Wind Loads on a PV Array.

Featured Application: This study determines the wind loads for a photovoltaic (PV) array at a high angle of tilt. The data is useful for the detailed structural design of an offshore PV array. This study experimentally determines the wind loads on a stand-alone solar array (length-to-width ratio of 0.19; 1/10-scale commercial modules). The freestream velocity in a uniform flow is 14.5 ± 0.1 m/s, and the turbulence intensity is 0.3%. The angle of tilt ranges from 10° to 80° and the wind is incident at angle of 0°–180°. Mean surface pressure measurements on the upper and the lower surface of the inclined solar panels are used to calculate the lift coefficient. For the angle of incidence of 0°–60° for the wind, the variation in the lift coefficient with the angle of tilt is U-shaped. The formation of a strong windward corner vortex results in greater lift force on the right half of the inclined plate for the angle of incidence of 30°–45° for the wind. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]