Page 42 - North American Clean Energy March/April 2019 Issue

solar spotlight: ground screws
Ground Screws
SEE AD ON PAGE 29
Ground screws are becoming the choice in foundation methods. They eliminate the need for concrete and allow foundations to be quickly set. The following highlights a variety of available options to suit di erent applications and soil conditions.
SEE AD ON PAGE 26
Solar FlexRack
Product: Ground Screw Foundation
Solution
Description: Solar FlexRack’s Ground Screw Solution significantly reduces costs and complications for developers and EPCs in difficult subsoil solar project conditions. It eliminates refusals in tough terrains and its versatile design features accelerate the installation process.
Material: Fabricated, hot-dipped, galvanized steel
Thickness: 72.04" to 95.66" (1830mm to 2430mm), customized solutions available
Length: 3 different sizes available
Flange Size: 3 standard sizes and custom options available
Thread Width: Varying per size Thread Pitch: Varying per size Key Features:
• Reliable regardless of rocky or difficult subsoil conditions;
• No refusals and associated contingency costs with piles in dense gravel, rocks, boulders, or ledges;
• Low impact machinery can be used;
• Telescopic upright extension allows for easy vertical adjustment so racks transition perfectly across the row;
• Requires a smaller pre-drill hole, reducing time and costs.
www.solarflexrack.com
APA Solar Racking Product: APA Ground Screw
Description: APA Ground Screws are manufactured for challenging solar sites. They use heavy wall tubing for the main shaft of the screw. The tips of the screw are forged, making them extremely hard to help penetrate into or pass by underground obstructions. The threads are welded with a patented automated welding process to provide a consistent and strong weld along the entire length of the thread. Ground screws come with a durable hot dipped galvanized coating to protect them from corrosion.
Material: Hot-dipped, galvanized steel Thickness: 0.137" to 0.157" (3.48mm to
3.98mm)
Length: 47" to 85" Flange Size: Various
Thread Width: 0.375" (9.5mm) Thread Pitch: 1.5" to 2.0" (38.1mm to
50.8mm) Threads: 24 to 40 Key Features:
• A ground screw is a suitable foundation for rocky, hard pan, and caliche soils;
• APA has ground screws between 2.5" and 4.5";
• Can be used with tracking systems and other racking;
• Available in multiple different lengths such as 40", 61", 73", and 85";
• The Dual Tracking system screw is now available.
www.apalternatives.com
SEE AD ON PAGE 43
TerraSmart Product: Ground Screw
Description: TerraSmart’s Ground
Screws are formed from a single steel pipe. The material is finished with a corrosion resistant, hot-dipped galvanized coating for long-lasting foundations. The custom spiral thread design minimizes embedment depth while increasing installation efficiency. It has a forged-tip to fight through arduous soils, including rock, and has a 20-year limited warranty.
Material: Steel tube with a hot dip galvanized finish
Length: 82" (208cm) Flange Size: 3" diameter
Key Features:
• Have been installed in some of the toughest soil environments in the U.S., i.e. bed rock, caliche, volcanic rock and glacial till;
• Excel in undulating terrain that allow solar racks to be built on high slopes;
• A simple and cost-effective solution to soil conditions prone to frost heave. The threads on TerraSmart’s ground screw are embedded below the frost line depth, which mitigate ice lensing force;
• Ground screw foundations reduce upfront costs, accelerate project timelines, and eliminate subsurface risks.
www.terrasmart.com
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MARCH•APRIL2019 /// www.nacleanenergy.com