Artificial soiling method and test-rig for solar power related research

Keeping the reflector component clean is a big challenge in the solar energy industry. In order to optimize cleaning strategies, a precise and repeatable experimental procedure, which is capable of replicating a sequential soiling process under laboratory condition is required. An artificial soiling method and a test-rig with a glass drop-tube were designed and its performance was tested. The test-rig provides soiled samples, which are up to 16.3 % “under-soiled”. Specular reflectivity differences on soiled samples are smaller than 5% reflectance. Sequential soiling tests, with a target MDD∼0.25 g/m2 were repeated up to 10 times. This represents an average daily soiling load globally. The current method can be further optimized.