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Theoretical considerations of soil retentionThe performance of solar energy devices is adversely affected by surface soiling, and generally, the loss of performance increases with increases in the quantity of soil retained on their surfaces. To minimize performance losses caused by soiling, solar devices should not only be deployed in low soiling geographical areas, but employ surfaces or surfacing materials having low affinity for soil retention, maximum susceptibility to be naturally cleaned by wind, rain and snow, and to be readily cleanable by simple and inexpensive maintenance cleaning techniques. This article describes known and postulated mechanisms of soil retention on surfaces, and infers from these mechanisms that low soiling and easily cleanable surfaces should have low surface energy, and be hard, smooth, hydrophobic and chemically clean of sticky materials and water soluble salts.
Document ID
19810031527
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Cuddihy, E. F.
(California Institute of Technology, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena Calif., United States)
Date Acquired
August 11, 2013
Publication Date
September 1, 1980
Subject Category
Energy Production And Conversion
Accession Number
81A15931
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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