Comparative Analysis of the Influence of Mineral Pollutants on the PV Module Performance Indicators
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.24160/0013-5380-2026-7-43-53Keywords:
PV module, surface contamination, mineral composition, I-V characteristic, carbonate deposits, quartz sand, quarry sand, chalk, comparative analysisAbstract
The article presents a quantitative comparative analysis of how mineral pollutants of various chemical nature affect the performance indicators of a PV module. Unlike the majority of research works that focus on dust contamination of the PV module surface, the present study examines large dispersed deposits typical of arid and semi-arid regions. The influence of three pollutant types: quartz sand, quarry sand, and carbonate composition (chalk) has been studied experimentally. The test procedure included applying a fixed mass of pollutant (50 g) to the PV module moistened surface, followed by recording the I-V characteristics and evaluating the effectiveness of natural cleaning. It has been found that different chemical compositions of particles have a different effect on the degree to which the maximum power point is reduced. The largest decrease in the PV module power output caused by contamination of the entire PV module surface was recorded for the chalk composition (by 44.70%), which is more severe than that of quartz sand (by 35.51%), and quarry sand (by 17.83%). It has been determined that the residual decrease in the maximum power point after simulated rain cleaning amounted to 4.54% for chalk, 6.37% for quarry composition, and 2.08% for quartz composition, which is associated with the presence of impurities and adhesive properties of materials. The study results can be used to adjust the maintenance schedules for PV modules at solar power plants in regions with specific soil composition.
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#
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