Experimental and numerical study on the aerodynamic characteristics of a double-row photovoltaic panel

Double-row flexible photovoltaic support is a new type of structure that has excellent site adaptability and cost-effectiveness. However, methods for calculating wind loads of such structures are missing in the current standards or codes. Therefore, it is essential to study the aerodynamic characteristics of double-row flexible photovoltaic (PV) panels. First, a rigid model is designed and fabricated to conduct a wind tunnel test, and the average wind pressure coefficients of the PV panels under various wind directions are obtained. Then, the wind pressure distribution characteristics on the PV panels were analysed, further revealing the unevenness of the wind pressure distribution on different panels. Additionally, the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) method was used to supplement the conditions under which wind tunnel tests cannot be carried out. The results indicate that the wind direction and inclination angle of PV panels significantly impact the wind pressure distribution. The maximum wind pressure coefficient and uneven wind pressure coefficient are −1.572 and 2.105, respectively, appearing at the top left corner of zone A with the 300° wind direction. In addition, the overall wind pressure coefficient in the leeward direction is greater than that in the windward direction. When the inclination angle exceeds 25°, the wind pressure coefficient of the PV panel fluctuates significantly, potentially resulting in adverse effects of wind on the overall structure. The research results can provide a positive reference for the wind resistance design of double-row flexible PV supports.