Parametric analysis of self-excited aeroelastic instability of an isolated single-axis two-dimensional flat solar tracker
Year: 2024
Type: article
Abstract: The escalating global energy demand is driving a transition towards sustainable energy sources, particularly solar power, which is experiencing significant growth. Single-axis, horizontally-mounted photovoltaic (PV) solar trackers are emerging as one of the most cost-effective methods for solar energy generation. However, increasing aeroelastic issues due to reduced structural stiffness (involving some catastrophic failures worldwide) present significant challenges. Recent aerodynamic studies have attributed these instabilities to stall flutter. The absence of a validated theory hampers early estimation of these aeroelastic phenomena. The primary aim is to develop a semi-empirical framework to predict aeroelastic instabilities in isolated two-dimensional solar trackers, focusing on dynamic self-excited responses. This effort seeks to enhance the reliability and efficiency of solar tracker designs, optimizing their energy exploitation amid evolving renewable energy landscapes. The semi-empirical formulation developed here reveals the influence of geometric and mechanical characteristics on the critical wind speed at which aeroelastic instabilities set in. It is shown that, for a large reduced inertia (m∗), this parameter has little impact on the critical wind speed, whereas for a low reduced inertia, it significantly determines the critical wind speed. The mechanical damping coefficient (ξmech) also affects the critical wind speed of the solar tracker in a similar way.
Source: Results in Engineering
Institution: Universidad Politécnica de Madrid
Language: English
Subfield: Aerospace Engineering
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $1,490
OpenAlex ID: W4404864833