2024 - 2025
Anina Sarkic Glumac
Jasna Bogunovic Jakobsen
Jonas Thor Snaebjoernsson
Djordje Romanic
Olivier Flamand
2024 - 2025
Floating Solar: Wind-induced effects on Modular Floating Solar units
ERIES - FLOATING SOLAR
Dataset Description
This project aims to improve the understanding of wind-induced effects acting on floating photovoltaic (FPV) systems. The floating solar units were developed as modular systems by HelioRec. Wind-tunnel experiments were conducted at the Centre Scientifique et Technique du Bâtiment (CSTB) to investigate the aerodynamic loads acting on different FPV configurations.
The experimental campaign includes force-balance measurements on full-scale components, including an isolated floater, a floater equipped with supporting elements, and a complete system integrating the solar panel. In addition, reduced-scale (1:6) models were tested to examine various multi-unit array configurations representative of potential installation layouts. In each reduced-scale configuration, two FPV units were equipped with force balances, while the remaining units served as dummy structures, , which purpose was to create the appropriate flow effects.
The resulting dataset characterizes wind–structure interactions for both isolated and clustered FPV systems based on measured aerodynamic forces and moments. For selected configurations, simplified wave-related effects were considered by varying the elevation of the panels relative to the water surface.
Specimens Description File
Specimens
1. Isolated FPV Unit – Full-Scale Measurements
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The configuration represents a single, isolated FPV unit used to assess aerodynamic loads under controlled wind-tunnel conditions. The tested full-scale specimen is a realistic floating photovoltaic (FPV) unit developed by HelioRec. The specimen consists of a floating body with a height of 0.218 m, two front supporting elements (0.384 m) and two rear supporting elements (0.591 m), and a solar panel measuring 2.382 m × 1.134 m, mounted on the supporting structure. The total weight of the specimen is approximately 52 kg. The floater was set to its realistic water position by submerging it 50 mm below the ground level of the wind tunnel to match buoyancy conditions.
STEP
1. Effect of Wind on the Complete FPV Unit
The experiments investigate the influence of varying wind angles of attack on the aerodynamic loads acting on a complete FPV unit. The specimen was mounted at the center of a turntable and tested at thirteen wind angles: 0°, 15°, 30°, 45°, 60°, 75°, 90°, 105°, 120°, 135°, 150°, 165°, and 180°, for two wind speeds of 15 m/s and 35 m/s.
Additional tests were conducted at a higher wind speed of 55 m/s using six wind angles: 0°, 45°, 90°, 135°, 150°, and 180°.
The model was instrumented with force balances mounted beneath the specimen to measure aerodynamic loads. In addition to aerodynamic forces and moments, the acceleration of the solar panel was also recorded.
Instrumentation
A six-component force balance was used to measure three force components and three moments. The measuring range of the balance is 5000N and 10000N in horizontal forces and 40000N in vertical. The reference point of the balance where loads are expressed is located 153mm under ground level, at the center of the turntable.
Measurements were acquired at a sampling frequency of 300 Hz over a duration of 120 s.
An accelerometer from PCB Piezotronics, model 3801, with a range +/-3g, was mounted on the underside of the solar panel near its centerline to measure panel acceleration. The same sampling frequency and acquisition duration were applied as for the force-balance measurements. Temperature of the air in the wind tunnel, relative humidity and atmospheric pressures were also recorded at the same time to assess the air density.
2. Effect of Wind on the Supporting Structure and Floater (Without Panel)
The experiments investigate the influence of varying wind angles of attack on the aerodynamic loads acting on an isolated floater with supporting elements, excluding the PV panel.
The model was mounted at the center of a turntable and tested at five wind angles: 0°, 45°, 90°, 135°, and 180°, for a wind speed of 35 m/s. Additional tests were conducted at 55 m/s for wind angles of 0° and 180°.
The specimen was instrumented with force balances mounted beneath the model to measure aerodynamic loads.
Instrumentation
The same six-component force balance was used to measure three force components and three moments, with the same sampling frequency (300 Hz) and acquisition duration (120 s).
