Solar trackers for photovoltaic systems - Design qualification

This International Standard is a design qualification standard applicable to solar trackers for
photovoltaic systems, but may be used for trackers in other solar applications. The standard
defines test procedures for both key components and for the complete tracker system. In
some cases, test procedures describe methods to measure and/or calculate parameters to be
reported in the defined tracker specification sheet. In other cases, the test procedure results
in a pass/fail criterion.
The objective of this design qualification standard is twofold.
First, this standard ensures the user of the said tracker that parameters reported in the
specification sheet were measured by consistent and accepted industry procedures. This
provides customers with a sound basis for comparing and selecting a tracker appropriate to
their specific needs. This standard provides industry-wide definitions and parameters for solar
trackers. Each vendor can design, build, and specify the functionality and accuracy with
uniform definition. This allows consistency in specifying the requirements for purchasing,
comparing the products from different vendors, and verifying the quality of the products.
Second, the tests with pass/fail criteria are engineered with the purpose of separating tracker
designs that are likely to have early failures from those designs that are sound and suitable
for use as specified by the manufacturer. Mechanical and environmental testing in this
standard is designed to gauge the tracker’s ability to perform under varying operating
conditions, as well as to survive extreme conditions. Mechanical testing is not intended to
certify structural and foundational designs, because this type of certification is specific to local
jurisdictions, soil types, and other local requirements.

Sonnen-Nachführeinrichtungen für photovoltaische Systeme - Bauarteignung

Systèmes photovoltaïques - Qualification de conception des suiveurs solaires

L'IEC 62817:2014 est une norme de qualification de conception applicable aux suiveurs solaires pour systèmes photovoltaïques, mais peut servir aux suiveurs dans d'autres applications solaires. La norme définit les procédures d'essai destinées aussi bien aux composants clés qu'au système suiveur complet. Dans certains cas, les procédures d'essai décrivent des procédés servant à mesurer et/ou calculer des paramètres à rapporter dans la feuille de spécification définie pour le suiveur. Dans d'autres cas, le mode opératoire d'essai se conclut par des critères d'acceptation et de refus. Cette norme donne à l'utilisateur dudit suiveur la garantie que les paramètres rapportés dans la feuille de spécification ont été mesurés par des procédures industrielles cohérentes et acceptées. Les essais basés sur des critères d'acceptation et de rejet ont pour objet de distinguer les conceptions de suiveur susceptibles de présenter des défaillances prématurément de celles présentant la robustesse nécessaire et correspondant à l'usage spécifié par le fabricant.

Sledilniki sonca za fotonapetostne sisteme - Ocena zasnove (IEC 62817:2014)

Ta mednarodni standard je standard ocene zasnove, ki se uporablja za sledilnike sonca za fotonapetostne sisteme, vendar se lahko uporablja tudi za sledilnike pri drugih načinih uporabe sončne energije. Standard določa preskusne postopke za ključne sestavne dele in celoten sledilni sistem. V nekaterih primerih preskusni postopki opisujejo metode za merjenje in/ali izračun parametrov, navedenih v specifikaciji določenega sledilnika. V ostalih primerih je preskusni postopek uspešno/neuspešno opravljen.
Cilj tega standarda ocene zasnove je dvojen.  Najprej ta standard zagotavlja uporabniku navedenega sledilnika, da so parametri v specifikaciji izmerjeni na podlagi doslednih in sprejetih industrijskih postopkov. To zagotavlja odjemalcem trdno osnovo za primerjanje in izbiro sledilnika, ki ustreza njihovim posebnim potrebam. Ta standard določa definicije in parametre v celotni industriji za sledilnike sonca. Vsak dobavitelj lahko oblikuje, zgradi ter določa funkcionalnost in točnost z enotno definicijo. To omogoča doslednost pri določanju zahtev za nakup,
primerjavo produktov različnih dobaviteljev in preverjanje kakovosti produktov. Kot drugo, preskusi z merilom za uspešno/neuspešno opravljenost so zasnovani z namenom ločevanja zasnov sledilnikov, ki se lahko hitreje okvarijo, od tistih zasnov, ki so zanesljive in primerne za uporabo, kot jo določa proizvajalec. Mehansko in okoljsko preskušanje v tem standardu je zasnovano za oceno zmogljivosti sledilnika v različnih pogojih delovanja in preživetja izrednih razmer. Mehansko preskušanje ni namenjeno certificiranju strukturnih in temeljnih zasnov, ker je ta vrsta certificiranja odvisna od krajevne pristojnosti, vrste tal in ostalih krajevnih zahtev.

