New model to predict safety of floating solar arrays – pv magazine International

January 20, 2023 Beatriz Santos

Teachers from the Korean Institute of Equipment and Supplies have developed a security evaluation technique to evaluate when it’s protected to put in various kinds of floating PV arrays within the area. They validated their numerical simulations and shared their findings on “Results of various wind entry angles and wave masses on a floating photovoltaic system contemplating stress distributions ,” which was just lately revealed in Journal of Clear Manufacturing.

“We are going to use these findings to put in and function a floating PV system on the Saemangeum tidal flats, on the coast of the Yellow Sea, on the west coast of South Korea,” mentioned researcher Byung-Ju Lim. pv journal.

The South Korean authorities is at present growing a 2.1 GW floating photo voltaic advanced with the assist of the Saemangeum Improvement and Funding Company (SDIA). Teachers construct their security evaluation mannequin by three kinds of numerical simulations: computational fluid dynamic (CFD), hydraulic dynamics evaluation, and transient finite aspect evaluation (FEA).

CFD and hydraulic dynamics simulate wind and wave masses on a floating PV system. Scientists use FEA to investigate the stress distribution of PV techniques at completely different penetration angles for wind and wave masses. They used numerical simulation outcomes to evaluate the security of floating PV arrays.

“If the present design of the floating PV system is judged unsafe, then it may be modified to eradicate weak factors. If the design is judged protected, then it may be put in on the specified web site,” defined the researchers.

The simulations used a floating PV system consisting of 9 modules, every measuring 1.03 meters by 2.08 meters. The panels have a 15-degree tilt angle. The photo voltaic system is supported by 15 floaters fabricated from high-density polyethylene (HPDE).

The scientists confirmed the outcomes of CFD by conducting experiments on the wind tunnel middle at Chonbuk Nationwide College with a wind velocity of 12 m/s. The check mannequin is on a 1:15 scale, and thirty stress faucets are positioned on high of the photo voltaic panel to measure the stress distribution: 15 in entrance of the panels, and 15 within the again. By means of this experiment, they discovered that native most error vary is 37% and the minimal error is 1.7%.

The South Korean group held a hydraulic dynamics evaluation of a wave pool contemplating a 1:10 scale mannequin. They discovered that the native most error is nineteen.4% and the minimal error is 0.6%. Scientists too tried the area-averaged drag coefficients (cd) in photo voltaic panels at completely different entry angles, the displacement of the unit floating PV system is low the common state of the wave, and the stress distribution for floating installations.

“The outcomes verify that the stress distribution of the photo voltaic panels, supporting frames, and floating our bodies don’t exceed yield strengths of the constituents,” the researchers concluded. “Thus, the unit floating PV system is protected beneath the wind and wave circumstances thought of.”

The outcomes additionally level to potential security and price enchancment methods for floating photo voltaic. “Putting in a windshield as an alternative of photo voltaic panels on the sting of the PV array can cut back the load and enhance security,” the scientists mentioned, noting that the outcomes present that the primary and final row of photo voltaic panels uncovered to larger wind masses.

Builders can even cut back system prices by changing HDPE floaters in the course of techniques with medium-density polyethylene (MDPE) floaters, that are about 20% cheaper, in response to lecturers. That is supported by the outcomes of the hydraulic dynamics evaluation, which reveals that the sheltering impact reduces the masses in the course of the floating PV system by 32% to 54% in comparison with the sides.