Professional Documents
Culture Documents
ISSN: 2278-0181
Vol. 2 Issue 12, December - 2013
This paper deals with the design and stability Vb : Basic wind speed of the Zone under
analysis of a solar panel supporting structure consideration, m/s
used as a fuel station in green automobile l ,b : Length and Width of the roof of the
engineering. The present work is a part of the structure on which solar panels are
project named “Sun 2 Car” of Mahindra Reva mounted, m
Ltd and the design is used by the company to meet
their industrial needs. The design of solar panel A : Actual area or total area of roof, m2
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supporting structure and the effects of wind force
on its structural stability is discussed in this paper. Ae : Effective area or Projected Area,m2
The measures for preventing the overturning of
C : Overturning couple due to the wind
the structure are also discussed. Due to the wind
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force, Nm
force, a reaction force is experienced on the
structure and the structure will retain its stable F wind : The wind force acting on the roof of
state, only if this reaction force is compensated by solar panel structure, N
the force due the self-weight of the structure. The
structure under consideration is able to hold 8 FR : Reaction force acting on the structure
solar panels of 1kW capacity each and can due to C, N
withstand the wind velocity experiencing at
F1 : Reaction force experienced on each base
different locations of India. This structure can
leg of structure due to C, N
use anywhere in India (calculations are based on
wind zones of India), and can freely place W : Total weight of structure including solar
anywhere as the base has no holding panels, N
arrangements. The design is optimized for easy
assembly, dismantle and transportation. W1 : Weight experienced in each base leg of
structure, N
Keywords
Solar Panel supporters, Solar cars, Steel structures, H : The distance between point of
Wind zones of India application of load and base point of
structure, m
Nomenclature a : The distance between C.G and base point
C.G : Centre of Gravity of structure in y axis of structure, m
w.r.t base coordinate system. h : Distance between the centre of gravity of
(from test model),m structure at a particular angle and the
point of application of load , m
α : Angle of inclination of roof w.r.t
x : It is the distance between the primary
horizontal direction of wind , Degrees
touching points of the base legs, m
P wind :Wind Pressure acting on roof of the
structure, N/m2
m : Total mass of the structure including Their project named as “Sun 2 Car” is a
solar panels, kg. promising one in the R&D development of future
green automobile technology. Recently they
g : Acceleration due to gravity= 9.81 m/s2 released the new generation solar cars- NXG and
k1 :Risk coefficient or probability factor. NXR. By considering the scope and future, they are
For all general building and structures planning to provide solar fuel stations across the
with a wind velocity of 55m/s, it is country. As a part of their fulfilment, we designed
1. Various values are given in table.2 the structure as mentioned in abstract.
This overturning couple imparts a reaction mild steel. It is shown in fig. 2, also
force at the base of the structure. This reaction various parameters are given.
force can be calculated by using the following
expression.
FR = (6)
F1 = (7)
W1 = (9)
Total mass of the structure, m = 425 kg
Total Height of the Structure, H = 3.123m
For stability of structure due to wind force, the
general condition can obtain equating the equations Distance between the primary touching points of
(7) & (9). the base legs,x = 1 m
F1 ≤ W1
3.3 Assumptions:
W ≥ 2 FR
Minimum condition for stability is i. The structure is symmetric about any
vertical plane.
W = 2 FR
ii. The wind load is acting in horizontal
i.e., the weight of the structure should be twice of direction.
the reaction force of wind. iii. Depth / thickness of panels is ignored.
iv. Wind load is acting with a constant
This is the generalised stability condition of velocity.
structure for wind force.
v. Structure is placed in horizontal position.
3. Test model and experimental vi. Only wind force is acting on the structure.
methodology Other force are out of scope of this study.
vii. The wind force is acting at the tip of the
structure.
3.1 Test model
Using one of the most popular CAD
Modelling software CREO 2.0, the test
model of solar panel supporting structure
was created with proper material, here
Reaction force, FR = N
FR = 722.60 N
W = 4170 N
Applying stability condition,
W ≥ 2 FR
4170 ≥ (2 x 722.552)
4170 ≥ 1445.108
The condition is satisfied.
The structure is able to withstand the wind load
with a velocity of 55 m/s and 50 angle of
inclination. Therefore, the structure is stable.
Table.1: Total Reaction Force for All Wind
Zones.
a h= H-a
FR =(P x A x h x )/x
(m) (m)
(N)
( 0)
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ZONE 1 ZONE 2 ZONE 3 ZONE 4 ZONE 5 ZONE 6
0 2.61390 0.509 0 0 0 0 0 0
1 2.60113 0.522 132.254 109.3 96.58 84.64 66.5 47.61
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Mean k1 factor for Basic Wind Speed Terrain and Height Multiplier (k2)
probab Height
(z) Terrain Terrain Terrain Terrain
le category category category category
Class of design (m)
5 1 2 3 4
structure life of 33 39 44 47 50 10 1.05 1.00 0.91 0.80
5
structu 15 1.09 1.05 0.97 0.80
re 20 1.12 1.07 1.01 0.80
(years) 30 1.15 1.12 1.06 0.97
All general 1 50 1.20 1.17 1.12 1.10
buildings and 50 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 .
100 1.26 1.24 1.20 1.20
structures. 0
150 1.30 1.28 1.24 1.24
Temporary 0
0.7 0.7 . 200 1.32 1.30 1.27 1.27
shed, 5 0.82 0.76 0.70
3 1 6 250 1.34 1.32 1.29 1.28
structures
7 300 1.35 1.34 1.31 1.30
Building and 350 1.37 1.36 1.32 1.31
structures 400 1.38 1.37 1.34 1.32
presenting a 0 450 1.39 1.38 1.35 1.33
low degree of 0.9 0.9 . 500 1.40 1.39 1.36 1.34
25 0.94 0.92 0.90
hazard to life 1 0 8
9 Note: For intermediate values of height z and terrain
and property category, use linear interpolation
in the event of
failure.
Important
buildings and 1
structure such 1.0 1.0 .
100 1.05 1.06 1.08
as hospitals, 7 7 0
communicatio 8
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n towers, etc.
inclination
Conclusion References
The design of solar panel supporting structure is [1]. M.S.S Murthy, “The Unseen Sun”, Science Reporter,
done and the effects of wind force on its structure November 2010 (Vol.47, ISSN: 0036-8512), NISCAIR-
stability is analysed. Due to the wind force, a CSIR Publication, pp.8-12.
reaction force is experienced on the structure and [2]. www.mahindrareva.com, “About Us” web portal
the structure will retain its stable state, only if this
reaction force is compensated by the force due the [3]. Dr.Ramachandra , Virendra Gehlot, “Calculation of
self-weight of the structure. wind load”, Design of Steel Structure (Based on IS: 800-
2007) (Vol.1, 13th edition-2011, ISBN: 978-81-7233-
From the graph shown in figure.4, we can calculate 654-7) Scientific Publishers (India), pp.742-751
the required amount of weight to withstand the [4]. IS: 875 Part-3, 1987, Indian Standard Institute.
wind force. The calculations are based on wind
zones of India and can freely place anywhere as the [5]. N.Subramanian, “Wind load calculations”, Design of
base has no holding arrangements. The design is Steel Structures (7th impression 2011, ISBN: 10-0-19-
optimized for easy assembly, dismantle and 567681-5), Oxford University Press, pp.209-216.
transportation.
In future, this structure will be used as the fuel
stations to meet the energy requirement of solar
cars, as it can be used for domestic purpose,
commercial purpose.
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