PV WIND PERFORMANCE ENHANCING METHODS AND APPARATUS

摘要

A PV installation includes a support surface, a PV assembly, a PV assembly support supporting the PV assembly on and directly opposite the support surface. The PV assembly includes a front edge, a back edge, and first and second side edges joining the front and back edges, the edges defining a PV assembly periphery. The PV installation also includes the PV assembly periphery and the support surface defining a preliminary gap area therebetween, at least a first portion of the PV assembly periphery spaced apart from the support surface by at least a first distance. It further includes an air volume V defined between the PV assembly and the support surface, and the PV assembly comprising an air deflector located along at least substantially all of the first portion of the periphery and blocking a portion of the preliminary gap area so to define an effective gap area (EGA) opening into the air volume. The pressure equalization between upper and lower surfaces of PV modules of the array of PV modules is enhanced while reducing uplift forces created by wind flow over the PV modules.