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Table 4 A comparison between the different cleaning methods regarding efficiency, applicability, and proposed improvements

From: A review of dust accumulation on PV panels in the MENA and the Far East regions

Techniques

Method’s efficiency and applicability in the MENA and the Far East regions

Proposed improvements

Manual labor cleaning

Effective in any condition and applicable. However, the labor and water costs are exceedingly high in the MENA region and some regions in the Far East, such as Pakistan and Iran.

1) The cleaning costs decrease in case of cheap labor resources.

2) The PV panel might be subjected to surface deterioration, unless soft cleaning systems such as brushes or wipers together with gentle cleaning are used.

Natural cleaning

Unpredictable and can be less effective [150,151,152], not applicable due to the scarcity of rainfalls in the MENA region and some regions in the Far East.

Changing surface property into either super hydrophobic or hydrophilic in order to enhance the cleaning effect using rainfalls.

Water cleaning

Moderately effective, not applicable because of the shortage of water in the MENA region and some regions in the Far East

1) Arranging cleaning schedule in suitable timings along the day in order to avoid thermal shocks on the PV panel’s surface

2) In order to save required energy during water cleaning, an efficient water pump might be preferred.

Mechanical cleaning

Effective and applicable but expensive. Deterioration and malfunctioning could be experienced due to the dew at the early time of the day especially in the hot countries; therefore, future research should be done to examine the applicability of the system in the MENA region and the Far East region.

1) A proposed cleaning schedule is to be arranged in proper timings during the day or night in order to avoid thermal shocks on the module’s surface.

2) The PV panel might be subjected to surface deterioration unless soft cleaning systems such as brushes or wipers together with gentle cleaning are used.

3) In order to reduce the required energy during water cleaning, a high efficient motor might be preferred.

4) Periodic maintenance of the mechanical parts and the cleaning system

EDS

1) Highly effective in dry conditions [115]

2) This technique does not suit rainy and relatively high humid conditions [115].

1) The durability of the electrodynamic screen technique layer is enhanced using high weatherproof glass and polymers [153].

2) The EDS layer power consumption rate might decline, in case of using efficient electronic control devices.

3) It can be integrated with super hydrophobic and super hydrophilic coatings, in order to achieve better cleaning effect on PV panels in humid regions.

Super hydrophobic surface

It is not highly effective in case of rainfalls (moderate effect) [144]. Not applicable in many countries due to the need of water, which is scarce and expensive in the MENA region and some regions in the Far East.

1) The durability of the hydrophobic surface against harsh weather conditions might be enhanced using high weatherproofed hydrophobic surface coating, polymer, or glass [153].

2) Although the cleaning effect is performed using rainfalls, the surface needs to be washed with water upon necessity during the dry seasons in order to get rid of the increased dust accumulation.

Super hydrophilic surface

It is not highly effective in case of rainfalls (moderate effect). Not applicable in some countries due to the need of water, which is scarce and expensive in the MENA region and some regions in the Far East.

Although the cleaning effect is performed using rainfalls, the surface needs to be washed with water upon necessity during the dry seasons in order to get rid of the increased dust accumulation.

Antistatic coating with mechanical vibrations

Effective and applicable

Future research should be done in order to reduce the noise level.