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Modeling Wind Action On Solar Tracking PV Platform
Modeling Wind Action On Solar Tracking PV Platform
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1
Centre “Product Design for Sustainable Development”, Transilvania University of Braşov.
116 Bulletin of the Transilvania University of Braşov • Vol. 3 (52) - 2010 • Series I
1
qp = ⋅ ρ ⋅ v 2p , (2)
2
2.1. Eurocode and Romanian Standard α 5° 15° 30° 45° 60° 75°
−0.6 −0.3 −0.2 0.0
A. One situation presented by [7] is cpe 0.7 0.8
referring to monopitch roofs. This situation 0.0 0.2 0.4 0.6
is far from the case of solar tracking
platforms because the pressure coefficients Table 1 contains a maximum and a
are given only for the external surface of minimum value for the pressure
the roof, for tilt angles towards wind coefficient, for each tilt angle, because,
direction up to 75°. for θ = 0°, the values of the pressure
The pressure coefficients cpe, depend on coefficients change rapidly the sign for
the exposed area of the roof A. There are tilt angles α = 15°...30°.
Scaleţchi, I., et al.: Modeling Wind Action on Solar Tracking PV Platforms 117
The values of the internal pressure coef- trackers is the case of monopitch canopies.
ficients cpi are not given in [7], for monopitch Force coefficients are presented in [7]
roofs. instead of pressure coefficients in [9], based
B. Another case of structures similar to PV on the diagram presented in Figure 2.
Even if this model is very similar with For signboards separated from the ground
the case of the tracking PV platforms, by a height ze larger than h/4 (see Figure
limitation is given by the range of the tilt 3), the force coefficients are cf = 1.80.
angle of the surface α = 0°... 30°. Table 2
presents maximal values of the force
coefficients, for the given range of tilt
angles.
canopies [7] or sheds roofs [8]. Values of Positive (+) values indicate a net
pressure coefficients are given for tilt angle downward acting wind action and
of the surface towards wind direction up to negative (−) values represent a net upward
45° and presented in Table 4. See: [6]. acting wind action.
α
Load Wind case I Wind case II
case cp1 cp2 cp1 cp2
max 1.2 0.3 1.2 0.3
0°
min −1.1 −0.1 −1.1 −0.1
max 1.3 1.6 −0.9 −1.3
15°
min 1.8 0.6 −1.9 0
max 2.1 2.1 −1.8 −1.8
30°
min 2.6 1 −2.5 −0.5
max 2.2 2.5 −1.6 −1.8
45°
min 2.6 1.4 −2.3 −0.7
Table 4 presents the maximum and the wind acting with a ±10° deviation in vertical
minimum values for the pressure plane.
coefficient (load cases), for each tilt angle,
considering deviations of wind direction in 2.5. NASA Technical Report
vertical plane.
A NASA report [5] describes the effect of
2.4. NBE-AE 88 Spanish Standard wind on the structure of a PV platform and
presents values of pressure coefficients for
The Spanish Standard NBE-AE 88 tilt angles between 30° and 70°. The diagram
presents a model of wind action on inclined from Figure 6, presents the limit pressure
open surfaces very similar with the tracking coefficients, according to the pressure
systems for PV platforms, with values of the distribution from Figure 6b. It considers an
pressure coefficients covering the functional open field location with no wind barriers.
range of tilt angles 0°... 90°. Table 5 presents
the values of the limit pressure coefficients 3. Comparison between the Models for
cp1 and cp2 (according to a loading diagram Wind Action
similar to the one presented in Figure 4) [1].
For a unitary approach, all the data
cp values for sheds roofs Table 5 presented above will be reduced to force
coefficients.
Tilt angle, α
In the case of constant pressure on
0° 10° 20° 30° 40° 50° 60°-90°
surface, the force coefficient has the same
cp1 0 0.8 1.2 1.6 1.6 1.4 1.2 value with the pressure coefficient: cf = cp.
cp2 0 0 0.4 0.8 0.8 1.0 1.2 In the case of trapezoidal distribution of
pressure, the force coefficient can be
The values of pressure coefficients cp calculated based on the limit pressure
presented in Table 5 are the highest values coefficients cp1 and cp2 (see Figures 4 and 6b)
given for the load case I (see Figure 5), for with relation:
120 Bulletin of the Transilvania University of Braşov • Vol. 3 (52) - 2010 • Series I
a)
b)
Fig. 6. Pressure coefficients and load distribution diagram on the PV platforms
• cf2 - the maximum values of the force wind loads standard. Force coefficient values
coefficient acting on the roofs of open area are given to shed’s surface inclination
buildings with one slope [6]; angles in the range of 10°...30° [8];
• cf3 - the minimum values of the force • cf7 - the force coefficient acting on the
coefficient acting on the roofs of open area sheds roofs structures according to Spanish
buildings with one slope [6]; wind loads standard NBE-AE 88. Force
• cf4 - the maximum values of the force coefficient values are given for platform
coefficient acting on monopitch canopies [7]; inclination angles in the range of 0°...90° [1];
• cf5 - the minimum values of the force • cf8 - the values of the force coefficient
coefficient acting on monopitch canopies [7]; acting on buildings roof according to EN
• cf6 - the force coefficient acting on the 04/01/1991. Pressure coefficient values are
open sheds roofs according to the Russian given for the situation when the pressure is
Scaleţchi, I., et al.: Modeling Wind Action on Solar Tracking PV Platforms 121
Fig. 7. Diagram for comparison between force coefficients modeling wind action on
structures for different standards or reports
considered to be on the outer surface of the with values significantly higher than those
roof for inclination angles to wind up to presented in Eurocode.
75° [7]; Smaller values are presented in the
• cf9 - the force coefficient acting on the model of NASA report [8], for tilt angular
photovoltaic platform [5]. Pressure range of 20°…60°.
coefficients are given for surface inclination The Spanish Standard NBE-AE 88
angles between 20°...60°. presents a model for the whole range of tilt
angles 0°...90°, with values close to those
4. Conclusions from Eurocode, for canopies with tilt angles
up to 30°.
From all the analysed standards, the legally Concluding, given the large range of the
applicable in Romania are the European values resulting from wind action
standard (Eurocode) [7] and the Romanian standards or other studies it is necessary an
standard [9]. Even considering different experimental approach in order to obtain a
similar models (canopy - for tilt angle up to model closer to the reality.
30°, and signboards - for positions around
vertical axis) both standards are not covering References
all the wind load cases for solar tracking
platforms. The model given for the buildings 1. Cabanillas, J.: The Wind and the
roofs is not valid due to the closed shape of Panacea of the Stow Position in the
the structure. Solar Trackers. Available at:
The American standard [6] provides a www.titantracker.es. Accessed: 15-03-
model for tilt angles between 0° and 45°, 2010.
122 Bulletin of the Transilvania University of Braşov • Vol. 3 (52) - 2010 • Series I