Overview
In Nigeria’s hot and often unpredictable climate, solar installations are exposed to intense daily temperature swings—from cool mornings to scorching afternoons. This causes thermal expansion and contraction in metal mounting systems, which, if unmanaged, can lead to frame stress, misalignment, and long-term structural fatigue.
Jeho Ashar Energy integrates thermal-flex tolerance into its mounting systems to ensure that temperature changes don’t degrade the system over time.
What Is Thermal Expansion in Solar Mounts?
Thermal expansion refers to the lengthening of metal components as they heat up, and their contraction as they cool. For solar mounting systems, this can lead to:
- Creeping bolts and loosening clamps
- Microcracks in panels from uneven stress
- Rail warping or distortion over long distances
- Panel misalignment affecting power output
Jeho Ashar’s Engineering Solutions for Thermal Movement
🔩 9.1 Expansion-Tolerant Clamps and Rails
- Uses slotted mounting holes in rail bases to allow natural expansion
- Mid and end clamps have spring-loaded buffers to absorb slight shifts without loosening
- Fasteners rated for thermal cycling ensure joints remain tight despite metal movement
🧊 9.2 Material Selection with Thermal Stability
- Aluminum (used in most Jeho Ashar mounts) has lower expansion rates than steel
- In high-expansion areas (e.g., northern Nigeria’s arid zones), Jeho Ashar uses anodized aluminum with reinforced ribs to resist bending under thermal stress
🛠️ 9.3 Strategic Joint Placement
- Long rail runs (6m+) are installed with thermal breaks—gaps or joints that isolate sections of metal to prevent stress transfer
- Panels are installed with floating mount points that hold them firmly but allow minute shifts in metal
🌡️ 9.4 Design for Daily Thermal Cycles
- Mounting angles are optimized not just for sun exposure, but also for heat dissipation
- Elevated rails and airflow gaps help reduce surface temperature on rails by up to 15°C, minimizing expansion severity
Case Example: Desert Region Microgrid in Sokoto
In Sokoto, where temperatures can swing by 25°C or more daily, Jeho Ashar’s mounts were designed with:
- Thermal buffer clamps
- Insulated washers
- Expansion joints every 5 meters
The system showed no warping, loosened clamps, or rail bowing after two years of extreme thermal cycling.
Why This Matters for Long-Term Performance
- Prevents costly realignment or structural replacement
- Preserves electrical integrity by protecting PV modules from mounting stress
- Supports 20+ year system lifespan goals, especially in extreme environments
Conclusion
Thermal expansion may be invisible, but its impact can be costly. Through smart rail engineering, flexible clamp systems, and temperature-aware layout design, Jeho Ashar Energy ensures that its solar structures adapt to daily and seasonal temperature shifts—without losing their structural or electrical integrity.
