Power Generation Variation Analysis Of Solar Panels Coated With TiO2

Abstract

Solar energy, which is an inexhaustible, clean and easily accessible energy source, can be converted into electrical energy with the help of photovoltaic (PV) panels. Environmental factors such as dust and dirt cause pollution of PV panels and decrease the efficiency of energy conversion. One of the methods used to reduce the negative effect of dirt on panel efficiency is to coat the surface of the panels with photocatalytic materials. Oxygen and nanoparticles are formed on photocatalytic surfaces with the help of ultraviolet rays in sunlight. These particles form a chemical reaction between the coating and the surface, breaking down and destroying the dirt on the surface. In this study, the effect of titanium dioxide (TiO2) as a photocatalytic material on the efficiency of solar panels was investigated. Experimental studies were carried out in Bingöl city using two 285 W polycrystalline solar panels. One of the panel surfaces is coated with TiO2and no treatment has been applied to the surface of the other panel. When the measured data were analyzed, it was seen that while the powers of the two panels were almost the same at the beginning, with the contamination of the panels, the power obtained from theTiO2coated panel was up to 19% higher. In addition, it was observed that the excess power produced as a result of cleaning the PV panels after rainy days decreased again.