What is photovoltaic?
In 1839, France Becquerel discovered for the first time that under light conditions, there is voltage at both ends of some solid systems, and the two ends are connected with wires, and there will be current output. This is the photovoltaic effect (photovoltaics referred to as PV)
In 1954, Bell Labs Chapin and others developed a single-product silicon solar ground with an efficiency of 6%, and the era of modern silicon solar power began.
The realization of solar photovoltaic is to use solar panels made of semiconductors such as silicon to generate direct current by using light. Since 1958, the photovoltaic effect of solar energy has been used for the first time in the field of energy supply for space satellites in the form of solar electricity. Today, it can be as small as the energy supply of automatic parking meters, roof solar panels, and as large as a large-scale solar power generation center. , and its application in the field of power generation has spread all over the world.
Photovoltaic technology offers many advantages:
1. No mechanical moving parts;
2. In addition to sunlight, no other fuel is required;
3. Can work under direct sunlight and exposure;
4. At the same time, solar modules require no maintenance and minimize operating costs;
5. The site selection is convenient and flexible, and the roofs and open spaces in the city can be used.
How does solar work?
Solar power works by converting energy from the sun into power. There are two forms of energy generated from the sun for our use – electricity and heat.
Both are generated through the use of solar panels, which range in size from residential rooftops to ‘solar farms’ stretching over acres of rural land.
Once you got a solar panel on a roof, energy is free. Once we convert our entire electricity grid to green and renewable energy, cost of living goes down.
What are solar farms?
Solar farms,also known as solar parks or solar fields, are large areas of land containing interconnected solar panels positioned together over many acres, to harvest large amounts of solar energy at the same time. Solar farms are designed for large-scale solar energy generation that feed directly into the grid, as opposed to individual solar panels that usually power a single home or building.
Routine inspection and regular maintenance of PV power systems are very important. How to properly maintain your solar system during the holidays?
1. Make inspection plans and inspection personnel arrangements in advance, regularly check the overall operation of the photovoltaic power generation system, observe the equipment meter measurement and detection table and monitor the data displayed by the detection system, conduct regular inspections, and make inspection records. Generally, systems with a capacity greater than 80kW need to be equipped with a person to inspect, and systems with a capacity less than 80kW can be inspected by the user. Check to understand the operating records, analyze the operation of the photovoltaic system, determine the operating status of the photovoltaic power generation system, and immediately carry out professional maintenance guidance if problems are found.
2. Observe whether the surface of the battery array is clean, remove dust and dirt in time, rinse with water or wipe with a clean cloth, but do not use chemical reagents for cleaning. Check whether the wiring is off.
3, pay attention to the appearance of all equipment corrosion and breakage, observe whether there is deformation and cracks in the battery shell, whether there is liquid leakage, whether the state of charging and discharging is good, regularly clean the inverter cooling fan Check whether it is normal The method of infrared detection can be used to check the PV power generation arrays, lines and power-using equipment to find out the causes of abnormal heating and fault points.
4. A full set of technical drawings of the photovoltaic power generation system, electrical main wiring diagram, equipment inspection roadmap, etc., as well as the instruction diagram of the main equipment, operation manual, maintenance manual, inspection report, etc., to facilitate the timely search of the relevant maintenance data.
1.Preparations before installation
(1) When arriving at the site before the installation of the photovoltaic support, a reasonable location should be selected, and the surrounding environment should be kept ventilated and dry. After the solar bracket and solar components arrive at the site, check whether the outer packaging is deformed or damaged, and contact the manufacturer for replacement in time if there is any damage.
(2) On-site verification before construction of the project. After there is no problem, measure and set out the line according to the baseline position shown in the drawing, and the direction at right angles to the control square array. Calculate the design drawings, determine the use area of bracket guide rails, accessories and components, and load materials in batches according to the distribution area and construction process.
2. Installation of solar brackets and solar components
According to the design drawings, firstly carry out positioning and laying out, for the metal roof, it is mainly the positioning fixture, and then install the guide rails. Attention should be paid to the fixtures, the guide rails of the same row of components, and the distance between the guide rails of two adjacent rows of components. When installing, it should be carried out in the order of the middle section, both end sections, and guide rail joints. After installing the guide rail joints, check the levelness of each guide rail, bend each span, and accurately check the position of the bracket. The interval between the front and rear rows should be paid attention to in the design, requiring the distance from the wall, etc. In addition, when installing the support columns, beams and guide rails, do not fasten the bolts in place at one time, and tighten all the bolts after all the supports are adjusted to be straight.