General Information

Status
Published
Publication Date
23-Apr-2015
Current Stage
6060 - National Implementation/Publication (Adopted Project)
Start Date
09-Apr-2015
Due Date
14-Jun-2015
Completion Date
24-Apr-2015

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SLOVENSKI STANDARD
SIST EN 62817:2015
01-maj-2015
Sledilniki sonca za fotonapetostne sisteme - Ocena zasnove (IEC 62817:2014)
Solar trackers for photovoltaic systems - Design qualification
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN 62817:2015
ICS:
27.160 6RQþQDHQHUJLMD Solar energy engineering
SIST EN 62817:2015 en
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

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SIST EN 62817:2015

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SIST EN 62817:2015


EUROPEAN STANDARD EN 62817

NORME EUROPÉENNE

EUROPÄISCHE NORM
March 2015
ICS 27.160

English Version
Photovoltaic systems - Design qualification of solar trackers
(IEC 62817:2014)
Systèmes photovoltaïques - Qualification de conception des Sonnen-Nachführeinrichtungen für photovoltaische
suiveurs solaires Systeme - Bauarteignung
(IEC 62817:2014) (IEC 62817:2014)
This European Standard was approved by CENELEC on 2014-09-29. CENELEC members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC
Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this European Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration.
Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references concerning such national standards may be obtained on application to the CEN-CENELEC
Management Centre or to any CENELEC member.
This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other language made by translation
under the responsibility of a CENELEC member into its own language and notified to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre has the
same status as the official versions.
CENELEC members are the national electrotechnical committees of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic,
Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia,
Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland,
Turkey and the United Kingdom.



European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization
Comité Européen de Normalisation Electrotechnique
Europäisches Komitee für Elektrotechnische Normung
CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Avenue Marnix 17, B-1000 Brussels
© 2015 CENELEC All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved worldwide for CENELEC Members.
 Ref. No. EN 62817:2015 E

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SIST EN 62817:2015
EN 62817:2015 - 2 -
Foreword

The text of document 82/853/FDIS, future edition 1 of IEC 62817, prepared by IEC/TC 82 "Solar
photovoltaic energy systems" was submitted to the IEC-CENELEC parallel vote and approved by
CENELEC as EN 62817:2015.
The following dates are fixed:
(dop) 2015-09-13
• latest date by which the document has
to be implemented at national level by
publication of an identical national
standard or by endorsement
(dow) 2017-09-29
• latest date by which the national
standards conflicting with the
document have to be withdrawn

Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. CENELEC [and/or CEN] shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such
patent rights.

Endorsement notice
The text of the International Standard IEC 62817:2014 was approved by CENELEC as a European
Standard without any modification.

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SIST EN 62817:2015
- 3 - EN 62817:2015

Annex ZA
(normative)

Normative references to international publications
with their corresponding European publications
The following documents, in whole or in part, are normatively referenced in this document and are
indispensable for its application. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated
references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
NOTE 1 When an International Publication has been modified by common modifications, indicated by (mod), the relevant

EN/HD applies.

NOTE 2 Up-to-date information on the latest versions of the European Standards listed in this annex is available here:
www.cenelec.eu.
Publication Year Title EN/HD Year
IEC 60068-2-6 -  Environmental testing -- Part 2-6: Tests - EN 60068-2-6 -
Test Fc: Vibration (sinusoidal)
IEC 60068-2-21 -  Environmental testing -- Part 2-21: Tests - EN 60068-2-21 -
Test U: Robustness of terminations and
integral mounting devices
IEC 60068-2-27 -  Environmental testing -- Part 2-27: Tests - EN 60068-2-27 -
Test Ea and guidance: Shock
IEC 60068-2-75 -  Environmental testing -- Part 2-75: Tests - EN 60068-2-75 -
Test Eh: Hammer tests
IEC 60529 -  Degrees of protection provided by - -
enclosures (IP Code)
IEC 60904-3 2008 Photovoltaic devices -- Part 3: EN 60904-3 2008
Measurement principles for terrestrial
photovoltaic (PV) solar devices with
reference spectral irradiance data
IEC 61000-4-5 2005 Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) -- Part EN 61000-4-5 2006
4-5: Testing and measurement techniques
- Surge immunity test
IEC 62262 2002 Degrees of protection provided by EN 62262 2002
enclosures for electrical equipment against
external mechanical impacts (IK code)
ISO 12103-1 -  Road vehicles_- Test dust for filter - -
evaluation_- Part_1: Arizona test dust
ISO/IEC 17025 -  General requirements for the competence EN ISO/IEC 17025 -
of testing and calibration laboratories

