Martifer Solar tested the wind resistance of its new solution for PV panels. The particularity of the Martifer Solar roof mounting system is that it can be placed on an existing flat roof without extra fixation needed. The wind tunnel test took place at the independent Von Karman Institute for Fluid Dynamics in order to determine the maximum wind speed that the roof mounting system can sustain without sliding or falling.
The mounting system was placed on two different kinds of roofing at different angles in the wind tunnel. All of the tests were performed with different configuration of weights and wind velocity. Ricardo Meireles, Country Manager of Martifer Solar Belgium stats that “this new PV panels roof solution is proof that Martifer Solar is in constant technological innovation, adapting our offerings to the customers’ needs, always with the goal of having a full satisfaction of all those who order our services.”
The Von Karman Institute, which has some of the most important and largest wind tunnel testing facilities in the world, said that “successful configurations have been identified for solar panel fixation on Martifer Solar mounting systems, that in the most adverse situations (back wind on the PV modules), reaches values of 140 klm/h. Other successful configurations have been tested, reaching values up to 200 klm/h.”
New mounting technology
This tested product is a unique and innovative mounting system technology based on “gravitational structures”. It is not fixed directly onto the rooftop, but is instead anchored on strong (but light) pads that are stuck to the surface.
The main advantage of these gravitational structures is that the roof does not need to be perforated, optimising installation time and reducing complexity, and guaranteeing the complete sealing of roofs, which is important for both the owner of the facility and the end customer.
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