A comparative analysis of wind pressure on flat and stair-step constructions of solar plant trackers

Mechanics
Authors:
Chumakov Yuri S. Rumyantsev Valery D. Ascheulov Yuri V. Chekalin Alexander V.
Abstract:

The article describes a comparative experimental research of aerodynamic processes and forces occurring due to airflow moving past by concentrator photovoltaic (CPV) modules assembled on a flat and stair-step frame. The subsequent analysis of aerodynamic properties of these design schemes has revealed significant advantage of stair-step arrangement of CPV modules over the flat ones concerning smaller wind loads affecting the platform. In order to calculate the value of the forces operating on full-size solar installations, values for aerodynamic resistance for different schemes of an arrangement of the modules have been obtained. The detailed research of various solar installation models utilizing a wind tunnel and aerodynamic scales is carried out for the first time.