Publications

	Publications VII Congresso Brasileiro de Energia Solar-2018 The Brazilian Solar Energy Congress (CBENS) is the most important technical-scientific event in Brazil in the area of solar energy conversion technologies and includes other alternatives of renewable energy sources. CBENS is the official congress of the Brazilian Solar Energy Association (ABENS) and is held every two years, promoting the meeting of researchers, professors, students and professionals in the technology area. In its seventh edition, CBENS will be held in GRAMADO at the FAURGS Event Center from April 17 to 20, 2018. In addition to the contributions of scientific and technological works, the event will include lectures, round tables, mini-courses and technology fair. The conference website is: https://www.ufrgs.br/cbens2018/en/pagina-inicial/ The two papers we will be presenting can be viewed and downloaded below. "Relação Entre Distribuições Não Uniformes De Sujidade E Parâmetros De Desempenho De Módulos Fotovoltaicos De Diferentes Tecnologias" "Avaliação Da Sujidade Em Módulos Fotovoltaicos Em Minas Gerais, Brasil" Paper Published in Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews (RSER) "Dust and Soiling Issues and Impacts Relating to Solar Energy Systems" Paper Presented at the IEEE PVSC in Portland, Oregon "Soiling Particle Interactions on PV Modules: Surface and Inter-Particle Adhesion and Chemistry Effects" Paper Published in IEEE Journal of Photovoltaics We have published "Fundamental Studies of Adhesion of Dust to PV Module Surfaces: Chemical and Physical Relationships at the Microscale" in the IEEE Journal of Photovoltaics (DOI: 10.1109/JPHOTOV.2016.2528409)--2016. Our co-authors are: Lawrence L. Kazmerski, Fellow, IEEE, Antônia Sônia A.C. Diniz, Member, IEEE, Cristiana Brasil Maia, Marcelo Machado Viana, Suellen C. Costa, Pedro P. Brito, Cláudio Dias Campos, Lauro V. Machado Neto, Sérgio de Morais Hanriot, and Leila R. de Oliveira Cruz, Member, IEEE. This paper provides information on the paper we presented at the 41st IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference in New Orleans. This research was sponsored by CAPES in Brasil. DOI: 10.1109/JPHOTOV.2016.2528409 Paper at NREL Reliability Workshop in Golden, Colorado, February 23-25 2016, Wins 1st Place Poster Award Our poster was presented as part of the annual NREL Reliability Workshop in Golden, Colorado. The poster-paper is entitled "Surface Soiling and Related Reliability Studies in Brasil: Program and Progress," and the proceedings will be found on the NREL-hosted website: http://www.nrel.gov/pv/performance_reliability/pvmrw.html. A .pdf of our poster is included below--as well as a copy of the 1st Place Poster Award Certificate. Open Poster Open Award Certificate Project Papers Presented at VI Congresso Brasileiro de Energia Solar e VII Congresso Latino Americano de Energia Solar (CBENS), Belo Horizonte, Brasil (April 4-7, 2016) Three papers have been accepted for presentation and publication at this important bienniel solar energy conference in Brasil. These cover the major goal areas of the CAPES-supported project: Suellen Caroline Silva Costa, Amanda Mello Faria Veloso Abreu, Marcelo Machado Viana, Pedro Paiva Brito, Marcelus Vasconcelos de Assis, Cristiana Brasil Maia, Antônia Sônia Alves Cardoso Diniz, and Lawrence L. Kazmerski, "Caracterização Físico-Química da Sujidade Depositada Sobre Módulos Fotovoltaicos Instalados em Zonas Climáticas de Minas Gerais" Pedro Brito, Antônia Sônia Alves Cardoso Diniz, Sérgio de Marais Hanriot, and Lawrence L. Kazmerski, "Desenvolvimento de Novos Materiais Para Mitigação de Sujidade em Sistemas Fotovoltaicos por Design Inverso" Denio Alves Cassini, Antônia Sônia Alves Cardoso Diniz, Marcelo Machado Viana, Suellen Caroline Silva Costa, Thiago de Almeida Silvério, Francisco Hering Alves de FreitasSouza, and Lawrence L. Kazmerski, "Avaliação do Desempenho de Módulos Fotovoltaicos com Mais de 10 Anos de Exposição em Campo" CBENS website: http://www.abens.org.br/CBENS2016/ Paper Accepted for IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference (PVSC) in Portland, Oregon, June 3-10, 2016 Our continuation of the investigation of the fundamental aspects of adhesion of soiling particles to PV module surfaces, linking the chemistry of the particle surfaces