DustVue / DustVue 10
DustVue 10 Solar-Module Soiling Sensor
Accurate PV Soiling Measurement with Virtually No Sensor Maintenance
Uses the IEC 61724‑1 preferred soiling ratio measurement method while eliminating costly manual cleaning and specific environmental calibrations
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Überblick

Reliable Soiling Measurement Requires a Stable Reference

Soiling loss is determined by comparing a clean reference surface to a naturally soiled surface. If the reference condition changes, the measurement changes—even when the array does not.

Many soiling monitoring approaches depend on routine cleaning, wash systems, or modeled corrections to preserve the reference condition. These methods can introduce uncertainty because the measurement accuracy becomes tied to maintenance consistency rather than instrument stability. When the reference is uncertain, operators cannot confidently separate true energy loss from measurement error.

The DustVue™10 addresses this limitation directly.

This sensor measures photovoltaic (PV) soiling loss using collocated clean and naturally soiled PV reference cells in accordance with the preferred methodology described in IEC 61724-1. The clean reference is automatically protected, maintaining a consistent baseline without reliance on manual cleaning schedules or correction assumptions.

With a stable reference, soiling data supports operational decisions.

Wash scheduling, performance attribution, and reporting can be based on repeatable measurements instead of inferred conditions.

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Funktionen und Vorteile

  • IEC-Aligned Measurement Basis – Collocated clean and naturally soiled PV reference cells that measure actual performance impact using the methodology defined in IEC 61724-1
  • High Measurement Accuracy – Designed to achieve repeatable soiling loss measurements suitable for operational decisions and performance analysis
  • Stabilized Clean Reference – Automated protection that preserves the reference condition without dependence on routine manual cleaning
  • Reduced Maintenance Requirements – Eliminates wash systems and frequent technician intervention required by traditional reference methods
  • Operational Decision Support – Provides consistent data for wash optimization, loss attribution, and performance verification
  • Bifacial Assessment in One Device – Simultaneous front- and rear-side soiling evaluation from a single instrument platform
  • Integration Simplicity – Modbus RTU over RS-485 to support connection to plant SCADA, data loggers, and monitoring systems
  • Built for Continuous Field Operation – Self-contained instrument designed for long-term deployment in utility-scale PV environments

Bilder

<b>Click through the images to learn more about the DustVue 10.</b>
Click through the images to learn more about the DustVue 10.
<b>Click through the images to learn more about the DustVue 10.</b>
When closed, the DustVue 10's automated shutter prevents contaminates like water, dust, and pollen from fouling the clean reference sensor.
Your soiling ratio number is only as good as the clean reference behind it. The DustVue 10 protects that reference with an automated sliding shutter that opens briefly to measure and seals closed the rest of the time. The control logic can override the scheduled opening when conditions point to higher contamination risk (e.g., rain or rapidly changing cloud cover), helping to keep the baseline stable over long deployments.
IEC 61724-1 points to a clean-versus-soiled comparison as the preferred way to quantify soiling loss because it mirrors the physics of PV production. The DustVue 10 is built around that method: two matched references, one protected to stay clean and one allowed to soil naturally, so the measurement stays representative and defensible without constant manual cleaning.
Mount the DustVue 10 where the performance happens: directly on the tracker torque tube, in plane-of-array, moving with the modules. Because it sees the same tilt, wind, and airborne debris as the production panels, the soiled reference experiences a representative deposition rate. When the application calls for it, the same instrument can be installed on solar resource assessment (SRA) or met structures.
Representative soiling starts with a representative surface. The soiled reference uses PV-module glass selected to mimic how standard panels collect dust, so the reported loss is tied to real module behavior, not a convenient surrogate. The photo tells the story: the soiled reference matches the naturally soiled test panel, while the protected clean reference remains pristine for a true side-by-side comparison.
Bifacial plants need front and rear soiling—at the same time, at the same location. The DustVue 10 integrates upward- and downward-facing clean and soiled references in one unit, so you don’t have to buy, mount, align, and reconcile two separate sensors. That’s simpler installation and a cleaner measurement chain.
In controlled evaluations, panel-to-panel comparison is the benchmark because it directly measures what soiling does to PV output. The DustVue 10 delivers that comparison continuously while reducing the routine maintenance burden that many optical and manually cleaned approaches depend on to stay accurate, especially when dust, pollen, or debris characteristics change.
Treat the soiled reference like your modules: let it soil naturally and clean it when the array gets cleaned. The protected clean reference typically only needs periodic inspection (often once or twice per year), because it is sealed between brief measurements. Less maintenance means fewer missed cleanings, fewer data gaps, and less risk that the reference drifts simply because it wasn’t serviced on time.
The stay-clean shutter isn’t a cosmetic cover; it’s a measurement safeguard. By sealing the clean reference between measurements, it blocks buildup from water, frost, pollen, and windblown dust that would otherwise bias the baseline. The heater inside the assembly helps prevent freezing in cold conditions so the shutter can keep operating.
Commissioning shouldn’t require a programmer. The DustVue 10 uses an onboard, browser-based interface for fast setup, checks, and adjustments using a simple USB‑C connection. It then drops into plant monitoring via Modbus RS‑485 so virtually any SCADA or data logger can pull measurements and status.
The DustVue 10 doesn’t just output a number and hope for the best. Status registers (System Status, Measurement Status, and Measurement Flags) provide actionable diagnostics like motor/voltage issues, conditions preventing a valid reading, and flags that warn when a measurement may be compromised. That’s the difference between “data” and “data you can trust.”
Need a fast, flexible install? The universal mounting hardware supports common field structures such as Unistrut and crossarms, making it easy to place the sensor where it will be representative. Proper placement is what makes the soiling ratio number meaningful.
Tracker geometries vary, but the measurement requirement does not: stay in plane-of-array and maintain clearance for the downward-facing window. Multiple torque-tube mounting options help you fit common tracker hardware while keeping the correct alignment, which reduces install friction and helps ensure the rear-side measurement is usable from day one.
Utility-scale sites are not gentle; heat, cold, wind, blowing dust, and precipitation are normal operating conditions. The DustVue 10 is designed for that reality, combining sealed protection for the clean reference with field-ready construction and integration. The result is a soiling measurement approach that can stay deployed, not one that constantly asks for attention.

