CFD-Based Simulation for the Stability of Floating Solar Arrays

Abstract

Abstract Floating solar energy technology, among other renewable energy, is growing exponentially, owing to reduced water evaporation from the water body and much less land requirement. Floating Photovoltaic (FPV) panels can be installed in any water body, viz. lakes, balancing reservoirs, backwaters, dam reservoirs etc. However, the FPV system is very complex due to the involvement of multiple types of equipment to name a few: - floats, anchoring & mooring system, solar modules, string monitoring unit, power conditioning units, LV switchgear, cables, inverter transformer, AC & DC cables, lightning arrestors etc. Further, this complexity increases during different project phases (erection, installation, towing of arrays, commissioning etc.), with variable water depth due to bathymetry and frequent water level changes in the case of a dam reservoir. In addition to that, system connection must be flexible with modular installation. Worldwide, FPV is gaining commercial interest due to its low LCOE and researcher interest due to its vast research potential. One significant challenge in the design, engineering & installation of FPV is the unavailability of international codes & standards. The only recommended practice for FPV is DNVGL-RP-0584, which still requires many improvements. While designing the system, most industries follow the extreme wind conditions applicable for buildings but do not precisely describe the situation specific to floating solar. In the recent past, one of the floating solar parks collapsed due to a strong wind gust[1]. A solar array is first modelled in the present work, and its aerodynamics is investigated through CFD in ANSYS FLUENT. A parametric study is then carried out with the variable inclination angle of solar panels. The wind loads are then compared with a standard analytical approach considering the wind pressure acting on the projected area. An optimized size of the solar array is recommended based on CFD loads at a particular inclination angle of the solar panel. Such a study helps design an FPV park without the code.