Desert PV Mounting System Manufacturers

Energy deployment in extreme environments: Desert PV Mounting System application research

Background of photovoltaic development in desert areas
The global energy structure is accelerating its transformation. Desert areas have become important areas for the deployment of photovoltaic power stations due to their high sunshine intensity and rich land resources. Especially in northwest China, North Africa, the Middle East and parts of America, the annual average of light resources is much higher than other regions, providing a good foundation for solar energy development. Desert PV mounting system is a special support structure designed to adapt to extreme climatic conditions and complex landforms under this background.

Characteristics of desert environment and challenges to photovoltaic mounting
The natural environment in desert areas is quite different from conventional ground systems, which puts higher requirements on the design and materials of mounting systems:
* High temperature difference: The temperature difference between day and night is large, which puts a test on the thermal expansion and contraction of the structure;
* Strong wind and sand: Frequent wind and sand, coarse particle size, and severe wear on the surface of components;
* Arid climate: scarce precipitation, low maintenance frequency of power stations, and the mounting system needs to have a high self-cleaning ability;
* Soft soil foundation: poor surface stability, foundation design needs to be particularly strengthened;
* Corrosive wind and sand components: Some desert areas contain saline and alkali components in wind and sand, which may aggravate metal corrosion.
The desert PV mounting system must not only meet the basic bearing function, but also have the characteristics of wind and sand resistance, corrosion resistance, and strong thermal stability.

Structural type and design principles
According to the project scale, component layout and terrain conditions, the desert bracket system is mainly divided into the following categories:
1. Fixed tilt bracket
This type of system adopts a fixed angle installation method, with a simple structure, convenient installation, and easy to promote on a large scale. The tilt angle is determined according to the local latitude and light distribution, and is generally set between 20 and 35 degrees.
*Structure: Hot-dip galvanized steel or aluminum alloy components are used, and the frame structure is stable;
*Advantages: Low maintenance requirements, adaptable to dusty environments;
*Limitations: The power generation efficiency throughout the year may be limited by the fixed tilt setting.
2. Adjustable angle bracket
The tilt angle is adjusted mechanically or manually, suitable for areas with obvious seasonal sunshine differences. The angle adjustment structure must have a stable locking mechanism to prevent wind and sand interference.
*Applicable scenarios: medium and large ground power stations;
*Features: Improve the power generation efficiency at low sun angles in winter;
*Challenges: Ensure that the angle adjustment device is continuously reliable under wind and sand cover.
3. Tracking bracket (single axis/dual axis)
High-efficiency power generation mode, the components move with the sun's trajectory. The desert has strong sunshine and long sunshine time, which is an ideal application place for tracking systems. However, its structure is complex and requires high operation and maintenance.
*Key points: high protection level motor system, stable support column design;
*Risk: In extreme sandstorm weather, the moving parts may wear more or jam;
*Countermeasures: Add protective covers and use lubricating sealing materials.

Material selection and protection process
In the high corrosion and high wind and sand environment of the desert, the material performance is directly related to the stability and life of the system:
*Steel type: Hot-dip galvanized Q235B or Q355B steel is used frequently, and the surface galvanizing thickness usually needs to reach ≥80μm or more;
*Aluminum alloy material: 6063-T5/6005-T5 aluminum is widely used in anti-corrosion structures, but the cross-section design needs to be strengthened in high-wind areas;
*Bolts and fasteners: Use stainless steel 304 or Dacromet for rust prevention;
*Surface treatment: Anodizing, electrophoretic coating, powder coating and other methods to improve corrosion resistance.
The protective layer process must consider the wear resistance under long-term contact with wind and sand to avoid structural exposure due to surface peeling.

Foundation type and foundation adaptability design
The surface structure of the desert is diverse, some are sand dunes, and some are semi-hard deserts. The support foundation system needs to be flexibly matched:
1. Screw pile foundation
Commonly used in areas with weak soil bearing capacity, fast construction, small damage, easy to dismantle and reuse.
* Strong adaptability, can penetrate soft soil layers;
* Can be pre-buried with geological drilling equipment;
* Anti-rust coating integrity needs to be considered.
2. Pile foundation
In some areas, steel piles or precast concrete piles can be used, which have high bearing capacity and are suitable for projects with large wind loads.
* Heavy equipment is required for construction, and the amount of work is large;
* Static penetration tests need to be done in advance when there are large geological differences;
* The design needs to determine the pile depth based on the distribution of the strata and stress analysis.
3. Cement foundation
Mostly used in power station projects under ground hardening conditions, especially in areas where piling is not allowed.
* High stability, slightly higher cost than other forms;
* Long construction period, high construction requirements;
* Poor ability to cope with foundation settlement.

