PV power plant installation system with dual axis solar tracking

• RobustframeworkprovideszeroswingingofPVmodules.

• StrengthcalculationsaccordingtoEurocode1,3.

• Hydraulicmotionsystemprovidesreliability,endurance,zeromaintenanceand

failsafeoperation.

• Hotdipgalvanizedmetalparts,guaranteeprotectionagainstrust.

• Built-inlightningprotectionsystem.

• Accuracyofsunobservationusingastronomicalalgorithms.

• Protectionagainsttheftensuredbymechgrip®.

• Additionalyieldofupto40%comparedwithfixedinstallations.

• IncreasedNPVofupto50%foratypicalpowerplant.

• Economiesofscaleonmaterialsandonsiteworksduetothesmallnumberof

piecesperinstallation.

• Lessonsiteworkduetohighdegreeofstandardizationandpre-assemblyof

equipment.(wires,inverters,controlsetc)

• Simpleandquickinstallationwithhighdegreeofstandardization(plug&play).

• Readymadepartsforassembly,withnoneedofspecializedpersonneland

sophisticatedequipment.

• CompatibilityandcombinationwithallavailabletypesofPVmodulesand

inverters

• Optimizationoflandandpossibilityofparalleluse.

• Centralmeteorologicalstationprovidesactivesafety.

• Separatehydrauliccircuitprovidespassivesafety.

• Fullyautonomousoperationofeachtracker.

• Versionsofthebasicmodelincludingadditionalfeatures(cables,inverters,

controlpanels,distributionboardsetc.)

• Environmentalresponsibilityandnatureprotectionwithparal¬lelprofitincrease.

Innovative Design

Increased Return On Investment

Cost Effective Solution

Flexibility

Safety

Integrated solution

�

ATLASSOLARTRACKERISANINNOVATIVEPRODUCT,DESIGNEDAND

DEVELOPEDBYMECHATRONSA,UTILISINGITSLONGTERMEXPERIENCEIN

SUCCESSFULIMPLEMENTATIONOFDEMANDINGINDUSTRIALAUTOMATION

PROJECTS.

THEMAXIMIZATIONOFPRODUCEDENERGYOUTPUTINCOMBINATION

WITHTHELOWINITIALINVESTMENTCOSTINCREASECOMPAREDWITH

FIXEDINSTALLATIONS,MULTIPLYTHEBENEFITSPROVIDEDBYATLAS

SYSTEM,NECESSITATINGITINALLMODERNPVPOWERPLANTS.

ATLASSYSTEMCANACHIEVEUPTO40%MOREOUTPUTPOWERTHAN

FIXEDTILTSYSTEMS.ITENSURESTHATTHEPVPANELSAREOPTIMALLY

ORIENTATEDTOWARDSTHESUN,CONVERTINGEFFICIENTLYDIRECTAND

INDIRECTSOLARRADIATIONINTOELECTRICITY.

ATLAS is a dual axis solar tracking system

that has been specially developed to provide

an intelligent pv power plant solution. pv

modules, inverters and other materials from

a variety of manufacturers are combined

easily, to provide a solution which is far more

standardised than any alternative in the

market.

�

SECURITY

The metal part of Atlas system was designed and its strength

was estimated according to the specifications of Eurocode �

(EC�/199�). The foundation of the system was laid according

to KOS-2000, the new regulation on concrete constructions.

In case that, for any reason, PV panels stay in the vertical

position, the system withstands exposure to a combination

of severe forces (storm with reference wind speed 1�5 Km/h,

snow, etc) just like a house, a warehouse or a huge road sign-

board (Eurocode 1).

Active Safety: When wind speed exceeds 70 km/h, the

system automatically takes the horizontal position.

Passive safety: Moreover a special safety circuit has been

incorporated into the hydraulic control system. In case of

destruction of the system controller or breakdown of the

Electricity Grid (which mainly happens in case of extreme

meteorological phenomena), the Safety Circuit leads

automatically to the horizontal position, which is achieved

because of the eccentric position of the axis of horizontal

rotation with respect to the centre of weight of the frame of

the panel.

�

ROBUSTNESS

The frame is constructed in such a way as to minimize

swinging. Hence in extreme wind speeds, the PV module

surface stays in horizontal position to avoid transverse and

torsional vibrations. Vibrations of this kind are common

among flat frames and produce fatigue loads. Furthermore, in

case of resonance, vibrations can also lead to the destruction

of the motion mechanism or even the collapse of the whole

frame.

The motion system consists of standard industrial hydraulic

power units and cylinders. Hydraulic motion, apart from

ensuring minimal maintenance costs, leads to system

sturdiness and overload capacity, far beyond any alternative

solution.

5

6

FLEXIBILITY

The customer specifies the type of the panels to be used and

when the trackers are delivered they have the dimensions

that suit the specific panels.

The photovoltaic modules are bolted on the frame and

clamped on it with the special clamping device “mechgrip®”.

There is no need for any cut or perforation during the

installation.

