The caterpillar effect

The solar industry is still debating the extent to which this problem, whereby temperature-related expansions and contractions cause an installed system to move gradually across a rooftop, actually occurs in flat-roof PV systems, and what a practical remedy might look like.

Issue 08-2018

Layout of the PMT climate container. The left rail is connected to the test roof via a force measurement device. The right rail is not connected. The test is designed to show whether the right rail is moving and how much force is required on the left rail to suppress the movement.

Photo: PMT

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