Characterization of Dust Particles and Their Impact on the Performance of Photovoltaic Panels: A Laboratory Investigation

The effective operation of photovoltaic (PV) systems is substantially deterred by various factors like irradiation, temperature, soiling (dust accumulation), icing, and air mass. This paper considers the effect of soiling on the performance and operational life of a PV panel. Initially, the physical and chemical properties of the five most commonly encountered dust particles are examined using the images and data obtained through scanning electron microscope (SEM) and electron dispersive spectrometer (EDS). The impact of these soiling agents on the electrical performance and operational life of a PV panel is investigated in laboratory conditions using a test setup. I-V curves for each of the dust samples are obtained and the reduction in power output is also documented. Furthermore, the paper highlights the invalidity of generalized cleaning techniques for PV panels by taking into account the heterogeneity of the dust particles encountered in PV installations across the globe.