Simulation of an Electrostatic Drum For Photovoltaic Panel Dust Removal

Demand for electrical energy is increasing with growth in global population and development in the industrial sector. Large-scale solar power plants, including photovoltaic (PV) panels, are a clean alternative to fossil fuels and can be located in desert regions with abundant solar irradiance, such as Saudi Arabia. However, dust deposition on the PV surface is high in desert regions and limits power output. Cleaning PV panels is essential to have the benefit of the high insulation and mitigate the dust accumulation impact. In this study, an electrostatic drum, similar to those in the electrophotographic printing process, is considered for cleaning PV panels. Simulation is used to identify optimum drum parameters such as drum diameter, drum to PV air gap, drum thickness and applied voltage. The cleaning performance of the electrostatic drum is compared to existing embedded and detachable electrodynamic shields.