DEMO-TRACK_FW
“DEMO-TRACK_FW” is the first ever portable device intended to show the effect of the wind on the single-axis solar trackers (SAT’s). The official release took place the 7th of February at GENERA 2024 (Item, Madrid) by ESOLIA&SOLTRACK Team. The event was sponsored by "Excmo. Ayuntamiento de Mieres", the Polytechnic School of Mieres and IMEnergy Power Plants S. L. Next stage: Intersolar 2024, Munich.
November, 2023: National Reserch plan
The Joint Venture by UPM-idr and Uniovi-GIFD has been once again awarded with a Research Project on behalf of the "Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación, Proyectos de Generación del Conocimiento". Princeton University maintain its collaboration with our University. Works will begin in December 2023 and they will span four years.
Coordinated Project: Fluid-structure interaction in photovoltaic trackers (SOLTRACK).
Subp. 1: Wind tunnel investigation of the fluid-structure interaction in photovoltaic solar trackers (WT-SOLTRACK).
Subp. 2: Numerical investigation of the fluid-structure interaction in photovoltaic solar trackers (CFD-SOLTRACK).
(Ref. PID2022-137630OB-C22).
http://esolia.idr.upm.es/index.php/es/
Coordinated Project: Fluid-structure interaction in photovoltaic trackers (SOLTRACK).
Subp. 1: Wind tunnel investigation of the fluid-structure interaction in photovoltaic solar trackers (WT-SOLTRACK).
Subp. 2: Numerical investigation of the fluid-structure interaction in photovoltaic solar trackers (CFD-SOLTRACK).
(Ref. PID2022-137630OB-C22).
http://esolia.idr.upm.es/index.php/es/
JUNE, 2022: FIRST WIND TUNNEL TEST in CRUE20_owt
During our last research stay at Princeton University, the new wind tunnel at CEE is now blowing!
OCTOBER, 2022: National Reserch plan
The Joint Venture by UPM-idr and Uniovi-GIFD has been awarded with a Research Project on behalf of the "Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación, Plan de Recuperación, Transformación y Resiliencia", funded by NextGenerationUE. Works will begin in December 2022 and they will span two years.
Coordinated Project: Transition to solar Energy from Wind Engineering (ESOLIA).
Subp. 1: Aeroelastic Stability Analysis of Solar Trackers (SOLTAE).
Subp. 2: Safe Design of Photovoltaic Power Plans under Dynamic Wind Loads (DESPWIND).
(Ref. TED2021-130541B-C22).
http://esolia.idr.upm.es/index.php/es/
Coordinated Project: Transition to solar Energy from Wind Engineering (ESOLIA).
Subp. 1: Aeroelastic Stability Analysis of Solar Trackers (SOLTAE).
Subp. 2: Safe Design of Photovoltaic Power Plans under Dynamic Wind Loads (DESPWIND).
(Ref. TED2021-130541B-C22).
http://esolia.idr.upm.es/index.php/es/
JUNE, 2022: MG20_owt is completed
During our last research stay at Princeton University, a new wind tunnel has been built!
MAY, 2022: Formula windy tests "caja Rural" cyclists
After a few weeks of hard work, we have developed a complete wind tunnel test in collaboration with "MMR Bikes" and "Sport lifestyle". New balances has been designed, and the characterization of a bunch of parameters are still on going. The Chancellor of the University of Oviedo has joined us in this special occasion, which is the beginning of "Sports Aerodynamics" in our Institution. Another milestone accomplished, thanks to the University Board (terms of 2017-2021 and 2021-2025), the Department of Energy, the Polytechnic School of Mieres and many, many, many other people.
NOV, 2021: Stability diagram IS BEING CITED!
More and more companies are adopting the new Stability Diagram method for the aeroelastic calculation of single axis solar trackers. We are already being cited among the 4 or 5 best wind tunnels in the world, thank you very much for your recognition! However, there are still misunderstandings about this phenomenon. We hope this will help: "Diagrama de estabilidad del tracker. Como diseñar frente a los efectos aeroelásticos".
JUN, 2021: Stability diagram of solar trackers
Front page of University of Oviedo... thanks!
MAY, 2021: Stability diagram of solar trackers
GIFD have got published two Q1 about galloping on solar trackers. It is the first time ever the Stability Diagram ("Diagrama de Estabilidad del Tracker") has been explained, by means of both analytical and experimental tests in wind tunnel. This way the Department of Energy breaks into the field of Aeroelasticity.
The term Stability Diagram ("Diagrama de Estabilidad del Tracker") was first coined by FORMULA WINDY under own research studies. IDR-UPM, Uniovi Department of Energy and Princeton University collaborate to explain and extend it using wind tunnel and scale-model testing. It is been cited and used since 2021 and it is intended to be included in the code.
The term Stability Diagram ("Diagrama de Estabilidad del Tracker") was first coined by FORMULA WINDY under own research studies. IDR-UPM, Uniovi Department of Energy and Princeton University collaborate to explain and extend it using wind tunnel and scale-model testing. It is been cited and used since 2021 and it is intended to be included in the code.
APr, 2021: Atmospheric boundary layer wind tunnel
NEW ETHAN50-ablWT IS ALREADY OPERATING: three years (and an awful pandemic) later, our new facility is ready for use.
May, 2019: Aeroelasticity begins at Uniovi
PV SOLAR TRACKER WIND STABILITY, ULTIMATE & RESILIENT PVST GENERATION: this topic has been the beginning chosen by the GIFD Researchers, in order to initiate the studies on Aeroelasticity appleid to Civil Engineering.