Pressure distributions When the wind passes through the solar panel, this exerts a pressure load on the surface of the panel. The pressure load can be described by the following coefficient: (8) C p = 2 F p ρ u 2 S where Cp is the pressure coefficient.
In order to measure the wind loads applied on the solar panels, 36 pressure taps in total were attached on the panels measuring the pressure on the upper and lower surface of the panel. Each panel was equipped with 12 pressure taps, 6 on each side connected with tubing that passed inside the building through the roof.
The wind load on the photovoltaic panel array is sensitive to wind speed, wind direction, turbulence intensity, and the parameters of the solar photovoltaic panel structure. Many researchers have carried out experimental and numerical simulation analyses on the wind load of photovoltaic panel arrays. Table 1.
Sheikh et al. in their study have demonstrated wind pressure effect on solar array structure through a numerical investigation of drag and lift coefficient sing CFD analysis method. In their study they have shown different velocity contour with different wind inclination effect on solar panel.
Solar photovoltaic structures are affected by many kinds of loads such as static loads and wind loads. Static loads takes place when physical loads like weight or force put into it but wind loads occurs when severe wind force like hurricanes or typhoons drift around the PV panel.
A is the projected area of the panel along the pressure direction. ρ is the density of air. u is reference velocity and Fp is pressure measured at the panel. Surface pressure distribution of the average C p on the upper and lower surfaces of the array photovoltaic panels are shown in Fig. 13.