Numerical simulation study of the effect of different wind directions on the surface dust deposition characteristics of photovoltaic modules

Abstract The power generation efficiency of photovoltaic (PV) modules is significantly compromised by dust deposition, with wind direction emerging as a critical determinant of particle trajectory, spatial distribution and deposition rate of dust particles on PV surfaces. This study systematically investigates wind direction effects on dust deposition characteristics through numerical simulations of three representative wind conditions: windward, crosswind, and leeward. The findings reveal that dust deposition rates exhibit distinct wind speed dependencies based on orientation: under both windward and crosswind conditions, deposition rates increase monotonically with wind speed, demonstrating a strong positive correlation. Conversely, leeward conditions show an inverse relationship, where elevated wind speeds lead to progressively lower deposition rates. The maximum deposition rates for windward, crosswind, and leeward were 30.24%, 11.04%, and 4.39%, with peak particle sizes of 300 μm, 300 μm, and 5 μm, respectively. These findings provide valuable insights for optimizing the spatial layout of PV modules in order to minimize the efficiency loss associated with dust.