The formula to calculate the row spacing of a photovoltaic array is:
\[ D = \frac{0.707H}{\tan \left( \arcsin \left( 0.648 \cos \Phi - 0.399 \sin \Phi \right) \right)} \]
where:
The row spacing of a photovoltaic array is the distance between the front and rear rows of solar panels. This spacing is calculated to ensure that the rear panels are not shaded by the front panels, maximizing the efficiency of the solar array.
Let's assume the following values:
Using the formula:
\[ \Phi = 35^\circ \implies \Phi_{\text{rad}} = \frac{35 \pi}{180} \approx 0.61 \text{ radians} \]
\[ \text{term1} = 0.648 \cos(0.61) \approx 0.53 \]
\[ \text{term2} = 0.399 \sin(0.61) \approx 0.23 \]
\[ \text{angle} = \arcsin(0.53 - 0.23) \approx 0.31 \text{ radians} \]
\[ D = \frac{0.707 \times 2}{\tan(0.31)} \approx 1.1 \text{ meters} \]
The Row Spacing is approximately 1.1 meters.
| Latitude (Φ) | Height (H) (meters) | Row Spacing (D) (meters) |
|---|---|---|
| 30 | 1.5 | 2.73 |
| 30 | 2 | 3.64 |
| 30 | 2.5 | 4.56 |
| 32 | 1.5 | 2.95 |
| 32 | 2 | 3.94 |
| 32 | 2.5 | 4.92 |
| 34 | 1.5 | 3.21 |
| 34 | 2 | 4.27 |
| 34 | 2.5 | 5.34 |
| 36 | 1.5 | 3.50 |
| 36 | 2 | 4.67 |
| 36 | 2.5 | 5.84 |
| 38 | 1.5 | 3.86 |
| 38 | 2 | 5.15 |
| 38 | 2.5 | 6.43 |
| 40 | 1.5 | 4.29 |
| 40 | 2 | 5.72 |
| 40 | 2.5 | 7.15 |