Single-axis Tracking Systems Research Articles

Performance of Multi Axis Sun Tracking System of Battery Charging Optimizing for Amphibian Research Crawler

In today’s modernization era, there are various technologies being invented to adapt to daily routines. In the growing years, technology has become more complex. Development in the renewable energy is no exception indeed to sustain the demand for energy. This paper discusses a source of renewable energy that focuses solely on solar. This model was presented by developing a tracking system consisting of single and dual axis tracking systems. The purpose of this model is to analyze the performance of the whole system. The tracking system is designed based on the position of the sun in the morning, noon and night. The system will move toward the maximum light energy received as detected by the Light Dependent Resistor sensor (LDR).The results obtained show that the dual axis sun tracking system is more efficient than single axis due to the rotation in four directions while single axis only rotates along two directions which are east and west. The Voltage Boost Converter DC-DC Step up Module is used to maximize the power output. This idea will increase the power of battery charging optimization for Amphibian Research Crawler.

Comparative life cycle assessment of fixed and single axis tracking systems for photovoltaics

Abstract Single axis tracking systems (SATS) are becoming one of the most common types of solar photovoltaic (PV) installations due to improved performance compared to fixed systems. The impact of SATS in terms of various environmental indicators has yet to be fully quantified. The main goal of this study is to understand the environmental differences between fixed and SATS PV systems. For this reason, a comparative LCA between fixed and SATS was performed. A secondary goal is to determine the environmental impact of both systems under different scenarios that includes manufacturing in high and low C O 2 intensive electricity grids, installation in different locations and different energy displacement options. The study is attributional and has been calculated with the cut-off modeling of ecoinvent 3.1. Calculations were performed with the software openLCA 1.7.4 with impacts obtained based on ReCiPe, cumulative energy demand and cumulative exergy demand methods. Results show the C O 2 mitigation potential, defined as the avoided greenhouse gas emissions of generating electricity with solar PV versus using the electricity grid, of SATS increases between 3.4 t C O 2 , e q /kW and 14.5 t C O 2 , e q /kW with respect to fixed systems in the baseline scenarios considered. The extra energy necessary to produce a SATS structure is minimal when compared to the energy intensive panel manufacturing and is quickly recovered after installation due to a dramatic increase in the efficiency of system (8%–25% increase in yield depending on install location). All environmental indicators used (greenhouse gas emissions, cumulative exergy demand, energy payback time, C O 2 payback time, C O 2 mitigation potential, human toxicity, land use, water depletion and fossil depletion) are superior for SATS compared to traditional fixed systems. The results also show that the energy sources displaced have a larger impact in the C O 2 mitigation potential than the irradiation in the place of installation (more than 80 fold variation in the former in contrast to 2–4 fold for the latter).

A Technical, Economic and Environmental Evaluation Study of Utilising Fixed, Single and Dual-Axis Solar Photovoltaic Systems in Boubyan and Failaka Islands in Kuwait

Implementing renewable energy technologies, such as solar energy, is an important step towards meeting the increasing demand for electricity in Kuwait. This would be a very helpful way of minimising the negative environmental impacts of conventional power plants. This study reports on the results of a comprehensive technical, environmental and economic evaluation of the use of a grid-connected solar photovoltaic system to generate electricity at Boubyan and Failaka islands in Kuwait. The study also evaluated the effects of using single and dual-axis tracking systems. The results showed that the obtained performance parameters are excellent and fall within the standard reference ranges of the solar photovoltaic systems. The use of tracking systems is highly beneficial and energy production increased by approximately 26% and 31% respectively as a result of implementing single and dual-axis tracking systems. The computed levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) results were $0.076 /kWh, $0.064 /kWh and $0.066 /kWh respectively for fixed, single and dual-axis tracking systems. These obtained values are less than the LCOE of the conventional Kuwaiti power plants, therefore making the proposed systems economically feasible. In addition, the results revealed that single-axis tracking systems are the best option. Life cycle assessment (LCA) analysis shows that the annual energy payback time (EPBT) results obtained in this paper were 1.84, 1.46 and 1.41 years respectively. The average total CO2 emission rate was 49.58 CO2, eq/kWh, 39.25 CO2, eq/kWh and 37.84 CO2, eq/kWh for single and dual-axis tracking systems respectively.

