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Development of Transparent Electrodynamic Screens on UltrathinFlexible Glass Film Substrates for Retrofitting Solar Panels and Mirrors forSelf-Cleaning Function

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 January 2016

M. K. Mazumder ,
J. W. Stark ,
C. Heiling ,
M. Liu ,
A. Bernard ,
M. N. Horenstein ,
S. Garner  and
H. Y. Lin
M. K. Mazumder*
Affiliation:
Boston University, Boston, MA
J. W. Stark
Affiliation:
Boston University, Boston, MA
C. Heiling
Affiliation:
Boston University, Boston, MA
M. Liu
Affiliation:
Boston University, Boston, MA
A. Bernard
Affiliation:
Boston University, Boston, MA
M. N. Horenstein
Affiliation:
Boston University, Boston, MA
S. Garner
Affiliation:
Industrial Technology Research Institute, Taiwan
H. Y. Lin
Affiliation:
Corning Inc., Corning. N.Y.
*
*(Email: mazumder@bu.edu)
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Abstract

Development of transparent electrodynamic screens (EDS) printed on ultrathinflexible glass film substrates for retrofitting on solar panels and solarmirrors to perform self cleaning function is reviewed. Large-scale solar plantsare generally installed in semi-arid and desert areas where dust layers build upon solar collectors causes major energy-yield loss. Maintaining designed plantcapacities requires more than 90% reflectivity for CSP mirrors and 90%transmission efficiency for PV modules; solar collectors must therefore becleaned at a frequency depending on the rate of dust deposition. Scarcity ofwater in these regions requires a cleaning method that drastically reduces oreliminates water and the associated labor costs for high efficiency operation oflarge-scale solar plants. An EDS film consists of rows of interdigitated,transparent conducting parallel electrodes embedded within a flexible ultrathinglass film and an optically clear adhesive film used for retrofitting the filmon the surface of solar collectors. When phased voltage pulses activate theelectrodes, the dust particles are first electrostatically charged, thenrepelled and removed from the surface of the solar collectors by Coulomb force,restoring transmission efficiency greater than 90%. The electrodes of EDS areeither made from silver nanowire or another conductive transparent materialprinted on a highly transparent, ultrathin (100-μm thick), flexibleborosilicate glass film. Applications of different conducting transparentelectrodes and methods of printing are reviewed for optimizing self-cleaningfunction of solar panels and mirrors.

Keywords

photovoltaicscreen printingnanostructure

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Type
Articles
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MRS Advances , Volume 1 , Issue 15: Energy and Sustainability , 2016 , pp. 1003 - 1012
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2016 

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References

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