Influence mechanism of dynamic and static liquid bridge forces on particle deposition behaviors in solar photovoltaic mirrors

Abstract

Solar energy is one of the most promising forms of renewable energy for solving the energy crisis and environmental problems. Dust deposition on photovoltaic mirrors has a serious negative impact on the photoelectric conversion efficiency of solar power stations. In this paper, the influence mechanism of the dynamic and static liquid bridge forces on particle deposition behaviors on solar photovoltaic mirrors is investigated. In addition, the expression and physical meaning of the particle critical separation velocity are proposed. The research results show that the static liquid bridge force can be the primary deposition force causing dust particles to adhere to photovoltaic mirrors. However, the dynamic liquid bridge force can act as a resistance force for the particle motion process and even make dust particles roll along and finally stay on the mirror. The contact force is the primary separation force that causes dust particles to flow away from the mirror. Whether dust particles adhere to the mirror depends on the relative size of the deposition and separating forces. The particle critical separation velocity describes the relative size of the collision-rebound effect and mirror adhesion effect and is expressed in Eq. (16). These research findings can provide theoretical guidance for mirror cleaning methods in the operation process of photovoltaic mirrors.

Keywords

dust deposition / discrete element method (DEM) / photovoltaic mirrors / solar energy

参考文献

[1] Mekhilef S, Saidur R, Safari A. A review on solar energy use in industries. Renewable & Sustainable Energy Reviews, 2011, 15(4): 1777–1790

[2] National Renewable Energy Laboratory. Realizing a clean energy future: highlights of NREL analysis (Brochure). NREL/BR-6A20–60894, 2013

[3] Wang S, Cui X. Photovoltaic will become the most important power source in the world. China Science Journal, 2020, 26: 003

[4] Yaghoubi M, Niknia I, Kanaan P, Experimental study of dust deposition effect on the performances of parabolic trough collectors. In: Proceedings of 17th Solar Paces Conference, Granada, Spain, 2011

[5] Şahin A D. A new formulation for solar irradiation and sunshine duration estimation. International Journal of Energy Research, 2007, 31(2): 109–118

[6] Sansoni P, Fontani D, Francini F, Optical collection efficiency and orientation of a solar trough medium-power plant installed in Italy. Renewable Energy, 2011, 36(9): 2341–2347

[7] Sarver T, Al-Qaraghuli A, Kazmerski L L. A comprehensive review of the impact of dust on the use of solar energy: history, investigations, results, literature, and mitigation approaches. Renewable & Sustainable Energy Reviews, 2013, 22: 698–733

[8] Sayyah A, Horenstein M N, Mazumder M K. Energy yield loss caused by dust deposition on photovoltaic panels. Solar Energy, 2014, 107: 576–604

[9] Erdenedavaa P, Rosato A, Adiyabat A, Model analysis of solar thermal system with the effect of dust deposition on the collectors. Energies, 2018, 11(7): 1795

[10] Caron J R, Littmann B. Direct monitoring of energy lost due to soiling on first solar modules in California. IEEE Journal of Photovoltaics, 2013, 3(1): 336–340

[11] Mani M, Pillai R. Impact of dust on solar photovoltaic (PV) performance: research status, challenges and recommendations. Renewable & Sustainable Energy Reviews, 2010, 14(9): 3124–3131

[12] Hegazy A A. Effect of dust accumulation on solar transmittance through glass covers of plate-type collectors. Renewable Energy, 2001, 22(4): 525–540

[13] Ahmed O K, Mohammed Z A. Dust effect on the performance of the hybrid PV/thermal collector. Thermal Science and Engineering Progress, 2017, 3: 114–122

[14] Lu H, Zhao W. CFD prediction of dust pollution and impact on an isolated groundmounted solar photovoltaic system. Renewable Energy, 2019, 131: 829–840

[15] Lu H, Lu L, Wang Y. Numerical investigation of dust pollution on a solar photovoltaic (PV) system mounted on an isolated building. Applied Energy, 2016, 180: 27–36

