PREDICTION OF DUST DEPOSITION ON PHOTOVOLTAIC SURFACES BASED ON DUST ATTRIBUTES AND COLLISION OBJECT RANDOMNESS

Liu Weidong, Wen Hailang, Hu Shan, Yang Hui, Cao Junhua, Nie Xingyu

Acta Energiae Solaris Sinica ›› 2026, Vol. 47 ›› Issue (9) : 315-326.

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Acta Energiae Solaris Sinica ›› 2026, Vol. 47 ›› Issue (9) : 315-326. DOI: 10.19912/j.0254-0096.tynxb.2025-0762

PREDICTION OF DUST DEPOSITION ON PHOTOVOLTAIC SURFACES BASED ON DUST ATTRIBUTES AND COLLISION OBJECT RANDOMNESS

  • Liu Weidong1,2, Wen Hailang1, Hu Shan1, Yang Hui1, Cao Junhua1, Nie Xingyu1
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Abstract

To improve the accuracy of predicting dust deposition on the surface of photovoltaic modules, this paper improves the criteria for determining surface dust random deposition and the numerical simulation method for dust deposition based on dust attributes and the randomness of collision objects during dust deposition. The effectiveness of the method is verified using Wuhan city as an example. First, an analysis tree of factors influencing dust deposition was constructed to identify key elements affecting dust deposition on photovoltaic modules. Second, criteria for determining dust deposition were established for two types of collisions: those between dust particles and the module surface, and those between incoming dust particles and already deposited dust. Then, the dust deposition judgment criteria were applied to a photovoltaic power station in Wuhan, considering the randomness of dust particle composition and size. With the help of Fluent software, a two-dimensional numerical simulation model was established to describe the dust deposition process by combining random numbers with user-defined memory. The average and standard deviation of the relative error between the predicted and actual power generation based on the simulation results of dust accumulation were 8.78% and 13.64%, respectively. Finally, the orthogonal experimental design method was used to set the simulation conditions. The numerical simulation results based on the orthogonal experimental design showed that the wind speed had the most significant impact on the dust deposition results.

Key words

photovoltaic modules / dust / numerical simulation / influencing factors / judgment criteria

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Liu Weidong, Wen Hailang, Hu Shan, Yang Hui, Cao Junhua, Nie Xingyu. PREDICTION OF DUST DEPOSITION ON PHOTOVOLTAIC SURFACES BASED ON DUST ATTRIBUTES AND COLLISION OBJECT RANDOMNESS[J]. Acta Energiae Solaris Sinica. 2026, 47(9): 315-326 https://doi.org/10.19912/j.0254-0096.tynxb.2025-0762

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