Solar PV Panel Uplift Study - Home - Walter Scott, Jr ...meroney/PapersPDF/CEP09-10-4ppt.pdf · 1 Solar PV Panel Uplift Study Wind Engineering Fluids Laboratory Robert N. Meroney

11

Solar PV Solar PV

Panel Uplift Panel Uplift

StudyStudy

Wind Engineering Fluids LaboratoryWind Engineering Fluids Laboratory

Robert N. Meroney & David E. NeffRobert N. Meroney & David E. NeffMay 2010May 2010

CWE2010CWE2010

Durham, NCDurham, NC

22

Scope of StudyScope of Study

�� Goals of study were:Goals of study were:�� Investigate the wind performance of clientInvestigate the wind performance of client’’s s

photovoltaic (PV) array systems,photovoltaic (PV) array systems,

�� Formulate new wind resistant design criteria,Formulate new wind resistant design criteria,

�� Evaluate CFD as a design tool for PV Evaluate CFD as a design tool for PV collectors.collectors.

�� Fluid modeling used visualization, Fluid modeling used visualization, pressure and force balance systems.pressure and force balance systems.

�� CFD used the FLUENT 6.0 code.CFD used the FLUENT 6.0 code.

33

Wind Tunnel BalanceWind Tunnel Balance

�� Balance calibrated to measure CBalance calibrated to measure CDD, C, CLL and Cand CMM

44

½½ & Full Scale Model Tiles& Full Scale Model Tiles

Full Scale Tile in MWT ½ Scale Load Test Control Tile

Load Test Control Tile & Model Curb3 x 3 array with Control & Dummy Tiles

55

Fluid Modeling MeasurementsFluid Modeling Measurements

66

CFD 2CFD 2--D Boundary D Boundary CondtionsCondtions

�� Domain x=40 feet, y=10 feetDomain x=40 feet, y=10 feet�� Grid: Grid: dx_mindx_min=0.05 feet, =0.05 feet, dx_maxdx_max=0.7 feet=0.7 feet

�� BL on panels: BL on panels: dy_mindy_min=0.005 feet=0.005 feet

�� Grid shape: triangle pavedGrid shape: triangle paved

�� Three panelsThree panels

�� Orientations at 0 and 180 degreesOrientations at 0 and 180 degrees

�� Inlet Velocity, U=10 m/s uniformInlet Velocity, U=10 m/s uniform

�� Inlet Turbulence, I= 15%, L= 1 mInlet Turbulence, I= 15%, L= 1 m

�� Turbulence model: kTurbulence model: k--omega, standard wall omega, standard wall functionsfunctions

77

Inlet Profiles for WT & CFDInlet Profiles for WT & CFD

88

0o Orientation

CFD 2CFD 2--D Grid LayoutD Grid Layout

99

180o Orientation

1010

Static Pressure Static Pressure

Contours for CFD 2Contours for CFD 2--

D ModelD Model

0o Orientation

180o Orientation

1111

Velocity Magnitude Velocity Magnitude

Contours for CFD Contours for CFD

22--D ModelD Model

0o Orientation

180o Orientation

1212

Turbulent Intensity Turbulent Intensity


22--D ModelD Model

0o Orientation

180o Orientation

1313

Velocity Profiles for CFD 2Velocity Profiles for CFD 2--D ModelD Model

0o Orientation 180o Orientation


1414

Velocity Vector Plots for CFD 2Velocity Vector Plots for CFD 2--D ModelD Model



1515

180o Orientation

180o Orientation180o Orientation

180o Orientation

1616



Particle Particle PathlinePathline Plots for CFD 2Plots for CFD 2--D ModelD Model

1717

22--D Forces, CD Forces, CDD & C& CLL

--0.430.43--0.420.42--0.350.350.200.20--0.090.090.370.37C lift yC lift y

--26.926.9--26.326.3--21.821.87.887.88--3.383.3814.4414.44Force YForce Y

((newtonsnewtons))

0.1050.1050.1060.1060.0930.0930.200.200.230.230.250.25C drag xC drag x

6.466.466.496.495.685.687.687.689.059.059.729.72Force XForce X

((newtonsnewtons))

