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Design and construction of a system for sun-tracking

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  • Roth, P.
  • Georgiev, A.
  • Boudinov, H.

Abstract

An electromechanical system to follow the position of the sun was designed and built at the Solar Evaluation Laboratory of the Technical University Federico Santa Maria (UTFSM) in Valparaiso. It allows the automatic measurement of direct solar radiation with a pyrheliometer. It operates automatically, guided by a closed loop servo system. A four-quadrant photo detector senses the position of the sun and two small DC motors move the instrument platform keeping the sun’s image at the center of the four-quadrant photo detectors. Under cloudy conditions, when the sun is not visible, a computing program calculates the position of the sun and takes control of the movement, until the detector can sense the sun again. The constructed system was tested in the climatic conditions of the city of Valparaiso, Chile. The presented tracker proves the effective work of a simple and cheap mechanism, which can be adapted to also work with larger following installations like solar cell panels, concentrators, etc.

Suggested Citation

  • Roth, P. & Georgiev, A. & Boudinov, H., 2004. "Design and construction of a system for sun-tracking," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 29(3), pages 393-402.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:29:y:2004:i:3:p:393-402
    DOI: 10.1016/S0960-1481(03)00196-4
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Sumathi, Vijayan & Jayapragash, R. & Bakshi, Abhinav & Kumar Akella, Praveen, 2017. "Solar tracking methods to maximize PV system output – A review of the methods adopted in recent decade," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 74(C), pages 130-138.
    2. Mirzaei, Mohsen & Mohiabadi, Mostafa Zamani, 2018. "Comparative analysis of energy yield of different tracking modes of PV systems in semiarid climate conditions: The case of Iran," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 119(C), pages 400-409.
    3. Gharat, Punit V. & Bhalekar, Snehal S. & Dalvi, Vishwanath H. & Panse, Sudhir V. & Deshmukh, Suresh P. & Joshi, Jyeshtharaj B., 2021. "Chronological development of innovations in reflector systems of parabolic trough solar collector (PTC) - A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 145(C).
    4. Natarajan, M. & Srinivas, T., 2017. "Experimental and simulation studies on a novel gravity based passive tracking system for a linear solar concentrating collector," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 105(C), pages 312-323.
    5. Chin, C.S. & Babu, A. & McBride, W., 2011. "Design, modeling and testing of a standalone single axis active solar tracker using MATLAB/Simulink," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 36(11), pages 3075-3090.
    6. Ahmad, Salsabila & Shafie, Suhaidi & Ab Kadir, Mohd Zainal Abidin & Ahmad, Noor Syafawati, 2013. "On the effectiveness of time and date-based sun positioning solar collector in tropical climate: A case study in Northern Peninsular Malaysia," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 28(C), pages 635-642.
    7. Bahrami, Arian & Okoye, Chiemeka Onyeka & Atikol, Ugur, 2017. "Technical and economic assessment of fixed, single and dual-axis tracking PV panels in low latitude countries," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 113(C), pages 563-579.
    8. Dinçer, Furkan, 2011. "Overview of the photovoltaic technology status and perspective in Turkey," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 15(8), pages 3768-3779.
    9. Abu-Khader, Mazen M. & Badran, Omar O. & Abdallah, Salah, 2008. "Evaluating multi-axes sun-tracking system at different modes of operation in Jordan," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 12(3), pages 864-873, April.
    10. Song, Jifeng & Yang, Yongping & Zhu, Yong & Jin, Zhou, 2013. "A high precision tracking system based on a hybrid strategy designed for concentrated sunlight transmission via fibers," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 57(C), pages 12-19.
    11. Nsengiyumva, Walter & Chen, Shi Guo & Hu, Lihua & Chen, Xueyong, 2018. "Recent advancements and challenges in Solar Tracking Systems (STS): A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 81(P1), pages 250-279.
    12. Singh, G.K., 2013. "Solar power generation by PV (photovoltaic) technology: A review," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 53(C), pages 1-13.
    13. Pucar, Mila & Despic, Aleksandar, 2005. "The effect of diffuse/indirect light on the energy gain of solar thermal collectors," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 30(11), pages 1749-1758.
    14. Mousazadeh, Hossein & Keyhani, Alireza & Javadi, Arzhang & Mobli, Hossein & Abrinia, Karen & Sharifi, Ahmad, 2009. "A review of principle and sun-tracking methods for maximizing solar systems output," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 13(8), pages 1800-1818, October.
    15. Indora, Sunil & Kandpal, Tara C., 2018. "Institutional cooking with solar energy: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 84(C), pages 131-154.
    16. Singh, Rajesh & Kumar, Suresh & Gehlot, Anita & Pachauri, Rupendra, 2018. "An imperative role of sun trackers in photovoltaic technology: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 82(P3), pages 3263-3278.
    17. Yao, Yingxue & Hu, Yeguang & Gao, Shengdong & Yang, Gang & Du, Jinguang, 2014. "A multipurpose dual-axis solar tracker with two tracking strategies," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 72(C), pages 88-98.
    18. Sanda VISAN & Cristina ALPOPI, 2013. "Favorable Energy Management to Extend the Use of Solar Energy in Romania," REVISTA DE MANAGEMENT COMPARAT INTERNATIONAL/REVIEW OF INTERNATIONAL COMPARATIVE MANAGEMENT, Faculty of Management, Academy of Economic Studies, Bucharest, Romania, vol. 14(2), pages 281-293, May.
    19. Yilmaz, Saban & Riza Ozcalik, Hasan & Dogmus, Osman & Dincer, Furkan & Akgol, Oguzhan & Karaaslan, Muharrem, 2015. "Design of two axes sun tracking controller with analytically solar radiation calculations," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 43(C), pages 997-1005.
    20. Satué, Manuel G. & Castaño, Fernando & Ortega, Manuel G. & Rubio, Francisco R., 2020. "Power feedback strategy based on efficiency trajectory analysis for HCPV sun tracking," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 161(C), pages 65-76.
    21. Skouri, Safa & Ben Haj Ali, Abdessalem & Bouadila, Salwa & Ben Salah, Mohieddine & Ben Nasrallah, Sassi, 2016. "Design and construction of sun tracking systems for solar parabolic concentrator displacement," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 60(C), pages 1419-1429.
    22. Motiei, P. & Yaghoubi, M. & GoshtashbiRad, E. & Vadiee, A., 2018. "Two-dimensional unsteady state performance analysis of a hybrid photovoltaic-thermoelectric generator," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 119(C), pages 551-565.
    23. Rafeeu, Y. & Ab Kadir, M.Z.A., 2012. "Thermal performance of parabolic concentrators under Malaysian environment: A case study," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 16(6), pages 3826-3835.
    24. Şenpinar, Ahmet & Cebeci, Mehmet, 2012. "Evaluation of power output for fixed and two-axis tracking PVarrays," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 92(C), pages 677-685.

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    Keywords

    Sun-tracking; Sensors;

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