A methodology for the structural safety evaluation of a solar tracking system in Colombia

Authors

  • Heylen Polo Cano Universidad del Atlántico, Barranquilla
  • Ambrosio Valencia Romero Universidad del Atlántico, Barranquilla
  • Javier Roldán Mckinley Universidad del Atlántico, Barranquilla
  • James Díaz González BMT Designers & Planners, Washington

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.26507/rei.v7n14.260

Keywords:

wind load, azimuthal motion, zenithal motion, tracking panel, structural safety

Abstract

This work explores the mechanical parameters that influence the solar tracking structure performance. The wind force is considered as the mechanical parameter with the most influence to consider in the analysis. A complete dimensioning of the mechanical system, before the CAD stage, is carried out to follow up with the simulation of the structural model. A model to simulate the structural behavior under critical operating conditions in the working environment is also presented. A Graphic User Interface-GUI, written in Matlab®, was developed to integrate the variables involved in the selection of the safety factor for the structure. This GUI offers a friendly interactive tool to evaluate the structural safety in different scenarios. A guide to use the GUI was exemplified with an ecological park case scenario. The results were verified using Finite Element Analysis (FEA) in SolidWorks® software.


 

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Author Biographies

Heylen Polo Cano, Universidad del Atlántico, Barranquilla

Ingeniera Mecánica

Grupo DIMER

Universidad del Atlántico

Ambrosio Valencia Romero, Universidad del Atlántico, Barranquilla

Ingeniero Mecánico

Grupo DIMER

Universidad del Atlántico

Javier Roldán Mckinley, Universidad del Atlántico, Barranquilla

Profesor del Programa de Ingeniería Mecánica; Grupo DIMER, Universidad del Atlántico. PhD en Ingeniería Mecánica, University of Florida; MSc en Ingeniería Mecánica, University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez; Ingeniero Mecánico, Universidad del Atlántico.

 

James Díaz González, BMT Designers & Planners, Washington

Jefe de Investigaciones de la division de Tecnología Avanzada en BMT Designers and Planners Inc.; PhD en Ingeniería Mecánica, Michigan Technological University; MSc en Ingeniería Mecánica, University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez; Ingeniero Mecánico, Universidad del Atlántico.

References

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Published

2012-12-15

How to Cite

Polo Cano, H., Valencia Romero, A., Roldán Mckinley, J., & Díaz González, J. (2012). A methodology for the structural safety evaluation of a solar tracking system in Colombia. Revista Educación En Ingeniería, 7(14), 92–103. https://doi.org/10.26507/rei.v7n14.260

Issue

Vol. 7 No. 14 (2012)

Section

Engineering and Development

License

Total or partial reproduction of the documents published in the journal is authorized only when the source and author are cited.

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