Cleaning agents and techniques for concentrating solar collectors

Abstract Tests were conducted to determine the nature of the soil which is irreversibly deposited on solar collectors during environmental exposure. Methods of removing this soil were investigated. The mechanism of attachment of the soil to the surface was determined as a potential aid to cleaning agent formulation. Reflector specimens were environmentally exposed at several industrial sites. Three types of reflector surfaces were studied: second surface silvered glass, aluminized FEK-244 film on aluminum substrate and RTV 670 on aluminum. Cleaning procedures were evaluated by microscopic examination of the solid surfaces before and after cleaning by measurement of specular reflectance. The effect of local environmental degradation specific to an industrial process on solar collector surfaces was investigated.