with the adhesive force properties, will be highlighted. "Soiling Particle Interactions on PV Modules: Surface and Inter-Particle Adhesion and Chemistry Effects" (Co-authors: Lawrence L. Kazmerski, Antônia Sônia A.C. Diniz, Cristiana Brasil Maia, Marcelo Machado Viana, Suellen C. Costa, Pedro P. Brito, Cláudio Dias Campos, Sérgio de Morais Hanriot, and Leila R. de Oliveira Cruz). Keynote Paper at the ISES International World Conference in Daegu, Korea www.swc2015.org L.L. Kazmerski gave the keynote paper covering issues with soiling and dust on photovoltaic modules "Dust and Soiling of Solar Devices: History, Status, and Expectations," on November 11, 2015, at this international conference. This presentation provided comparisons among the soiling issues throughout the world, from Brasil to Saudi Arabia. The paper also summarized the status of potential mitigation approaches and stressed that geographical and climate zone conditions dictated the method to minimize the impact of soiling on PV system output. "Dust and Soiling of Solar Devices: History, Status, and Expectations" Invited Paper at the SERIIUS Workshop on PV Module Reliability in Harsh Climates, Mumbai, India, October 18-20, 2015 http://www.seriius.org/pdfs/pv-module-reliability-in-hot-climates.pdf L.L. Kazmerski gave the keynote paper covering issues with soiling and dust on photovoltaic modules "Dust and Soiling of Solar Modules in Harsh Climates: Brasil and India Comparisons". Invited Paper at SPIE Conference in San Diego, California http://spie.org/conferences-and-exhibitions/optics-and-photonics Our project has been invited to present a paper at the SPIE Optics + Photonics Conference in San Diego, August 28-September 1, 2016. The talk will be presented under the Optics + Photonics for Sustainable Energy topic. The invited talk is entitled: Dust in the Wind: Soiling of Solar Devices (Is there a "Holy Grail" Solution?) and is co-authored by Lawrence L. Kazmerski, Suellen C. Costa, Marcelo Machado, and Antônia Sônia A.C. Diniz. The paper highlights the issues and solutions to the problems of soiling of solar PV devices. Dust in the Wind: Soiling of Solar Devices (Is there a "Holy Grail" Solution?) Fundamental Studies of the Adhesion of Dust to PV Module Surfaces: Chemical and Physical Relationships at the Microscale Lawrence L. Kazmerski, Fellow, IEEE, Antonia Sonia A.C. Diniz, Member, IEEE, Cristiana Brasil Maia, Marcelo Machado Viana, Suellen C. Costa, Pedro P. Brito, Cláudio Dias Campos, Lauro V. Machado Neto, Sergio de Morais Hanriot, and Leila R. de Oliveira Cruz, Member, IEEE Abstract Soiling of the PV module is a growing area of concern for performance and reliability. This paper provides evaluations of the fundamental interactions of dust/soiling particles with a several PV module surfaces (glass and glass with mitigation coatings). The purpose is to investigate the basic mechanisms and relationships between soiling particles chemistry, morphology, and their interaction and adhesion to that first photon-incident surface. The first-time evaluation of the chemistry and morphology of single dust particles taken from operating PV module surfaces is presented—including the microscale mapping of the composition on the particles' surfaces. The first direct measurements of the adhesive force of individual grains are reported, including correlations to the specific surface chemistry. Special nanoscale techniques using atomic force microscopy (AFM) are adapted to determine the force between the grain and the surface. Results are presented for various samples under dry and moisture-exposed conditions confirming the effects of cementation for surfaces having organic and soluble mineral concentrations. Additionally, the effects of hydrocarbon fuels on the enhanced bonding and adhesive force of soiling particles to surfaces are determined for samples from urban and highly trafficked regions (i.e., displaying cementitious-film formation). Comparisons between glass and superhydrophobic and superhydrophilic coatings are presented, showing the effectiveness of the lower-surface energy conditions on the particle adhesion. The effectiveness, limitations, and future research potential of this novel proximal probe technique are discussed in terms of the results and initial, proof-of-concept experiments. Open .pdf article

