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Solar tracking systems: Technologies and trackers drive types – A review

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  • Hafez, A.Z.
  • Yousef, A.M.
  • Harag, N.M.

Abstract

This paper presents a comprehensive review on solar tracking systems and their potentials in solar energy applications. The paper overviews the design parameters, construction, types and drive system techniques covering different usage application. There are two main solar tracking systems types that depending on their movement degrees of freedoms are single axis solar tracking system and dual axis solar tracking system, which are addressed in the recent studies. The solar tracker drive systems encompassed five categories based on the tracking technologies, namely, active tracking, passive tracking, semi-passive tracking, manual tracking, and chronological tracking. The paper described the various designs and components of the tracking systems. There are 42.57% of the studies discussed and presented single axis tracking systems while 41.58% of these studies to the dual axes tracking systems. In the recent research studies, the most common solar tracker drive type was active tracker by 76.42% usage in applications while in the second most impact type is the chronological solar tracker by 7.55%. Furthermore, in the solar tracking techniques, Azimuth and altitude tracking achieved 16.67% in usage, Horizontal tracking by 16.67%, Azimuth tracking by 10%, and polar tracking by 4.44%.

Suggested Citation

  • Hafez, A.Z. & Yousef, A.M. & Harag, N.M., 2018. "Solar tracking systems: Technologies and trackers drive types – A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 91(C), pages 754-782.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:rensus:v:91:y:2018:i:c:p:754-782
    DOI: 10.1016/j.rser.2018.03.094
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    16. Shuto Tsuchida & Hirofumi Nonaka & Noboru Yamada, 2022. "Deep Reinforcement Learning for the Optimal Angle Control of Tracking Bifacial Photovoltaic Systems," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(21), pages 1-14, October.
    17. Pirayawaraporn, Alongkorn & Sappaniran, Sahapol & Nooraksa, Sarawin & Prommai, Chanon & Chindakham, Nachaya & Jamroen, Chaowanan, 2023. "Innovative sensorless dual-axis solar tracking system using particle filter," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 338(C).
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    19. Naval, Natalia & Yusta, Jose M., 2022. "Comparative assessment of different solar tracking systems in the optimal management of PV-operated pumping stations," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 200(C), pages 931-941.
    20. Zhu, Yongqiang & Liu, Jiahao & Yang, Xiaohua, 2020. "Design and performance analysis of a solar tracking system with a novel single-axis tracking structure to maximize energy collection," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 264(C).
    21. Liu, YongXiang & Yan, Jian & Xie, XinYi & Peng, YouDuo & Nie, DuZhong, 2023. "Improving the energy distribution uniformity of solar dish collector system under tracking error using a cavity receiver position adjustment method," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 278(PA).

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