Optical and adhesive properties of dust deposits on solar mirrors and their effects on specular reflectivity and electrodynamic cleaning for mitigating energy-yield loss

Malay Mazumder; Julius Yellowhair; Jeremy Stark; Calvin Heiling; John Hudelson; Fang Hao; Hannah Gibson; Mark Horenstein

doi:10.1117/12.2066328

7 October 2014 Optical and adhesive properties of dust deposits on solar mirrors and their effects on specular reflectivity and electrodynamic cleaning for mitigating energy-yield loss

Malay Mazumder, Julius Yellowhair, Jeremy Stark, Calvin Heiling, John Hudelson, Fang Hao, Hannah Gibson, Mark Horenstein

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 9175, High and Low Concentrator Systems for Solar Energy Applications IX; 91750K (2014) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2066328
Event: SPIE Solar Energy + Technology, 2014, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

Large-scale solar plants are mostly installed in semi-arid and desert areas. In those areas, dust layer buildup on solar collectors becomes a major cause for energy yield loss. Development of transparent electrodynamic screens (EDS) and their applications for self-cleaning operation of solar mirrors are presented with a primary focus on the removal dust particles smaller than 30 µm in diameter while maintaining specular reflection efficiency < 90%. An EDS consists of thin rectangular array of parallel transparent conducting electrodes deposited on a transparent dielectric surface. The electrodes are insulated from each other and are embedded within a thin transparent dielectric film. The electrodes are activated using three-phase high-voltage pulses at low current (< 1 mA/m² ). The three-phase electric field charges the deposited particles, lifts them form the substrate by electrostatic forces and propels the dust layer off of the collector’s surface by a traveling wave. The cleaning process takes less than 2 minutes; needs energy less than 1 Wh/m² without requiring any water or manual labor. The reflection efficiency can be restored > 95% of the original clean-mirror efficiency. We briefly present (1) loss of specular reflection efficiency as a function of particle size distribution of deposited dust, and (2) the effects of the electrode design and materials used for minimizing initial loss of specular reflectivity in producing EDS-integrated solar mirrors. Optimization of EDS by using a figure of merit defined by the ratio of dust removal efficiency to the initial loss of specular reflection efficiency is discussed.

Citation Download Citation

Malay Mazumder, Julius Yellowhair, Jeremy Stark, Calvin Heiling, John Hudelson, Fang Hao, Hannah Gibson, and Mark Horenstein "Optical and adhesive properties of dust deposits on solar mirrors and their effects on specular reflectivity and electrodynamic cleaning for mitigating energy-yield loss", Proc. SPIE 9175, High and Low Concentrator Systems for Solar Energy Applications IX, 91750K (7 October 2014); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2066328

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available