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SIST EN 62817:2015

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SIST EN 62817:2015




IEC 62817

®


Edition 1.0 2014-08




INTERNATIONAL



STANDARD




NORME



INTERNATIONALE
colour

inside










Photovoltaic systems – Design qualification of solar trackers



Systèmes photovoltaïques – Qualification de conception des suiveurs solaires


















INTERNATIONAL

ELECTROTECHNICAL

COMMISSION


COMMISSION

ELECTROTECHNIQUE

PRICE CODE
INTERNATIONALE

XB
CODE PRIX


ICS 27.160 ISBN 978-2-8322-1826-6



Warning! Make sure that you obtained this publication from an authorized distributor.

Attention! Veuillez vous assurer que vous avez obtenu cette publication via un distributeur agréé.

® Registered trademark of the International Electrotechnical Commission
Marque déposée de la Commission Electrotechnique Internationale

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SIST EN 62817:2015
– 2 – IEC 62817:2014 © IEC 2014
CONTENTS
FOREWORD. 6
1 Scope and object . 8
2 Normative references . 8
3 Terms and definitions . 9
4 Specifications for solar trackers for PV applications . 9
5 Report . 12
6 Tracker definitions and taxonomy . 13
6.1 General . 13
6.2 Payload types . 13
6.2.1 Standard photovoltaic (PV) module trackers . 13
6.2.2 Concentrator photovoltaic (CPV) module trackers . 13
6.3 Rotational axes . 14
6.3.1 General . 14
6.3.2 Single-axis trackers . 14
6.3.3 Dual-axis trackers . 15
6.4 Actuation and control . 17
6.4.1 Architecture . 17
6.4.2 Drive train . 17
6.4.3 Drive types . 17
6.4.4 Drive train torque . 18
6.5 Types of tracker control . 18
6.5.1 Passive control . 18
6.5.2 Active control . 18
6.5.3 Backtracking . 19
6.6 Structural characteristics . 19
6.6.1 Vertical supports . 19
6.6.2 Foundation types . 20
6.6.3 Tracker positions . 20
6.6.4 Stow time . 21
6.7 Energy consumption . 21
6.7.1 Daily energy consumption . 21
6.7.2 Stow energy consumption . 21
6.8 External elements and interfaces . 21
6.8.1 Foundation . 21
6.8.2 Foundation interface . 21
6.8.3 Payload . 21
6.8.4 Payload interface . 22
6.8.5 Payload mechanical interface . 22
6.8.6 Payload electrical interface . 22
6.8.7 Grounding interface . 22
6.8.8 Installation effort . 22
6.8.9 Control interface . 22
6.9 Internal tolerances . 23
6.9.1 Primary-axis tolerance . 23
6.9.2 Secondary axis tolerance . 23
6.9.3 Backlash . 23