A Study on Implementation of PV Tracking for Sites Proximate and Away from the Equator

The performance of photovoltaic (PV) system depends upon the orientation and the site climatic conditions. Solar PV tracking systems align the modules perpendicular to the incoming solar radiation. In this paper, six locations with latitudes 0° through 55° were selected to investigate the PV system performance using single-axis (horizontal and vertical) and two-axis tracking systems compared to the fixed south-oriented PV system. It was found that single-axis (vertical axis) tracker optimally tilted is the most promising for sites near the equator and achieves around 19% more energy output over the fixed south-oriented solar panel system. Moreover, it is considered simpler compared to the two-axis tracking system. It is true that the two-axis tracking system could harvest around 4% more energy than the vertical axis tracker optimally tilted system for sites near and far from the equator. However, such increase in energy may not sound feasible as the two-axis system is consuming more power for tracking and considered more complicated compared to the vertical axis tracking system. The novelty of this work is that, it introduces a new concept for the optimum tilt for the single-axis (vertical axis) tracking system.

Economic and Environmental Feasibility of Constructing a Grid-Connected Sun-Tracking PV Power Plant in Iraq

Feasibility assessment of constructing a 10 MW sun-tracking PV power plant in Iraq from an economic and environmental perspective has been analysed. A type of PV panel having desirable specific properties according to the international standards has been selected and used. Three PV-panel installation systems, namely: fixed-tilt, single-axis, and dual-axis tracking systems have been tested. Al-Anbar city (33.26°N, 40.31°E) west of Iraq has been selected for constructing the proposed power plant. The study mainly concerns the assessment of the annual and cumulative revenues rising from the proposed PV power plant. Evaluation of other economic parameters including the levelized cost of energy (LCOE), cash flow over the power plant lifecycle, and net present value (NPV) also have been achieved and revealed. The analysis demonstrates that the selected region is very promising for solar PV investment in electric power production. Moreover, incorporation of a dual-axis tracking system substantially enhances the economic feasibility of the project. The environmental benefits relating to the reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions have been confirmed in all the PV-panel installation modes considered in this study.

Relevance of PV with single-axis tracking for energy scenarios

The two main options on the market for utility-scale photovoltaic (PV) installations are fixed-tilted and single-axis tracking systems with a horizontal north-south-orientated axis. However, only a few global energy system studies consider the latter. The objective of this paper is to investigate the impact of single-axis tracking PV on energy scenarios. For this purpose, two scenarios with and without the single-axis tracking option are studied for 100% renewable energy (RE) systems in 2030. To find the optimum energy mix for both scenarios, the total annual cost computed by the LUT Energy System model is minimized. The satellite-based input global data have a temporal resolution of one hour and a spatial resolution of 0.45° × 0.45°. Furthermore, a model to estimate the annual yield of single-axis tracking PV is proposed and validated by using the PVsyst software. The simulation results are found to be within a 4% margin to the respective simulation results of PVsyst. Both scenarios demonstrate that a 100% RE system is possible at a low cost, where PV and wind power are the dominating generation technologies. Nevertheless, the results also show a significant effect of single-axis tracking PV. The global generation share of PV increases from 47% to 59%, and 20% of the total electricity is generated by single-axis tracking PV, while the share of wind energy decreases from 31% to 21%. Additionally, curtailment, power transmission requirements, storage demand, and the total cost decrease. The global average levelized cost of electricity decreases by 6% from 54.8 to 51.4 €/MWh. The findings indicate that energy system modeling should include single-axis tracking.

A novel prediction algorithm for solar angles using second derivative of the energy for photovoltaic sun tracking purposes

This work deals with a new analytical control model of single axis and dual axis tracking systems. A new analytical control model of tracking is defined by the second derivative of the energy production of photovoltaic systems. The aim is to maximize energy production of photovoltaic tracking system in a simple analytical way. The method used to determine the tilt and orientation of the modules of the sun tracking system is presented analytically by the second derivative of the energy produced. To evaluate the new analytical control model, the calculation of solar radiation on moving surface is presented. The calculation of the energy produced by a photovoltaic system takes into account the efficiency of solar modules, the efficiency of inverters and area of modules. The results presented in this work show that the new analytical control model increases the yield of energy production of photovoltaic tracking systems. The calculated results are also compared with the measured results from existent photovoltaic systems. These results are important for the future research in control of the sun tracking systems.

Comparative analysis of the variability of fixed and tracking photovoltaic systems

Growing penetrations of PV generation in electrical networks pose new challenges for electricity industry operation and planning. Characterising the variability of PV generation can assist in these tasks. This paper presents a comparative short-term (5min) variability analysis for fixed-tilt, single-axis tracking, dual-axis tracking and concentrator PV systems using time-synchronised data from The Desert Knowledge Australia Solar Centre (DKASC) in Alice Springs, Australia. A number of analysis and data presentation techniques are presented to assess different aspects of this variability over the course of the day, and across different seasons. Results highlight the very different variability characteristics of fixed tilt and tracking PV systems, and hence the importance of differentiating between different PV system types when analysing their potential operational impacts on the electricity grid.

