System and method for flexible solar tracker and testing

A flexible solar tracker system comprising:

• a single actuator configured to set a position of a set of photovoltaic (PV) panels in a row;
• dampers corresponding to the set of PV panels, the dampers configured to result in the flexible solar tracker system that passively shifts via a change in fluid flow resistance between having a total system damping ratio against row rotation when measured under peak design wind loading that is at least critically damped and having a total system damping ratio against row rotation that is lower than critically damped while being positioned by the single actuator, the dampers comprising:
• a chamber, the chamber including a piston and a fluid;
• the piston, having a first port and a second port, wherein the piston translates through the fluid, wherein the fluid flows between the piston and the chamber via the first port and the second port create the fluid flow resistance;
• a pressure valve, the pressure valve coupled to the second port, wherein in response to exceeding a predetermined threshold of wind loading the pressure valve passively shifts from a first position to a second position augmenting the fluid flow resistance;
• and
• a controller configured to cause the single actuator to set a low angle stow position of the set of PV panels.

A method of stowing a flexible solar tracker system comprising:

• transmitting, by a controller, a stow position command to a single actuator;
• setting, by the single actuator, a position of a set of photovoltaic (PV) panels in a row to a low angle stow position;
• and
• variably damping, the PV panels via a set of dampers, the set of dampers configured to result in the flexible solar tracker system passively shifting via a change in fluid flow resistance between having a total system damping ratio against row rotation when measured under peak design wind loading that is at least critically damped and having a total system damping ratio against row rotation that is lower than critically damped while being positioned by the single actuator, each damper of the set of dampers comprising:
• a chamber, the chamber including a piston and a fluid;
• the piston, having a first port and a second port, wherein the piston translates through the fluid, wherein the fluid flows between the piston and the chamber via the first port and the second port create the fluid flow resistance;
• a pressure valve, the pressure valve coupled to the second port, wherein in response to exceeding a predetermined threshold of wind loading the pressure valve passively shifts from a first position to a second position augmenting the fluid flow resistance.