The use of photovoltaic technologies is increasing rapidly worldwide. PV modules are required to pass several standardized mechanical tests to ensure their long-term performance under various climate conditions, with often challenging snow and wind loads. These tests are costly and take a long time, it is therefore beneficial to use numerical approaches in order to reliably model the mechanical strength of PV modules while under design phase. The choice of module components; e.g. framed vs. frameless, double-glass vs. glass-backsheet have consequences on the structural strength of modules, just as the conditions of their fixation to their tracked or fixed-tilt support. In this study, the static structural analysis of an aluminum-framed, double-glass module has been done at different anchoring separation distances, using finite elements method with the help of ANSYS software. Loading values of 1800Pa, 2400Pa, 3600Pa and 5400Pa has been used, as well as bolt fixation gaps of 400 mm, 600 mm, 1176mm along the frame side. The effect on the structural strength of an additional L-profile support along the frame side that spans the distance between 400mm and 1176mm anchoring points has also been investigated. The thicknesses of module components were taken as 2.5mm for front and back glasses, 0.4mm for both POE encapsulant layers and 0.2mm for silicon cells. These layers were inserted into a 6063-T5-alloy aluminum frame which has been solid-modelled in detail. The overall module dimensions were 2024 mm × 1004 mm × 40mm.
Anahtar Kelimeler: Finite element analysis, Photovoltaic, Structural analysis
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