and energy on a large-scale solar array. In this paper, we propose a novel self-cleaning mechanism for solar panels, with an understanding of the structural integrity of the Photovoltaic laminate and application of external mechanical vibration. By applying an external source of vibration, the solar panels vibrate, excites its fundamental frequencies and cleans by its own. The method is analyzed using finite element analysis method and tested using experiments. Our simulation results based on IEC 61215 show that the maximum principal stress and deformation in the critical layers is within limits. Our experimental results prove the proposed theory is feasible and can be extended to large scale solar arrays. Our proposed method is retrofittable and could save money, energy and effort in cleaning the solar arrays, which can replace current techniques.

scholarly journals Study of Cellulose Nanocrystals (CNC) & Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA) Composite Film Modified Using Silica and Polybutylene Terephthalate(PBT) As a Transparent, Hydrophobic, Self-Cleaning Cover

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nishan Khadka ◽  
Sulav Parajuli ◽  
Rabindra Acharya ◽  
Sanjaya Neupane ◽  
Jyoti Giri ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cellulose Nanocrystals ◽  
Incident Light ◽  
Solar Panel ◽  
Poly Vinyl Alcohol ◽  
Solar Pv ◽  
Solar Panels ◽  
Polybutylene Terephthalate ◽  
Water Contact ◽  
Major Barrier ◽  
Self Cleaning

Solar panel soiling is a major barrier in electricity generation by solar Photo-Voltaic (PV) technology, especially in dust-prone cities like Kathmandu. Currently employed techniques use expensive cleaning bots, short-lived coatings or environmentally non-friendly coatings. This paper encompasses a study of a green alternative to counteract solar panel soiling. Cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) blended with Poly Vinyl Alcohol (PVA) with surface modification by Poly butylene terephthalate (PBT) and powdered silica was used to produce a transparent, hydrophobic film which could act as a self-cleaning cover for soiling prone solar panels. The film exhibited an average transmittance of 92.18% of the incident light in the solar PV working spectra (420nm-700nm). Hydrophobicity was quantified by the water contact angle (WCA) which was an average of 87.25°. The film was durable to photocatalytic and hydrolytic decay but further research is warranted before rendering the film suitable for use as a protective cover for solar panels.

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