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What is an Anemometer?
Anemometers are instruments that measure wind speed. Users can employ it in different installations, like for example for the management and monitoring of wind farms, weather stations, photovoltaic plants, ski lift, highways, viaducts, high routes, airports. In most applications, users equip anemometer with anti-icing system.TYPES OF ANEMOMETERS
Based on the operating principle they are divided into the following types:- Vane anemometers (mechanical principle of 3 rotating ‘spoons’ around a vertical axis);
- Ultrasonic anemometers (speed of sound waves propagation influenced by air motion);
- Hot wire anemometers (measures the cooling rate of a hot wire).
- With digital output
- With analogue output
- With pulse output
USES OF THE ANEMOMETER IN THE PHOTOVOLTAIC INDUSTRY
- In the photovoltaic industry, anemometers are installed for the following purposes:
- For uses provided by the Standard EVS-EN 61724-1 (Photovoltaic system performance – Part 1: Monitoring)
- In PV systems with a solar tracker system, user need to be bring the solar tracker system into a safe position in the presence of wind gusts exceeding a given threshold detected by the anemometer.
- Wind increases the cooling of PV modules and this leads to an increase in their efficiency.
- The wind generally carries away particulates suspended in the atmosphere, which reduces the solar radiation reaching the earth’s surface.
- Wind generally affects the humidity of the air, which has a negative influence on the solar radiation reaching the earth’s surface.