Analysis of structural deformation and concentrator misalignment in a roll-tilt solar tracker

Abstract

The aim of this study is, using finite element analysis, to investigate the effects of gravity and wind loadings on structural deformation and concentrator misalignment in a high concentrator photovoltaic (HCPV) system equipped with a roll-tilt form of solar tracker. Self-weight and a wind of 12 m/s blowing to the front, lateral, and rear sides of the solar tracker, were applied to calculate the stress distribution, structural deformation, and concentrator misalignment. No structural failure was predicted for all components in the given solar tracker according to von Mises failure criterion. An agreement in the trend of variation of concentrator misalignment and normal displacement of Fresnel lens in each concentrator module was found. For all cases investigated, the maximum concentrator misalignment was of 0.142° for a wind speed of 12 m/s with wind direction of 90° at a tilt angle of 1° and it was within the range of an acceptance angle of 0.5° for the given concentrator modules. Consequently, the given HCPV system is expected to operate safely under the effect of a wind speed of 12 m/s and below with a good efficiency in power generation.