A novel dust mitigation technology solution of a self-cleaning method for a PV module capable of harnessing reject heat using shape memory alloy

Most large-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) systems are installed in remote and desert areas, where large land areas and sunlight are available throughout the year. However, major environmental degradation factors exist in the form of soiling and dust accumulation, primarily when operating PV systems i...

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Main Author: Nasir Hariri
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2022-04-01
Series:Case Studies in Thermal Engineering
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214157X2200140X
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author Nasir Hariri
author_facet Nasir Hariri
author_sort Nasir Hariri
collection DOAJ
description Most large-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) systems are installed in remote and desert areas, where large land areas and sunlight are available throughout the year. However, major environmental degradation factors exist in the form of soiling and dust accumulation, primarily when operating PV systems in desert lands. In this study, an innovative method for dust mitigation of a PV panel surface is introduced using an SMA wire actuator. It utilizes unwanted heat energy at the back surface of a PV panel and converts it into effective mechanical energy using a unique thermo-mechanical property in SMA materials. Results of the indoor test, using a sun-simulator instrument, prove the effectiveness of harnessing the reject heat at the back surface of a PV panel toward the activation of an SMA-based PV cleaning system. Experimental results demonstrated the successful reach of the SMA activation temperature of about 60 OC, for an applied solar irradiance power of 1200 W/m2, within a test duration of 40 min. This allowed generating a desirable mechanical displacement based on the harnessed rejected heat for the operation of the cleaning system. The overall performance of the fabricated system was analyzed and evaluated to highlight the achieved cleaning process and its effectiveness.
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spelling doaj.art-bf84d67e73b245258f1f68eec37582ed2022-12-22T00:03:24ZengElsevierCase Studies in Thermal Engineering2214-157X2022-04-0132101894A novel dust mitigation technology solution of a self-cleaning method for a PV module capable of harnessing reject heat using shape memory alloyNasir Hariri0Department of Mechanical and Energy Engineering, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, P.O. Box 1982, Dammam, 31441, Eastern Province, Saudi ArabiaMost large-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) systems are installed in remote and desert areas, where large land areas and sunlight are available throughout the year. However, major environmental degradation factors exist in the form of soiling and dust accumulation, primarily when operating PV systems in desert lands. In this study, an innovative method for dust mitigation of a PV panel surface is introduced using an SMA wire actuator. It utilizes unwanted heat energy at the back surface of a PV panel and converts it into effective mechanical energy using a unique thermo-mechanical property in SMA materials. Results of the indoor test, using a sun-simulator instrument, prove the effectiveness of harnessing the reject heat at the back surface of a PV panel toward the activation of an SMA-based PV cleaning system. Experimental results demonstrated the successful reach of the SMA activation temperature of about 60 OC, for an applied solar irradiance power of 1200 W/m2, within a test duration of 40 min. This allowed generating a desirable mechanical displacement based on the harnessed rejected heat for the operation of the cleaning system. The overall performance of the fabricated system was analyzed and evaluated to highlight the achieved cleaning process and its effectiveness.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214157X2200140XPV systemCleaning methodDust accumulationDust mitigationSoilingSelf-cleaning
spellingShingle Nasir Hariri
A novel dust mitigation technology solution of a self-cleaning method for a PV module capable of harnessing reject heat using shape memory alloy
Case Studies in Thermal Engineering
PV system
Cleaning method
Dust accumulation
Dust mitigation
Soiling
Self-cleaning
title A novel dust mitigation technology solution of a self-cleaning method for a PV module capable of harnessing reject heat using shape memory alloy
title_full A novel dust mitigation technology solution of a self-cleaning method for a PV module capable of harnessing reject heat using shape memory alloy
title_fullStr A novel dust mitigation technology solution of a self-cleaning method for a PV module capable of harnessing reject heat using shape memory alloy
title_full_unstemmed A novel dust mitigation technology solution of a self-cleaning method for a PV module capable of harnessing reject heat using shape memory alloy
title_short A novel dust mitigation technology solution of a self-cleaning method for a PV module capable of harnessing reject heat using shape memory alloy
title_sort novel dust mitigation technology solution of a self cleaning method for a pv module capable of harnessing reject heat using shape memory alloy
topic PV system
Cleaning method
Dust accumulation
Dust mitigation
Soiling
Self-cleaning
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214157X2200140X
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