Experimental investigation of a new solar panels cleaning system using ionic wind produced by corona discharge

• Published in: Journal of electrostatics 2023-07, Vol.124, p.103827, Article 103827
• Main Authors: Tilmatine, Amar, Kadous, Nezha, Yanallah, Khelifa, Bellebna, Yassine, Bendaoudi, Zeid, Zouaghi, Ayyoub
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Corona discharge; Dusty surface; Engineering Sciences; Ionic wind; PV panel
• ISSN: 0304-3886
• DOI: 10.1016/j.elstat.2023.103827

This paper aims to study a new solar panels cleaning device based on the ionic wind produced by corona discharge plasma. The device comprises a high-voltage electrode composed of a series of parallel sharp needles and a grounded frame electrode. The system is moved using two driven wheels fixed at its extremities, and is placed at a few millimetres above the solar panel surface at. The cleaning operation is done by moving the dust particles from the surface using the ionic wind coming out through a 5 mm-width opening located at the bottom of the device. The study was carried out by measuring the wind velocity and the cleaning efficiency as a function of the device movement speed and the applied voltage level. The results obtained using Algerian Sahara sand dust allowed to obtain an ionic wind velocity of about 2 m/s and a cleaning efficiency that reaches 95% with a consumed power of about 20 W. •A new cleaning device of solar panels was developed and investigated.•The technique is based on the ionic wind produced by corona discharge plasma.•The device is provided with two driven wheels moving along the panel.•The ionic wind is capable of removing 95% of the sand particles in one passage.•The power consumed is about twenty watts.