Prevention of ice and snow accumulation on solar panels

对于加拿大的太阳能技术公司，如Unconquered Sun Solar Technologies Inc.，与冬季太阳能电池板上的结冰和积雪有关。该项目将利用疏水涂层形式的化学方法和干扰波形式的机械方法，最大限度地减少太阳能电池上的冰雪积累。在冬季，有各种形式的冰雪积聚在太阳能电池板上，所有这些都极大地影响了太阳能电池的性能。这些不同形式的粘附行为，包括雪，白霜，边缘和釉，可以通过控制表面化学和粗糙度来研究和最小化。在本提案中，水接触角低于150 °的疏水表面将是首选，因为它们具有稳定性和耐用性。透明的疏水涂层，如聚甲基丙烯酸甲酯（PMMA）和多面体低聚倍半硅氧烷（POSS）将应用于玻璃和铝表面。将测试涂层的静态和动态水接触角，各种形式的冰雪对涂层的粘附力，以及干扰波破坏基底和冰之间粘合剂的有效性。具有最有利结果的涂层将被认为是最合适的涂层。最大限度地减少太阳能电池板上的冰雪积累的能力将导致更多的能源生产，更高的客户满意度，并将鼓励更多的社区在其财产上实施太阳能。

An important issue for Canadian based solar technology companies such as Unconquered Sun Solar Technologies Inc. is related to the icing and snow accumulation on solar panels during the winter season. This project will utilize both chemical methods, in the form of hydrophobic coatings, and mechanical methods, in the form of disturbing waves, to minimize the ice and snow accumulation on solar cells. There are various forms of ice and snow that accumulate on solar panels during the winter, all of which greatly affect the performance of the solar cells. The adhesion behaviour of these various forms, including snow, hoarfrost, rim and glaze, can be investigated and minimized by controlling the surface chemistry and roughness. In this proposal hydrophobic surfaces with water contact angles below 150° will be preferred because of their stability and durability. Transparent hydrophobic coatings such as polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) and polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) will be applied to both glass and Aluminum surfaces. The coatings will be tested for static and dynamic water contact angles, the adhesion of various forms of ice and snow to the coating, and the effectiveness of the disturbing waves to break the adhesive bonds between the substrate and the ice. The coating with the most favourable results will be considered as the most suitable coating. The ability to minimize the snow and ice accumulation on solar panels will lead to more energy production, greater customer satisfaction, and will encourage more communities toward the implementation of solar energy on their properties.