Dust deposition characteristics and photovoltaic conversion efficiency modeling for desert-based solar power systems

Severe dust accumulation issues in desert photovoltaic (PV) power stations are found to significantly reduce power generation efficiency. While existing studies have primarily focused on dust deposition characteristics of individual PV panels, systematic investigations into row spacing configurations of serially arranged arrays and their associated efficiency degradation models remain limited. Through integrated CFD simulations and accelerated deposition experiments, the effects of row spacing (20–50 cm), tilt angle (5°-45°), wind speed (1.3–3.9 m/s), and particle size (1–300 μm) on deposition patterns were systematically examined. A novel dust concentration-energy conversion efficiency (DC-ECE) model incorporating realistic particle size distributions was developed and successfully extended to practical engineering estimations. Key results indicate that the front panel’s deposition rate increases with tilt angle and peaks at about 6% for 45°, while the rear panel’s deposition is influenced by the attenuation of wake shielding, showing a 41.8% increase when spacing expands from 20 cm to 50 cm. A normally distributed deposition rate model, based on gas-solid flow simulations, reveals a nonlinear relationship between particle size and deposition. Efficiency degradation was quantified using a PV conversion model, providing theoretical guidance for optimizing array spacing, tilt angles, and cleaning schedules in desert PV plants. These findings offer practical solutions to mitigate power losses in arid regions.