Southwest Windpower Skystream Hybrid 6, Installation Manual

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Skystream hybrid 6 TM Installation Manual, Rev A
tOwer ring inStallatiOnS
The Skystream hybrid 6
TM
solar tracker drive unit is mounted to the tower on
two tower rings, which are tack welded to the tower and which are aligned
(during the installation process) with the 3 steel rods of the ring welding
alignment jig – Part # 2-SSh-222. The alignment jig is a separate dealer-
required item, which is not included with each Skystream hybrid 6
TM
system
as it is re-used on multiple installations. do not attempt to install the tower
rings without the use of the alignment jig, as the proper spacing and parallel
alignment of the rings is critical to the proper operation of the system.
Normally, the following steps would take place with the first tower section
attached to the foundation with the hinge plate and while the first tower
section is properly supported with cribbing or other suitable and stable
support. In some cases, the dealer/installer may elect to perform these
steps on a tower which is in the vertical position (such as a retrofit instal-
lation) or before the tower sections are transported to the site (if welding
equipment is not available at the installation site). In such cases, the fol-
lowing instructions may need to be modified slightly to meet the demands
of the altered installation conditions. If the tower rings are welded to the
lower tower section before transportation to the site, it is important to pro-
tect those rings from damage during transport and installation.
1. From the bottom of the tower’s base flange, measure up (towards the
upper end of the tower’s first section) and mark the North side of the
tower with a permanent marker.
For installation on a 45-19hd tower, with 8-feet of clearance between
the tower base flange and the lowest point of the Pv array, make a
mark 154 inches from the bottom of the base flange.
For installation on a 45-19 tower, with 4-feet of clearance between the
tower base flange and the lowest point of the Pv array, make a mark
106 inches from the bottom of the base flange.
This mark will be used to locate the wire penetration hole.
2. Examine the two tower rings and ensure they have not been damaged
or bent during shipping or handling. It is important that the rings are
flat. Note that one ring has a larger inside diameter than the other
ring. The ring with the larger inside diameter will be the bottom ring, to
accommodate the tapering of the tower.
3. locate the 3 larger holes drilled in the tower rings – these holes are
used for the welding alignment jig during the installation process. Align
the three metal rods of the alignment jig between the two tower rings.
It is easiest to do this one rod at a time. Using the hardware which
came with the jig, bolt the alignment rods into place (utilizing the three
holes you identified earlier) so that the tower rings are properly spaced
and aligned.
4. Slide the two rings, attached to the alignment jig, over the top of the
tower making sure that the ring with the larger inside diameter is ori-
ented closest to the tower base. Push this assembly towards the base
of the tower until it is snug and the inside of the tower rings are resting
against the sidewalls of the tower. Check the position of the rings rela-
tive to the hole mark you made in step 1. The top ring should be about
6 inches below the hole mark you made. If necessary, the inside of the
tower rings can be filed or ground slightly to accommodate an out-of-
round tower or to position the ring assembly so that there is approxi-
mately 6 inches of clearance between the top ring and the hole mark.
5. Using a permanent marker, mark the tower sidewalls at every point
where the inside of the upper and lower tower rings contact the tower
(on both surfaces of the tower rings). These contact marks will be
used to indicate where galvanizing should be ground from the tower to
permit welding.