LDPE Solar Floats: FEA and CFD Simulation for Floating PV Plant Reliability

"Design and Simulation of Solar Floats Using LDPE Material," 

This study examines the design and analysis of floating photovoltaic (FPV) systems, emphasizing the use of Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE) for solar floats. It suggests a floating mounting system for PV modules as an alternative to conventional land or rooftop setups, typically installed on inland water bodies such as reservoirs, lakes, or canals. The design features a modular structure composed of LDPE, chosen over the more common HDPE due to LDPE's superior impact strength at lower temperatures and its potential for greater cost-effectiveness. The project is set to be implemented on a river in India.

Solar Float Assembly with Panel

The research employs computational methods, specifically Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and Finite Element Analysis (FEA), to simulate and validate the solar float design under various external loads, including wind, live load (LL), and dead load (DL). The goal was to develop a lightweight, low-cost, and buoyancy-efficient design that can withstand high waves and fatigue strains. The FEA results, using maximum pressure values from the CFD analysis (613.38 Pa for downwind and 331.8 Pa for upwind), showed that the maximum stress generated was 8.6644 MPa and the total deformation was 6.9046 mm, both safely below the LDPE material's allowable limits of 12 MPa and 10 mm, respectively. Additionally, buoyancy calculations confirmed the floats are sufficient to support the panels and live load.

Floating Solar Plant Configuration

A crucial part of the study was the fatigue analysis, which is essential because the floats are constantly exposed to variable external disturbances like waves. The fatigue tests indicated a high available life cycle of 109 cycles before failure, meeting industrial standards and demonstrating that the system is safe and reliable, particularly for less intense, calm water bodies like reservoirs and lakes. The overall conclusion is that the LDPE-based float design is adequate for the intended application of floating solar power plants, offering a cost-effective and reliable solution for sustainable energy generation

Deformation Plot

CFD Velocity Output on the surface of the assembly