Vortex – induced cleaning of surfaces
Inventors: Alexander H. Slocum (Bow, NH, US) BahaaI. Kazem(Baghdad, IQ) StacyFigueredo(Oberkochen, DE)
Abstract
A solar panel configured to reduce contaminant accumulation thereon, including a surface adapted to harvest solar energy; and a vortex-inducing generator including chevron-shaped features disposed across at least a portion of the surface to reduce contaminant accumulation thereon by causing air flow passing over the surface to remove at least some contaminants deposited thereon and/or keeping particles entrained in the air flow to reduce deposition on the surface. A method of passively cleaning a solar panel includes providing the solar panel, and positioning the solar panel such that the leading edge is oriented to intercept a prevailing wind direction. A solar array includes a plurality of the solar panels, wherein each solar panel is positioned such that the leading edge is oriented to intercept a prevailing wind.