Effect of photovoltaic panel electric field on the wind speed required for dust removal from the panels

Abstract

Methods to remove dust deposits by high-speed airflow have significant potential applications, with optimal design of flow velocity being the core technology. In this paper, we discuss the wind speed required for particle removal from photovoltaic (PV) panels by compressed air by analyzing the force exerted on the dust deposited on inclined photovoltaic panels, which also included different electrification mechanisms of dust while it is in contact with the PV panel. The results show that the effect of the particle charging mechanism in the electric field generated by the PV panel is greatly smaller than the effect of the Van der Waals force and gravity, but the effect of the particle charged by the contact electrification mechanism in the electrostatic field is very pronounced. The wind speed required for dust removal from the PV panel increases linearly with the PV panel electric field, so we suggest that the nighttime, when the PV electric field is relatively small, would be more appropriate time for dust removal. The above results are of great scientific importance for accurately grasping the dust distribution law and for achieving scientific removal of dust on PV panels.