Semi Active Control of Solar Tracker Using Variable Position of Added Mass Control

Abstract

This paper offers a new method to control solar panel orientation. The technique is applied by varying the position and ratio of the added mass to the total mass of solar panel, m/m p (%). The added mass position is varied from the axis point up to the end point of the solar panel. The solar panel orientation is influenced by the moving mass position. The oscillation in solar panel caused by the moving mass is eliminated by adjusting the equivalent damping torque c τ , and the solar panel maximum orientation is varied by changing the equivalent torsion spring k τ . The simulation results proved that the solar panel orientation changed from 00 to 60,630 for parameter values m/m p = 15%, r/0,5r t = 35%, c τ = 3 Nm/rad/sec and k τ = 1 Nm/rad. The ability of the system to control the orientation and ratio of m/m p dan r/0,5r t is effective to reduce energy consumption of the solar panel orientation controlling system.