Optimization of Innovative Solar Racking System Incorporating Bi-Directional Capabilities Increasing Wide Load Distribution

HB Solar International在安大略省剑桥市设有仓库和制造车间，为所有类型的屋顶提供创新的太阳能光伏安装系统。该公司的屋顶机架解决方案仍然是该行业大多数工程师、开发商和承包商使用的基准。最近，随着光伏技术在加拿大的迅速普及，光伏的部署迅速增长。 为了在全球可再生能源市场保持竞争力，HB Solar开发了一种新的太阳能电池板机架设计。然而，由于高昂的制造成本和沉重的负载，它还没有准备好进入市场。目前，该公司的机架系统由仅沿东西方向放置的前后SkyRail组成。因此，与兰伯顿学院的合作项目将专注于优化和改进新的太阳能机架系统，包括连接到东西铁轨的永久性南北轨道，以双向工作新的机架系统。为了实现这一目标，研究小组将评估当前的平屋顶系统设计，以重新设计新的系统，通过建模和模拟分析载荷，测试货架结构刚度，改进屋顶道碴设计，并执行各种材料选项的成本分析。 该项目的成果将有助于加拿大的绿色经济，因为光伏技术在减少温室气体排放和放松监管方面发挥着至关重要的作用。此外，新的产品设计为HB Solar International提供了坚实的基础，使其能够为市场制造一种新的、低成本、轻便、易于安装、基于轨道的有碴支架解决方案，适用于所有类型的平台屋顶。同时满足北美的建筑规范要求，这将提高HB Solar在北美市场的竞争能力。据估计，今后五年将产生400万美元的收入，并在外地设立8至10个新的全职职位。

With a warehouse and fabrication shop centrally located in Cambridge, Ontario, hb Solar International provides innovative solar PV mounting systems for all types of rooftops. The company's rooftop racking solutions remain the benchmark used by most engineers, developers, and contractors in the industry. Recently, there has been rapid growth in the deployment of photovoltaics with the technology quickly gaining ground in Canada. To remain competitive in the global renewable energy market, hb Solar has developed a new racking design for solar panels. However, it is not market-ready due to high manufacturing costs and heavy load. Currently, the company's racking system consists of front and back skyrails that are placed in East-West direction only. Therefore, the collaborative project with Lambton College will focus on optimizing and improving the new solar racking system to include permanent North-South rails connected to the East-West rails to work the new racking system bi-directionally. To achieve this, the research team will evaluate the current system design for flat roofs to redesign a new system, analyze the load with modelling and simulations, test the racking structural stiffness, improve the roof ballast design, and perform a cost analysis of various material options. The results of this project will contribute to Canada's green economy as PV technology plays an essential role in reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and deregulation. As well, the new product design provides a solid foundation for hb Solar International to manufacture a new, low cost, lightweight, easy to install, rail-based, ballasted racking solution for all types of flat rooftops to the market. While also meeting building code requirements for North America which will increase hb Solar's capacity to compete in the North American market. It is also estimated that over the next five years there will be $4,000,000 in revenue generated as well as the creation of 8 to 10 new full-time positions in the field.