3. Parts installation
(1) Install and fix solar panels
The installation of solar panels should be carried out step by step from bottom to top, and should be horizontal and vertical, and the distance between the solar panels on the same side should be consistent. When the battery board is fixed, the components are fixed on the chain with bolts in the steel structure, and double thorn gaskets are added between the battery board and the guide rail. After the middle clamp and side clamp are installed, they are locked with nuts.
(2) Battery board connection
Determine the connection method of the battery board according to the design drawing. When wiring, be careful not to connect the positive and negative poles in reverse to ensure correct wiring. After each battery board is connected, check whether the battery board string circuit breaker is correct. After the connection is completed, disconnect the circuit on the battery board and perform subsequent operations.
4. Square array wiring
The wiring of the combined phalanx should take measures such as support, fastening, and protection, and an appropriate margin should be left for the wires, and the wiring method should meet the requirements of the design drawings. The joints of the wiring head should be tinned, and the wiring heads of multi-strand wires should be closed. Each wiring head is allowed to have two core wires, and gaskets should be added between the two core wires, and all wiring screws must be tightened.
After the installation is completed, the wiring, component connections and cables leading out of the square array should be checked. If there is no problem, the electrician will be responsible for the measurement. The adjacent square array voltage error is within 5V. The components, guide rails and fixtures must be connected reliably. The rails of each component must be grounded with flat steel, bolted, and connected to the factory grounding system.
5. Considerations when installing solar brackets
(1) Relevant operators must have safety operation certificates, and there are special personnel to supervise and guide the operation site. During the handling of photovoltaic brackets and components, attention should be paid to the aisle to prevent tripping.
(2) During the construction period, safety protection must be done well. Construction workers must wear safety helmets. During the day, high temperature operations should be avoided, and necessary heatstroke prevention and cooling medicines should be taken at the same time.
(3) After the construction is completed, check whether the equipment is boxed, and clean up the discharged materials in time to ensure that the work is completed, the materials are exhausted, and the site is clean.
1. What is C-shaped steel for solar photovoltaic support?
Since the C-shaped steel for solar photovoltaic support has only been developed in the past two years, some friends are not familiar with it and it is not enough. The so-called solar photovoltaic support C-shaped steel, as the name implies, is the product component provided by the solar support factory for the solar energy company. It is a support designed for placing, installing and fixing solar panels.
The C-shaped steel is automatically added and formed by the C-shaped steel forming machine. The C-shaped steel forming machine can automatically complete the forming process of the C-shaped steel according to the given size of the C-shaped steel member. In addition, it can also be used for columns, beams and arms in mechanical light industry manufacturing.
2. What are the characteristics of C-shaped steel for photovoltaic support?
After understanding what is C-shaped steel for solar photovoltaic support, let's take a look at the characteristics of C-shaped steel for photovoltaic support:
1.) The installation system, flexible and changeable combination, has excellent versatility, and the system can be installed in a variety of ways, and can be easily installed later.
2.)One-system, one-time construction, one-step prefabricated construction is neat, beautiful and generous.
3.) It has extraordinary bearing capacity, stable force and long service life.
4. )SP-C type steel has serrations on the coiled edge, which can effectively resist shearing, anti-slip and impact, and the strip-shaped mounting holes are beautiful in appearance, flexible and convenient.
5. )The connectors are highly versatile, suitable for various applications, simple and quick, two-, three-, and four-dimensional high-strength applications; pre-assembled to achieve fast installation and provide reliable lock-and-key connections, high strength.
A solar carport is a carport that provides shade and protection for your vehicle. Solar carport systems offer distinct advantages over traditional carports and ground-based solar arrays.
Today, Let's talking about the benefits of Solar Carports.
Regardless of cost, residential and commercial solar carports offer many advantages over rooftop and ground-mounted PV systems.
1. Effective space utilization
Because solar carports erect a racking system in place, they take up little to no additional space, making them an excellent alternative to roof and ground mounted solar power plants. Solar carport systems can be installed in retail, commercial, industrial or residential areas, as they are versatile and can be designed in a variety of sizes.
2. Reduce energy costs
Similar to flat roof solar systems and ground mount solar systems, solar carports can reduce energy costs, resulting in significant savings for businesses and households. By reducing energy costs and making them more predictable, solar carports can help prevent utility costs from rising. Solar systems help keep a company's cash flow stable. This may also provide the opportunity to invest in energy efficiency in different areas of the company/organization.
