Title:
SELF-CLEANING SOLAR PANELS AND CONCENTRATORS WITH TRANSPARENT ELECTRODYNAMIC SCREENS
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/2012/078765
Kind Code:
A3
Abstract:
A transparent electrodynamic screen (EDS) enables automatic removal of dust to protect and enhance performance of solar collectors and similar components. A pattern of transparent conductive electrodes are deposited over a glass or polymer outer surface of a solar collector, and embedded under a thin, transparent dielectric fluoropolymer film or silicon dioxide coating. When energized by three-phase voltages at frequencies in the range 5 to 20 Hz, the electrodes produce an oscillating electric field and a traveling electrodynamic wave that charges the particles on the surface and exerts coulomb and dielectrophoretic forces to lift the dust from the surface and transport it to an edge of the collector, thereby clearing the screen. The EDS can be incorporated in the collector in an integrated way during manufacture or retrofitted to existing conventional collectors.
Inventors:
MAZUMDER MALAY K (US)
Application Number:
PCT/US2011/063754
Publication Date:
September 07, 2012
Filing Date:
December 07, 2011
Export Citation:
Assignee:
UNIV BOSTON (US)
MAZUMDER MALAY K (US)
MAZUMDER MALAY K (US)
International Classes:
H01L31/18; H01L31/042
Domestic Patent References:
| WO2001005514A1 | 2001-01-25 |
Foreign References:
| US20040055632A1 | 2004-03-25 |
Other References:
R.A. SIMS ET AL.: "Development of a transparent self-cleaning dust shield for solar panels", PROCEEDINGS OF THE ESA-IEEE JOINT MEETING ON ELECTRO- STATICS, 2003, pages 814 - 821, XP055126504
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
THOMPSON, James, F. (2 Connector RoadWestborough, MA, US)
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