Effectiveness of Rain Cleaning on Artificially Soiled PV Modules With and Without Anti-Soiling Coatings

A simple, inexpensive methodology for testing the effectiveness of rain cleaning on artificially soiled single-cell and multi-cell photovoltaic (PV) modules having anti-soiling coatings has been developed. Using an indoor soil deposition chamber and methodology as described in our previously published work, multiple layers of soil were deposited on to the glass surface of single-cell PV modules subjected to controlled temperature and humidity cycles. Three single-cell monocrystalline PV modules are reported in this study, two of which had different anti-soiling (AS) coatings applied to the surface and the third did not have any AS coating. The set-up and operation of a rain-simulator is described as well as the rain cleaning parameters the PV test modules were exposed to. The purpose of this work is to determine the effectiveness of anti-soiling coatings and cleaning techniques, so vendor claims can be quantitatively validated using an appropriately controlled soil deposition chamber and a rain simulating spray nozzle.