The Brazilian Solar Energy Congress (CBENS) is the most important technical-scientific event in Brazil in the area of solar energy conversion technologies and includes other alternatives of renewable energy sources. CBENS is the official congress of the Brazilian Solar Energy Association (ABENS) and is held every two years, promoting the meeting of researchers, professors, students and professionals in the technology area.

In its seventh edition, CBENS will be held in GRAMADO at the FAURGS Event Center from April 17 to 20, 2018. In addition to the contributions of scientific and technological works, the event will include lectures, round tables, mini-courses and technology fair.

"Relação Entre Distribuições Não Uniformes De Sujidade E Parâmetros De Desempenho De Módulos Fotovoltaicos De Diferentes Tecnologias"

"Soiling Particle Interactions on PV Modules: Surface and Inter-Particle Adhesion and Chemistry Effects"

We have published "Fundamental Studies of Adhesion of Dust to PV Module Surfaces: Chemical and Physical Relationships at the Microscale" in the IEEE Journal of Photovoltaics (DOI: 10.1109/JPHOTOV.2016.2528409)--2016. Our co-authors are: Lawrence L. Kazmerski, Fellow, IEEE, Antônia Sônia A.C. Diniz, Member, IEEE, Cristiana Brasil Maia, Marcelo Machado Viana, Suellen C. Costa, Pedro P. Brito, Cláudio Dias Campos, Lauro V. Machado Neto, Sérgio de Morais Hanriot, and Leila R. de Oliveira Cruz, Member, IEEE.

This paper provides information on the paper we presented at the 41st IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference in New Orleans. This research was sponsored by CAPES in Brasil.

Paper at NREL Reliability Workshop in Golden, Colorado, February 23-25 2016, Wins 1st Place Poster Award

Our poster was presented as part of the annual NREL Reliability Workshop in Golden, Colorado. The poster-paper is entitled "Surface Soiling and Related Reliability Studies in Brasil: Program and Progress," and the proceedings will be found on the NREL-hosted website: http://www.nrel.gov/pv/performance_reliability/pvmrw.html. A .pdf of our poster is included below--as well as a copy of the 1st Place Poster Award Certificate.

Project Papers Presented at VI Congresso Brasileiro de Energia Solar e VII Congresso Latino Americano de Energia Solar (CBENS), Belo Horizonte, Brasil (April 4-7, 2016)

Three papers have been accepted for presentation and publication at this important bienniel solar energy conference in Brasil. These cover the major goal areas of the CAPES-supported project:

Suellen Caroline Silva Costa, Amanda Mello Faria Veloso Abreu, Marcelo Machado Viana, Pedro Paiva Brito, Marcelus Vasconcelos de Assis, Cristiana Brasil Maia, Antônia Sônia Alves Cardoso Diniz, and Lawrence L. Kazmerski, "Caracterização Físico-Química da Sujidade Depositada Sobre Módulos Fotovoltaicos Instalados em Zonas Climáticas de Minas Gerais"

Pedro Brito, Antônia Sônia Alves Cardoso Diniz, Sérgio de Marais Hanriot, and Lawrence L. Kazmerski, "Desenvolvimento de Novos Materiais Para Mitigação de Sujidade em Sistemas Fotovoltaicos por Design Inverso"

Denio Alves Cassini, Antônia Sônia Alves Cardoso Diniz, Marcelo Machado Viana, Suellen Caroline Silva Costa, Thiago de Almeida Silvério, Francisco Hering Alves de FreitasSouza, and Lawrence L. Kazmerski, "Avaliação do Desempenho de Módulos Fotovoltaicos com Mais de 10 Anos de Exposição em Campo"

Paper Accepted for IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference (PVSC) in Portland, Oregon, June 3-10, 2016

Our continuation of the investigation of the fundamental aspects of adhesion of soiling particles to PV module surfaces, linking the chemistry of the particle surfaces with the adhesive force properties, will be highlighted.