A Study on the Effects of Solar Tracking Systems on the Performance of Photovoltaic Power Plants

The use of renewable energy resources to produce the electricity is a rising trend in various countries worldwide. This is especially because these energies do not produce the greenhouse gases; therefore, don’t become a destructive factor on the ozone layer and the environment. Besides, the fossil energies are always exposed to price changes and will eventually end, while the renewable energies don’t pose such problems and are freely acquired from the nature. Some of the most important of these reproducible energy resources are the energies of the wind and the solar energy. The generation capability of a photovoltaic power plant is largely dependent on the intensity of the sun radiation. On the other hand, the changing of position causes the sun to have a variable shining intensity in different seasons and different times of the year; therefore, some of the solar power plants possess solar tacking systems. This paper studies the different types of photovoltaic systems including fixed panel, photovoltaic farms equipped to the single axis and double axis tracking systems and their effects on the performance of the solar power plants. In order to determine the position of the sun in the sky, the zenith and azimuth angles of it are used to extract the relations between the different parameters of the sun radiation. The resulted parameters are used in the modeling of the single axis and double axis systems. In the paper it is utilized from the sun parameters in Qeshm Island of Iran in the summer of 2011.

Optimisation of a Solar Tracker System for Photovoltaic Power Plants in Saharian Region, Example of Ouargla

Solar tracking is used in large grid-connected photovoltaic plants to maximize solar radiation collection and, hence, to reduce the cost of delivered electricity. Tracking PV modules towards the sun offers gain in yield of 15% to over 35% relative to fixed mounted PV installations. Single-axis tracking systems adapt the tilt angle for follow the sun closely at all times during the day are currently the most popular. This paper deals with the design and implementation of a solar tracker system (study tilt angle) dedicated to the PV conversion panels in Ouargla city.

Photovoltaic energy mini-generation: Future perspectives for Portugal

This paper evaluates the benefits of developing the mini-generation PV market in Portugal. It presents the legal framework and current status of the Portuguese PV electricity sector, and compares the country to other European nations: France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom. A model that combines PVGIS with a self-developed financial tool is used to assess the feasibility of a 150kW mini-generation system using five different technologies: fixed mount, single-axis tracking, double-axis tracking, low concentration and medium concentration (MCPV). The profitability of the mini-generation systems in the seven countries studied is calculated and compared. According to this analysis, MCPV and, of the conventional technologies, the single-axis tracking systems are the most profitable technologies. Despite the attractiveness of the current Portuguese feed-in tariffs and of the abundant solar resource, investors are discouraged and the country's PV market is far from mature. Specific mini-generation regulations should focus on a fast and transparent licensing procedure and should promote the access to financing. This would attract new investments, which would result in the growth of the PV electricity produced, and would help Portugal to meet its European Union Renewable Energy targets.

One-axis tracking holographic planar concentrator systems

A design methodology for low-concentration ratio holographic solar concentrators with one-axis tracking is investigated. This methodology maximizes the energy collected by cascaded holographic gratings and reduces diffracted beam cross talk between gratings. Several types of transmission gratings, optimized to work with single-axis tracking systems, are used in a cascaded configuration to concentrate a large fraction of the useable solar spectrum on the surface of photovoltaic cells. A model is developed that determines the energy yield of the holographic planar concentrator (HPC). Good agreement is found between simulation and measurement of a prototype system. Simulation of an optimized HPC design shows that 80% optical efficiency at 2X geometric concentration ratio is possible. The acceptance angle in the nontracking direction is ±65 deg, and a ±16-deg tracking tolerance is sufficient to maintain 80% of the maximum optical efficiency. Simulation also shows that the single-axis tracking HPC system has a 43.8% increase in energy yield compared to a nontracking holographic solar concentrator.

Loss of power supply probability of stand-alone photovoltaic systems: a closed form solution approach

A closed-form solution approach to the evaluation of the loss of power supply probability of stand-alone photovoltaic system with energy storage is presented. Nontracking and single-axis tracking systems are considered. In both cases, the tilt is assumed to be fixed. A numerical example is included to illustrate the usefulness of the expressions developed. Relationships between the amount of energy storage and the loss of power supply probability under various operating conditions can be investigated using the results. These relationships can be used in the design of stand-alone photovoltaic systems. >

Simple tracking strategies for solar concentrations

Consideration is given to the validity of single axis tracking systems for solar concentrators of low to medium concentration ratios having moderate acceptance angles. If the misalignment between the sun and reflector normals is within the acceptance angle perfect tracking can be assumed. Rotation about a fixed polar axis gives a constant misalignment equal ot the sun's declination angle on that day. Rotation about a declination axis gives perfect alignment at noon, but increasing misalignment towards each end of the day varying with the time from the equinoxes. Data is also given for monthly adjustment of the declination axis. All the results are independant of latitude.