Solar Tracking Research Articles

Optimizing the position of photovoltaic solar tracker panels with artificial intelligence using MATLAB Simulink

This research aims to apply an artificial intelligence (AI) system to control the position of photovoltaic (PV) panels to maximize the use of solar energy using the solar tracker. The implementation of AI algorithms to achieve optimal panel orientation, considering factors such as sunlight intensity and sun position is also discussed. The simulation results using matrix laboratory (MATLAB) Simulink can be observed on the scope, displaying the position control graph of the solar panel from sunrise to sunset. By employing proportional integral derivative (PID) control, the error is likely to be minimal, ensuring that the panel will continue to follow the sun until it sets at the maximum point of 4:00 PM. After that, the panel can be adjusted back or reset to the initial position at 6:00 AM for the following day. In a full-day simulation, the solar panel will follow the sun's movement from sunset to sunrise. At the basic level, sunrise occurs in the first hour at position 1.0, which is 6:00 AM in the minimum point at the bottom left corner of the curve, and sunset occurs in the afternoon at position 5.25, which is 4:00 PM at the maximum point in the top right corner of the curve.

Minimum solar tracking system for a Fresnel lens-based LCPV

The aim of the work is to study a low concentration photovoltaic (LCPV) system based on a Fresnel lens with a plano-concave lens and reflective surfaces. The proposed system is aimed at working with single-junction polycrystalline silicon solar cells with a wider reception angle which reduces the energy consumption of the solar tracking system. A software for multiphysics simulations COMSOL was used to simulate the proposed LCPV system with a maximum concentration ratio (6.5), and calculations were carried out to determine the relative position of the lenses from the solar cell. The proposed LCPV system achieves higher acceptance angle (±9.1°) and concentration acceptance angle product (0.447) compared to the conventional LCPV system (±3.1°, 0.153). Calculations of the power consumption of a dual-axis solar tracker using the proposed optical system show a reduction in power consumption of 21% in azimuth, 37% in altitude, and 27% overall when using the proposed optical system.

Impact of Temperature and Shading on Performance of Solar Photovoltaic Systems in Telecom Sites

Nigeria's rural mobile network boom strains its power generation. Expensive and polluting diesel generators power off-grid base stations, prompting mobile network operators to explore solar PV systems. However, real-life performance under field conditions is a major concern, as manufacturer datasheets often fall short. This study highlighted the performance of a solar PV system powering a telecommunication station in Uli, Anambra State, Nigeria. We examined temperature, irradiance and shading effect. The findings highlight the impact of shading and temperature on energy yield and performance ratio (PR). While stand-alone and solar tracking systems had similar PRs (66 to 68 percent), tracking systems generated the most energy (4.53 energy yield) due to increased solar exposure. However, this benefit came with a trade-off; higher temperature losses (1559 kWh) caused by temperature rise from direct sunlight. Additionally, the nearby structures significantly impacted tracking systems by causing shading. In conclusion, well-designed solar PV systems for telecommunication stations must consider mitigating factors like shading and temperature. This can achieve substantial advantages: lower operational expenses for operators, improved network availability for rural users, and a reduced environmental impact, aligning with UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Automatic solar tracking system: a review pertaining to advancements and challenges in the current scenario

Abstract An automatic solar tracking system is an approach for optimizing the generation of solar power and modifying the angles and direction of a solar panel by considering changes in the position and path of the sun. The performance status of an automatic solar tracking system depends on various factors, including its design, location, and maintenance or repairs. The solar energy from the sun that the Earth intercepts is approximately 1.8 × 1011 MW, which is thousands of times greater than the intensity at which the Earth now uses all other commercially available energy sources combined. Currently, research into automatic solar trackers is on the rise, as solar energy is abundant in nature, but its use in a highly efficient way is still lacking. This paper provides a detailed literature review and highlights some key advancements and challenges associated with state-of-the-art automatic solar tracking systems. The performance of the dual-axis photovoltaic tracking system outperforms that of the stationary systems by more than 27% based on the overall system efficiency. Under diverse weather conditions, the efficiency of the scheduled-based solar tracking systems was enhanced by 4.2% compared with that of the light-dependent resistor-based solar trackers.

A Systematic Literature Review, Research Challenges and Future Directions of Image Processing Algorithms in Solar Tracking System

A Systematic Literature Review, Research Challenges and Future Directions of Image Processing Algorithms in Solar Tracking System

"Optimizing Solar Energy Capture: A Comprehensive Review Of Solar Tracking Technologies"

"Optimizing Solar Energy Capture: A Comprehensive Review Of Solar Tracking Technologies"

Kinematic analysis applied to a solar tracker driven by a 4-bar mechanism

This paper presents the kinematic analysis of the eccentric crank-slider and crank-rocker mechanisms applied to control the 1-DOF in a solar tracker focused on improving the conversion of solar energy into electrical energy. The mechanisms for its construction and the kinematic equations that allow to know the state that keeps the movement in the working space of the tracker and its comparative analysis between them are presented. Finally, the construction to scale with 3D printing is shown to validate the functionality of each of the 4-bar systems.

