Aerodynamic and structural analysis of a solar panel

Abstract

In this study, wind loads on a ground-mounted solar panel was investigated numerically at different ground clearances and azimuth angles, and the results were compared with the experimental data. A 1:20 scaled solar panel model with 35 degrees panel inclinations was designed for a chord Reynolds number of 6.4 x 104. The studies were performed for the azimuth angles between 0 degrees-180 degrees in 30 degrees increments and ground clearances of 0 to 0.06 m. In the numerical analyses, Computational Fluid Dynamics was calculated with 3 different turbulence models. The results showed that higher ground clearances caused stronger vortex shedding fluctuations, higher velocity zones, and shedding frequencies, and shorter vortex scales behind the panel. The critical wind directions were determined as 30 degrees and 150 degrees in terms of overturning moments, while the maximum value of both the lift and drag coefficient were obtained at 180 degrees azimuth angle. In addition, a hurricane scenario with a wind velocity of 33 m/s was created on a 1:1 scaled model and fluid-structure interaction simulation was performed. The numerical results of the aerodynamic loads were in a good agreement with the experimental results.