This document provides an introduction to Unirac's PV racking systems. It discusses racking fundamentals and basic terminology. It also reviews various racking options from Unirac, including SolarMount, SunFrame, ULA, RapidRac, S-5!, and ClickSys. Pole mounting options and considerations for racking design prerequisites are also covered.
2. Racking Basics
This is an introduction to
Uniracs PV Racking Systems
Other presentations we offer include:
Unirac Attachment Options
Unirac SolarMount, RapidRac, CLICKSYS, ISYS, ULA
Array Tilt & Ground Cover Ratio (mutual shading) Optimization
Working Safely with PV Systems
Off-Grid, Grid-Tie, & Grid-Interactive Systems IOM
Other training programs
2
PROPRIETARY & CONFIDENTIAL
CONTROLLED DOCUMENT
REF: SIS-UNIRAC-RACKING-BASICS-REV-2
3. Outline
Safety First
y
Racking Fundamentals
Basic Terminology
Pole Mount O Options
Racking Options
Racking Design Pre Requisites
Pre-Requisites
3
PROPRIETARY & CONFIDENTIAL
CONTROLLED DOCUMENT
REF: SIS-UNIRAC-RACKING-BASICS-REV-2
4. Safety First
Safety is the responsibility of every employee
Safety is a full-time job
Never work alone on a PV system
Professional tools are a must
Professional equipment training is a must
Know your system before working on it
All circuits must be considered live at all times
Weather / Mechanical / Electrical Hazards
pose very serious risks
Adhere to local & international safety codes
Severe injury or even death may result from
improper handling
4
PROPRIETARY & CONFIDENTIAL
CONTROLLED DOCUMENT
REF: SIS-UNIRAC-RACKING-BASICS-REV-2
5. Racking Fundamentals
Where will the PV system be installed?
y
Ground Mount
Roof Mount
Pole Mount
5
PROPRIETARY & CONFIDENTIAL
CONTROLLED DOCUMENT
REF: SIS-UNIRAC-RACKING-BASICS-REV-2
6. Racking Components
Module Hardware - how the module is attached
to the racking
Racking Type - what the module is attached to
Attachment Options - how the racking is
attached to the substructure
Tilt - are the modules tilted away from the
y
substructure toward the sun?
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PROPRIETARY & CONFIDENTIAL
CONTROLLED DOCUMENT
REF: SIS-UNIRAC-RACKING-BASICS-REV-2
12. Solar Array Orientation
Basic Tools
B i T l
Compass Inclinometer
12
PROPRIETARY & CONFIDENTIAL
CONTROLLED DOCUMENT
REF: SIS-UNIRAC-RACKING-BASICS-REV-2
13. Solar Array Orientation
Facing True South for Northern Hemisphere Locations
Facing True North for Southern Hemisphere Locations
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PROPRIETARY & CONFIDENTIAL
CONTROLLED DOCUMENT
REF: SIS-UNIRAC-RACKING-BASICS-REV-2
14. Solar Array Orientation
WHY Facing True South for Northern Hemisphere Locations ?
Sun Path
Polar Plot
for
Dubai UAE
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PROPRIETARY & CONFIDENTIAL
CONTROLLED DOCUMENT
REF: SIS-UNIRAC-RACKING-BASICS-REV-2
15. Solar Array Orientation
WHY Facing South for Northern Hemisphere Locations ?
