Simulation of microscale particle interactions for optimization of an electrodynamic dust shield to clean desert dust from solar panels

• Published in: Solar energy Vol. 155; pp. 1197 - 1207
• Main Authors: Chesnutt, Jennifer K.W., Ashkanani, Husain, Guo, Bing, Wu, Chang-Yu
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Elsevier Ltd 01.10.2017; Pergamon Press Inc
• Subjects: Charged particles; Cleaning; Computer simulation; Deserts; Discrete element method; Dust; Dust mitigation; Electric field strength; Electric fields; Electrodes; Energy efficiency; High voltages; Particle interactions; Particulate flow; Photovoltaic; Photovoltaic cells; Photovoltaics; Solar cells; Solar energy; Solar panels; Studies; Transport; Dust mitigation; Photovoltaic; Particulate flow; Discrete element method

[Display omitted] •Cleaning dust from solar panels via electrodynamics was computationally simulated.•This study was the first to use dust transport distance to optimize a dust shield.•Optimal voltage was lower, 2.8kVp-p, compared with previous works.•Transport distance per time was largest with an...