Study on Vibration Control in Ground-based Photovoltaic System

In Japan, there have been many large earthquakes such as the Great East Japan Earthquake and the Kumamoto Earthquake, and it is expected that a Nankai Trough earthquake or an inland massive earthquake will occur within a few decades. These large earthquakes are expected to cause the functional failure or destruction of various devices and structures. In recent years, energy shortages due to the shutdown of nuclear power plants and the promotion of renewable energy have led to an increase in the installation of photovoltaic systems which are subject to economic risks due to the possibility of damage to mounts, foundations, and modules caused by large earthquakes. In this study, the effect of response reduction when a vibration control device is installed in a ground-mounted photovoltaic system and the appropriate installation method of the vibration control device will be investigated. The analytical model is proposed and improved by the comparison of analytical and experimental results. This report summarizes the verification of the basic performance by vibration tests and the mechanical property of the vibration control device by elemental tests.