Page 167 - Solar Power in Building Design The Engineer's Complete Design Resource
P. 167
SEMITROPIC OPEN FIELD SINGLE-AXIS TRACKING SYSTEM PV ARRAY 137
Semitropic Open Field Single-Axis
Tracking System PV Array—Technical
Specifications
The following project was designed and built by Shell Solar and consists of a solar farm
configured from 1152-kW solar array modules. The single axis solar power tracking
system presented for discussion is one of the recent solar farm projects which was
installed at Semitropic Water District (SWD), located at Wasco, California, approxi-
mately 150 miles northeast of Los Angeles. The 550 ft × 38 ft land provided by SWD
is relatively flat, with no trees, and thus required minimal grading and brush clearing.
As shown in Figure 5.17, PV arrays movement rotational axels are mounted in a north
south orientation.
MECHANICAL DESCRIPTION
The PV array design for the single-axis tracking system was based upon the use of 7200
Shell Solar Industries model SQ-160 modules, which were assembled into 1800 panels.
Figure 5.17 Aerial view of solar farming system, Semitropic
Water District, Wasco, California. Photo courtesy of SolarWorld.