Project Case Study
A computational fluid dynamics study evaluating wind-induced velocity, pressure and temperature patterns around photovoltaic module mounting structures for 0° and 15° wind-direction cases.
Tet4 mesh
27.7M elements
Inlet velocity
20 m/s
Wind direction cases
0° / 15°
Turbulence model
SST k-ε
Project summary
The simulation examines how wind interacts with rows of photovoltaic panels and how the resulting flow field varies with wind direction.
Two wind-direction cases—0° and 15°—were compared using velocity, pressure and temperature contours to interpret shielding and wake effects across the solar farm.
Study domain
Three-dimensional solar farm and PV mounting structures
Mesh
27.7 million Tet4 elements
Inlet velocity
20 m/s
Wind directions
0° and 15° cases
Turbulence model
SST k-ε, as specified for the study
Outputs reviewed
Velocity, pressure and temperature contours
01 / Context
HyperCurve Solutions assessed wind flow around a solar farm using a three-dimensional CFD model. The study considered the interaction between incoming wind and the PV mounting rows, reviewing flow velocity, pressure distribution and temperature contours for the selected wind directions.
02 / Scope
The objective was to compare the aerodynamic behaviour of the solar farm under 0° and 15° wind-direction cases, identify regions of higher windward pressure, and interpret how upstream rows shield interior tables while downstream wakes affect airflow and temperature patterns.
Model preparation
The three-dimensional model and computational mesh were prepared to represent the PV mounting layout and the flow domain used for the wind-direction comparison. The setup included inlet, outlet and wall boundary-condition representation.
Simulation parameters
The reported model uses a 27.7-million-element Tet4 mesh, an inlet velocity of 20 m/s and the specified SST k-ε turbulence model. The 0° and 15° cases provide a basis for comparing the flow field under the two assessed wind directions.
The contour images below illustrate the reported velocity, pressure and temperature distributions.
Mesh and boundary setup
The report presents the CFD mesh and element-quality distribution, noting that element quality is predominantly above 0.80. Boundary conditions include an inlet, pressure outlet and wall surfaces representing the PV module mounting structure.
20 m/s normal to the boundary.
20 m/s at a 15° angle to the boundary.
Air movement
Velocity contours help show how the incoming wind travels through and around the PV mounting rows for the assessed wind directions.
The flow field is affected by the arrangement of the upstream and downstream panel rows. Upstream rows can shield interior tables, while wakes behind the structures influence the airflow reaching rows farther downstream.
Wind loading
Pressure contours are used to review how wind pressure is distributed over the PV mounting structures in the two wind-direction cases.
The reported assessment identifies the windward exterior tables as the locations experiencing the highest pressure.
Upstream rows provide a shielding effect for interior tables, changing the local wind exposure across the array.
Thermal distribution
Temperature contours provide an additional view of the flow field and help illustrate the influence of wakes and downstream airflow through the solar farm.
The reported results indicate that wake effects influence downstream airflow and temperature patterns. These patterns should be interpreted alongside velocity and pressure results to understand the overall flow behaviour.
Engineering interpretation
The findings below summarise the reported contour interpretation for the assessed solar farm model and wind-direction cases. Final structural design should be checked against project-specific conditions and applicable engineering standards.
01
Interior tables receive protection from upstream rows, illustrating the shielding effect created by the solar-panel layout.
02
The windward exterior tables experience the highest pressure in the reported assessment.
03
Downstream rows influence airflow and temperature patterns as wind passes through the solar farm.
Comparing multiple wind directions helps identify how array orientation and row-to-row interactions influence pressure and downstream flow patterns. The results can inform further engineering review of PV mounting structures.
Project outputs
The assessment brings together model preparation and contour outputs to support review of wind behaviour around the solar farm.