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SIST EN 62817:2015
IEC 62817:2014 © IEC 2014 – 3 –
6.9.4 Stiffness . 23
6.10 Tracker system elements . 24
6.10.1 Mechanical structure . 24
6.10.2 Tracker controller . 24
6.10.3 Sensors . 24
6.11 Reliability terminology . 24
6.11.1 General . 24
6.11.2 Mean time between failures (MTBF) . 24
6.11.3 Mean time between critical failures (MTBCF) . 25
6.11.4 Mean time to repair (MTTR) . 25
6.12 Environmental conditions . 25
6.12.1 Operating temperature range . 25
6.12.2 Survival temperature range . 25
6.12.3 Wind speed . 25
6.12.4 Maximum wind during operation . 26
6.12.5 Maximum wind during stow . 26
6.12.6 Snow load . 26
7 Tracker accuracy characterization . 26
7.1 Overview . 26
7.2 Pointing error (instantaneous) . 26
7.3 Measurement . 27
7.3.1 Overview . 27
7.3.2 Example of experimental method to measure pointing error . 27
7.3.3 Calibration of pointing error measurement tool . 28
7.4 Calculation of tracker accuracy . 28
7.4.1 Overview . 28
7.4.2 Data collection . 28
7.4.3 Data binning by wind speed . 29
7.4.4 Data filtering . 30
7.4.5 Data quantity . 30
7.4.6 Accuracy calculations . 30
8 Tracker test procedures . 31
8.1 Visual inspection . 31
8.1.1 Purpose . 31
8.1.2 Procedure . 31
8.1.3 Requirements . 31
8.2 Functional validation tests . 32
8.2.1 Purpose . 32
8.2.2 Tracking limits verification . 32
8.2.3 Hard limit switch operation . 32
8.2.4 Automatic sun tracking after power outage and feedback sensor
shadowing . 32
8.2.5 Manual operation . 33
8.2.6 Emergency stop . 33
8.2.7 Maintenance mode . 33
8.2.8 Operational temperature range . 33
8.2.9 Wind stow . 33
8.3 Performance tests . 33
8.3.1 Purpose . 33

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SIST EN 62817:2015
– 4 – IEC 62817:2014 © IEC 2014
8.3.2 Daily energy and peak power consumption . 33
8.3.3 Stow time and stow energy and power consumption . 34
8.4 Mechanical testing . 34
8.4.1 Purpose . 34
8.4.2 Control/drive train pointing repeatability test . 35
8.4.3 Deflection under static load test . 36
8.4.4 Torsional stiffness, mechanical drift, drive torque, and backlash testing . 38
8.4.5 Moment testing under extreme wind loading . 41
8.5 Environmental testing . 43
8.5.1 Purpose . 43
8.5.2 Procedure . 43
8.5.3 Requirements . 45
8.6 Accelerated mechanical cycling . 46
8.6.1 Purpose . 46
8.6.2 Procedure . 46
8.6.3 Requirements . 48
9 Design qualification testing specific to tracker electronic equipment . 48
9.1 General purpose . 48
9.2 Sequential testing for electronic components . 48
9.2.1 General . 48
9.2.2 Visual inspection of electronic components . 49
9.2.3 Functioning test . 50
9.2.4 Protection against dust, water, and foreign bodies (IP code) . 51
9.2.5 Protection against mechanical impacts (IK code) . 51
9.2.6 Robustness of terminals test . 52
9.2.7 Surge immunity test . 53
9.2.8 Shipping vibration test . 53
9.2.9 Shock test . 54
9.2.10 UV test . 54
9.2.11 Thermal cycling test . 55
9.2.12 Humidity-freeze test . 56
9.2.13 Damp heat . 57
10 Additional optional accuracy calculations . 57
10.1 Typical tracking accuracy range . 57
10.2 Tracking error histogram . 57
10.3 Percent of available irradiance as a function of pointing error . 58

Figure 1 – Convention for elevation angle . 16
Figure 2 – Illustration of primary-axis tolerance for VPDAT . 23
Figure 3 – General illustration of pointing error . 27
Figure 4 – Example of experimental method to measure pointing error . 27
Figure 5 – Example measurement locations for structural deflection . 37
Figure 6 – Load configurations while the payload is in the horizontal position . 37
Figure 7 – Load configuration when the payload is in the vertical position . 37
Figure 8 – Moment load applied to an elevation axis . 39
Figure 9 – Angular displacement versus applied torque to axis of rotation . 39
Figure 10 – Examples of characteristic length for (a) elevation torque, (b) azimuth
torque . 41

