A case study on parameters influencing dust accumulation on CSP reflectors

Abstract

The effect of dust accumulation on CST (concentrated solar thermal) reflectors is to deflect, or scatter, incident light rays missing the receiver with a subsequent power produced loss. Dust fouling is site specific, and the understanding of interactions between different weather and or environmental parameters is crucial for plant profitability. This research intends to provide useful insights on the interaction between the most relevant weather parameters affecting soil accumulation. Results show a significant dependency of dust concentration versus humidity and ambient temperature, as well as a nexus between wind speed and ambient temperature seems to exist. As long as the temperature decreases an increase of humidity and dust concentration occurs. This phenomenon takes place mostly overnight till the first hours of the morning. Therefore, mirror’s reflectance looks extremely affected by dust accumulation because of high humidity rate during the night and dews of early morning. Further investigations are required to validate the hypothesis that, a more effective cleaning activitie to restore plants’ reflectivity are to be carried out during the early morning.