A State-of-the-Art Self-Cleaning System Using Thermomechanical Effect in Shape Memory Alloy for Smart Photovoltaic Applications
This research aims to present a state-of-the-art cleaning technology solution that effectively overcomes the dust accumulation issue for conventional photovoltaic systems. Although continuous innovations and advanced developments within renewable energy technologies have shown steady improvements ov...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-08-01
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| Series: | Materials |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/15/16/5704 |
| _version_ | 1797409141247967232 |
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| author | Nasir Ghazi Hariri Ibrahim Khalil Almadani Ibrahim Sufian Osman |
| author_facet | Nasir Ghazi Hariri Ibrahim Khalil Almadani Ibrahim Sufian Osman |
| author_sort | Nasir Ghazi Hariri |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This research aims to present a state-of-the-art cleaning technology solution that effectively overcomes the dust accumulation issue for conventional photovoltaic systems. Although continuous innovations and advanced developments within renewable energy technologies have shown steady improvements over the past years, the dust accumulation issue remains one of the main factors hindering their efficiency and degradation rate. By harvesting abundant solar thermal energy, the presented self-cleaning system uses a unique thermomechanical property of Shape Memory Alloys to operate a solar-based thermomechanical actuator. Therefore, this study carries out different numerical and experimental validation tests to highlight the promising practicability of the developed self-cleaning system from thermal and mechanical perspectives. The results showed that the system has a life expectancy of over 20 years, which is closely equivalent to the life expectancy of conventional photovoltaic modules while operating under actual weather conditions in Dammam city. Additionally, the thermal to mechanical energy conversion efficiency reached 19.15% while providing average cleaning effectiveness of about 95%. The presented outcomes of this study add to the body of knowledge an innovative methodology for a unique solar-based self-cleaning system aimed toward smart and modern photovoltaic applications. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T04:10:02Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d0313d1e8d314b06b2493e235898dbea |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1996-1944 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T04:10:02Z |
| publishDate | 2022-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Materials |
| spelling | doaj.art-d0313d1e8d314b06b2493e235898dbea2023-12-03T14:02:15ZengMDPI AGMaterials1996-19442022-08-011516570410.3390/ma15165704A State-of-the-Art Self-Cleaning System Using Thermomechanical Effect in Shape Memory Alloy for Smart Photovoltaic ApplicationsNasir Ghazi Hariri0Ibrahim Khalil Almadani1Ibrahim Sufian Osman2Department of Mechanical and Energy Engineering, College of Engineering, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, P.O. Box 1982, Dammam 31441, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Mechanical and Energy Engineering, College of Engineering, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, P.O. Box 1982, Dammam 31441, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Mechanical and Energy Engineering, College of Engineering, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, P.O. Box 1982, Dammam 31441, Saudi ArabiaThis research aims to present a state-of-the-art cleaning technology solution that effectively overcomes the dust accumulation issue for conventional photovoltaic systems. Although continuous innovations and advanced developments within renewable energy technologies have shown steady improvements over the past years, the dust accumulation issue remains one of the main factors hindering their efficiency and degradation rate. By harvesting abundant solar thermal energy, the presented self-cleaning system uses a unique thermomechanical property of Shape Memory Alloys to operate a solar-based thermomechanical actuator. Therefore, this study carries out different numerical and experimental validation tests to highlight the promising practicability of the developed self-cleaning system from thermal and mechanical perspectives. The results showed that the system has a life expectancy of over 20 years, which is closely equivalent to the life expectancy of conventional photovoltaic modules while operating under actual weather conditions in Dammam city. Additionally, the thermal to mechanical energy conversion efficiency reached 19.15% while providing average cleaning effectiveness of about 95%. The presented outcomes of this study add to the body of knowledge an innovative methodology for a unique solar-based self-cleaning system aimed toward smart and modern photovoltaic applications.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/15/16/5704photovoltaic energydust accumulationPV efficiencythermomechanicalshape memory alloysPV cleaning system |
| spellingShingle | Nasir Ghazi Hariri Ibrahim Khalil Almadani Ibrahim Sufian Osman A State-of-the-Art Self-Cleaning System Using Thermomechanical Effect in Shape Memory Alloy for Smart Photovoltaic Applications Materials photovoltaic energy dust accumulation PV efficiency thermomechanical shape memory alloys PV cleaning system |
| title | A State-of-the-Art Self-Cleaning System Using Thermomechanical Effect in Shape Memory Alloy for Smart Photovoltaic Applications |
| title_full | A State-of-the-Art Self-Cleaning System Using Thermomechanical Effect in Shape Memory Alloy for Smart Photovoltaic Applications |
| title_fullStr | A State-of-the-Art Self-Cleaning System Using Thermomechanical Effect in Shape Memory Alloy for Smart Photovoltaic Applications |
| title_full_unstemmed | A State-of-the-Art Self-Cleaning System Using Thermomechanical Effect in Shape Memory Alloy for Smart Photovoltaic Applications |
| title_short | A State-of-the-Art Self-Cleaning System Using Thermomechanical Effect in Shape Memory Alloy for Smart Photovoltaic Applications |
| title_sort | state of the art self cleaning system using thermomechanical effect in shape memory alloy for smart photovoltaic applications |
| topic | photovoltaic energy dust accumulation PV efficiency thermomechanical shape memory alloys PV cleaning system |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/15/16/5704 |
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