ATLAS SYSTEM IS PRODUCED IN THREE VERSIONS:

• BASIC| SOLUTION

WITHTHEBASICEQUIPMENTANDALLNECESSARYMATERIALSFORTHEERECTION

• WIRED| SOLUTION

WITHWIRINGFITTINGS,DISTRIBUTIONBOARDANDANTI-LIGHTNINGPROTECTION

(DC,ACANDCOMMUNICATIONS)

• TOTAL| SOLUTION

WITHPVMODULESANDINVERTERS

�

BUILT-IN LIGHTNING PROTECTION

Storms and lightning are the main cause of damages to

PV installations. ATLAS Dual Axis Solar Tracking system

incorporates into its basic equipment a lightning protection

system consisting of 4 Franklin lightning arrestor rods on each

tracker. This is the best way to guard against direct lighting

strokes on the tracker, the PV modules and the inverter.

A system with lighting arrestors on masts, that provides the

same level of protection, requires the dispersion of the masts

within the protected area, resulting in shading.

In addition, on the distribution board of the wired solution

there can be found incorporated on every circuit (AC, DC,

communications) surge protection devices, which protect

against indirect lightning strokes.

7

ATLAS system is delivered in two parts: the base, which is the bottom part of the tracker, and the mobile frame, that forms the upper part of the system. The base of the tracker is delivered as one piece and incorporates all the equipment that is essential for the operation of the system. In particular:

• The motion system and the position digital encoders.

• The hydraulic system filled with oil.

• AC, DC, signal transfer wiring and PV interconnection in strings. All the mobile cables pass through flexible spirals which are fixed on the main body with special devices in order to avoid damage caused by mechanical fatigue.

• Inverter, tracker control system, etc.

The cables, the control panels and all systems mentioned above, are fitted on the main body of the ATLAS, at the assembly plant and not at the construction site.

Furthermore, the main assembly of the ATLAS has been subjected to operation tests before leaving the assembly plant ensuring thus that every subsystem operates smoothly. In this way a high degree of standardization is achieved, avoiding quality compromise which is very likely to be happened when fitting works are done on the PV plant field.

QUALITY - RELIABILITY

�

9

QUICK AND SAFE INSTALLATION

The mobile frame which will bear the PV panels is assembled

on four scaffolds of appropriate height so that the personnel

can work below at a standing position. Hence, the fitting

of the panels on the mobile frame, the wiring connection

on strings, the installation of lightning arrestors’ rods etc, is

taking place on the ground.

The installation of the ATLAS system requires neither

specialized personnel nor sophisticated equipment. Except

for a foreman and two experienced technicians, the rest

personnel can be non-specialized workers from the local

labour market. The electrician’s tasks are also limited to the

execution of standardized works and checks.

The foundation reinforcement, the concrete reinforcement

and the anchoring can be executed from any contractor,

according to application plans handed to the customer upon

order of the equipment.

When the field works are completed, a group of 6 workers

can assemble, wire and deliver, checked and ready to be

connected with the electricity grid, a 100 kWp station within

a week.

10

11

In order to achieve optimal land use, the length to width ratio

of the frame that bears the PV panels is 2:1 approximately.

It is worth mentioning that when this ratio tends to 1:1,

the land area requirements are �0% higher under the same

conditions of shading and covering.

OPTIMAL LAND USE

1�

PROTECTION AGAINST THEFT

The protection of panels against theft is ensured due to:

• the final height of the construction

• the difficulty to unscrew or cut of the fixing device of the

panel

Panelfixingdevicestrengthanalysis(withFEA)

1�

SOLAR TRACKING PRECISION

To achieve high solar tracking precision, the Controller of

the system solves the astronomical algorithm that describes

the relative position of the earth with respect to the sun for

the current point in time, date and geographical position.

Subsequently, it calculates the real position of the system

through incorporated digital encoders and thereafter, by

activating the appropriate hydraulic valves, the system moves

until the position error is eliminated and the surface of the

panel is in vertical position to the sun.

The use of the astronomical algorithm for the orientation

of the system eliminates the problems of unnecessary

movements that usually accompany systems using light

sensors. Furthermore, it contributes considerably to

maximum solar radiation absorption, as the panels can be

placed vertically to the solar rays, even if there is cloudiness,

thus taking advantage of the infra red radiation.

The precision of position calculation is 0, 75 0 and the

frequency of the position error correction can be chosen by

the client. If the position of the system is corrected at a 15

minute frequency, the angle between the incident ray of light

and the solar panel surface falls within the range of 870 ~

9�0 , which corresponds to a 99,7% higher energy absorption

than the theoretically maximum one.

1�

NETWORKING

The system includes:

• Connection with the central meteorological station for the

reception of the meteorological data in real time.

• Incorporated system of telemetry for

-Remote tracker monitoring.

-Remote manual operation of the trackers.

-Recording and collection of data

The telemetry helps to achieve maximum system Up time as

the problems are reported in real time and are tackled with

immediately.

15

ATLAS solar tracker.... as dependable as the next sunrise

INDUSTRIAL AREA

HEAD OFFICE AND FACTORY:

I str., Industrial Area of Heraklion 71 601- Crete - Greece

TEL: +�0 2810 �90 850 • FAX +�0 2810 �90 851

www.atlasolar.com • info@atlasolar.com

MU

LTI

PR

OG

RE

SS