"Soiling Particle Interactions on PV Modules: Surface and Inter-Particle Adhesion and Chemistry Effects" (Co-authors: Lawrence L. Kazmerski, Antônia Sônia A.C. Diniz, Cristiana Brasil Maia, Marcelo Machado Viana, Suellen C. Costa, Pedro P. Brito, Cláudio Dias Campos, Sérgio de Morais Hanriot, and Leila R. de Oliveira Cruz).

L.L. Kazmerski gave the keynote paper covering issues with soiling and dust on photovoltaic modules "Dust and Soiling of Solar Devices: History, Status, and Expectations," on November 11, 2015, at this international conference. This presentation provided comparisons among the soiling issues throughout the world, from Brasil to Saudi Arabia. The paper also summarized the status of potential mitigation approaches and stressed that geographical and climate zone conditions dictated the method to minimize the impact of soiling on PV system output.

Invited Paper at the SERIIUS Workshop on PV Module Reliability in Harsh Climates, Mumbai, India, October 18-20, 2015

L.L. Kazmerski gave the keynote paper covering issues with soiling and dust on photovoltaic modules "Dust and Soiling of Solar Modules in Harsh Climates: Brasil and India Comparisons".

Our project has been invited to present a paper at the SPIE Optics + Photonics Conference in San Diego, August 28-September 1, 2016. The talk will be presented under the Optics + Photonics for Sustainable Energy topic. The invited talk is entitled:
Dust in the Wind: Soiling of Solar Devices (Is there a "Holy Grail" Solution?) and is co-authored by Lawrence L. Kazmerski, Suellen C. Costa, Marcelo Machado, and Antônia Sônia A.C. Diniz. The paper highlights the issues and solutions to the problems of soiling of solar PV devices.

Fundamental Studies of the Adhesion of Dust to PV Module Surfaces: Chemical and Physical Relationships at the Microscale

Lawrence L. Kazmerski, Fellow, IEEE, Antonia Sonia A.C. Diniz, Member, IEEE, Cristiana Brasil
Maia, Marcelo Machado Viana, Suellen C. Costa, Pedro P. Brito, Cláudio Dias Campos, Lauro V.
Machado Neto, Sergio de Morais Hanriot, and Leila R. de Oliveira Cruz, Member, IEEE

Abstract
Soiling of the PV module is a growing area of concern for performance and reliability. This paper provides evaluations of the fundamental interactions of dust/soiling particles with a several PV module surfaces (glass and glass with mitigation coatings). The purpose is to investigate the basic mechanisms and relationships between soiling particles chemistry, morphology, and their
interaction and adhesion to that first photon-incident surface. The first-time evaluation of the chemistry and morphology of single dust particles taken from operating PV module surfaces is presented—including the microscale mapping of the composition on the particles' surfaces. The
first direct measurements of the adhesive force of individual grains are reported, including correlations to the specific surface chemistry. Special nanoscale techniques using atomic force microscopy (AFM) are adapted to determine the force between the grain and the surface.
Results are presented for various samples under dry and moisture-exposed conditions confirming the effects of cementation for surfaces having organic and soluble mineral concentrations. Additionally, the effects of hydrocarbon fuels on the enhanced bonding and adhesive force of
soiling particles to surfaces are determined for samples from urban and highly trafficked regions (i.e., displaying cementitious-film formation). Comparisons between glass and superhydrophobic and superhydrophilic coatings are presented, showing the effectiveness of the lower-surface
energy conditions on the particle adhesion. The effectiveness, limitations, and future research potential of this novel proximal probe technique are discussed in terms of the results and
initial, proof-of-concept experiments.


	Contact Us List of Publications Presentations Highlights Research Projects Researchers Working With Us Vision and Goals Collaborating Organizations Bios Highlights