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Solar Photo-Voltaic(PV) Cleaning Technology

The EDS system can be operated simply by using the power generated by the solar panel itself


  The cleaning of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems in dry arid environments is one of the best potential uses for the EDS. Using an EDS system to keep surfaces clean from dust is a much less costly venture than trying to pipe water in from far away remote locations. Solar farm installations that use self-cleaning EDS would require less manpower for maintenance. The movies below show the EDS system working on a 6" x 4" solar cell. A large amount of dust was placed on the transparent surface to simulate a completely coated surface in which the power output of the cell has been reduced well below 10%. Once the EDS is activated the power output is restored to over 99% within seconds. The low power usage required by the EDS means that the system can be operated simply by using the power generated by the solar panel itself.

 

Note that the horizontal white lines in the video are part of the cell itself and not part of the EDS. A better view of the particle movement caused by the EDS is shown in the video below as seen from a side profile.

 

The videos highlight the drastic removal capability of the EDS. It should be noted that if the EDS is left on indefinitely no dust will accumulate on the surface. This mode of operation is useful for surfaces that must be completely free of dust at all times!