CFD–DEM Simulation of Dust Deposition on Solar Panels for Desert Railways
Source abstract
Abstract
With the greening of the railway energy supply chain, large-scale photovoltaic power stations will be the best choice to integrate with the railways. Understanding the deposition mechanisms and rules of dust grains on photovoltaic panels is of great guiding significance for the operation of photovoltaic (PV) power stations. In this paper, based on computational fluid dynamics (CFD) combined with the discrete element method (DEM), the dynamic dust deposition process on solar panels was simulated, and the flow field around solar panels and the movement of dust particles in the wind were calculated. The simulation results of clay particles (d = 10 mm) and fine sand particles (d = 100 mm) under different wind speeds showed that the clay particles could follow the air flow properly, and their deposition rate was only 4.6%, while the deposition rate of the fine sand particles was up to 32%, which was determined by the inflow wind speed and cohesion parameters. An image of the non-uniform distribution of particles on the panels was given in this paper for the first time. This will provide a basis for a more accurate assessment of the impact of dust accumulation on PV output in real-world environments. These results provide a critical reference for railway photovoltaic power supply development in desertification areas.
Source: crossref · Quality: baseline
Research context
OpenAlex topics: Aeolian processes and effects · Aerodynamics and Fluid Dynamics Research · Particle Dynamics in Fluid Flows
SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.
Affiliations
Department of Civil Engineering, Yancheng Institute of Technology, Yancheng 224051, China
School of Physics and Electronic-Electrical Engineering, Ningxia Key Laboratory of Intelligent Sensing & Desert Information, Ningxia University, Yinchuan 750021, China
Key Laboratory of Mechanics on Disaster and Environment in Western China, The Ministry of Education of China, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
Office of Academic Affairs, Xinhua College of Ningxia University, Yinchuan 750021, China
Institute of Applied Mechanics, College of Mechanical and Vehicle Engineering, Taiyuan University of Technology, Shanxi Key Laboratory of Materials Strength and Structural Impact, Taiyuan 030024, China
Funding
National Natural Science Foundation of China · Leading Talents Project of Science and Technology Innovation in Ningxia Province in China · Natural Science Foundation of Ningxia Province · Natural Science Research of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions of China · Major Science and Technology Project of Ningxia Autonomous Region · Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities, Lanzhou University
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