3. Effect of Wind on the Floater Only
The experiments investigate the influence of varying wind angles of attack on the aerodynamic loads acting on the isolated floater of the FPV unit without both the panel and its fixtures.
The model was mounted at the center of a turntable and tested at five wind angles: 0°, 45°, 90°, 135°, and 180°, for a wind speed of 35 m/s.
Instrumentation
The same six-component force balance was used to measure three force components and three moments under identical sampling conditions.
4. Boundary layer on wind tunnel's ground
This experiment describes the boundary layer at the location of the model, at the center of the turntable. Height 0 is ground of the wind tunnel.
Instrumentation
Measurement was performed using a Cobra Probe, with a range 0-70m/s attached to a motorized 1ddl support.
2. Multi-Unit FPV Array – Reduced-Scale Measurements (1:6)
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The tested specimen consists of realistic FPV units developed by HelioRec, reproduced at a reduced geometric scale of 1:6. Each unit comprises a floating body, two front and two rear supporting elements, and a solar panel mounted on the supporting structure. The reference point of the balance was set xmm under the ground level of the platform. The floater was set to its realistic water position by submerging it 8.33 mm to match buoyancy conditions.
Within the multi-unit configuration, two selected units were instrumented with force balances and positioned near the center of the turntable. These instrumented units remained at fixed locations throughout the measurement campaign and were used to assess aerodynamic loads within different clustered array configurations.
1. Multi-Unit Floating PV Array – 4–3–4–3 Row Configuration
The experiments investigate the influence of varying wind angles of attack on the aerodynamic loads acting on a reduced-scale floating PV array arranged in a four-row configuration (4–3–4–3 units per row) (Fig. 1&2).
The tested wind angles were 0°, 45°, 90°, 135°, 180°, 225°, 270° and 315° at a wind speed of 35 m/s. Additionally, for wind angles of 0° and 180°, two lower wind speeds of 15 m/s and 25 m/s were also considered.
Instrumentation
A six-component force balance MSC10 multicomponent balance by HBM, range 1000N horizontal, 5000N in vertical and 50Nm for the torques, was used to measure three force components and three moments. Two fixed FPV units within the array were instrumented with these force balances, enabling simultaneous measurements of both during each test.
By repositioning the non-instrumented (dummy) units, different units within the array were sequentially evaluated, ultimately generating data records for all units marked in blue (see Fig. 3).
Measurements were acquired at a sampling frequency of 300 Hz over a duration of 60 s. The force balances were installed beneath an additional platform positioned above the wind-tunnel floor (Fig. 4) to reduce the height of the boundary layer. This platform incorporates a turntable mechanism capable of accommodating the multi-unit array and enabling controlled variation of the wind angle of attack.
2. Multi-Unit Floating PV Array – 3–3–3–3 Row Configuration
The experiments investigate the influence of varying wind angles of attack on the aerodynamic loads acting on a reduced-scale floating PV array arranged in a four-row configuration (3–3–3–3 units per row; see Fig. 1).
The tested wind angles were 0°, 45°, 90°, 135°, 180°, 225°, 270° and 315° at a wind speed of 35 m/s. Additionally, for wind angles of 0° and 180°, two lower wind speeds of 15 m/s and 25 m/s were also considered.
The two corner units were equipped with force balances (see Fig. 2), enabling the measurement of aerodynamic forces and moments within the array configuration.
Instrumentation
The same six-component force balances were used to measure three force components and three moments. The instrumentation setup, sampling frequency (300 Hz), and acquisition duration (60 s) were identical to those described for the 4–3–4–3 row configuration.
3. Multi-Unit Floating PV Array – 5–6 Row Configuration
The experiment investigate the influence of varying wind angles of attack on the aerodynamic loads acting on a reduced-scale floating PV array arranged in a two-row configuration (5–6 units per row; see Fig. 1&2).
The tested wind angles were 0°, 15°, 45°, 90°, 135°, 180°, 225°, 270°, 315° and 345° at a wind speed of 35 m/s. Additionally, for wind angles of 0° and 180°, two lower wind speeds of 15 m/s and 25 m/s were also considered.
Two units in the middle and subsequently two units in the corner were equipped with force balances (see Fig. 3), enabling the measurement of aerodynamic forces and moments within the array configuration.
