Q&A
Technical Questions & Answers
Calculating Inter-Row Spacing
he inter-row spacing calculations that I am doing manually do not match the results of our shadow studies in AutoCAD. Which results are accurate? What is the correct way to manually calculate inter-row spacing for a ground mounted PV array layout?
7am 20
Jan/ Nov 21 Winter Solstice
5pm
= 13
10
6am altitude angle 5am azimuth correction 90 East 60 30 = 42 0 South -30 -60 -90 West
6pm
d = h tan
7pm
According to the editors, d is the minimum distance between rows; h is the height differential between the top of one row and the bottom of the row to the north; and is the solar altitude angle. It is more accurate to say that this formula determines the shadow distance between rows. But because this shadow falls perpendicular to a south-facing array only when the sun is located at true south in the sky, solar noon is the only time when the length of the shadow cast between rows would be equal to the minimum inter-row distance. If your design calculations call for a shade-free solar window of 9am to 3pm on December
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S o l a r pr o | December/January 2009
0 120 -120
Azimuth Angle
Illustration 1 When the latitude and longitude for Ogden, UT, are specified, the SRML sun path chart program plots the path of the sun across the sky at that location.
best results, enter the sites specific latitude and longitude. These are easy to obtain using the free version of Google Earth (earth.google.com). Simply point to the specific site, and latitude and longitude are provided to the nearest 100th of a second in the lower left hand corner of the program screen. Convert the latitude and longitude provided in Google Earth to decimal degrees. Also, make sure to enter south latitude
design purposes is about 13. Illustration 2 (p. 18) indicates that h equals 10 feet. We can now solve for the shadow length (d_shadow) using the referenced formula:
d_shadow = h tan d_shadow = 10 ft. tan 13 d_shadow = 10 ft. 0.231 d_shadow = 43.3 ft.
C o n T I n u e D o n PA g e 1 8
Da t a c o ur t e sy sola rda t.u ore gon .e du
omputer software that permits shadow studies is an excellent design tool for large scale, ground mounted PV arrays. These programs model complex geometries with great accuracy and speed. Assuming that the CAD data entry is correct, these inter-row spacing results are correct. In all likelihood, your manual calculations are correct as welljust incomplete. Historically many photovoltaic systems arranged in rows were designed using only an altitude angle calculation. This is the approach detailed, for example, in the American Technical Publishers textbook, Photovoltaic Systems. The formula given there for calculating minimum inter-row shading is:
21, for example, then an azimuth angle correction is required. The first step for doing manual inter-row spacing calculations is to generate a sun path chart for the site, as shown in Illustration 1. The University of Oregons Solar Radiation Monitoring Laboratory (SRML) provides an online program for this purpose (solardat. uoregon.edu/SoftwareTools.html). For
and west longitude as negative numbers. Following these steps for Ogden, Utah, results in a 41.21 latitude and a -111.97 longitude. Use the sun path chart in Illustration 1 to determine the suns altitude angle at 9am and 3pm solar time on December 21, the shortest day of the year. Referring to the chart for Ogden, Utah, the suns altitude angle for
70
11am
12pm er Solstice Summ May/ Jul 21
1pm
60
10am
Apr/ Aug 21
2pm
50
9am
Equinox
3pm
Altitude Angle
40
8am
Feb/ Oct 21
4pm
30
Q&A
top Row top of Ro 1 p
h=10' d_shadow = 43.3'
35
= 13
bottom of Row 2
South
Illustration 2 Side view of inter-row shadow length at 9am and 3pm on the winter solstice.
South
Once shadow length is determined, it is time to apply the azimuth angle correction. Referring again to the sun path chart for Ogden, Utah, the suns azimuth is approximately 42 east of true south at 9am and 42 west at 3pm on the winter solstice. As Illustration 3 indicates, knowing both the shadow length and the azimuth () correction angle allows us to solve for minimum inter-row spacing (d_min):
d_min = d_shadow x cos d_min = 43.3 ft. x cos 42 d_min = 43.3 ft. x 0.743 d_min = 32.2 ft.
m ollyoh a llor a n .c om (2)
top of Row 1
= 42
bottom of Row 2
The azimuth angle correction detailed here is very significant for PV system designers, integrators and their customers. Inter-row spacing is reduced by 25% in this example. This could mean 25% less site grading or a 25% larger array for the client. Improving power density in this manner can increase PV plant size, energy harvest, revenue, profit or all of the above.
Ken Gardner / Gardner Engineering Alternative Energy Services / Ogden, UT / gardnerengineering.net
Illustration 3 Plan view at 9am.
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S o l a r pr o | December/January 2009
d_min = 32.2'
d_ sh ad ow = 43 .3 '