Structural wind resistance and dust control strategies
In desert areas with frequent wind and sandstorms, structural wind resistance and dust prevention design cannot be ignored:
* Wind load design: should be formulated based on local extreme wind speed data, and usually be designed according to the wind speed level of once in 50 years;
* Module backplane ventilation design: optimize wind resistance by leaving gaps in the support structure;
* Dust shielding management: regular module cleaning, use of dust-resistant module glass;
* Slope protection and surface compaction: prevent the foundation from being exposed and eroded by wind or washed away.

Structural optimization path for desert PV mounting system adapting to extreme environments

The particularity of photovoltaic construction in desert areas
Desert areas have vast unused land and high sunshine resources, which are suitable for large-scale photovoltaic power generation. However, the special geographical and climatic conditions also bring construction difficulties. For example, high temperature, frequent wind and sand, large temperature difference between day and night, poor surface bearing capacity and other problems will challenge the structural stability and long-term operation efficiency of photovoltaic power stations. Therefore, the design of desert PV mounting system needs to be optimized in structure, materials and construction methods to adapt to the harsh environment.

Structural types of desert PV mounting system
Common photovoltaic support systems in desert environments include:
* Fixed tilt support: good structural stability, easy installation, widely used in areas with heavy wind and sand.
* Adjustable angle support: can adjust the angle according to the season to improve power generation efficiency, but the structure is more complex and has high maintenance requirements.
* Tracking support (single-axis or dual-axis): can automatically follow the sun's trajectory to increase power generation, and is used in some desert projects on a pilot basis, but has higher requirements for support structure stability and sand control system.
The selection of different types of support systems in desert environments needs to be comprehensively evaluated in combination with factors such as project electricity price, land cost, construction convenience and maintenance capacity.

Material selection and anti-corrosion treatment
Desert areas are dry and windy all year round, and materials face continuous wind erosion and ultraviolet radiation. Common material selection and treatment methods include:
*Hot-dip galvanized steel: has strong corrosion resistance and is the current mainstream choice.
*Aluminum alloy bracket: light weight, good corrosion resistance, suitable for projects with low load requirements.
*Stainless steel component connectors: used for connecting parts to prevent loosening and corrosion during long-term operation.
*Surface spraying or anodizing treatment: further enhance the corrosion resistance and UV resistance of the material surface and extend the life of the system.
Good matching of materials and processes can effectively improve the stable operation ability of the desert PV mounting system in a highly corrosive and windy environment.

Foundation design and adaptive construction strategy
The desert surface is mostly soft sand or saline-alkali land, which has high requirements for foundation bearing capacity. Common foundation forms include:
*Screw pile foundation: simple construction, suitable for sandy soil, and easy to disassemble and assemble later.
*Pile foundation: suitable for desert soil with strong compaction, good stability, but high requirements for construction equipment.
*Cement cast-in-place piles: used in areas with complex geological conditions or groundwater levels, with a long construction period.
In specific construction, it is necessary to carry out sufficient geological surveys to evaluate factors such as stratum structure, groundwater level, wind load pressure, etc., so as to determine the reasonable foundation type, and adopt mechanized construction methods to reduce human errors.

Sand prevention and structural stability design
The impact of sand and dust on photovoltaic modules and bracket systems is mainly reflected in:
* Covering the surface of the module, affecting the power generation efficiency;
* Accumulating in the bracket structure, accelerating wear and corrosion;
* High wind and sand weather causes structural stress changes.
* In order to reduce these effects, the design of the desert PV mounting system needs to consider:
* Raise the ground clearance at the bottom of the bracket to reduce sand and dust accumulation;
* Optimize the inclination angle of the module arrangement and use wind power for self-cleaning;
* Strengthen the connection between the bracket and the ground to improve wind resistance;
* Set up wind and sand fences or plant belts to form a buffer zone to reduce wind erosion.
System stress simulation analysis is also an important part of the design. It is necessary to combine local historical meteorological data and typical wind and sand models to evaluate the structural response under extreme weather conditions.

Operation and maintenance and management suggestions
Operation and maintenance in desert environments are an important part of ensuring the long-term performance of power stations. The recommended operation and maintenance measures include:
*Regularly clean photovoltaic modules, which can be sprayed by drones, dry brushing equipment or automatic cleaning systems;
*Check whether the connection parts of the bracket are loose or corroded;
*For the tracking system, it is necessary to monitor whether the actuators are stuck in sand;
*Strengthen the construction and maintenance of wind and sand control facilities around the area.
*At the same time, installing a remote monitoring system can grasp the system operation status in real time and reduce the number of people entering high-temperature and high-risk areas.

Development trend of desert PV mounting system
With the large-scale promotion of desert photovoltaic projects, the future technical evolution direction of desert PV mounting system mainly includes:
*Modular installation design to improve construction efficiency;
*Material upgrade, such as high-strength lightweight composite materials;
*Intelligent operation and maintenance support, such as sensor monitoring and AI fault warning;
*Combined with ecological restoration to achieve energy and environmental protection co-construction.
Driven by both policy and market demand, desert photovoltaics will become an important force in promoting the scale of new energy, and will place higher demands on the adaptability of photovoltaic support systems.