Investigation and Analysis on the Surface Morphology of Roof-Top Photovoltaic System

Domestic photovoltaic system for roof-top is installed towards the south at an angle of 20 to 35 degrees and the shape of PV array is divided into two kinds; a plane shape and a curved shape. This paper aims to understand an actual condition of PV facility and strengths and weaknesses of support structure production and installation and to consider the best PV surface shape by analyzing theoretical logics of these two surface shapes and architectural perspective-based realistic case studies. This study targeted 98 facilities including common houses, public institutions and education institutions. In common houses, all of 59 PV facilities have a plane surface. In public institutions, 7 of 15 PV facilities have a curved array surface and 8 PV facilities have a plane surface. In education institutions, also, 14 of 24 PV facilities have a plane array surface and 10 PV facilities have a curved surface. Most of 98 facilities have a flat roof supporting shape. However, it was found that the curved shape wasn't positive for PV generation due to the change of radial density and it was at least 10 % more expensive to produce its structure. Also, domestic general large single-plate PV facilities have problems of harmony with buildings and wind load. Therefore, it is considered that for fixed-type roof-top PV, a plane PV array shape is good for optimum generation and economic efficiency and a parallel array structure on the roof surface is favorable to wind load and snow load without being a hindrance to the building facade.