Sun Path
Rect. Plot
for
Dubai UAE
15
PROPRIETARY & CONFIDENTIAL
CONTROLLED DOCUMENT
REF: SIS-UNIRAC-RACKING-BASICS-REV-2
16. Solar Array Size
Modules arranged in rows and columns
No. of E-W Rows x No. of N-S Columns
Array orientation is independent of module orientation
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PROPRIETARY & CONFIDENTIAL
CONTROLLED DOCUMENT
REF: SIS-UNIRAC-RACKING-BASICS-REV-2
17. Rail Orientation
When looking at a south-facing solar array:
Rails running East-West
are l
low profile
fil
Rails running North-South
are high profile
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PROPRIETARY & CONFIDENTIAL
CONTROLLED DOCUMENT
REF: SIS-UNIRAC-RACKING-BASICS-REV-2
22. Flush-to-Roof
No additional tilt away from substructure
y
Mounted close to roof modules are
within ten inches of roof
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PROPRIETARY & CONFIDENTIAL
CONTROLLED DOCUMENT
REF: SIS-UNIRAC-RACKING-BASICS-REV-2
23. Flush-to-Roof
No additional tilt away from substructure
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PROPRIETARY & CONFIDENTIAL
CONTROLLED DOCUMENT
REF: SIS-UNIRAC-RACKING-BASICS-REV-2
50. Commercial flat roof
racking system
Delivers solution t customers #1 concerns
D li l ti to t
lighter weight
minimal penetration
shorter installation times
50
PROPRIETARY & CONFIDENTIAL
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REF: SIS-UNIRAC-RACKING-BASICS-REV-2
51. Meets wind requirements up to 120 mph
Over 120 mph possible with some
penetrations
Wind tunnel tested
May require zero penetrations
51
PROPRIETARY & CONFIDENTIAL
CONTROLLED DOCUMENT
REF: SIS-UNIRAC-RACKING-BASICS-REV-2
62. Site Survey & Analysis 1/2
(
(Grid Tie Systems)
y )
PV Grid Tie Systems Site Survey & Analysis Form
Site Name & Address Date Job No.
Owner Name & Contact No. Eng. ID
Utility Name & A
Utilit N Account N
t No. Tech.
T h ID
Pre-Visit Instructions & Notes
GPS & Google Maps
Sun Path Print
Note
N t 1
Note 2
Location & Distances of BOS Equipment
Electric Room Distance to Array
Switchboard
S it hb d Type/Model/Rating
T /M d l/R ti
MDB Type/Model/Rating
Meter Type/Model/Rating
Substation / Transformer Type/Model/Rating
MDB S
Spare C
Connections
ti Space for Inverters
S f I t
Space for Disconnects Space for Monit. Eqpt.
Site 24-Hour Access Y/N Data/Internet Point Y/N
Cables Routing Note 1 Cables Routing Note 2
Take Ph t
T k Photos Y/N Others
Oth
62
PROPRIETARY & CONFIDENTIAL
CONTROLLED DOCUMENT
REF: SIS-UNIRAC-RACKING-BASICS-REV-2
63. Site Survey & Analysis 2/2
(
(Grid Tie Systems)
y )
PV Grid Tie Systems Site Survey & Analysis Form
Site Name & Address Date Job No.
Owner Name & Contact No. Eng. ID
Utility Name & A
Utilit N Account N
t No. Tech.
T h ID
Location of Solar Array
Roof / Ground Area
Height AGL Orientation/Azimuth
Slope
Sl E-W
EW N-S
NS Fence / Parapet Y/N
F P t
Surface Type Surface Finish
Wind Exposure Cat Seismic Cat.
Nearby Shading Y/N If Yes, Sketch on Sun Path Print Nearby Shading Sketch
Solmetric Reading
S l t i R di Y/N New N b C
N Nearby Const. Y/N
t
Space for PV Combiners Space for DC Disconn.
Site 24-Hour Access Y/N Cables Routing Note 1
Take Photos Y/N Cables Routing Note 2
Others
Oth
Others
Obtain Site Drawings (As Built)
Electrical Drawings Y/N Others
Structural D
St t l Drawings Y/N
i Others
Oth
63
PROPRIETARY & CONFIDENTIAL
CONTROLLED DOCUMENT
REF: SIS-UNIRAC-RACKING-BASICS-REV-2
64. Advanced Software & Hardware Tools
1. Software: PVsyst
y
2. Hardware: S
Solmetric S
SunEye
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PROPRIETARY & CONFIDENTIAL
CONTROLLED DOCUMENT
REF: SIS-UNIRAC-RACKING-BASICS-REV-2