Solar panel users cannot ignore the threat of hurricanes in the unpredictable natural environment.
More robust and advanced installation measures must be taken to minimize potential losses.
By introducing helical piles and thicker mounting supports, we can significantly improve the stability of solar panels on the ground.
In its original bracket design, solar panels can withstand 55m/s wind speeds.
Using helical piles able to further improves their wind resistance, effectively reducing the risk of being blown away by hurricanes of up to 70m/s.
The screw piles are cleverly designed.
Their unique spiral structure penetrates deeply into the soil, providing excellent stability and ensuring that the solar panels remain standing even in extreme weather conditions.
What is a screw pile?
In solar power systems, screw piles are the basic part of the solar panel bracket. During the installation process, professional mechanical tools are used to bury it into the soil 1 meter or deeper.
Spiral piles are hot-dip galvanized steel pipe piles with spiral blades under the solar panel brackets.
The rotating blades can be large or small, continuous or intermittent, and continuous welding is used between the rotating blades and the steel pipe.
In solar power generation scenarios, the exquisite design of screw piles is particularly eye-catching.
The upper part of its foundation is carefully exposed to the ground and is precisely connected to the upper solid support frame using high-strength screws to form an indestructible structure.
As the core of the whole, the solar panels are carefully fixed on the top, and the three are integrated into an inseparable unit.
Even in extreme environments with wind speeds up to 70m/s, this integrated structure can maintain its stability, ensuring that the solar panels are not affected and continue to provide us with a steady stream of clean energy.
However, if inappropriate helical piles are selected, the overall structure may be fragile under high wind speeds, making it unable to cope with the challenges of extreme weather.
How to choose solar helical piles?
In the solar power generation scenario of helical piles, to ensure the stable operation of the system and efficient power generation.
We must rigorously consider the core properties of spiral piles such as load-bearing capacity and pullout resistance.
Reliability, applicability, and durability are undoubtedly the three golden keys to measuring the performance of spiral piles in photovoltaic projects.
PVMars is well aware of the importance of helical pile selection, so we will start from these 3 dimensions to reveal to you how to accurately select the most suitable photovoltaic screw pile.
Next, let us explore together and uncover the secrets of screw pile selection!
1. Reliability
Reliability mainly refers to the bearing capacity of helical piles, that is, whether helical piles can maintain their stability without being damaged when subjected to various external forces.
According to relevant literature, it is pointed out that the change in the blade spacing ratio of the spiral pile.
The blade spacing/blade diameter is an important factor affecting the ultimate pullout and compressive bearing capacity of the spiral pile.
Experimental research shows that the ultimate bearing capacity of piles is better achieved when the blade spacing ratio is S/D=3~4.
For small screw piles commonly used in solar panel supports, it is recommended to use a blade spacing of S/D=3.
The pullout and compressive bearing capacities of double-blade piles increase with the increase of blade diameter (blade diameter squared) and show an approximately linear relationship.
2. Adaptability
Applicability refers to whether the spiral pile is suitable for specific environmental and geological conditions.
Because the strength of the helical pile itself is relatively high, the photovoltaic support system does not have a particularly large effect on the load of the helical pile.
Therefore, when selecting spiral ground piles, it is necessary to examine their installation and use environment.
For areas with soft or hard soil, you need to choose a helical pile with the appropriate length and diameter to ensure that it can penetrate deeply into the soil and is stable enough.
In addition, factors such as the height and weight of the helical piles need to be considered to ensure that they can meet the load-bearing requirements of the building.
3. Durability
Durability mainly refers to its ability to maintain its performance and integrity under specific environmental and usage conditions. This is the key to choosing helical piles.
For example, in our solar telecom system case in Saudi Arabia, the solar panel support frame used is the same.
The hot-dip galvanizing standard for spiral piles is implemented per the requirements of the German standard DIN ENS 1461-1999.
The German standard requires that the thickness of spiral ground piles is generally 4 mm, the average thickness of hot-dip galvanizing is 70 microns, and the lowest point is >55 microns.
Hot-dip galvanizing can resist corrosion for more than 50 years.
According to information published on the official website of the American Hot-dip Galvanizing Association, the average thickness of hot-dip galvanizing is approximately 120 microns.
In extremely harsh environments, its corrosion resistance life is approximately 30 years.
Under more suitable soil conditions, its corrosion resistance life can even exceed 120 years.
These data prove the superior performance of hot-dip galvanized materials in terms of corrosion resistance, providing a strong guarantee for solar energy construction projects.
The above are three key indicators for choosing photovoltaic spiral piles. I hope it will be helpful when you choose photovoltaic spiral piles.
Summarize
Carefully selected helical piles, like the guardian angel of solar panels, can significantly reduce the risk of them, being blown away in extreme weather such as hurricanes.
However, we must also clearly realize that no protective measures can provide 100% protection.
Therefore, making adequate preparations in advance and formulating a thorough emergency plan are the keys to reducing property losses and ensuring the safe and stable operation of the system.
Let us work together to ensure the stable operation of solar panels!
