Studying Effects of Fence and Sheltering on the Aerodynamic Forces Experienced by Parabolic Trough Solar Collectors

Abstract

Influences of proper fence installation around solar farms for decreasing aerodynamic factors due to wind force on parabolic trough collectors are comprehensively studied using two-dimensional computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model. Fences are treated as porous media to be investigated from the viewpoint of their influences on wind flow. The aerodynamic factors are calculated for the collectors in case of different fence types. Comprehensive discussions about the effects of types of employed fences and their distance from the first row collectors as well as collectors' slope angle on aerodynamic forces are also presented. Sheltering and fence effects are considered by an innovative modeling approach that is proposed in this study. It is shown that fence installation can considerably decrease aerodynamic factors. Effects of formed vortices behind collectors were significant and should be taken into consideration during the design. Brick-type fences are shown to behave poor while lace-type fences are advised.