Dust accumulation effect on solar thermal energy systems performance

This research investigates the effect of natural dust accumulation on the glass cover of solar thermal energy conversion systems. Four similar, locally manufactured, flat plate solar collectors are used. All collectors are South oriented with tilt angle of $40^{\circ}$. The glass cover of one collector is kept clean of dust during the experimental period while the second collector is cleaned at the beginning of each month. The third collector is cleaned every two months while the fourth collector is kept un-cleaned throughout the experimental period of four months. The calculated parameters are the solar heat gain rates and the corresponding values of the thermal efficiency. The result of the present work indicates that the percentage of fractional reduction of the useful heat gain rate due to dust accumulation during a period of one and two months is 11.4% and 17.0%, respectively. The percentage decrease of thermal efficiency during the same duration periods is 4.0% and 6.1%, respectively. The percentage of fractional reduction of the useful heat gain rate due to dust accumulation during a period of three and four months is 27.8% and 31.9%, respectively. The percentage decrease of monthly thermal efficiency during the same duration period is 10.2% and 11.3%, respectively.