Wind Flow and Its Interaction with a Mobile Solar PV System Mounted on a Trailer

Abstract

Efficient implementation of clean energy technologies is paramount, with mobile solar PV systems on trailers (MSPTs) emerging as pivotal solutions, particularly in regions with limited power grid access. This endeavour is vital for meeting escalating electricity demands and aligning with the UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG), aimed at ensuring dependable and sustainable energy provision in developing countries. This study investigates the aerodynamic behaviour of a designed MSPT using numerical simulation and experimental methods, thereby offering optimization potential for MSPT design and enhancing overall performance and reliability. Specifically, the study focuses on the effects of wind velocity and tilt angles on the drag and lift forces, as well as drag and lift coefficients on the panel used in the MSPT system. The overall wind force on the entire MSPT, including nine large solar PV panels, is scrutinised, considering combined wind flow and system geometry effects. The numerical investigations were conducted using ANSYS-Fluent software (version 2022/R2) and experimental testing was performed within the C15-10 Wind Tunnel, utilizing scaled-down models to validate the accuracy of the simulation. The findings from the numerical investigations showed an increased turbulence caused by gaps between panels, resulting in almost 62% higher suction flow velocity and 22% higher suction pressure compared to a single panel. Drag and lift forces on the entire MSPT were approximately 6.7 and 7.8 times greater than those on a single panel with the same 30-degree tilt angle, respectively. The findings revealed that scaling forces on a single panel is insufficient for accurately predicting the aerodynamic forces on the entire MSPT. The insights and the knowledge from this study pave the way for further improvements in mobile solar PV technology.

Publication DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/su16052038
Divisions: College of Engineering & Physical Sciences > Aston Fluids Group
College of Engineering & Physical Sciences
Aston University (General)
Additional Information: Copyright © 2024 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
Uncontrolled Keywords: aerodynamic,Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD),mobile solar PV system,Sustainable Development Goal (SDG),wind effects,Computer Science (miscellaneous),Geography, Planning and Development,Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment,Environmental Science (miscellaneous),Energy Engineering and Power Technology,Hardware and Architecture,Computer Networks and Communications,Management, Monitoring, Policy and Law
Publication ISSN: 2071-1050
Last Modified: 26 Mar 2025 18:02
Date Deposited: 19 Feb 2025 15:57
Full Text Link:
Related URLs: http://www.scop ... tnerID=8YFLogxK (Scopus URL)
https://www.mdp ... -1050/16/5/2038 (Publisher URL)
PURE Output Type: Article
Published Date: 2024-02-29
Accepted Date: 2024-02-11
Authors: Eslami Majd, Alireza
Adebayo, David S. (ORCID Profile 0000-0002-2744-8847)
Tchuenbou-Magaia, Fideline
Willetts, James
Nwosu, Dave
Matthews, Zackery
Ekere, Nduka Nnamdi

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