A novel ionic wind actuator for cleaning of photovoltaic panels
Résumé
This study presents a novel actuator design for photovoltaic (PV) panel cleaning using ionic wind generation. The compact design features two electrodes: a high-voltage sawtooth electrode and a grounded electrode with parallel tubes, housed in a 60 cm frame that matches the width of the solar panel. The actuator moves on the panel surface and generates ionic wind through an opening at its base, effectively removing sand dust. We experimentally analysed wind speed and power consumption, investigating the influence of electrode configuration, electrode spacing, inter-tube distance and applied voltage. First, "one factor at a time" experiments identified preliminary ranges for voltage, electrode spacing, and inter-tube distance. Subsequently, a Design of Experiments (DOE) using a central composite design was implemented to develop wind speed and power consumption models. It was found that all three factors had a significant effect on the wind speed, with an optimal configuration achieving nearly 3 m/s at minimal power consumption.