The importance of wind testing when choosing a solar tracker supplier

Challenging weather conditions are becoming the new normal for solar developers and asset owners, requiring new measures to manage risks and ensure returns.wind speed sensor, solar tracker system, solar tracking system, solar damper

Understanding the importance of wind testing and how different types of wind forces impact tracker design and production can aid power producers in securing the right single-axis tracker technology for their site and region.

A variety of elements impact how wind affects solar trackers on each individual site, ranging from local weather phenomenon and topography to the influence of other nearby structures or objects. Because no two PV sites are the same, each demands site-specific customizations, which adds complexity to designing these projects.wind speed sensor, solar tracker system, solar tracking system, solar damper

If wind profiles aren’t properly accounted for in a tracker’s design, asset owners may face a chain of events, including remedial expenses and downtime as well as lower energy yields, and ultimately falling short of financial targets.

Looking at the technical nuances involved in designing for different types of winds, and understanding how proper tracker testing can influence tracker design features such as stow angles and damping drives the stable aerodynamics for long-term performance.

There’s something in the wind

Careful assessment of a site’s wind conditions makes it possible to ask the right questions from the start.

Variability in wind speed, turbulence and direction all can have unexpected effects on solar trackers and their surrounding environment. Understanding wind effects helps developers and EPCs account for uncertainties and optimize yield.

Wind effects can be classified into three main categories: static, dynamic, and aeroelastic.

• Static wind forces exert steady and constant pressure on a tracker, which can cause deflection or bending of the structure that affects the performance and accuracy of the tracking mechanism.wind speed sensor, solar tracker system, solar tracking system, solar damper
• Dynamic wind forces are less predictable, fluctuating in speed and direction, which can cause significant vibrations and stress on a tracker, reducing tracking accuracy and causing panel misalignment as well as component wear and tear. Advanced aerodynamic models that consider turbulence, gusts and other variations should be used to account for these dynamic wind loads.
• Aeroelastic wind forces occur when a tracker interacts with surrounding airflow. Among the aeroelastic effects are resonant vibration, torsional flutter and torsional galloping, all of which can cause uncontrolled vibrations or oscillations, leading to misalignment, reduced tracking accuracy or component failure. Tracker design must focus on countering these effects to achieve aerodynamic stability.wind speed sensor, solar tracker system, solar tracking system, solar damper