Instrumentation
The same six-component force balances were used to measure three force components and three moments. The instrumentation setup, sampling frequency (300 Hz), and acquisition duration (60 s) were identical to those described for the 4–3–4–3 row configuration.
4. Multi-Unit Floating PV Array – 3–3–3 Row Configuration
The experiments investigate the influence of varying wind angles of attack on the aerodynamic loads acting on a reduced-scale floating PV array arranged in a three-row configuration (3–3–3 units per row; see Fig. 1 and Fig. 2) with two of the panels being weighted.
The tested wind angles were 0°, 45°, 90°, 135°, 180°, 225°, 270°, and 345° at a wind speed of 35 m/s. Additionally, for wind angles of 0° and 180°, two lower wind speeds of 15 m/s and 25 m/s were also considered.
In this configuration, simplified wave-related effects were simulated by varying the elevation of the middle (second) row relative to the reference level of the additional platform. Three cases were considered: (i) no elevation (reference configuration), (ii) 15 mm elevation, and (iii) 25 mm elevation of the middle row (see Fig. 3 and Fig. 4).
For all three elevation cases, aerodynamic loads were recorded for the panels marked in blue in Fig. 5. The additional wind angle of 345° at 35 m/s was considered only for the reference configuration (no elevation of the middle row) and was applied to the two corner units.
Instrumentation
The same six-component force balances were used to measure three force components and three moments. The instrumentation setup, sampling frequency (300 Hz), and acquisition duration (60 s) were identical to those described for the 4–3–4–3 row configuration.
5. Multi-Unit Floating PV Array – 1–1 Row Configuration
The experiments investigate the influence of varying wind angles of attack on the aerodynamic loads acting on a reduced-scale floating PV array arranged in a two-row configuration, with one unit per row (see Fig. 1).
The tested wind angles were 0°, 45°, 90°, 135°, 180°, 225°, 270°, and 345° at a wind speed of 35 m/s. Additionally, for wind angles of 0° and 180°, two lower wind speeds of 15 m/s and 25 m/s were also considered.
In this configuration, simplified wave-related effects were simulated by sequentially varying the elevation of each unit relative to the reference level of the additional platform. Three cases were considered: (i) no elevation (reference configuration, see Fig. 1), (ii) 15 mm elevation of the unit in the first row (see Fig. 2), and (iii) 15 mm elevation of the unit in the second row (see Fig. 3).
For all three elevation cases, aerodynamic loads were recorded for the panels marked in blue in Fig. 4. An additional wind angle of 190° at 35 m/s was considered only for the configurations in which either the first or the second unit was elevated.
Instrumentation
The same six-component force balances were used to measure three force components and three moments. The instrumentation setup, sampling frequency (300 Hz), and acquisition duration (60 s) were identical to those described for the 4–3–4–3 row configuration.
6. Isolated FPV Unit – Reduced-Scale (1:6)
The experiments investigate the influence of varying wind angles of attack on the aerodynamic loads acting on an isolated reduced-scale floating PV unit (see Fig. 1).
The tested wind angles were 0°, 15°, 30°, 45°, 60°, 75°, 90°, 105°, 120°, 135°, 150°, 165°, 180°, and 195° at a wind speed of 35 m/s. Additionally, for wind angles of 0° and 180°, three wind speeds of 15 m/s, 25 m/s, and 45 m/s were also considered.
Instrumentation
One six-component force balance was used to measure three force components and three moments. The instrumentation setup, sampling frequency (300 Hz), and acquisition duration (60 s) were identical to those described for the 4–3–4–3 row configuration.
7. Boundary layer above the additional platform
A platform is erected 0.82m above ground to reduce the thickness of the boundary layer at the bottom of floatting PV unit models.
It was measured before commencing the loads measurement tests, for two wind velocities, 25m/s and 35m/s.
Instrumentation
A fast-response Pitot tube was attached to a 1-DOF motorized support, allowing accurate control of the sensor’s vertical position. Dynamic pressure was recorded over 60s, then transformed in wind speed and the mean value of it was kept.
Project Metadata
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Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International.
CC BY 4.0
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