Numerical Analysis of a New Corona Ionic Wind Blower Used for Solar Panel Cleaning

The potential of solar energy as a sustainable power source remains hindered by various efficiency limitations. One of the major challenges is the accumulation of dust on photovoltaic (PV) panels, leading to the decrease of the efficiency and the need for regular cleaning. To address this issue, this work aims to explore the use of ionic wind, generated by corona discharge, as an innovative method for dust removal from PV panels. In line with this objective, this paper presents a numerical analysis of electro-hydrodynamic (EHD) air blowers with wire-to-rectangle configurations to harness the potential of ionic wind for cleaning PV panels. The study utilizes 2D models that have undergone experimental validation. The results highlight a parametric analysis, shedding light on how different geometrical parameters influence the performance of the ionic wind air blower and its energetic efficiency.