Effect of Accumulated Dust Conductivity on Leakage Current of Photovoltaic Modules

Yu Gao (), Fei Guo, Haibo Tian, Mengyuan Xue, Yaoyang Jin and Baomiao Wang
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Yu Gao: School of Electrical and Control Engineering, Xi’an University of Science and Technology, Xi’an 710699, China
Fei Guo: School of Electrical and Control Engineering, Xi’an University of Science and Technology, Xi’an 710699, China
Haibo Tian: School of Mechanical Engineering, Xi’an University of Science and Technology, Xi’an 710054, China
Mengyuan Xue: School of Electrical and Control Engineering, Xi’an University of Science and Technology, Xi’an 710699, China
Yaoyang Jin: School of Electrical and Control Engineering, Xi’an University of Science and Technology, Xi’an 710699, China
Baomiao Wang: School of Electrical and Control Engineering, Xi’an University of Science and Technology, Xi’an 710699, China

Energies, 2024, vol. 17, issue 13, 1-19

Abstract: Photovoltaic (PV) modules are often situated in hot and windy environments, such as deserts, where dust accumulation poses a significant problem. The build-up of dust can result in an increase in PV module leakage current, making the modules more vulnerable to potential-induced degradation (PID), ultimately leading to a reduction in the efficiency of PV power generation. In this study, we investigate the impact of dust accumulation on the surface of PV modules on leakage current. A dust model is developed based on the Arrhenius relation, taking into account the impact of temperature and density on dust conductivity. The equation for leakage current due to dust accumulation is derived based on the clean module leakage current equation. We undertake a simulation of natural conditions in a laboratory setting to analyze the impact of dust on the leakage current of photovoltaic modules. The results show the following: At high temperatures, the leakage current will significantly increase due to the elevated conductivity of the dust. The conductivity increased by 27.1%, 48.9%, 64.3%, and 118% for the four groups of dusty PV modules, respectively. Leakage current prediction has a better accuracy when dust is equated to series conductance. Dust can reduce the activation energy of PV modules by up to 3.48%.

Keywords: photovoltaic modules; dust accumulation; temperature; potential induce degradation (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: 2024
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