Simulation tool to measure effect of waves on offshore floating solar

Scientists at Malta's可持续能源研究所have developed a simulation tool to assess theeffect of wave response motion inoffshore floating PV installations.

“The simulation tool is applicable to any offshore project as long as the characteristic equations representing the response of the raft to incoming waves are known,” professor Luciano Mule'Stagno told新利18appnet.

The researchers stressed the importance of the solar module tilt angle in the planning of floating PV projects. “Tilt angles for floating installations are governed by other facts than optimal power generation, including esthetic impact, wind loading and available space,” they explained, noting that offshore systems may not always be in line with the designed tilt angle and orientation, due to the response of the floating structure to incoming waves. Three different movements were identified for a floating solar array and these were categorized by the scientists as音高，偏航和滚动运动。

They initially used both isotropic and anisotropic models to predict the total radiation on the modules' inclined surface. The first assumes an isotropic combination of diffuse radiation from the sky and ground-reflected radiation and the second calculates in detail all the components of diffuse radiation and also includes horizon brightening. The anisotropic method was chosen to predict the loss or gain in yield in a floating installation due to movements in pitch, yaw and roll.

美国开发的两种算法国家海洋和大气管理局（NOAA）用于在具有固定倾斜和方向的平面上得出全球辐照度，并根据用户输入的响应方程来改变倾斜度和方向。

马耳他组进行了一系列模拟，假设所有运动都有纯正弦波和两个浮动系统，其固定倾斜度为30和5度。它说：“选择的日子接近每个月的21日，以包括春分和溶解剂。”“但是，要小心选择以同样的天空清晰的日子。”使用金直线计用于获取辐照数据。

测量结果表明，对于倾斜角度为30度的PV系统，两个倾斜角的最高屈服损失为30度和5度。科学家强调：“这是因为音高运动直接影响安装的实际倾斜度。”“此外，这种对安装的效果在12月的固定倾斜度为30度的固定倾斜度比6月更为主导。这是因为振荡的中心比6月的最佳安装倾斜角更接近12月。”观察到俯仰运动在12月的负面影响最高，而6月份的负面影响最低。

发现偏航运动对低倾斜角度的装置的影响很小，因为方向对此类系统的影响非常低。相比之下，发现滚动运动对海上太阳能电池阵列的无体温有重大影响，因为它们改变了太阳能电池板的实际倾斜和方向。

The simulation tool is described in the paperThe effect of wave response motion on the insolation on offshore photovoltaic installations， 出版于Solar Energy Advances.

The same research group recently developedfloating structures for offshore solar plantsthat are claimed to be robust enough to withstand central Mediterranean weather and cheap enough to be competitive with ground-mounted solar parks on small islands or in large coastal cities.