Title :
Evaluation of non-uniform mechanical loads on solar modules
Author :
Dietrich, Stefan ; Zeller, Ulli ; Pander, Matthias ; Ebert, Matthias
Author_Institution :
Fraunhofer - Center for Silicon-Photovoltaics, Halle, Germany
Abstract :
Solar Modules are subjected to wind loads, leading to a non-uniform pressure distribution across the module. By means of CFD simulations the pressure profile was calculated. The pressure was transferred to a mechanical simulation calculating the stresses in the glass and solar cells. Applying a reliability concept for brittle materials the probability of failure of glass and cells was evaluated. A parameter study was carried out changing the inclination of the module as well as the wind direction.
Keywords :
brittleness; computational fluid dynamics; failure (mechanical); glass; probability; reliability; solar cells; CFD simulation; brittle material; failure probability; glass; mechanical simulation; nonuniform mechanical load evaluation; nonuniform pressure distribution; reliability concept; solar module; stress calculation; Computational fluid dynamics; Glass; IEC standards; Load modeling; Silicon; Stress; glass; reliability; simulation; solar cells; solar modules; wind loads;
Conference_Titel :
Photovoltaic Specialists Conference (PVSC), 2013 IEEE 39th
Conference_Location :
Tampa, FL
DOI :
10.1109/PVSC.2013.6745093
