4.

3 TraCKing systems

As explained before, the purpose of using refecting surfaces or lenses is to redirect the incom-ing solar light to the surface focal point in order to collect as much energy as possible. The anglebetween the surface axis and the solar rays must be kept at zero; to achieve this, a sun-trackingsystem must be implemented to keep the collectors aperture always perpendicular to the light raysduring the day. For the particular geometrics of the spherical surface with symmetrical rotationabout its axis, the collector might not move during the day, but the receiver can. For nonconcentratorcollectors such as PV modules to produce electricity directly, sun trackers are used to maximize thesolar energy gain throughout the day. The tracking systems are divided into two types according to their motions. The following of theSun can be done either with one single rotation axis (eastwest or northsouth) or by two rotationaxes where the array points directly at the Sun at all times and is capable of rotating independently about two axes. Two-axis tracking arrays capture the maximum possible daily energy, although theyare more expensive and require extensive maintenance that may not be worth the cost, especially forsmaller scale solar energy systems A Solar tracker is a device for orienting a solar photovoltaic panel towards the sun. In solar tracking systems the surface of the module tracks the sun automatically throughout the day. Tracking system increases the efficiency of the system considerably there by reducing the cost per unit of output

energy .Concentrators , especially in solar cell applications require a high degree of accuracy to ensure that the concentrated sunlight is directed precisely to the powered device, which is a t t h e f o c a l p o i n t o f t h e reflector or lens. The output greatly depends on the angle o f incidence, Zenith angle and azimuth angle. Some solar trackers may operate most effectively w i t h s e a s o n a l p o s i t i o n a d j u s t m e n t a n d m o s t w i l l n e e d i n s p e c t i o n a n d l u b r i c a t i o n o n a n annual basis

1.3.1 Types of tracking systems Solar trackers may be active or passive and may be single axis or dual axis. Singleaxis trackers usually use a polar mount for maximum solar efficiency. Single axis trackers will usually have a manual elevation (axis tilt) adjustment on a second axis which is adjusted on regular intervals throughout the year. Compared to a fixed mount, a single axis tracker increases annual output by approximately 30%, and a dual axis tracker an additional 6%.There are two types of dual axis trackers, polar and altitude-azimuth. Polar Trackers Polar trackers have one axis aligned to be quasi-parallel to the axis of rotation of the earth. , polar trackers are used on high accuracy astronomical telescope mounts, which rotate on an axis exactly parallel to the earth's axis.

Horizontal Axle Several manufactures can deliver single axis horizontal axis trackers which may be oriented by either passive or active mechanisms, depending upon manufacturer. Panels are mounted upon the tube, and the tube will rotate on its axis to track the apparent motion of the s u n t h r o u g h t h e d ay . T h e s e d e v i c e s a r e l e s s e f f e c t i v e a t h i g h er l a t i t u d e s . T h e pr i n c i p a l advantage is the inherent robustness of the supporting structure and the simplicity of the mechanism. FIG 1.3 Horizontal Axle Active Trackers A c t i v e T r a c k e r s u s e mo t o r s a n d g e a r s t o d i r e c t t h e t r a c k e r a s c o mm a n d e d b y a controller responding to the solar direction. Fig: 1.4 Active trackers

Passive Trackers Passive trackers use a low boiling point compressed gas fluid that is driven to one s i d e o r t h e ot h e r ( by s o l a r h e a t c r e a t i n g g a s p r e s s u r e ) t o c a u s e t h e t r a c k e r t o mo v e i n response to an imbalance. As this is a non-precision orientation it is unsuitable for certain types of concentrating photovoltaic collectors.5

Figure 1. Servo mechanism

The commanded input signal is the desired azimuth of the antenna. The error signal drives the motor to reposition the antenna until the position feedback indicates the antenna is at the desired azimuth, at which point the error signal is zero and the motor stops. This servo-mechanism can be combined with

a tracker, which determines the azimuth a the target, which the system now uses as the input.

Figure 2. Servo tracking mechanism. This is the same servo-mechanism block diagram, but the input comes from the tracker. The combination is called a radar servo-tracking system. The heart of this system is the tracker, which takes the return signal and position information and determines the location of the target. There are several ways to do this, with varying degrees of complexity and accuracy.