Wind Load Effects on Flat Plate Solar Collectors

Solar collectors comprise the most visible aspect of large photovoltaic central stations, yet structural costs represent only about 15% of total plant costs. Although the design wind speed is the controlling design parameter, the incremental cost of a station with fixed flat plate collectors is increased only about 2% when the design wind speed is increased from 90–110 mph (40–49 m/s). It is equally significant to select a site with stiff soil properties to reduce foundation costs. For one‐axis tracking collectors, which typically stow horizontally at 38 mph (17 m/s), the maximum wind speed is unimportant. Use of a simplified wind pressure distribution in place of wind tunnel test data provides a conservative design except for collectors subject to severe turbulence effects near the edge of the field. The aeroelastic behavior of collectors should be investigated in wind tunnels to evaluate the potential for unacceptable vibrations due to vortex shedding or flutter.