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Experimental study on the influence of dust and compressed airflow dust removal on the optical performance of trough solar concentrator in alpine areas during winter

Author

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  • Wang, Xing
  • Wang, Zhimin
  • Bian, Gangxing
  • Yuan, Tuo
  • Kong, Fance
  • Yue, Shangyu
  • Wei, YuKun

Abstract

Persistent cold and snowfall in the winter in the alpine areas of northwest China can significantly affect the dust adhesion characteristics of trough concentrators. This paper experimentally explores the dust deposition characteristics under different dust accumulation periods during winter, the optical impact of snow melting and mixing with dust on concentrator. Compressed airflow is employed to clean the concentrator under different dust conditions. The results indicate that after two weeks of dust accumulation, the average dust density increased by 43.831 %. Due to the dynamic migration, stacking of loose dust influenced by environmental factors, which transforms into adhered dust. Cleaning efficiency of compressed airflow is reduced. When the 0.04 mm snowfall melts, the reflectivity of transverse region 2 drops by 18.89 %. However, after the 4.7 mm snowfall melts, the reflectivity of the same area increases by 12.04 %. This indicates that different snowfall melting on the concentrator have both positive cleaning and negative pollution effects. Compared with immediate cleaning after snow melting, the cleaning efficiency drops by 7.03 % after a day of snow melt. It is advisable to clean promptly after snow melting. The research can provide theoretical guidance for dedusting and snow cleaning in trough power stations in alpine areas.

Suggested Citation

  • Wang, Xing & Wang, Zhimin & Bian, Gangxing & Yuan, Tuo & Kong, Fance & Yue, Shangyu & Wei, YuKun, 2025. "Experimental study on the influence of dust and compressed airflow dust removal on the optical performance of trough solar concentrator in alpine areas during winter," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 341(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:341:y:2025:i:c:s0360544225050303
    DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2025.139388
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