Quantification of Dust Accumulation on Solar Panels Using the Contact-Characteristics-Based Discrete Element Method
Dust comprises particles usually present in the atmosphere. The deposition of dust on the surface of the solar panel seriously affects the light transmittance, resulting in lower pow-er generation efficiency and shortening the service life of the solar panel. Therefore, it is important to understand...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-03-01
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| Series: | Energies |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/16/6/2580 |
| _version_ | 1797612160589758464 |
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| author | Shing-Lih Wu Hung-Cheng Chen Kai-Jun Peng |
| author_facet | Shing-Lih Wu Hung-Cheng Chen Kai-Jun Peng |
| author_sort | Shing-Lih Wu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Dust comprises particles usually present in the atmosphere. The deposition of dust on the surface of the solar panel seriously affects the light transmittance, resulting in lower pow-er generation efficiency and shortening the service life of the solar panel. Therefore, it is important to understand the dust distribution on the surface of solar panels and discuss the influence of dust on the power generation efficiency of solar panels for the efficient prevention of dust deposition on the panel. In this study, to analyze the dust distribution on the surface of the solar panel, the discrete element method was used to establish the contact mechanics model between dust particles and the solar panel. The number of dust particles on the surface of solar panels was calculated at different solar panel inclination angles, wind speeds, and wind directions. The wind speed of 1 and 3 m/s did not affect the dust deposition significantly but the speed over 5 m/s reduced the dust particles from the surface of the solar panel. The inclination angle of 23° influenced dust deposition on the surface of the solar panel. Wind direction did not show a significant effect on dust deposition. The longer the deposition time, the more particles remained on the surface due to the increased force between the particles and the surface of the solar panel. The results from calculation and measurement from transmittance were similar with a different rate of 3.41%. Thus, the result of the proposed calculation in this study provides a basis for de-signing the solar power generation plant and decision-making on the maintenance of the solar panel. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T06:38:21Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f694acfacbbc4500b5ff130a0751efd4 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1996-1073 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T06:38:21Z |
| publishDate | 2023-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Energies |
| spelling | doaj.art-f694acfacbbc4500b5ff130a0751efd42023-11-17T10:48:04ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732023-03-01166258010.3390/en16062580Quantification of Dust Accumulation on Solar Panels Using the Contact-Characteristics-Based Discrete Element MethodShing-Lih Wu0Hung-Cheng Chen1Kai-Jun Peng2Department of Electrical Engineering, National Taitung Junior College, 911, Jhengci N. Rd., Taitung 95045, TaiwanDepartment of Electrical Engineering, National Chin-Yi University of Technology, 57, Section 2, Chungshan Road, Taiping District, Taichung 41107, TaiwanDepartment of Electrical Engineering, National Chin-Yi University of Technology, 57, Section 2, Chungshan Road, Taiping District, Taichung 41107, TaiwanDust comprises particles usually present in the atmosphere. The deposition of dust on the surface of the solar panel seriously affects the light transmittance, resulting in lower pow-er generation efficiency and shortening the service life of the solar panel. Therefore, it is important to understand the dust distribution on the surface of solar panels and discuss the influence of dust on the power generation efficiency of solar panels for the efficient prevention of dust deposition on the panel. In this study, to analyze the dust distribution on the surface of the solar panel, the discrete element method was used to establish the contact mechanics model between dust particles and the solar panel. The number of dust particles on the surface of solar panels was calculated at different solar panel inclination angles, wind speeds, and wind directions. The wind speed of 1 and 3 m/s did not affect the dust deposition significantly but the speed over 5 m/s reduced the dust particles from the surface of the solar panel. The inclination angle of 23° influenced dust deposition on the surface of the solar panel. Wind direction did not show a significant effect on dust deposition. The longer the deposition time, the more particles remained on the surface due to the increased force between the particles and the surface of the solar panel. The results from calculation and measurement from transmittance were similar with a different rate of 3.41%. Thus, the result of the proposed calculation in this study provides a basis for de-signing the solar power generation plant and decision-making on the maintenance of the solar panel.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/16/6/2580solar paneldust distributiondiscrete element methodcontact characteristics |
| spellingShingle | Shing-Lih Wu Hung-Cheng Chen Kai-Jun Peng Quantification of Dust Accumulation on Solar Panels Using the Contact-Characteristics-Based Discrete Element Method Energies solar panel dust distribution discrete element method contact characteristics |
| title | Quantification of Dust Accumulation on Solar Panels Using the Contact-Characteristics-Based Discrete Element Method |
| title_full | Quantification of Dust Accumulation on Solar Panels Using the Contact-Characteristics-Based Discrete Element Method |
| title_fullStr | Quantification of Dust Accumulation on Solar Panels Using the Contact-Characteristics-Based Discrete Element Method |
| title_full_unstemmed | Quantification of Dust Accumulation on Solar Panels Using the Contact-Characteristics-Based Discrete Element Method |
| title_short | Quantification of Dust Accumulation on Solar Panels Using the Contact-Characteristics-Based Discrete Element Method |
| title_sort | quantification of dust accumulation on solar panels using the contact characteristics based discrete element method |
| topic | solar panel dust distribution discrete element method contact characteristics |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/16/6/2580 |
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