Numerical study on the effects of wind load on pitched floating solar panel arrays
摘要
Floating photovoltaic (FPV) systems offer a promising pathway toward sustainable energy generation while simultaneously enhancing water resource efficiency. This study performs a detailed three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics investigation using ANSYS Fluent® to examine the aerodynamic effects of wind on pitched FPV arrays deployed over reservoir-like water bodies. Unlike previous studies, the present work integrates realistic geometric features including support floaters and maintenance walkways into the simulation framework. A 32-panel pitched FPV configuration is analyzed under both single-phase and multiphase flow conditions to assess their load demands on the FPV structures. Simulations conducted at a wind velocity of 30 m/s for various wind directions reveal that simplified single-phase models may overestimate or underestimate aerodynamic loads, depending on the flow regime. The findings underscore the importance of employing three-dimensional multiphase modeling, incorporating both air and water domains, to achieve realistic and accurate estimations of wind-induced forces on FPV panels.