Study of Wind Load Influencing Factors of Flexibly Supported Photovoltaic Panels

Flexible photovoltaic (PV) support structures are limited by the structural system, their tilt angle is generally small, and the effect of various factors on the wind load of flexibly supported PV panels remains unclear. In order to investigate the shape coefficients of the flexibly supported PV panel arrays, the grid-independent validation is carried out first, and then the case study validation is carried out to ensure the accuracy of the method in this paper. The CFD numerical simulation method is used to obtain the wind load variation of the PV panel array with different tilt angles, different spacing ratios, different wind angles, different heights above ground, different regions, and mountainous conditions. The distribution of wind pressure coefficients on the surface of PV panels with different inclination angles at different spacing ratios was investigated. The results show that the wind load shape coefficients with the increase in tilt angle and height above ground are basically a linear growth; the maximum value of PV shape coefficients appears in the wind angle at 30°, and 150° near the different tilt angles of the flexible PV array group shape coefficients distribution law is inconsistent. Different tilt angles of PV modules with the change rule of the spacing ratio of the wind load are inconsistent and have a greater impact on the wind load, so the PV panel array in all wind direction angles under the regional shape coefficients has a recommended value. The proposed value of the regional shape coefficients at all wind angles and the wind load calculation formula introducing height coefficients and spacing ratio coefficients are given.