MOUSTADAMA
Promoting an Energy Sustainable
Palestinian Industry
Renewable Energy Training
Design, Installation, Operations, and Maintenance of
Solar PV Systems
Module 2 –
Session 5: PV Solar Structure
6. Solar Structure
6.1 General Notes
▪ Solar Mounting Structures are the backbone of a solar power plant as they provide support to modules,
These support structures raise solar panels at appropriate angles to ensure that they receive maximum
solar irradiation
▪ Solar structures have special specifications (mechanical and electrical) that differ from other systems.
▪ The prices of solar structures depend on many factors (tilt, height…).
•
6.1 General Notes
▪ Increased interest in the structure with the increase in the size of the solar systems.
▪ The structure of the energy system is one of the most important parts of the system.
▪ Usually solar structures consist of Aluminum or Iron (galvanized).
▪ Mounting systems are used for both on-grid and off-grid systems.
Structure
Aluminum Iron
6.2 Comparison between Aluminum & Iron :
Material Of Structure
•Aluminum Iron
▪ Expensive . ▪ Cheaper (in small system)
▪ Used in Low places . ▪ Used in High-places.
▪ Flexible solutions .
▪ Very strong.
▪ Disadvantage :Corrosion .
▪ The most common used in rooftops system with
▪ The most common in solar park mounting
little tilt angle.
structure.
6.3 Types of Solar Structure
Solar Structure
Tracking Structure
Fixed Structure
▪ Fixed on the tilt angle One Axis Dual Axis
throughout the year.
▪ Usually fixed tilt angle ▪ Move in one axis (x or y). ▪ Move in two axis (x & y).
around latitude . ▪ Tracking the sun (east west
▪ Usually ( north to south).
▪ Depends on location. north south).
6.3.1 Triangles Flat rooftops Solar Structure
A) General Notes
▪ Easy installation.
▪ Flexible tilt angle (usually 15, 20, 25).
▪ For portrait & landscape installation modules.
▪ Needs blocks to fix structure.
▪ There are 3 main types (ballast, triangle, adjustable).
▪ When we use this system ?
- If the site is flat .
- More space and There are no obstacles.
6.3.2 Triangles Flat rooftops Solar Structure
B) Types Types of Triangle Flat Roof
Triangle Ballast Adjustable
6.3.3 Triangles Flat rooftops Solar Structure
C) Photos
6.3.4 Steel Structure (Iron)
General Notes
▪ Hard installation.
▪ Complex & tilt angle (usually less than 15 degree).
▪ Steel ( C14,C16,C18,5*5,PLETE20*20).
▪ Needs blocks to fix structure.
▪ More support use in system (affect wind load).
▪ When we use this system ?
- If the high of structure more than 1 m .
- If more obstacles in the rooftops .
6.3.5 Pitched Roofs (Hooks).
A) General Notes
▪ More safety when installation system.
▪ tilt angle same of tilt building.
▪ Use special hooks to install modules.
▪ No Need blocks to fix structure.
▪ Little affect wind load.
▪ When we use this system ?
Just if the building is bitched roof as the
picture.
▪ Explain data sheet in class.
6.3.6 Pitched Roofs (Hooks).
B) Photos
6.3.7 Corrugated (Warehouse)
A) General Notes
▪ More safety when installing systems.
▪ tilt angle same as building tilt.
▪ Use special rail & structure to install modules.
▪ No Need for blocks to fix structure.
▪ Wind load has less effect than snow load .
▪ When we use this system ?
Just if the building is corrugated roof as the
picture.
6.3.8 Corrugated (Warehouse)
B) Photos
6.3.9 Car Canopy (Solar Park)
A) General Notes
▪ Many types of installation (Cantilever, Canopy..)
▪ Usually tilt angle less than 10 degree.
▪ Huge structure ( iron I beam).
▪ No civil works.
▪ More affect wind load.
▪ When we use this system ?
For car park or open area, we can use above
the building.
6.3.10 Car Canopy (Solar Park)
B) Photos
6.3.10 Solar Tracking
A) General Notes
▪ The type of installation mainly in Free field.
▪ increases 10~26% yield of power generation.
▪ Always tilt angle tracks the sun.
▪ Huge structure ( iron I beam) & Ramming.
▪ More civil works.
▪ Less affect wind load.