3D/CAD-Dateien:

DustVue™10 2D (PDF)

Technische Beschreibung

Measurement Principle (IEC 61724-1 Preferred Method)

The DustVue 10 directly measures PV soiling losses using collocated clean and naturally soiled PV reference cells, consistent with the preferred methodology described in IEC 61724-1. Rather than estimating soiling from optical transmission or particulate accumulation proxies, the sensor quantifies the performance impact attributable to contamination on PV-representative surfaces.

Because both reference cells are collocated, they experience the same irradiance, spectral, and temperature environment. This enables the reported soiling loss to reflect true performance impact under real operating conditions, supporting decision-making and analysis workflows that require defensible, PV-relevant data.

Reference Stability (Automated Clean-Reference Protection)

The reliability of any soiling measurement depends on maintaining a stable clean reference condition over time. Traditional approaches often require routine manual cleaning or water-spray systems to restore a reference surface, introducing uncertainty when that cleaning is inconsistent, delayed, or incomplete.

The DustVue 10 is designed to maintain reference integrity by preventing contamination of the clean reference. A motorized protective cover shields the clean reference and exposes it only during suitable measurement conditions. This approach reduces dependence on routine intervention and minimizes uncertainty associated with partially cleaned or re-contaminated references.

Environmental Operation (Separating Transient Effects from Soiling)

Short-duration environmental effects, such as moisture, dew, or rapidly changing irradiance, can influence surface conditions differently than particulate soiling. By measuring two adjacent PV reference surfaces under the same ambient conditions, the DustVue 10 isolates the performance impact attributable to contamination, rather than conflating soiling loss with transient environmental variability.

The objective is a soiling loss signal that remains operationally meaningful for wash timing, loss attribution, and performance discussions.

Accuracy and Decision-Grade Data

The DustVue 10 is designed to achieve soiling loss measurement accuracy within ±1% under proper installation and operating conditions. This level of accuracy supports use cases where the data must withstand scrutiny, such as wash optimization, performance verification, and contractual or stakeholder reporting.

Bifacial Capability (Front + Rear in One Instrument)

For bifacial PV installations, the DustVue 10 supports simultaneous front- and rear-side soiling measurements within a single instrument platform. This reduces instrumentation complexity compared to approaches requiring duplicate sensors or separate measurement strategies for each side of the array.

Integration and Communications (Modbus RTU over RS-485)

The DustVue 10 is designed for straightforward integration into plant monitoring and SCADA environments using Modbus RTU over RS-485. This enables compatibility with a wide range of data loggers, RTUs, and SCADA systems that support standard Modbus communications—without specialized interfaces.

This integration approach simplifies incorporating into existing architectures for trending, alarm logic, reporting, and analytics workflows.

Deployment and Maintenance Profile

The DustVue 10 is a small, self-contained instrument designed for long-term outdoor deployment in utility-scale PV environments. By avoiding routine water-spray systems and minimizing manual reference cleaning requirements, the instrument is intended to reduce ongoing O&M burden while preserving the integrity of the measurement basis over time.

The goal is a soiling measurement that operators and analysts can rely on continuously—without building the measurement’s credibility around frequent maintenance procedures.

Operational Use Cases

The DustVue 10 is intended to provide a consistent basis for:

  • Wash scheduling optimization and verification
  • Performance reconciliation and loss attribution
  • Stakeholder and contractual performance discussions
  • Ongoing plant reporting and analytics

By stabilizing the reference condition and simplifying integration, the instrument supports workflows where measurement confidence is as important as measurement availability.

 

Spezifikationen

Operating Temperature Range -40° to +70°C
Soiling Ratio Uncertainty ±1%
Input Power 12 to 32 Vdc
Power Consumption - Idle
  • < 1 W above 5°C
  • ~13 W below 5°C (when heater active)
Power Consumption - Active
  • 0.5 A at 24 V (during measurement) above 5°C
  • ~1.0 A at 24 V (during measurement) below 5°C (when heater active)
Power Consumption - Active with Heater Full on ~24 W
-NOTE- A small heater prevents the cover gasket from freezing shut, which could interfere with measurements or damage the gasket. The heater can be active when the ambient temperature is below 5°C and when humidity and temperature conditions could cause frost.
Communications Modbus RTU over RS-485
IP Rating IP65
Shipping Dimensions 27.94 x 58.42 x 11.43 cm (11 x 23 x 4.5 in.)
Shipping Weight 3.54 kg (7.8 lb)

Downloads

DustVue 10 OS v.1.02 (1.58 MB) 16-01-2026

Current operating system for the DustVue 10.

DustVue 10 Program Example v.1 (3 KB) 21-11-2025

Use this program as a template to create a program to read and write to the registers on a DustVue 10 sensor.

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