Study on Snowdrift Formation at a Fence-type Solar Photovoltaic Panel on a Flat-roofed Residence

Abstract

An analytical and an experimental study have been conducted on the formation of snowdrifts at solar photovoltaic panels on the flat-roofed residences that are common in the snowy regions of Japan, such as in Hokkaido. Toward this, solar photovoltaic panels were installed on the flat roof of a building in Sapporo, Hokkaido. The amount of electric power generated after the formation of the snowdrift was also determined. The Moving Particle Semi-implicit (MPS) method was applied two-dimensionally to simulate the formation of snowdrifts around the panel, and the snow particles were blown with air into the calculation area to observe snowdrifts that formed by the interaction between the snow particles and the panel. We have presented an analytical model of snowdrift formation at a photovoltaic panel, and we compare its results with those of empirical examinations. The snowdrift was found to cover part of the panel surface if the panel had a clearance of less than 200 mm.