Modelling and simulation of a single-motor bi-axial sun tracking mechanism

Abstract

This work deals with the modelling and simulation in a virtual environment of an innovative bi-axial solar tracker, with two degrees of freedom (DOF), at which the both movements (diurnal and elevation/altitudinal) are driven by a single motor (which is a linear actuator). The tracking mechanism is used for increasing the energetic efficiency of a photovoltaic (PV) platform. The proposed solution allows to reduce the cost of the PV system by minimizing the number of motors, but still preserving the tracking accuracy of the platform. The tracking system in study is one of azimuthal type, at which the main revolute axis, that of the diurnal movement, is positioned vertically. The linear actuator used as motor source directly drives the diurnal movement, and also generates the elevation movement by intercalating a mechanical transmission that contains a bevel gear planetary mechanism and a planar rotary cam-follower mechanism. The virtual prototyping package ADAMS of MSC.Software was used for modeling and simulating the proposed tracking mechanism.