Abstract
The paper deals with the dynamic optimization of the mechanical device for a mono-axial sun tracking system, with application for photovoltaic and solar-thermal systems, which convert the solar radiation in electrical or respectively thermal energy. The actuating of the mono-axial tracking mechanism is carried out by using a linear actuator, the optimization study intending to determine the optimal configuration of the mechanism with the aim to minimize the motor force developed by actuator in order to perform the imposed step-by-step tracking algorithm (motion law). The design variables in the optimal design process are represented by the global coordinates of the connection points of the linear actuator to the adjacent parts (the solar panel and the fixed support). The optimization study is conducted in virtual prototyping environment.
Highlights
In order to increase the efficiency of the solar panels, a commonly used solution consists of equipping them with tracking systems, which allow the panel/collector to follow the trajectory of the sun on the celestial vault, so as to capture a greater amount of incident solar radiation [1,2,3,4]
The study is focused on the first optimization way
The optimization of the solar panel tracking systems from the point of view of the geometrical configuration of the mechanical device is based on the following stages: parameterizing the MBS virtual model; modeling the design variables, constraints and objectives; carrying out parametric design studies to identify the main design variables; optimizing the virtual model by identifying the optimal values of the main design variables that assure, by case, the minimization or maximization of the design objective functions
Summary
In order to increase the efficiency of the solar panels (photovoltaic and solar thermal panels/collectors), a commonly used solution consists of equipping them with tracking systems ( called solar trackers), which allow the panel/collector to follow the trajectory of the sun on the celestial vault, so as to capture a greater amount of incident solar radiation [1,2,3,4]. The optimization of the dynamic behavior of the tracking systems addresses two aspects (corresponding to the two main components of the mechatronic product): the geometric optimization of the mechanical structure (device), in order to minimize the driving forces developed by the actuators for performing the required motion (tracking) laws; the optimization of the control system in order to reduce the transient period, and minimize the tracking errors.
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