Solar Power World

Finding wind loads on solar arrays

The most productive solar PV panels are those that track the sun’s position for maximum exposure. But the wind often works at cross purposes of solar arrays by pushing them off their aim. To find the wind forces on a 5-m diameter PV disc, Andrei Georgescu and A. Damon at the Technical University of Civil Engineering in Bucharest modeled a support structure with a double-tracking mechanism, one that allows pointing the disk at the sun throughout the day. The pressure distribution... Read More

Multiphysics Modeling Analyzes Materials to Revolutionize Solar Energy

Solar collector designs based on polymers replace metal with plastics and offer potential of far lower costs. To analyze these designs, researchers must model factors like heat transfer, structural deformation, and stress. About half of fossil fuels are used in heating, so there is a huge potential in replacing them with renewable sources such as solar power. But standard solar collectors use copper or aluminum as the energy-absorbing material, so if we were to supply just 1%... Read More