Optimal Strategy for the Improvement of the Overall Performance of Dual-Axis Solar Tracking Systems

Abstract

Solar Tracking Systems are useful to increase the generation efficiency of photovoltaic technology, mainly for concentration technology, where dual-axis is required on account of the high accurate alignment to the Sun. Even when there exists a strong relation between tracking error and energy efficiency, multiple technological and research developments have sought to solve these problems independently. The present research proposes a novel concurrent design methodology for optimizing the overall performance of two-axis trackers, allowing to keep a balance between the tracking error and the energy consumption from the design stage, from an optimization approach. The concurrent approach was implemented to design a Solar Tracker as a solar monitoring system, was compared with four commercial systems, obtaining a similar pointing accuracy with a mixed tracking error of 0.0942°. The system has the best energy balance, consuming only 0.9641% of the energy generated for the tracking action, below commercial models. Finally, a CO2 impact analysis was carried out, where the proposed tracker obtained the lowest value, with 25.7018 g. The results support the developed concurrent strategy for the optimization of the overall performance of dual-axis systems, allowing us to find a harmonic balance between the energy consumption and the required tracking accuracy.

Wind load analysis and cost assessment of a dual-axis stand-alone photovoltaic structure

“…It is well documented in literature [26] that solar tracking systems commonly experience energy losses in their driving mechanism. Table 3 presents a comparative analysis of the computed energy losses of the proposed system against two other existing dual axis tracking systems.…”

Diseño e implementación de sistema robótico de dos grados de libertad para aplicaciones de seguimiento solar

“…En el desarrollo de sistemas de seguimiento solar se requiere al menos la localización, las condiciones meteorológicas, las especificaciones de la tecnología solar, las características físicas y las características de comportamiento [7]. Para el caso de estudio se considera un robot de dos ejes en configuración azimutal-elevación, con un método de seguimiento en lazo abierto, calculando la trayectoria solar con el algoritmo SPA (Solar Position Algorithm) y una estrategia de seguimiento paso-a-paso.…”

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

“…One of the directions for increasing the efficiency of photovoltaic (PV) systems (which allow the conversion of solar energy in electricity) is the use of tracking mechanisms (also called solar trackers), so that the PV module is able to capture as much as possible of incident solar radiation [1][2][3]. Tracking systems are frequently operated with linear or rotary motors/actuators, which are controlled by openloop (based on predefined tracking programs), closed-loop (based on sun-light sensors) or hybrid strategies [4][5][6].…”