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波士頓大學電力和電腦工程學院在240屆美國化學協會國際會議上展示了其自動清潔光伏組件產品。在會議中，該學院研究人員展示了如何使自動清潔涂層覆蓋著太陽能電池上——基于該學院在火星空間任務的科技開發——能夠大幅提高組件在陽光下的電力轉換率。而對于大型的光伏系統其維護費用也將會大幅降低。
該學院的學術領導人馬雷 K 曼祖德和他的波士頓大學同事們，最初的研究開發項目是月球和火星認為上的太陽能組件自凈科技。火星本身就是一個充滿了塵土的干燥星球。但是我們發往火星上的探測車光伏組件以及機器人系統都必須保證不被這些塵土干擾。同樣的在地球上也是一樣，光伏組件必須不被周圍的塵土所覆蓋。
這種自凈科技是將一層透明的光敏感性強的涂層材料沉積在玻璃或者透明塑料板上。感應塵土在組件面板上的堆積程度當塵土的集中達到一定程度時，涂層就會利用電力發出一種波動來驅除組件表面的塵土。將塵土從組件邊緣抖動下去。曼祖德說這個過程將持續兩分鐘。而且該過程將使組件擺脫大約90%的塵土。而在清潔過程中只需要從組件中獲取少量的電就可以滿足過程中的能源需求。
Self-cleaning technology from Mars can keep terrestrial solar panels dust-free
Research scientists from Boston University's Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering have presented their findings on self-dusting solar panels to the 240th National Meeting of the American Chemical Society (ACS). During the meeting, they described how a self-cleaning coating on the surface of solar cells - based on technology developed for space missions to Mars - could increase the efficiency of producing electricity from sunlight. Maintenance costs for large-scale solar installations could also be reduced.
Working with NASA, study leader Malay K. Mazumder, Ph.D and colleagues, from Boston University, initially developed the self-cleaning solar panel technology for use in lunar and Mars missions. “Mars of course is a dusty and dry environment,” Mazumder explained, “and solar panels powering rovers and future manned and robotic missions must not succumb to dust deposition. But neither should the solar panels here on Earth.”
The self-cleaning technology involves deposition of a transparent, electrically sensitive material deposited on glass or a transparent plastic sheet covering the panels. Sensors monitor dust levels on the surface of the panel and energize the material when dust concentration reaches a critical level. The electric charge sends a dust-repelling wave cascading over the surface of the material, lifting away the dust and transporting it off of the screen's edges. Mazumder said that within two minutes, the process removes about 90 percent of the dust deposited on a solar panel and requires only a small amount of the electricity generated by the panel for cleaning operation.
He added: “A dust layer of one-seventh of an ounce per square yard decreases solar power conversion by 40 percent. In Arizona, dust is deposited each month at about four times that amount. Deposition rates are even higher in the Middle East, Australia, and India.”
The current market size for solar panels is about USD$24 billion, Mazumder continued. “Less than 0.04 percent of global energy production is derived from solar panels, but if only four percent of the world's deserts were dedicated to solar power harvesting, our energy needs could be completely met worldwide. This self-cleaning technology can play an important role.
“We think our self-cleaning panels used in areas of high dust and particulate pollutant concentrations will highly benefit the systems’ solar energy output. Our technology can be used in both small- and large-scale photovoltaic systems. To our knowledge, this is the only technology for automatic dust cleaning that doesn’t require water or mechanical movement.”
Mazumder added that the need for that technology is growing with the popularity of solar energy. Use of solar, or photovoltaic, panels increased by 50 percent from 2003 to 2008, and forecasts suggest a growth rate of at least 25 percent annually into the future. Fostering the growth, he said, is emphasis on alternative energy sources and society-wide concerns about sustainability (using resources today in ways that do not jeopardize the ability of future generations to meet their needs).
該學院的學術領導人馬雷 K 曼祖德和他的波士頓大學同事們，最初的研究開發項目是月球和火星認為上的太陽能組件自凈科技。火星本身就是一個充滿了塵土的干燥星球。但是我們發往火星上的探測車光伏組件以及機器人系統都必須保證不被這些塵土干擾。同樣的在地球上也是一樣，光伏組件必須不被周圍的塵土所覆蓋。
這種自凈科技是將一層透明的光敏感性強的涂層材料沉積在玻璃或者透明塑料板上。感應塵土在組件面板上的堆積程度當塵土的集中達到一定程度時，涂層就會利用電力發出一種波動來驅除組件表面的塵土。將塵土從組件邊緣抖動下去。曼祖德說這個過程將持續兩分鐘。而且該過程將使組件擺脫大約90%的塵土。而在清潔過程中只需要從組件中獲取少量的電就可以滿足過程中的能源需求。
Self-cleaning technology from Mars can keep terrestrial solar panels dust-free
Research scientists from Boston University's Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering have presented their findings on self-dusting solar panels to the 240th National Meeting of the American Chemical Society (ACS). During the meeting, they described how a self-cleaning coating on the surface of solar cells - based on technology developed for space missions to Mars - could increase the efficiency of producing electricity from sunlight. Maintenance costs for large-scale solar installations could also be reduced.
Working with NASA, study leader Malay K. Mazumder, Ph.D and colleagues, from Boston University, initially developed the self-cleaning solar panel technology for use in lunar and Mars missions. “Mars of course is a dusty and dry environment,” Mazumder explained, “and solar panels powering rovers and future manned and robotic missions must not succumb to dust deposition. But neither should the solar panels here on Earth.”
The self-cleaning technology involves deposition of a transparent, electrically sensitive material deposited on glass or a transparent plastic sheet covering the panels. Sensors monitor dust levels on the surface of the panel and energize the material when dust concentration reaches a critical level. The electric charge sends a dust-repelling wave cascading over the surface of the material, lifting away the dust and transporting it off of the screen's edges. Mazumder said that within two minutes, the process removes about 90 percent of the dust deposited on a solar panel and requires only a small amount of the electricity generated by the panel for cleaning operation.
He added: “A dust layer of one-seventh of an ounce per square yard decreases solar power conversion by 40 percent. In Arizona, dust is deposited each month at about four times that amount. Deposition rates are even higher in the Middle East, Australia, and India.”
The current market size for solar panels is about USD$24 billion, Mazumder continued. “Less than 0.04 percent of global energy production is derived from solar panels, but if only four percent of the world's deserts were dedicated to solar power harvesting, our energy needs could be completely met worldwide. This self-cleaning technology can play an important role.
“We think our self-cleaning panels used in areas of high dust and particulate pollutant concentrations will highly benefit the systems’ solar energy output. Our technology can be used in both small- and large-scale photovoltaic systems. To our knowledge, this is the only technology for automatic dust cleaning that doesn’t require water or mechanical movement.”
Mazumder added that the need for that technology is growing with the popularity of solar energy. Use of solar, or photovoltaic, panels increased by 50 percent from 2003 to 2008, and forecasts suggest a growth rate of at least 25 percent annually into the future. Fostering the growth, he said, is emphasis on alternative energy sources and society-wide concerns about sustainability (using resources today in ways that do not jeopardize the ability of future generations to meet their needs).
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