How Many Types of Photovoltaic Brackets Are There: Classified by Installation Method And Material

Photovoltaic brackets can be classified according to the installation method, material, application scenario of the photovoltaic brackets.

1. Classification by the installation method of photovoltaic brackets. 

Common bracket types on the market include: fixed brackets, adjustable brackets, tracking brackets, and floating brackets. The first three are mostly made of zinc-aluminum-magnesium, aluminum alloy, carbon steel, stainless steel, etc., while floating brackets are generally built-in floats or combined with metal.

Different brackets have different characteristics. Fixed brackets cannot adjust the angle. Adjustable brackets are divided into manual and electric intelligent bracket systems, while tracking brackets can adjust the angle according to the direction of sunlight. The following introduces the differences between various brackets:

(1) Fixed brackets:  

Fixed brackets are generally made of solid metal, with high strength and strong stability. They are often used in open and flat installation environments such as the ground, roof, and water surface. The structural design is relatively simple. During installation, the angle is fixed towards the low-latitude area and there is no need to adjust the angle. The installation method can be divided into cement, screw piles, columns, etc., and the bottom foundation is connected to the ground.

Advantages: Simplified components, pre-assembled, fast and smooth installation; strong structure, can adapt to any wind speed and snow load; compatible with a variety of panel types; protect solar panels and maintain project budget; mounting brackets can be customized according to specific requirements.

(2) Adjustable bracket: 

Manually adjustable brackets can manually adjust the angle of photovoltaic panels within a certain range. At the same time, electric adjustable brackets are also a type of adjustable bracket, and their angle calculation is more accurate than the former. Electric adjustable brackets with higher control intelligence often need to be made of high-strength metal, with higher cost and technical requirements.

Advantages: Unlike traditional fixed photovoltaic brackets, adjustable photovoltaic brackets can be adjusted throughout the year to meet different optimal angle requirements throughout the year.

(3) Tracking bracket: 

According to the shape of this bracket, it can be divided into flat single-axis, inclined single-axis, and dual-axis tracking brackets. Different structures, different latitudes, and different angles determine the power generation efficiency. In areas with large total radiation, the cost of tracking brackets is higher. Because the bracket has an intelligent system, the technical requirements of this bracket are relatively high.

Advantages: Higher stability in areas with high wind pressure; flexible layout on irregular ground and good slope adaptability; small number of pile foundations, which can reduce the overall investment cost of the project. High structural stability; convenient operation and maintenance; good terrain adaptability, improve land utilization rate, reduce investment costs; high protection level, strong weather resistance, long-term stable and reliable operation.

(4) Floating bracket: 

The bracket can float on the water surface to support solar panels to generate electricity. The floating bodies on the market are generally made of plastic, and there are also support structures that combine the floating body with the metal bracket track. The floating bracket needs to have strong corrosion resistance and stability to face the influence of environmental factors such as bacterial corrosion in the water, wave pressure, and strong wind.

Advantages: Through the comprehensive utilization of the water surface, the dual benefits of photovoltaic power generation and animal husbandry and fishing are obtained. The water depth of more than 3 meters has a cost advantage over piling, the construction speed is fast and is not restricted by the terrain, and the water surface has a cooling effect on the system. Food grade material, environmentally friendly. Does not affect biodiversity. Beneficial to water purification.

(5) Flexible fixed bracket: 

The height difference between the front and rear high and low columns is used to realize the inclination angle of the component. Galvanized steel strands are used as the main load-bearing cables. In order to control the sag and deformation of the steel strands of the flexible support system and reduce its internal force, the single span is generally about 25m. When the continuous length is long, two spans, three spans, or even more can be used. The middle support can use a swing column to simplify its force conditions.

Advantages: The flexible bracket has the advantages of low consumables, high clearance, and large span. It can be used in conventional terrain and various complex terrains (fish ponds, mountains, deserts, highways, rivers, pastoral and photovoltaic complementarity, toll stations, service areas, sewage treatment plants, salt fields, chicken coops, and sheep sheds) at low cost.

2. Classification by the material of photovoltaic brackets. 

There are two main types of photovoltaic brackets on the market nowadays: hot-dip galvanizing and zinc-aluminum-magnesium coating. Photovoltaic brackets are usually composed of U-shaped steel or C-shaped steel of different materials and supporting connection accessories. This design makes the bracket not only easy to carry and assemble, but also easy to maintain, long service life, and low economic cost.

(1) Zinc-aluminum-magnesium bracket:

The zinc-aluminum-magnesium coating is mainly composed of zinc, aluminum and magnesium. Due to the addition of alloy elements, the product has the characteristics of self-healing of cuts, and the metal surface is also resistant to chlorine, alkali, wear and corrosion. Therefore, it can better cope with the harsh environment of deserts, tidal flats, saline-alkali land and other regions. The biggest feature of the zinc-aluminum-magnesium bracket is that it can save costs, improve the safety of power stations, and ensure high-quality power generation under reasonable use.

(2) Hot-dip galvanized bracket:

The hot-dip galvanizing process is a relatively stable and reliable steel surface treatment solution to resist environmental corrosion. It is also a common and commonly used anti-corrosion material for solar photovoltaic brackets. The thickness of traditional hot-dip galvanized brackets is generally greater than 2mm, and for windy areas, the thickness reaches 2.5mm.