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SIST EN 62817:2015
IEC 62817:2014 © IEC 2014 – 5 –
Figure 11 – Two configurations for extreme wind moment loading . 42
Figure 12 – Representation of a tracker’s discrete-movement profile . 46
Figure 13 – Representation of an accelerated discrete-movement profile for testing . 47
Figure 14 – Test sequence for electronic components. 49
Figure 15 – Electronic component thermal cycling test . 55
Figure 16 – Electronic component humidity-freeze test . 56
Figure 17 – Pointing-error frequency distribution for the entire test period . 58
Figure 18 – Available irradiance as a function of pointing error . 58
Figure 19 – Available irradiance as a function of pointing error with binning by wind
speed . 59

Table 1 – Tracker specification template . 10
Table 2 – Alternate tracking-accuracy reporting template . 31

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SIST EN 62817:2015
– 6 – IEC 62817:2014 © IEC 2014
INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION
____________

PHOTOVOLTAIC SYSTEMS –
DESIGN QUALIFICATION OF SOLAR TRACKERS

FOREWORD
1) The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) is a worldwide organization for standardization comprising
all national electrotechnical committees (IEC National Committees). The object of IEC is to promote
international co-operation on all questions concerning standardization in the electrical and electronic fields. To
this end and in addition to other activities, IEC publishes International Standards, Technical Specifications,
Technical Reports, Publicly Available Specifications (PAS) and Guides (hereafter referred to as “IEC
Publication(s)”). Their preparation is entrusted to technical committees; any IEC National Committee interested
in the subject dealt with may participate in this preparatory work. International, governmental and non-
governmental organizations liaising with the IEC also participate in this preparation. IEC collaborates closely
with the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) in accordance with conditions determined by
agreement between the two organizations.
2) The formal decisions or agreements of IEC on technical matters express, as nearly as possible, an international
consensus of opinion on the relevant subjects since each technical committee has representation from all
interested IEC National Committees.
3) IEC Publications have the form of recommendations for international use and are accepted by IEC National
Committees in that sense. While all reasonable efforts are made to ensure that the technical content of IEC
Publications is accurate, IEC cannot be held responsible for the way in which they are used or for any
misinterpretation by any end user.
4) In order to promote international uniformity, IEC National Committees undertake to apply IEC Publications
transparently to the maximum extent possible in their national and regional publications. Any divergence
between any IEC Publication and the corresponding national or regional publication shall be clearly indicated in
the latter.
5) IEC itself does not provide any attestation of conformity. Independent certification bodies provide conformity
assessment services and, in some areas, access to IEC marks of conformity. IEC is not responsible for any
services carried out by independent certification bodies.
6) All users should ensure that they have the latest edition of this publication.
7) No liability shall attach to IEC or its directors, employees, servants or agents including individual experts and
members of its technical committees and IEC National Committees for any personal injury, property damage or
other damage of any nature whatsoever, whether direct or indirect, or for costs (including legal fees) and
expenses arising out of the publication, use of, or reliance upon, this IEC Publication or any other IEC
Publications.
8) Attention is drawn to the Normative references cited in this publication. Use of the referenced publications is
indispensable for the correct application of this publication.
9) Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this IEC Publication may be the subject of
patent rights. IEC shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
International Standard IEC 62817 has been prepared by IEC technical committee 82: Solar
photovoltaic energy systems.
The text of this design qualification standard is based on the following documents:
FDIS Report on voting
82/853/FDIS 82/877/RVD

Full information on the voting for the approval of this international standard can be found in
the report on voting indicated in the above table.
This publication has been drafted in accordance with the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.

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SIST EN 62817:2015
IEC 62817:2014 © IEC 2014 – 7 –
The committee has decided that the contents of this publication will remain unchanged until
the stability date indicated on the IEC web site under "http://webstore.iec.ch" in the data
related to the specific publication. At this date, the publication will be
• reconfirmed,
• withdrawn,
• replaced by a revised edition, or
• amended.

IMPORTANT – The 'colour inside' logo on the cover page of this publication indicates
that it contains colours which are considered to be useful for the correct
understanding of its contents. Users should therefore print this document using a
colour printer.

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SIST EN 62817:2015
– 8 – IEC 62817:2014 © IEC 2014
PHOTOVOLTAIC SYSTEMS –
DESIGN QUALIFICATION OF SOLAR TRACKERS



1 Scope and object
This International Standard is a design qualification standard applicable to solar trackers for
photovoltaic systems, but may be used fo
...

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