6.3.11 Solar Tracking
B) Photos
6.3.12 Free Field (Ground Mounting).
A) General Notes
▪ Need open area.
▪ Usually out of cities.
▪ The most common in wheeling systems or PPA.
▪ Fixed tilt angle (usually 10, 15, 20, 25, 30).
▪ Needs civil works and connect in medium voltage grid.
▪ When we use this system ?
For open area (out cities) to cover
consumption other location.
6.3.13 Free Field (Ground Mounting).
B) Types Types of Free Field
Ramming Pile With Concrete Base With Ground
6.4 Main Components Mounting Structure
▪ The components of the solar structure differ from one type to another.
▪ In general, mechanical components have multiple details and are only specialized
in solar energy systems.
▪ Mechanical equipment generally consists of:
- Mid Clamp.
- End Clamp.
- Rail.
- Bracing.
- Screws.
- Main Structure (Triangle, Hooks Pitched , flat …).
- Blocks (Concrete).
- Connecters.
- Plates.
6.4.1 Mid Clamp
▪ Installed between two modules.
6.4.2 End Clamp
▪ Installed end of module.
6.4.3 Rail
▪ Installed under module.
▪ Connect with end & mid clamp.
6.4.4 Bracing
▪ Support the structure.
▪ Installed back of structure.
6.4.5 Screws & Bolts
▪ Support & fix the structure.
▪ Multi types.
6.5 Load Effect
▪ Photovoltaic systems engineer not only to become familiar with local building code requirements, but also to
compute the minimum structural design loads that are relevant for a given location.
▪ The design of systems varies from one engineer to another, and the specifications differ according to each country.
▪ The ASCE standard provides instructions and formulas for computing the following types of loads:
• Dead loads = Own weigh + 11 kg /m2
• Live loads
• Soil and hydrostatic pressure and flood loads
• Wind loads
• Snow loads
• Rain loads
• Earthquake loads
• Ice loads – atmospheric icing
• Combinations of the above loads.
6.5.1 Wind Load
▪ Usually max wind load for modules around 2400 Pascal.
6.5.1 Wind Load
▪ For example:
•Wind load: [Jordanian code for loads & forces, July/2006]
•Sb =1.71 (four-story building
•Ve=33.33*(Sb/1.62) = 35.18 m/s
•qs=0.613*Ve^2 ≥ 550 N/m2 = 759 N/m2
•Ca = 0.95
•Cp = +1.4 / -1.8
•Pe=qs*Cp*Ca = (+1.06 / -1.37)
6.5.1 Wind Load
6.5.2 Snow Load
▪ Snow loads on photovoltaic arrays and on sloped roofs decrease as the tilt angles and slopes increase.
▪ There are two reasons for this:
-First, as the tilt angle increases, the component of the weight force parallel to the array surface
increases relative to the component normal to the array surface, thus helping to shed the snow.
-Second, wind forces tend to shed the snow from the array.
6.5.2 Snow Load
▪ Snow load: [Jordanian code for loads & forces, July/2006]
•h = 1080 m (School example)
•So = (h . 400) / 320 = (1080 . 400) / 320 = 2.125 kN/ m2
•μ= 0.8
•Sd = 2.125 x 0.8 = 1.7 kN/ m2
6.6 Construction drawings
6.6 Construction drawings
▪ 2D Layout
▪ Cable in cable tray
▪ Cable from roof mount cable tray
▪ Earth pit
▪ PV module installation details
▪ PV structure
▪ 3D view
PV Structure
Information in structure scheme
A data sheet for the array mounting system shall be
provided. If the mounting structure was custom
engineered, the relevant documentation should be
included.
Construction drawings – Annex 03
Single Line Diagram (SLD)
Information in SLD
•1) Array (General)
PV types, total modules, number of strings , number of modules per strings.
•2) PV String Information
Cable size and type ( the most common 4,6,10 mm^2).
•3) AC System
AC Protection, Size of cable, total current… .
•4) Earthing & Overvoltage Protection
Details of all earth/ conductors, Lightning Protection System(LPS)
•Refer to Annex 04 for example of SLD
Planimetry & PV String Layout
Information in Layout
- Tilt and Orientation.
- For systems with three or more strings, a layout
drawing of the PV system showing how the array is split
and connected into strings shall be provided.
Example of SLD – Annex 04
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