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Solar field generator
As NDunes is widely used for photovoltaic projects, a solar panel tool is available easing the creation of large solar farms as well as single solar panels. It is available under the Tools menu.
This tool generates a single geometry (see Geometries) containing all the solar panels and adjusted in the current scene landscape.
Solar field tool
The panel is composed of three groups of properties:
- Solar Panel holds the properties of the unit solar panels.
- Field contains the parameters ruling the field global layout.
- Generation shows the generated geometry.
The panel properties
The first group of properties allow to change the solar panel itself:
- Modules count: number of modules of the panel in the X and Y directions.
- Module spacing: distance between each module of the panel in the X and Y directions.
- Module size: dimensions of the unit module.
- Panel size: dimensions of the whole solar panel.
- Center height: height of the solar panel at its center.
- Panel angle: angle of the solar panel modules against the horizontal direction.
- Bottom-top heights: Heights of the bottom and top points of the panel.ifacial modules.
- Bifacial modules: Check to enable modules with cells on the bottom face.
- Poles count: number of poles of the panel in the X and Y directions.
- Concrete type: characteristics of the concrete blocks (No concrete, per pole, per row, per column or per panel).
- Concrete height: height of the concrete block on top of the ground (0 means the top of the block is at altitude 0).
The checkboxes on the right side of the panel allow to enable different types of parameters edition:
- Module size vs. panel size.
- Center height and angle vs. bottom-top points.
Multiple types of panels
The field properties
The Solar Field tool works within a decal area. To get information about how to create a decal area, please see Decals.
The first input field allows to select the Decal area in which the solar panels will be created:
- Push the Select button to enable the decal area picking.
- Pick a decal area curve in the viewport.
- The decal area name is shown in the property.
If a decal area is already selected when opening the tool, it will automatically appear here. Alternatively, the tree items of the decal areas can be dropped on the property.
Selecting a decal area and generating the field
Note:
When a decal area is selected, all the parameters are saved with it allowing to later retrieve the field characteristics and update the geometry if needed.
The field default position and orientation are the same as the decal area. The origin panel (panel zero) is placed at the decal area origin and the rows of solar panels follow the +Y direction.
The following properties in the group are:
- Field orientation: orientation of the rows of panels.
- Field spacing: distance between each solar panel in the X and Y directions.
- Field offset: additional distance of each solar panel from the origin in the X and Y directions.
- Field shearing: additional distance added at each row in the Y directions.
Default field position and field parameters
When checked, the Align ground check box aligns the panel rows with the ground. When unchecked, the panels stay horizontal.
Ground alignment off and on
Generating solar panels
The toolbar at the bottom of the window has two buttons. the first one creates a geometry of a unique solar panel dropped in front of the camera. The second button generates the solar farm field in the selected decal area.
The generated geometry document of the whole solar field is accessible with the Geometry property. It is automatically created and placed in the current scene at the decal area location and follows the terrain height. As long as the tool window is open, pushing the Generate button updates the current geometry.
Note:
Contrary to the whole field generation, generating a unique solar panel (clicking the first button) creates a new geometry in front of the view each time the button is clicked.
By activating the Shared materials, all the created geometries will use the same set of materials. Otherwise a unique set of materials is created each time a new geometry is created.
As with any other geometry, the materials can be replaced later for specific panel aspect. If a material replacement is planned, make sure to disable the Shared material option.
Note:
Closing the window or picking another decal area resets the panel.
All the geometries created with this tool are located in the current working directory under the "Geometries/Solar Fields" folder and its materials are in the "Materials/Solar Fields" folder. They can be moved, renamed, modified or deleted as any other documents.
 Grid tool | Saving an archive of the scene |
