Torque tube support for single-axis trackers
We improved support for single-axis trackers so you can specify additional parameters and represent their torque tube.
Specifically, it's possible to represent in more detail trackers that use concentric bearings, which have the widest market adoption so far.
This change will primarily affect plant yield simulations (up to 2-3% difference) and the Civil Analysis tool, ensuring more realistic groundwork quantities estimation.
How?
The torque tube is being released as an opt-in setting, with plans of making it a default option in future versions.
You can access torque tube settings in Frame & Park settings > Custom piling.
Here you'll be able to enable it and configure three parameters:
Torque tube diameter;
Top gap, from back of the frame;
Bottom gap, from head of the pile.
Gaps enable accounting for parts of the rack that might affect installation.
Also, the turning angle range was moved under Custom piling for all tracker types.
We also made changes to the cross-sections and project set-out views so that all relevant measurements report correctly:
Moreover, the Civil Analysis tool has now updated visuals to make it more explicit that it's working with pile reveal lengths, excluding the torque tube and any gaps:
For yield simulation — PVsyst and PVcase Yield, are still supported, with specific support for the torque tube coming soon to PVcase Yield!
Device SLD: added option to export all the strings
When you need more detail, you can now choose to display all the strings in the SLD of a specific device.
How?
Select the electrical device of interest (either in the design or in the device overview), and right-click.
Under the PVcase menu, choose "Export SLD for this device".
You'll be given the option to export the SLD, which displays every string or hides similar strings from the same module.
Minor updates
‘Convert to PVcase’ can handle less accurate inputs.
Uniformed terminology used for piles.