Featured in Solar springs eternal – 09-2023

Outperforming the weather

Extreme weather is increasingly becoming the norm for solar developers. Wind testing plays a critical role in discerning how wind speeds, turbulence, and shifting direction can affect the design and production of solar trackers. Chase Anderson, director of product development at Terrasmart, explains the need for proper wind testing.

By

pv magazine

07 Sep 2023

Wind tunnel testing also helps tracker designers to calculate the ideal height and number of foundations for systems. | Photo: Terrasmart

Wind forces can be categorized into three main types. Static forces exert constant pressure on a tracker, causing deflection or bending that affects tracking mechanism accuracy. Dynamic forces are less predictable and speed and direction fluctuations can cause vibration and stress, reducing tracking accuracy, misaligning panels, and increasing component wear and tear. Advanced aerodynamic models …

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