Snow Shedding Strategies for Enhanced Performance of Photovoltaic Single Axis Tracker Systems in Winter Conditions
Document Type
Conference Proceeding
Publication Date
11-15-2024
Department
Department of Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics
Abstract
This research aims to optimize energy generation in regions facing substantial snowfall using a novel snow sensing system validated for continuous monitoring of snow cover on single-axis tracker photovoltaic systems. Utilizing controlled tilting during snowfall events, the project leverages the tracker's drive system to control panel array motion, thereby minimizing snow accumulation and facilitating shedding. The in-house testing rig, equipped with two plane-of-array pyranometers, supports comprehensive studies on single-axis tracker systems, including snow cover patterns and snow behavior on rotating panels. Experiments evaluating the impact of tilt during snow events ranged from extreme tilting at -52 degrees to 52 degrees and horizontal tilting at 0 degrees, with considerations for wind-induced shedding. Baseline results from a significant snow event in March 2023 inform the planned experiments to optimize snow shedding and enhance energy generation and we are expecting 2024 winter data. This work is supporting the development of an advanced algorithm to automatically adjust the trackers to reduce snow shading and increase generation during winter. Such an automated solution for reducing and shedding snow accumulation has the potential to become an industry standard akin to established algorithms like backtracking and ray tracing.
Publication Title
Conference Record of the IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference
ISBN
9781665464260
Recommended Citation
Chutani, A.,
Dyreson, A.,
&
Burnham, L.
(2024).
Snow Shedding Strategies for Enhanced Performance of Photovoltaic Single Axis Tracker Systems in Winter Conditions.
Conference Record of the IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference, 478-481.
http://doi.org/10.1109/PVSC57443.2024.10749493
Retrieved from: https://digitalcommons.mtu.edu/michigantech-p2/1308
