Mid-semester IN 792 Presentation

on

Solar (PV) module mounting system: A review

Under the guidance of

1
 Introduction

India’s solar energy mission to produce 20 GW solar power by 2022 was

achieved four years ahead of time.

So, an ambitious target of 100 GW is revised for 2022.

country’s solar power potential at about 750 GW

3% of the total wasteland available in a state

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Photo-voltaic effect

(Source: http://www.physics-and-radio-electronics.com/)

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Solar array

(http://www.alternative-energy-tutorials.com/)

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Module mounting system

• Supporting structure of solar module for transferring the load to the foundation.

• Withstand the weight of the overlying module, snow load and cyclonic wind

• Mounting structure are usually made of galvanized Steel or Aluminium or

wood.

• Must be safely secured to the ground to prevent overturning and uplift.

• Should have convenient connection system with solar panel

• Sun tracking type solar plant, the mounting system should have angle adjusting
capabilities.

• Should remain intact for at least 20-25 years

• Corrosion resistant, durability and strength.

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Variants of solar module mounting system

Based on location of solar Panel installation

Roof mounted (flat & sloped): Ground mounting

(source: https://solarprofessional.com/) (Source: https://helpsavenature.com/) (Source:https://helpsavenature.com/)

Pole mounting Wall mounting Carport mounting

(Source: https://helpsavenature.com/) (Source: https://helpsavenature.com/) (source: http://www.sinetech.co.za)

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Based on functioning

Fixed tilt mounting structure

(Source: https://www.ironridge.com/)

Sun tracking system Concentrators

(Source: https://www.siemens.com) (Source: https://vimeo.com)

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Problems in module mounting

Determination of Loads for analysis and design of mounting components.

Anchoring of solar panels to the foundation

Load determination on module mounting system

The load acting on module mounting system are self-weight of mounting system,
weight of panel, snow load, wind load etc.

(Source: https://www.waaree.com/)

(Source: http://leedpoints.com)

Objective

Systematic study of wind-induced pressures on the surface of solar panels.

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Wind load determination (IS 875:2015 Part III)

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Wind pressure Coefficient

Where
Cp is the pressure coefficient, Pmean is the mean pressure acting on a region
U is the velocity at a reference height
Pa is Reference pressure
Reference pressure is the ambient pressure when the structure was not there and
the flow was not obstructed.

Measurement of wind pressure Coefficient

1. Wind tunnel test

(Source: https://ases.conference-services.net)

2. Computational Fluid dynamics simulations

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(Source: https://www.comsol.com/)
Literature review

1. “Wind-Induced Pressures on Solar Panels Mounted on Residential Homes”

Aly Mousaad and Girma Bitsuamlak (2014)
(a) wind tunnel test setup
(b) horizontal configuration H1
(c) vertical configuration V1
(d) horizontal configuration H2
(e) vertical configuration V2
(f) Bare roof

1:15 scale models 11

“Wind-Induced Pressures on Solar Panels Mounted on Residential Homes”
Aly Mousaad and Girma Bitsuamlak (2014)

• The net pressure distribution (design load) for solar panels mounted on a gable
roof is significantly different from the external pressure distribution over a bare
roof with the same geometry.

• The pressure coefficients were compared with ASCE 7. The result from the wind-
tunnel study showed good agreement with the ASCE standard provision for bare
roof.

• Aerodynamic pressures for the solar panels mounted on gable roofs are highly
dependent on the roof slope and the panel’s location, as well as their
configuration.

• It is recommended to avoid mounting the solar panels in zones located close to

the roof edge, ridge, and corners, as the wind loads are higher at these zones

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2. “Wind loading characteristics of solar arrays mounted on flat roofs”
Jinxin Cao, Akihito Yoshida, Proshit Kumar Saha, Yukio Tamura (2013)

Scale 1:50
25m*25m*20m building
Singe array with only 1 panel 9 locations
Multi array with only 2 panel 7 locations

Unfavourable negative module force coefficients for single-array cases are much
larger than those for multi-array cases;

Tilt angle and distance between arrays increase negative module forces;

Effects of building depth and parapet height on negative module forces are not
obvious 13
3. “Experimental investigation of wind effects on a standalone photovoltaic (PV) module”
Ayodeji Abiola Ogedengbe, Horia Hangan, Kamran Siddiqui (2015)

Images of the 1/10th scaled model of the PV module (a) front view, (b) back view.

