Today’s post explores the benefits of solar engineering drawings and design services from 3D design firms. Solar panels have been a trend nowadays as it serves as an alternative source of electrical energy but it takes quite a lot of upfront investment and time to reach net zero. Although it’s cheaper to use solar panels on a dollar-per-watt basis, but having it properly set up on community farms is a much more tedious process than in a residential installation. This where 3D modeling design firms and simulation plays an important role as it help providers and users in planning
Why is knowing the topography important?
When it comes to solar panel drawing and drafting services, the location is just as important as the solar photovoltaic infrastructure that will be used in the project. The term “location” refers not only to a specific address or the square footage of a property but also to the topographical characteristic of an area. A detailed understanding that can be shown in a 3D model of the site topography helps determine the design and installation of the solar cells as it can accurately visualize the physical features of an area and show relationships between those features, such as between roads to community centers, hills or cliffs relative to sun positions, waterways to landforms, etc.
This is to ensure maximum sun exposure is achieved to reach efficient energy absorption. Topographic models are most easily created based on the available topographic maps, but you may need to tap into other technologies to get the most accurate data.
Listed below are the most common methods
- Aerial Photogrammetry – it captures images of a specific land area using infrared sensors. Then the images are processed with photogrammetry software to create a simple topographic imagery or DEM (digital elevation model) that shows surface objects including trees and buildings.
- Radar Interferometry – This method is used to capture data disregarding the lighting and weather conditions. It uses electromagnetic signals reflected from the surface to measure the contours of the land.
- Light Detection and Ranging – also known as LiDAR. It sweeps over an area and uses laser altimeter installed on a drone, satellite, and plane. Then it calculates the time and distance the laser takes as it bounces from the surface back to the device.
This kind of geographic spatial set of data gives an easy overview of the surface of the land, while the expertise of 3D modeling design firms is used for solar photovoltaic (also known as Solar PV) installation, presenting the exact position of each solar panel on the surface. This leads to a sophisticated and accurate engineering decision as it uses combined visualization. Also, knowing the topographical characteristic increases up to the highest energy input and output efficiency.
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Additionally, the 3D model results in a decreased field time during site surveys as it can be done virtually with the tip of the finger. But, of course a site survey still remains necessary to determine the feasibility of solar panel installation and identify the most effective approach. Accurate DEM or Digital Elevation model eases the burden as it can easily identify potential topographical challenges. Analogous to product design 3D modeling, DEM does all the work and gives you ample time to be more proactive rather than reactive in planning the operational strategies.
For example, if the site is in an ideal location but the topographical condition doesn’t have the right elevation profile for a high-capacity solar farm, DEM makes it easier to draft a plan to actually modify the site to ensure maximum energy yield. You’ll be able to devise the most effective and cost-efficient site alteration method with minimum ecological impact. Instead of tinkering too much with the installation, it might be possible to get rid of mounds or small embankments and make the land nice and flat for the solar panel mounting structures.
Rooftop installation
If you sell and install (Photovoltaic) PV cells, it is the contractor’s job to modify their rooftops for the panel to fit without compromising the structural integrity of the roof. You might not need a topographical map of a house or an urban area, but a good overview of the roof and surrounding areas including the nearby trees and buildings is still needed. Contrary to using 2D drawings and floor plan design services, in this instance a 3D model can give an accurate representation of the rooftop orientation, pitch, and other objects that may disrupt PV cell installation.
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Most rooftops have a specific pitch angle, slope and sometimes flat making it a lesser concern in solar panel mounting structure. Most of the time, the size of the pitch angle doesn’t really matter because the adjustable mounting structures should compensate for it. The crucial question is, what is the most appropriate position for the solar panels to absorb light from the sun? Usually, the original blueprint of the original house is used as a point of reference, but this is only useful if the owner has not had any renovation done to the house.
Minor details to the design such as snow guards and air vents can be major obstacles when installing solar panels. If a renovation isn’t reflected in the blueprint it can be used as a comparison to see if the roof today has been altered. A 3D design firm can convert the 2D blueprint into a 3D model to help with the installation of PV cells. For a more technical approach, roof scanning photogrammetry using a remote-controlled drone can be used to capture images that are processed on photogrammetry software, from there you can build an accurate 3D visualization of the roof.
Solar panel modeling and simulation
Based on the types and specifications of the solar panels along with the mounting rack to be installed, a design firm can also build 3D models of the devices as well. All the completed models are arranged to visualize how the installation should look when the project is completed. Due to the increasing advantages of a virtual environment including the drawings, a design firm can modify the details from the positioning, orientation, and dimension. This is almost the same as floor plan rendering services and product design visualization. `
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After examining the 3D visualization, the solar panel PV provider and the homeowner are expected to make an accurate and informed decisions to avoid installation mistakes and to prevent post-installation glitches. Planning takes a lot of steps and visualization is only the first step. A lot of features in simulating how the energy system should work once it’s been set up is being offered by numerous solar panel software programs. It generates data regarding solar-to-electricity mechanism and gives information about output and peak performance production energy, and here is how it works,
- Gathering of photovoltaic research data including but not limited to the latitude, longitude, elevation, and the expected amount of irradiation at any given time in the location. This means that experimental data might be needed such as the amount of sunlight that hits a given surface, conversion into watts per square meter. Most of these data are available from public sources and private companies specializing in the field.
- After gathering relevant data, a 3D architectural modeling firm uses all relevant data such as types, orientation, efficiency rating, and size, to the simulation models and process it.
- Then, solar modeling simulates the energy output, potential financial savings that can be compared to the homeowner’s typical monthly electricity bill and the expected time it is for the investor to hit breakeven.
- 3D modeling simulations are meant to provide an overview with regards to the solar panel PV performance throughout the year. The model and data it acquired can be modified to ensure an optimum tilt degree of solar panels, minimize the risk of structural problems, and again improve energy production.
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The four major parts of solar panel simulation are Solar Irradiation, Power Transfer Rate also related to the panel efficiency, Panel shading, and Meteorological Conditions. Although solar PV panels are typically installed on rooftops and façades, it still has its own advantages and disadvantages. Rooftop installation is usually preferable because of the vertical irradiation and minimum shading, and façade installation has a larger surface area therefore potentially generating more energy.
Also, installation on walls might be preferable for efficiency and all-year-round energy production is the utmost importance. With accurate meteorological data and panel specification directly from the manufacturer, a 3D modeling expert designer and simulation will be able to provide a clear comparison between rooftop and façade installation efficiency rates on the homeowner’s property.
Solar irradiation
Since simulation is an imitation of a process and situation, the time of day, angle of sunlight hitting the panel surface, and location must be acquired to determine the solar irradiation. You must remember that the amount of sunlight changes throughout the day due to the different angle of sunlight every hour. Relating to this, a country near the equator is more exposed to the sunlight than those positioned further away from the line.
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Of course the location of the area can be changed, that’s why it is important to determine the appropriate tilt angle, installation surface and types of PV panels to have a notable difference in power output. The entire planning using 3D modeling and simulation can be very expensive, but its flexibility and uncomplicated method make its worth every penny before the installation begins.
How CAD Crowd can help
For almost 15 years, professional 3D design firms and Cad Crowd have been working tirelessly in delivering high-quality services in residential and commercial projects, including solar panel installation. It’s your time to work with experts in 3D models to understand the topography of your solar farm site. Determine the best installation method for your rooftop panels, and simulate the output efficiency.
CAD Crowd can definitely help with your most complex solar engineering drawings and design services for every budget. Give CAD Crowd a call today for your free quote.
