Delta Engineering SE
Mechanical and Ocean Solutions

Power From Arch vs Flat Solar Panel Support Frame

Traditionally, solar panel arrays are flat, and are aligned so that they face the southern direction to achieve maximum sun light exposure. An alternative to flat solar panel arrays are arched solar panel arrays which can track the path of the sun throughout the day.

Solar Panel Arch Structure

The arched solar panel array shown below consists of six sections which are sloped 18 degrees relative to each other. Each section contains 4 Mitsubishi PV-MLU250HC solar panels, for a total of 24 solar panels. The width of this array is 18 ft 4 in (5.6 m), and the height is 8 ft 10 in (2.7 m).

Solar Panel Arch vs Flat Solar Panels Power Curve Comparisons

The plot below shows power output comparisons between flat vs arched solar panel arrays. The red curve shows the power output of a flat solar panel array, and the green curve shows the power output of the arched solar panel array shown above. Both of these solar panel arrays are located at 30.37 degrees north latitude on June 21 (summer solstice). Note the similarities in the power output curves for the flat and arched solar panel assemblies.

Electric Car Charging Stations

The picture below shows a practical use for arched solar panel arrays. These structures keep electric cars cool during the day and provides power for recharging the cars batteries.

The arched solar panel arrays offer the advantage of a more consistent power source as well as accommodating vehicles of different heights.

FAA Communications Buoy

A non-traditional use of NDBC (National Data Buoy Center) weather buoys occurred when the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) needed VHF radio communications over the Gulf of Mexico.