Skip to main content

A CFD Study of Wind Loads on High Aspect Ratio Ground-Mounted Solar Panels

  • Conference paper
  • First Online:
Computational Science and Its Applications – ICCSA 2017 (ICCSA 2017)

Abstract

Computational fluid dynamics is used to study the wind loads on a high aspect ratio ground-mounted solar panel. Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes simulations are performed using a commercial finite volume-based code with two different numerical approaches. First, the entire panel is directly simulated in a three-dimensional domain. Then, a small portion of the panel is considered, by imposing periodic boundary conditions in the spanwise homogeneous direction. The comparison shows a good match between the results obtained with the two different models, in terms of pressure coefficient and aerodynamic loads. The main consequence is a considerable reduction of the computational costs when using the reduced model.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Blakers, A., Zin, N., McIntosh, K., Fong, K.: Efficiency improvements of photo-voltaic panels using a sun-tracking system. Energy Procedia 33, 1–10 (2013)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Stathopoulos, T., Zisis, I., Xypnitou, E.: Local and overall wind pressure and force coefficients for solar panels. J. Wind Eng. Ind. Aerodyn. 125, 195–206 (2014)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Abiola-Ogedengbe, A., Hangan, H., Siddiqui, K.: Experimental investigation of wind effects on a standalone photovoltaic (PV) module. Renew. Energy 78, 657–665 (2015)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Warsido, W., Bitsuamlak, G., Barata, J.: Influence of spacing parameters on the wind loading of solar array. J. Fluid Struct. 48, 295–315 (2014)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Aly, A., Bitsuamlak, G.: Aerodynamics of ground-mounted solar panels: test model scale effects. J. Wind Eng. Ind. Aerodyn. 123, 250–260 (2013)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Jubayer, C., Hangan, H.: Numerical simulation of wind effects on a stand-alone ground mounted photovoltaic (PV) system. J. Wind Eng. Ind. Aerodyn. 134, 56–64 (2014)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Wu, Z., Gong, B., Wang, Z., Li, Z., Zang, C.: An experimental and numerical study of the gap effect on wind load on heliostat. Renew. Energy 35, 797–806 (2010)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Menter, F.: Two-equation eddy-viscosity turbulence models for engineering applications. Am. Inst. Aeronaut. Astronaut. J. 32, 1598–1605 (1994)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Yang, Y., Gu, M., Jin, X.: New inflow boundary conditions for modeling the neutral equilibrium atmospheric boundary layer in SST k-model. In: Proceedings of the Seventh Asia Pacific Conference on Wind Engineering, Taipei, Taiwan November, pp. 8–12 (2009)

    Google Scholar 

  10. ESDU: Strong winds in the atmospheric boundary layer. part 1: Mean hourly wind speeds. Engineering Science Data Unit Number 82026 (1982)

    Google Scholar 

  11. ESDU: Strong winds in the atmospheric boundary layer. part 2: Discreet gust speeds. Engineering Science Data Unit Number 82045 (1983)

    Google Scholar 

  12. Blocken, B., Stathopoulos, T., Carmeliet, J.: Cfd simulation of the atmospheric boundary layer: wall function problems. Atmos. Environ. 41, 238–252 (2007)

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Giuliano De Stefano .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2017 Springer International Publishing AG

About this paper

Cite this paper

Reina, G.P., De Stefano, G. (2017). A CFD Study of Wind Loads on High Aspect Ratio Ground-Mounted Solar Panels. In: Gervasi, O., et al. Computational Science and Its Applications – ICCSA 2017. ICCSA 2017. Lecture Notes in Computer Science(), vol 10404. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-62392-4_19

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-62392-4_19

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-62391-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-62392-4

  • eBook Packages: Computer ScienceComputer Science (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics