CHANGES IN THE THERMAL AND ELECTRICAL PERFORMANCE OF PHOTOVOLTAIC PANELS UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF DUST AND SOOT: AN EXPERIMENTAL STUDY

Abstract

This paper presents the results of an experimental study on the influence of dust and soot accumulation on the thermal and electrical performance of photovoltaic (PV) panels under the climatic conditions of Aktau, Kazakhstan. The main objective of the research is to evaluate the impact of atmospheric pollution on the operational efficiency of solar energy systems. The experimental investigation was carried out at the research facility of Sh. Yessenov Caspian University of Technology and Engineering. Three photovoltaic panels were installed facing south with a tilt angle of 35°. During the experiment, one panel was cleaned daily and used as a reference, while the other two panels were exposed to natural environmental conditions for four and six weeks respectively. The performance of the PV modules was evaluated by measuring solar radiation intensity, temperature, electrical current, voltage, and output power. In addition, the mass of accumulated dust was determined, and its chemical composition was analyzed using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) techniques. The results demonstrate that dust and soot deposition significantly reduces the energy performance of photovoltaic panels. Compared with the clean reference panel, the output power of contaminated panels decreased by up to 21.9%, while the module temperature increased. The presence of soot particles promotes the formation of localized “hot spots,” which negatively affects the thermal behavior and electrical efficiency of the PV modules. The study confirms that regular cleaning and proper maintenance of photovoltaic panels are essential for maintaining high performance, especially in regions characterized by dusty environments and industrial emissions.