3. Protect your car from bad weather
In addition to the economic and environmental advantages, there is a very simple reason to install a solar carport: it protects your vehicle from the weather. If you live in a snowy or rainy area, a carport is especially useful in fending off inclement weather.
4. Easy electric vehicle (EV) charging
If you have an electric car, a solar carport with a charging post can be charged without the use of any fossil fuels, which is very good for the environment. Charging posts are generally close to the car, so it's simple to connect the EV charger to the panel.
5. Simple maintenance
When it comes to maintenance and weather issues, solar carports are easier to maintain than you might think. The angled solar panels allow rain and snow to slide off on their own, which makes parking lot maintenance much easier. If the solar panels need maintenance, they are also easy to access and don't require much maintenance work.
A soalr ballasted mounting system is a type of roof-mounted solar panel installation that uses weights to secure the panels in place. The weights are usually made of concrete, metal, or plastic and are placed on the corners of the array to keep it from shifting or blowing away in high winds. This type of solar mounting system is often used for large commercial and industrial solar installations, as it provides a cost-effective and reliable way to secure the panels.
The best roof structure for a solar ballasted mounting system is one that is flat and structurally sound. The roof should be able to support the weight of the ballast, which can range from 600-1,000 pounds per square foot. Additionally, the roof should have adequate drainage and be free of any debris or other obstructions that could interfere with the installation process.
What is the material of the solar bracket?
The installation types of solar photovoltaic power generation are divided into ground centralized photovoltaic power generation and distributed photovoltaic power generation. Whether it is ground photovoltaic power generation or distributed photovoltaic power generation, special brackets need to be designed for installation, placement and fixing of solar panels. The materials of solar photovoltaic brackets generally include aluminum alloy, carbon steel and stainless steel, as well as brackets made of galvanized materials that have recently been used. The following is a specific introduction to the materials of the solar bracket:
Aluminum alloy solar photovoltaic support has the characteristics of light weight, beautiful appearance, and simple installation, but its corrosion resistance is lower than that of galvanized materials.
Carbon steel Q235 solar photovoltaic support is currently the most widely used support material in the market.
In order to improve the corrosion resistance and installation speed of the photovoltaic support, LQ550 cold-formed thin-walled galvanized profiles are used as the light steel support, which not only improves the safety of construction but also improves the stability of the solar photovoltaic support.
What is the principle of solar support?
The principle of solar support: The unique design structure of solar support enables the components to be adjustable according to different regions, so that the local solar resources can be fully utilized to achieve the maximum power generation efficiency of solar components.
At the same time, detailed analysis and practice are carried out on the connection method, material selection and support load analysis of photovoltaic modules, so that they have good physical properties such as earthquake resistance, wind resistance, snow pressure resistance, and corrosion resistance, making photovoltaic modules more suitable for applications. wide geographic area.
FAQs About Solar Panels On A Metal Roof
Because metal roofs have just recently become more mainstream and popular, many homeowners have questions.
What are the best solar panels for a metal roof?
Both crystalline panels with a frame and thin-film solar work well with metal roofs. This is especially true for standing seam metal roofs and crystalline panels because the hardware can clamp directly onto the seams, avoiding roof penetrations.
What is the life expectancy of solar panels on a metal roof?
Because metal roofs typically last between 40 and 70 years and solar panels for 25 to 30 years, metal roofs often outlast the solar panel system. By contrast, the lifespan of an asphalt shingle roof is about 15 and 30 years, depending on the climate.
What is the best type of roof material for installing solar panels?
Although asphalt shingles are the most common roofing material for solar panels, standing seam metal roofs are the best metal option. The lifespan of the roof is longer than the solar panels and it isn’t necessary to penetrate the roof during the solar system installation. This is beneficial for both the roof warranty and long-term durability.
Are there any disadvantages of a metal roof?
One of the biggest downsides to a metal roof is the upfront cost, which is significantly higher than an asphalt shingle roof. However, because the roofs last longer, they can still be a smart investment. Unfortunately, metal roofs can be noisier when it rains than asphalt shingles, depending on the decking and insulation. Also, sometimes the fasteners can fail before the roofing material.
What type of roof can solar panels not be installed on?
Wood and slate roofs are not ideal for solar panels. For example, installing solar panels on cedar shingle roofs is a fire hazard. It is important to use standoffs when installing solar panels on slate roofs to avoid drilling into the slate.