Performance Enhancement of Self-Cleaning Hydrophobic Nanocoated Photovoltaic Panels in a Dusty Environment

Emran Aljdaeh, Innocent Kamwa, Waleed Hammad, Mohammed I. Abuashour, Tha’er Sweidan, Haris M. Khalid and S. M. Muyeen
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Emran Aljdaeh: Mechanical Engineering Department, The University of Jordan, Amman 11194, Jordan
Innocent Kamwa: Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Engineering, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC G1VA06, Canada
Waleed Hammad: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Hashemite University, Zarqa 13115, Jordan
Mohammed I. Abuashour: Electrical Engineering Department, Hashemite University, Zarqa 13115, Jordan
Tha’er Sweidan: Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Higher Colleges of Technology, Sharjah 7947, United Arab Emirates
Haris M. Khalid: Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Higher Colleges of Technology, Sharjah 7947, United Arab Emirates
S. M. Muyeen: Department of Electrical Engineering, Qatar University, Doha 2713, Qatar

Energies, 2021, vol. 14, issue 20, 1-18

Abstract: The efficiency of a photovoltaic (PV) panels drops significantly in dusty environments. The variation in temperature could have a substantial impact on PV panel cells, which could further lead to high deterioration and eventually permanent damage to the PV material in the presence of dust. To resolve this issue, in this work a novel hydrophobic silicon dioxide (SiO 2 )-based nanoparticle coating is proposed for the PV panel, to shrink the surface stress developed between the water and the coated facet. Two identical PV modules were installed to conduct comparable experimental tests simultaneously. The first module is coated by the SiO 2 nanoparticles, and the second is uncoated and used as a reference. To maintain coherency, the experiments are done in the same environmental conditions, cleaning the PV modules at regular intervals. Results reveal that the accumulated energy generated during this period of study was comprehensively enhanced. Moreover, the self-cleaning property of the hydrophobic surface of the coated panel allowed water droplets to slide smoothly down the PV module surface, carrying dust particles. Useful recommendations are made at the end to enhance the performance of PV panels in dusty environments.

Keywords: cleaning surface; energy efficiency; hydrophobic manufacturing; nanocoating; nanoparticles; photovoltaic panels; self-cleaning; solar energy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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