A standalone PV module
0.72 m * 0.24 m * 0.17 m
Adjustable for different inclination angles
The tests were carried out at 36 wind directions at 10o intervals from 0o to 350o

Inter-panel gap has an influence on module's surface pressure field.

The orientation of the PV module relative to the wind also plays a role in altering the
influence of inter-panel gap on the surface pressure field.

Pressure magnitudes were found to be higher at larger inclination angles of the module.
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Future Work

1) Study of effectiveness of IS 875: 2015 Part 3 in calculating wind load on solar

panel.

2) Detailed study for wind tunnel experiment.

3) Literature review of CFD analysis results on solar module mounting system.

4) Understand the effect of inclination angle of the solar panel, location of the panel
in the mounting arrangement, effect of gaps between the modules on the wind
pressure coefficients.

5) Understanding the load transfer mechanism of various solar module mounting

systems.

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References

1. Aly Mousaad Aly and Girma Bitsuamlak, “Wind-Induced Pressures on Solar Panels Mounted on Residential
Homes”, Journal of Architectural engineering, Vol 20, March 2014

2. Jinxin Cao, Akihito Yoshida, Proshit Kumar Saha, Yukio Tamura, “Wind loading characteristics of solar
arrays mounted on flat roofs”, Journal of Wind Engineering and Industrial Aerodynamics, Vol 123, 2013
214–225

3. Manish Kumar Hairat, Sajal Ghosh. "100 GW solar power in India by 2022 – A critical review", Renewable
and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Vol 73, June 2017, 1041-1050

4. Ruscheweyh H., & Windhövel R., “Wind loads at solar and photovoltaic modules for large plants.” 13th
International Conference on Wind Engineering (ICWE13), Dec 2011 (1-8) Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

5. Wood, Graeme S; Denoon, Roy O; Kenny, C.S. Kwok, “Wind loads on industrial solar panel arrays and
supporting roof structure.” Wind and Structures, 4(6), 2001. 481-494.

6. Ayodeji Abiola Ogedengbe, Horia Hangan, Kamran Siddiqui, “Experimental investigation of wind effects on
a standalone photovoltaic (PV) module”, Renewable Energy, 2015, vol 78, 657-665

7. https://www.solarpowerworldonline.com

8. IS 875 (2015) Part 3 Code of Practice for Design Loads (Other than Earthquake) for Buildings and Structures
- Part 3: Wind Loads

9. IS 875 (1987, Reaffirmed 2003) Part 4 Code of Practice for Design Loads (Other Than Earthquake) For
Buildings and Structures, Part 4: Snow Loads
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Thank You

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Wind profile

where ρ is the air density and τo the shear stress at the ground level.
κ is the Von Karman constant (κ = 0.4) and z0 is the roughness length.

(after Liu 1991)

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1. “Wind-Induced Pressures on Solar Panels Mounted on Residential Homes” Mousaad et al.(2014)

The figure shows that for the modules that are located away from the roof corner and edge,
the magnitude of the mean pressure on the top surface is reduced and the magnitude of the
bottom surface pressure is increased (more suction), resulting in reduced net uplift mean
loads on the modules (pressure equalization).

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1. “Wind-Induced Pressures on Solar Panels Mounted on Residential Homes” Mousaad et al.(2014)

Cpmin distribution over a bare gable roof with Cpmin distribution over a group of solar panel modules in
slope 3:12 (14) configuration H1 and mounted on a gable roof with slope
3:12 (14);

Cpmin distribution over a group of solar panel modules in Cpmin distribution over a group of solar panel modules
configuration V1 and mounted on a gable roof with slope in configuration H2 and mounted on a gable roof with
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3:12 (14); slope 3:12 (14);
1. “Wind-Induced Pressures on Solar Panels Mounted on Residential Homes” Mousaad et al.(2014)

Schematic representation of the four

configurations of the solar panels:
big (B), medium (M), and small (S)

Net pressure coefficients on solar

panels mounted on a gable roof with
slope 3:12 (14) for different wind
direction angles: (a) maximum Cp; (b)
minimum Cp

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2. “Wind loading characteristics of solar arrays mounted on flat roofs” Jinxin el al. (2013)

223
Mean pressure distribution on panel for wind direction 3101 at Location 2 (single- (b) and multi-array (c)); and Location
(single- (d) and multiarray (e))
2. “Wind loading characteristics of solar arrays mounted on flat roofs” Jinxin el al. (2013)

233
Mean pressure distribution on panel for wind direction 3101 at Location 2 (single- (b) and multi-array (c)); and Location
(single- (d) and multiarray (e))