INTELLIGENCE

BEYOND STEEL

Evolution of trackers
a tailor-made generation
for maximum flexibility

IVAN ARKIPOFF – Chief Technology Officer, PVH

EDUARDO CHILLARON – Design & Eng. Manager, PVH
HEATHER SAUDER – Senior Engineer, CPP
Who We Are

We are a manufacturer and provider of

advanced solar mounting solutions for
the global utility-scale solar PV market.
190+ 70+ 10+
Our fixed-tilt and solar tracker product PV PLANTS
PV PLANTS PROVIDED GW PROVIDED
lines, are designed and engineered by ABOVE 50 MW
IN 5 CONTINENTS WORLDWIDE
experienced professionals to offer the
lowest total installation cost while
providing unparalleled customer
service and support throughout all
phases of the project.

We have our own tax exempt area and

an Innovation Center where we
optimize the performance of our solar
trackers.

©PVHardware 2021 2
Our Product Line

2V 3H

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Large Format Modules
Ultra high power modules: from 330W to 400+W > 500+W > 600+W…

Main Challenges
• Larger and heavier modules

• Lack of size standardization => one tracker size fits

all does not apply any more

• Multiple strings configurations

(2x1) m , 20 kg (2,4x1,3) m , 38 kg

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M10 & M12 based modules major trends
Mod.
Cell size mm Wafer format Cell type N. of cells L mm W mm Wt. Kg Power W Voc V Isc A Modules/string Power/String W
configuration

A 1/2 M10 144 (2x12x6) 2256 1133 32,3 540 49,5 13,85 28 15120
182x182 M10
B 1/2 M10 156(2x13x6) 2411 1134 35,5 585 53,5 13,77 26 15210

C 1/3 M12 120(2x10x6) 2172 1303 32,5 600 40,9 18,37 33 19800
210x210 M12
D 1/3 M12 132(2x11x6) 2384 1303 35,7 660 45,4 18,47 30 19800

A 97,02 m / 3 STRINGS

B
1P
86,75 m / 3 STRINGS

C 87,45 m / 2 STRINGS
length
D 79.50 m / 2 STRINGS

17,52 m

A 16,17 x 4,66 m / 1 string C 21,87 x 4,5 m / 1 string

2P
1 string B 14,46 x 4,98 m / 1 string D 19,88 x 4,92 m / 1 string
interwined

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CPP Wind Engineering & Air Quality Consultants

Davenport & Cermak testing the World Trade Wind Tunnel Solar Pressure Study
Wind Tunnel Solar Aeroelastic Study
Center, 1964 (above), Peterson, Peterka, Cermark (assumed static structure)
(below)

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Effects of Larger Modules
Wind Loads

• The top edge of the panel is higher off the ground

meaning it will see higher wind loads.

• The bottom edge of the panel is potentially closer

to the ground.

Larger Modules = Larger Area = Larger Load

• Are the posts closer together to handle the higher

load?
• Wind is more highly correlated across the
area yielding a higher wind load, particularly
for the array edges.

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Effects of Larger Modules
Aeroelastic Instability

• Change is Chord = Change in Frequency (and potentially

damping)

• Behavior is quite different depending on tilt

• Does not scale with natural frequency
• High tilt behavior is hard to predict
• Damping could be lower (should be confirmed
with a pluck test)

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MECHANICAL RE-ENGINEERING
Introduction

Main effects of new large modules in trackers:

• Mass increase -> Lower natural frequency

• Longer tracker -> Lower torsional stiffness

• High effect on aerolastic critical wind speed

CHORD
• Higher wind force and moment coefficients

• High exposed area to wind

• High load on module surface

• Higher torque on slew drive

WIDTH

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The independent row tracker specifically designed for
ultra high power modules

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MECHANICAL RE-ENGINEERING
Impact in 1P and 2P trackers

 1P trackers:
• Chord ~2.4m
• Length 90~100m
• Lower torsional stiffness and frequency
• Higher loads will affect piles span, profiles sections and foundation
• Collaboration with solar module suppliers to validate fixations

 2P trackers:
• Chord ~5m
• Length ~70m
• Huge exposed wind area
• Collaboration with solar module suppliers to validate fixations

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MECHANICAL RE-ENGINEERING
Monoline+ 1P

• 1P tracker until ~100m per row

• Single motor per row

• New post head to better terrain adaptability

• Higher post installation tolerance

• High stow angle to mitigate aerolastic effects

• Compatibility approval with main solar module suppliers

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MECHANICAL RE-ENGINEERING
Monoline+ 2P

• 2P tracker until ~70m • Modular solution

• Panel Rail fixation reinforce • High terrain adaptability. 23.5% in N-S slope each ~20 meters

• 2x more robust torque tube • 1 central controller per 3 distributed drives

• Higher torsional stiffness with several lock points • Compatibility approval with main solar module suppliers

• Shallow stow angle

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MECHANICAL RE-ENGINEERING
Monoline+ 2P

• 2P tracker until ~70m • Modular solution

• Panel Rail fixation reinforce • High terrain adaptability. 23.5% in N-S slope each ~20 meters

• 2x more robust torque tube • 1 central controller per 3 distributed drives

• Higher torsional stiffness with several lock points • Compatibility approval with main solar module suppliers

• Shallow stow angle

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Distributed Drive System in 2P
Designed for highest terrain adaptability and wind resistance

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 Adaptive Backtracking 3D
Our approach

• 3D modelling to assess losses in PVSyst

• Adaptative Backtracking 3D to optimize

production for complex terrain PV plants
sites

• Metaheuristic optimization and machine

learning algorithm

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Adaptive Backtracking on standard 2P – 120m tracker

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Adaptive Backtracking on Monoline+ 2P

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Challenges for Wireless Communication
Signal Loss and Interference

• Bigger solar arrays also poses a

challenge for wireless
communication as radiowaves
need to pass through several
layers of metal and glass

• This can make communication

challenging, especially when
trackers are at their maximum
orientation

• It is very important to ensure

reliable communication , especially
in case of wind alarm

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LoRa Wireless Technology
Key features

• Long Range

• Low Power

• High-Capacity

• Secure

• Robustness

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Conclusion

Complete redesign necessary to adapt to new large format modules

PVH continues collaboration with CPP to validate its design with full aerolastic wind tunnel testing

Available in 1P and 2P configurations

Increased adaptability to terrain (mechanical and software)

Adaptative Backtracking 3D effectively minimizes shadow losses

For terrain with complex topology, Monoline+ 2P configuration provides additional benefit

Long range and robust wireless communication with LoRa technology

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THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST

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