Abstract
The solar tracker is a mechanism that helps the photovoltaic panel to maximize its performance, while keeping it oriented towards direct solar radiation. In order to specify tracking, most solar trackers use two axes, one horizontal and the other vertical, which implies an increase of the consumed energy and a decrease in precision, since we have to make both motors operate simultaneously. This paper is a modelling of a biaxial solar tracker, with the principle of an equatorial mount, allowing it to precisely follow the sun via a single axis (equatorial axis), while the second axis (tilt axis) makes a small daily correction of few seconds at sunrise. In this way, our model keeps precision to the maximum, with minimum energy consumption. A detailed simulation clearly shows that the proposed model receives the maximum solar irradiation that a normal surface to solar radiation can receive and may in a certain period of the year receive a gain in the amount of solar irradiation; we have up to 63.47% compared to a fixed installation. The study details the different tracking methods, in order to adapt the concept model to the type of solar panel used. We closed finish the study with the realization of the prototype with a detailed explanation of the concept movement. To validate the simulation, we have made an experience that gives us the same results as given by simulation.
Highlights
Renewable energy is the production of energy from an unlimited source, such as the sun’s rays, or the wind
In 2019, in a conference held in Agadir (Morocco), we proposed a model of a monoaxial solar tracker with an equatorial mount, which allows the photovoltaic panel to have a precise tracking of the sun with a single axis and a single motor
These two studies and realizations take into consideration the circular trajectory of the sun around the pole star and show that with a single motor, we can make a perfect follow-up of the sun and gather a quantity of direct solar radiation which keeps the maximum efficiency of the photovoltaic panel
Summary
Renewable energy is the production of energy from an unlimited source, such as the sun’s rays, or the wind. In 2020, we proposed via a detailed study an improvement of the previous model with a reflection system, so that it can keep the yield of the photovoltaic panel at its maximum throughout the year [15] These two studies and realizations take into consideration the circular trajectory of the sun around the pole star (apparent trajectory) and show that with a single motor, we can make a perfect follow-up of the sun and gather a quantity of direct solar radiation which keeps the maximum efficiency of the photovoltaic panel. This paper proposes a biaxial solar tracker with the principle of an equatorial mount which will be valid for all kinds of photovoltaic panels (PV, LCPV, and HCPV) while keeping their maximum performance throughout the year with a minimum consumption of energy The advantage of this model is that it will have high precision with an acceptance angle equal to or less than 1°, which allows the photovoltaic cells with concentration to keep the perfect focus of direct solar radiation throughout the day. We will complete the study by the realization of the prototype in order to be valorized experimentally
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