CFD Prediction of dust deposition and installation parametric optimisation for soiling mitigation in non-tracking solar PV modules. Issue 11 (18th August 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Chiteka, Kudzanayi; Arora, Rajesh; Jain, Vineet
• Is Part Of: International journal of ambient energy. Volume 42:Issue 11(2021)
• Page Start: 1307
• Page End: 1320
• Publication Date: 2021-08-18
• Subjects: Solar photovoltaics -- dust deposition -- modelling -- installation configuration -- optimisation; Power resources -- Periodicals; Renewable energy sources -- Periodicals; 621.04205
• DOI: 10.1080/01430750.2019.1594373
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0143-0750

Abstract

ABSTRACT: The influence of installation parameters on dust accumulation behaviour for ground mounted solar photovoltaic collectors were investigated by computational fluid dynamics simulation. The effect of wind direction relative to the direction of the incident solar radiation on the photovoltaic module was also studied. The shear stress transport k − ω turbulence model and the discrete phase model were respectively adopted for wind flow simulation and dust deposition prediction. Installation parameter optimisation for minimum soiling and maximum energy generation was carried out using response surface methodology. Tilt angle was found to have a greater effect on dust deposition compared to orientation. A predictive model was developed for dust deposition and had a coefficient of determination, mean absolute percentage error and residual mean square error values of 0.983, 5.4 particles and 1.29 MWh/year respectively. The optimal installation configuration for a selected location was determined and it was found to produce 3.5% more energy than a system installed using tilt as the latitude angle and facing north in the same location. When wind flows from behind the solar photovoltaic module, there is 16% more energy generated than when wind flow is directly in front of the solar photovoltaic module at the optimal installation configuration.