[16] Lu H, Zhang L. Numerical study of dry deposition of monodisperse and polydisperse dust on building-mounted solar photovoltaic panels with different roof inclinations. Solar Energy, 2018, 176: 535–544

[17] Khadhim I J, Mehdi I J, Muhsson I M. Periodic cleaning effect on the output power of solar panels. In: 2nd Scientific Conference, Karbala University, 2014

[18] Chesnutt J, Ashkanani H, Guo B, Simulation of microscale particle interactions for optimization of an electrodynamic dust shield to clean desert dust from solar panels. Solar Energy, 2017, 155: 1197–1207

[19] Liu X, Yue S, Lu L, Study on dust deposition mechanics on solar mirrors in a solar power plant. Energies, 2019, 12(23): 4550

[20] Chu K W, Wang B, Xu D L, CFD-DEM simulation of the gas-solid flow in a cyclone separator. Chemical Engineering Science, 2011, 66(5): 834–847

[21] Sae-Heng S, Swasdisevi T, Amornkitbamrung M. Investigation of temperature distribution and heat transfer in fluidized bed using a combined CFD-DEM model. Drying Technology, 2011, 29(6): 697–708

[22] Tsuji Y, Kawaguchi T, Tanaka T. Discrete particle simulation of two-dimensional fluidized bed. Powder Technology, 1993, 77(1): 79–87

[23] Xu B H, Yu A B. Numerical simulation of the gas-solid flow in a fluidized bed by combining discrete particle method with computational fluid dynamics. Chemical Engineering Science, 1997, 52(16): 2785–2809

[24] Zhu R R, Zhu W B, Xing L C, DEM simulation on particle mixing in dry and wet particles spouted bed. Powder Technology, 2011, 210(1): 73–81

[25] Mikami T, Kamiya H, Horio M. Numerical simulation of cohesive powder behavior in a fluidized bed. Chemical Engineering Science, 1998, 53(10): 1927–1940

[26] Hotta K, Takeda K, Iinoya K. The capillary binding force of a liquid bridge. Powder Technology, 1974, 10(4–5): 231–242

[27] Pitois O, Moucheront P, Chateau X. Liquid bridge between two moving spheres: an experimental study of viscosity effects. Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, 2000, 231(1): 26–31

[28] Liu X, Yue S, Lu L, Study on single-particle residence time of impulse, symmetric and asymmetric coaxial impinging streams. Powder Technology, 2019, 342: 118–130

[29] Behrens S H, Grier D G. The charge of glass and silica surfaces. Journal of Chemical Physics, 2001, 115(14): 6716–6721

[30] Bowling R A. An analysis of particle adhesion on semiconductor surfaces. Journal of the Electrochemical Society, 1985, 132(9): 2208–2214

[31] Dzyaloshinskii I E, Lifshitz E M, Pitaevskii L P. The general theory of van der Waals forces. Advances in Physics, 1961, 10(38): 165–209

[32] Liu X, Yue S, Lu L, Simulations of an asymmetric gas-solid two-phase impinging stream reactor. Numerical Heat Transfer Part A, 2018, 74(2): 1032–1051

[33] Zhong W Q, Xiong Y Q, Yuan Z L, DEM simulation of gas-solid flow behaviors in spout-fluid bed. Chemical Engineering Science, 2006, 61(5): 1571–1584

[34] Meng G S. Research on mechanism of dust particle adhesion and removal from solar panel surface in desert area. Dissertation for the Master’s Degree. Xining: Qinghai University, 2015 (in Chinese)

[35] Xu H B. Study on spouting and fluidization characteristics of wet particles. Dissertation for the Doctoral Degree. Nanjing: Southeast University, 2017 (in Chinese)

[36] Qasem H, Betts T R, Müllejans H, Dust-induced shading on photovoltaic modules. Progress in Photovoltaics: Research and Applications, 2014, 22(2): 218–226

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 51975235).

版权

2021 Higher Education Press