Wind loads on flat plate photovoltaic array fields. Phase II. Final report

Technical Report · Sat Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 1979

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5649028· OSTI ID:5649028

Miller, R; Zimmerman, D

This report describes a theoretical study of the aerodynamic forces resulting from winds acting on flat plate photovoltaic arrays. Local pressure distributions and total aerodynamic forces on the arrays are shown. Design loads are presented to cover the conditions of array angles relative to the ground from 20/sup 0/ to 60/sup 0/, variable array spacings, a ground clearance gap up to 1.2 m (4 ft) and array slant heights of 2.4 m (8 ft) and 4.8 m (16 ft). Several means of alleviating the wind loads on the arrays are detailed. The expected reduction of the steady state wind velocity with the use of fences as a load alleviation device are indicated to be in excess of a factor of three for some conditions. This yields steady state wind load reductions as much as a factor of ten compared to the load incurred if no fence is used to protect the arrays. This steady state wind load reduction is offset by the increase in turbulence due to the fence but still an overall load reduction of 2.5 can be realized. Other load alleviation devices suggested are the installation of air gaps in the arrays, blocking the flow under the arrays and rounding the edges of the array. Included is an outline of a wind tunnel test plan to supplement the theoretical study and to evaluate the load alleviation devices.

• Research Organization: Boeing Engineering and Construction Co., Seattle, WA (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: NAS-7-100-954833
• OSTI ID: 5649028
• Report Number(s): DOE/JPL/954833-2
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
SOLAR CELL ARRAYS
WIND LOADS
AERODYNAMICS
COMPUTER CALCULATIONS
CONFIGURATION
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
ORIENTATION
PRESSURE GRADIENTS
TURBULENCE
VELOCITY
WIND
DYNAMIC LOADS
EQUIPMENT
FLUID MECHANICS
MECHANICS
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
140600* - Solar Energy- Photovoltaic Power Systems
140501 - Solar Energy Conversion- Photovoltaic Conversion