Reflective panel for photovoltaic system

A tensioned valley cable (center in photo) and edge cables help provide enough curvature in the membrane panels to resist loads. Simplicity, repetition, and adjustability of the fabric panels maximizes the speed of assembly and economy of fabrication for the Las Vegas Springs Preserve.

All membrane plates and stainless steel jaw fittings are identical, and the stainless steel all thread rods anchored to the steel supports provide both tensioning mechanisms and adjustability for fit up.

Detail shows the range of rotation of the photovoltaic trackers, the positioning of the membrane beneath the PV arrays, and the gaps that are provided between the rows of panels as a result of the tensioning. These gaps allow light to penetrate between the panels and be reflected from the fabric back up to the PV panel bottom.