180 180

degdeg

P3D3P3D3

180 180

degdeg

P2D2P2D2

180 180

degdeg

P1D1P1D1

0 deg0 deg

P3D3P3D3

0 deg0 deg

P2D2P2D2

0 deg0 deg

P1D1P1D1

1818

Overall Load Comparisons Between Overall Load Comparisons Between

CFD 2CFD 2--D and WT ModelsD and WT Models

00oo OrientationOrientation 180180oo OrientationOrientation

1919

33--D Boundary D Boundary CondtionsCondtions

�� Domain x=40 feet, y=10 feet, z = 2 feet Domain x=40 feet, y=10 feet, z = 2 feet (symmetry along plate center and one side)(symmetry along plate center and one side)�� Grid: Grid: dx_mindx_min=0.1 feet, =0.1 feet, dx_maxdx_max=0.7 feet=0.7 feet

�� Grid shape: tetrahedral pavedGrid shape: tetrahedral paved

�� Three panelsThree panels

�� Orientations at 0 and 180 degreesOrientations at 0 and 180 degrees

�� Inlet Velocity, U=10 m/s uniformInlet Velocity, U=10 m/s uniform

�� Inlet Turbulence, I= 15%, L= 1 mInlet Turbulence, I= 15%, L= 1 m

�� Turbulence model: kTurbulence model: k--omega, standard wall omega, standard wall functionsfunctions

2020

40 ft

10 ft

2 ft

CFD 3CFD 3--D Grid LayoutD Grid Layout

2121

Static Pressure Contours for CFD 3Static Pressure Contours for CFD 3--D ModelD Model



2222

Velocity Magnitude Velocity Magnitude


33--D ModelD Model

0o Orientation

180o Orientation

2323

0o Orientation

180o Orientation

Turbulent Intensity Turbulent Intensity


33--D ModelD Model

2424

Velocity Profiles for CFD 3Velocity Profiles for CFD 3--D ModelD Model



2525

Velocity Vector Plots for CFD 3Velocity Vector Plots for CFD 3--D ModelD Model



2626


0o Orientation

2727

2828

Line at x=1.4, z=0.02



Particle Particle PathlinePathline Plots for CFD 3Plots for CFD 3--D ModelD Model

2929

Line x = 3.6 z=0.1

Line x = 3.6 z=1.0 Line x = 3.6 z=1.9

Line x = 3.6 z=0.02



3030

33--D CFD with Alternative Turbulence ModelsD CFD with Alternative Turbulence Models

WD = 180

-0.50

-0.30

-0.10

0.10

0.30

0.50

1st Tile 2nd Tile 3rd Tile

PV Position

Fo

rce

Co

eff

icie

nt

Cd meas Cd k-w Cd RNG Cd k-e

Cl meas Cl k-w Cl RNG Cl k-e

WD = 180

-1.40

-1.20

-1.00

-0.80

-0.60

-0.40

-0.20

0.00

1st Tile 2nd Tile 3rd Tile

PV Position

Mo

me

nt

Co

eff

icie

nt

measured k-omega RNG k-epsilon

CD meas CL meas

CM meas

K-e

K-ω

RNG K-e

KappaKappa--omega turbulence model chosen for subsequent calculationsomega turbulence model chosen for subsequent calculations

180180oo OrientationOrientation

3131

Forces, Forces, CdCd & & ClCl

--0.080.08--0.060.06--0.080.080.140.140.020.020.040.04

C lift yC lift y

Wind Wind

TunnelTunnel

--0.090.09--0.070.07--0.140.140.010.01--0.050.050.030.03C lift y C lift y

CFDCFD

0.240.240.120.120.180.180.330.33--0.040.040.410.41

C drag x C drag x

Wind Wind

TunnelTunnel

0.220.220.160.160.260.260.170.17--0.050.050.470.47C drag x C drag x

CFDCFD

180 180

degdeg

P3D3P3D3

180 180

degdeg

P2D2P2D2

180 180

degdeg

P1D1P1D1

0 deg0 deg

P3D3P3D3

0 deg0 deg

P2D2P2D2

0 deg0 deg

P1D1P1D1

3232

Overall Load Comparisons Between Overall Load Comparisons Between

CFD 3CFD 3--D and WT ModelsD and WT Models

00oo OrientationOrientation 180180oo OrientationOrientation

3333

SummarySummary

�� A hybrid numerical and physical model study A hybrid numerical and physical model study

of wind loading on PV arrays revealed:of wind loading on PV arrays revealed:

�� 22--D CFD simulation provide qualitative guidance,D CFD simulation provide qualitative guidance,

�� 33--D CFD simulation replicated windD CFD simulation replicated wind--tunnel tunnel

CCDD, C, CLL & C& CMM measurementsmeasurements

�� Agreement was sufficient to justify sensitivity Agreement was sufficient to justify sensitivity

study using CFD of alternative PV array study using CFD of alternative PV array

designs.designs.

3434

The EndThe End

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