Effects of wind flow structure, particle flow and deposition pattern on photovoltaic energy harvest around a block

Wenfeng Huang, Kun Zhou, Ke Sun and Zhu He

Applied Energy, 2019, vol. 253, issue C, -

Abstract: The energy harvest of solar photovoltaic (PV) system is affected by many factors, among which the influence of dust deposition on photovoltaic panels is a prominent problem. This paper briefly introduced studies of dust deposition on PV panels especially by modeling and computational methods in recent years. Then, the main focus was to numerically study and analyze the influence of wind flow structure and particle deposition on PV panels combined with improved models and programs. Two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) cases were simulated and well compared with experimental data. 3D case results showed a shorter vortex behind the block and stronger turbulence in front of it. Tracked particle streams clearly showed the horse-shoe vortices around the block and pair vortex behind the block. Particle deposition, PV cover transmittance and efficiency reduction were larger on the windward roof and the windward wall under suspended dust environment, while leeward roof had low reduction. Under current condition, PV efficiency reduction generally increased with particle Stokes number on windward roof, while that trend on windward wall was reversed. These simulation process, findings and short view would provide a guidance to apply computational and particle tracking method on block surfaces, PV surfaces and on particle mitigation strategies.

Keywords: Air flow; Building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV); Vortex structure; Particle deposition; Transmittance and Efficiency attenuation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2019.113523

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