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NREL / bifacialvf

Bifacial PV View Factor model for system performance calculation
https://bifacialvf.readthedocs.io
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Tilted Trackers #27

Open nicorie opened 4 years ago

nicorie commented 4 years ago

Hello,

Are there any plans at NREL to include capability in bifacialvf to simulate single axis tilted trackers? Sometimes these are referred to as "1.5 axis" trackers. In SAM v2018.11.11 there is an option to simulate tilted trackers with bifacial modules. Are there plans to incorporate this capability into bifacialvf? ie the capability to calculate the backside irradiance on such structures?

Thanks.

cdeline commented 4 years ago

This is not currently on our development pathway. conceptually there's a problem, namely this might require a full 3D vf treatment, because you'll have the north end of your tilted row higher off the ground than the south end, so you have a ground clearance gradient and nonuniform rear irradiance on the backside. We would have a hard time validating the model because it's not a system geometry that we have installed at NREL.