Influence of spacing parameters on the wind loading of solar array

Abstract Boundary layer wind tunnel tests were conducted to investigate the effects of different spacing parameters on the wind loading of ground and roof mounted solar arrays. On the ground mounted array the effect of lateral and longitudinal spacing between panels was investigated. On the roof mounted array the effect of array perimeter gap from the building edge was investigated. Based on the results obtained, the magnitude of force and moment coefficients on the ground mounted array decreased across panel rows as a result of sheltering effect from the neighboring upwind panels. The largest reduction of wind load coefficients was observed on the second row panels but the amount of reduction dropped quickly afterwards, becoming minimal after the fourth row. It was also observed that panels located in the outer array column could be subjected to relatively higher wind loads compared to panels located in the inner array columns. Increasing the lateral spacing between array columns was observed to have minimal effect on the force and moment coefficients. However, the wind load coefficients increased as the longitudinal spacing between panel rows was increased. The wind load coefficients on the roof mounted array decreased with increasing perimeter gap from the building edge.

[1]  P. Irwin,et al.  Effect of roof-edge parapets on mitigating extreme roof suctions , 2010 .

[2]  David Surry,et al.  Wind loads on a solar array , 2002 .

[3]  Gregory A. Kopp,et al.  Trajectories of roof sheathing panels under high winds , 2007 .

[4]  N. Null.  Minimum Design Loads for Buildings and Other Structures , 2003 .

[5]  R.D.J.M. Steenbergen,et al.  Full scale measurements of wind loads on stand-off photovoltaic systems , 2009 .

[6]  David Surry,et al.  Wind effects of parapets on low buildings: Part 1. Basic aerodynamics and local loads , 2005 .

[7]  Fahim Sadek,et al.  Peak Non-Gaussian Wind Effects for Database-Assisted Low-Rise Building Design , 2002 .

[8]  Robert N. Meroney,et al.  A model of roof-top surface pressures produced by conical vortices : Model development , 2001 .

[9]  D. Michaelis,et al.  Investigation of the three-dimensional turbulent near-wake structure past a flat plate by tomographic PIV at high Reynolds number , 2014 .

[10]  Lin Huang,et al.  Nonlinear aerodynamic forces on thin flat plate: Numerical study , 2014 .

[11]  Girma Bitsuamlak,et al.  Evaluation of wind loads on solar panel modules using CFD , 2010 .

[12]  Kenny C. S Kwok,et al.  Wind loads on industrial solar panel arrays and supporting roof structure , 2001 .

[13]  C. J. Wood,et al.  Conical vortex movement and its effect on roof pressures , 1997 .

[14]  Jörg Franke,et al.  Wind tunnel and CFD modelling of wind pressures on solar energy systems on flat roofs , 2010 .

[15]  J. D. Holmes,et al.  Wind Loading of Structures , 2001 .

[16]  Aly Mousaad Aly,et al.  Wind-Induced Pressures on Solar Panels Mounted on Residential Homes , 2014 .

[17]  Adrian Radu,et al.  Steady wind pressures on solar collectors on flat-roofed buildings , 1986 .

[18]  J. Filliben.  The Probability Plot Correlation Coefficient Test for Normality , 1975 .

[19]  M. Grigoriu.  Applied Non-Gaussian Processes , 1995 .

[20]  H. Irwin,et al.  Correction of distortion effects caused by tubing systems in measurements of fluctuating pressures , 1979 .

[21]  Jon A. Peterka,et al.  Heliostat mean wind load reduction , 1987 .

[22]  Horia Hangan,et al.  Wind Loading on Solar Panels at Different Inclination Angles , 2002 .

[23]  Chuncheng Zang,et al.  An experimental and numerical study of the gap effect on wind load on heliostat , 2010 .

[24]  D. Kearney,et al.  Wind Tunnel Tests of Parabolic Trough Solar Collectors , 2008 .

[25]  Aly Mousaad Aly,et al.  Aerodynamics of Ground Mounted Solar Panels: Test Model Scale Effects , 2013 .