Performance investigation of newly developed novel hemispherical solar dryer for sustainable food preservation: Comparative analysis with traditional methods

To preserve the world’s food resources, drying agricultural products is crucial for prolonging their shelf life. A novel concept of 1.5 m hemispherical solar dryer surmounts the limitations of conventional dryers like long drying time, solar tracking, large space requirement etc. Trials were performed on Thomson grapes to convert into raisins. For the purpose of fair accuracy in comparison, experiments were conducted on hemispherical solar dryer (active and passive mode), traditional cabinet solar dryer as well as open sun drying (OSD) by maintaining the uniform test conditions. An average moisture removal rate of 0.1935096 kg/h was obtained in hemispherical dryer. The hemispherical solar dryer significantly reduced drying time for converging grapes into raisins to 13 days, compared to 18 days in a cabinet solar dryer and 19 days with OSD. The hemispherical dryer, through a gap, creates a greenhouse effect, reaching a 70.1 °C maximum temperature and an average of 60.7 °C at 796 W/m2 average solar energy. The hemispherical dryer attained a drying efficiency of 5.67 %. Six mathematical models were employed for hemispherical and cabinet dryers. Amongst these Two term and Wang & Singh models were found suitable for the experimental data and provided precise prediction of moisture ratio.

A Calculation Study on the Escape of Incident Solar Radiation in Buildings with Glazing Facades

More and more modern buildings are using glass curtain walls as their building envelope. The large area of window leads to a significant increase in solar heat gain, resulting in an increase in the cooling load and energy consumption of the building envelope. In the calculation of building cooling load, the thermal performance parameter of windows, the solar heat gain coefficient, is used to calculate the solar radiation heat gain of the windows. The window-to-wall ratio of buildings with glazing facades is large, and the phenomenon of escape of incident solar radiation cannot be ignored. In order to calculate the solar radiation escape rate, a dynamic model of solar radiation escape rate incorporating the solar path tracking model is developed in this research, which can achieve big data simulation analysis based on actual meteorological conditions. The model is programmed and simulated using MATLAB R2024a software. Five representative cities from different climate regions in China are selected and the variation rule of solar radiation escape rate are analyzed on three different time scales: day, month, and year. The influence of building orientation was also calculated and analyzed. The numerical calculation results indicate that the escape solar radiation rate varies with the incident angle of solar radiation at different times. It was found that the smaller the solar azimuth angle and solar altitude angle, the smaller the escape rate of solar radiation. The latitude of a city has a significant impact on the solar radiation escape rate. The weighted average of the solar radiation escape rates for each city were calculated for both summer and winter. Regardless of the season, the city’s location, and the orientation of the room, the value of solar radiation escape rate varies from 8.64% to 10.33%, which indicates that the solar radiation escape phenomenon cannot be ignored in glass curtain wall buildings. The results can be used as a reference value of solar radiation escape rate for the correction of actual solar heat gain of buildings in different climate regions.

Methods for determining scattered solar radiation in order to increase the accuracy of forecasting hourly electricity generation by solar power plants

Relevance. А simple and up-to-date methodology is needed to assess the potential of electricity that can be obtained from solar power plants installed in different regions. The difficulty in assessing the potential of solar energy lies in the presence of some factors that affect electricity generation and depend on random events. Such factors include, first of all, the sky clarity, the direction of photovoltaic panels strictly to the Sun, dustiness, and ambient temperature. The literature uses different approaches to assess the potential of solar energy. This paper presents a methodology for evaluating the generation of electricity by a solar panel having a continuous solar tracking system, taking into account the dustiness and temperature of photovoltaic panels. The technique has been tested on an existing physical model. Aim. To study the existing methods for assessing the potential of solar energy and to select the most suitable ones for the central part of Russia. Object. Solar power plants. Methods. Empirical and analytical methods. Using data obtained from an operating solar station, the adequacy of the proposed methodology was assessed. Results. The selected methods take into account the hourly sky clarity index, which made it possible, with sufficient accuracy for engineering techniques, to determine the daily power generation of a solar station with different angles of inclination of solar panels. This will improve the accuracy of estimating the potential of electricity generated by solar power plants, both with stationary photovoltaic panels and with solar tracking systems. Based on the conducted computational experiments and the analysis of data obtained from an operating solar station, the authors concluded that the technique presented in this paper allows us to determine with high enough accuracy the potential of electricity that can be produced in Russia by solar stations.

Model Reference Adaptive Control (MRAC) for dual-axis solar tracker applied in CPV

In this work, the simulation of the behavior of an MRAC assisted solar tracker in solar trajectory tracking tasks has been developed for a prototype of a two-axis solar tracker that presents structural and performance characteristics capable of supporting PV, CPV, and HCPV-type technology. The proposal is numerically validated by developing an experimental methodology consisting of two stages. The first stage is associated with developing tests of the MRAC-assisted solar tracker to reproduce a solar trajectory (obtained offline by a numerical method) with and without the injection of disturbances (with dynamics equivalent to wind loads in reality), respectively. On the other hand, in the second stage, after replicating the conditions of the tests of stage one but with the assistance of a simple PID type controller, the analysis and comparison of the performance of each alternative is carried out, the above, in terms of tracking error or pointing accuracy. The results show that both alternatives are functional in the development of tests under favorable conditions. However, under conditions with disturbances, it can be noted that the MRAC reduces the tracking error by around 87% compared to PID control.

Implementation of Solar PV Protection System in Indonesia: A Review

Conventional energy sources will run out if used continuously and damage the environment. Therefore, it is necessary to develop other energy sources that are safe, environmentally friendly, and inexhaustible known as renewable energy sources to meet energy needs in Indonesia. This article presents a review that discusses the protection of solar panels and PLTS. Solar panels are vulnerable to lightning strikes and other electrical disturbances, so an effective protection system is needed. This study uses a qualitative method through a literature study, reviewing various protection methods such as conventional and electrostatic lightning rods, good grounding systems, and overcurrent detection devices such as Solar Charge Controller (SCC) and Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT). In addition, battery protection with Automatic Transfer Switch (ATS) and Low Voltage Disconnected (LVD) is also discussed. Using Arduino Uno, ESP 32, and PLC, automation approaches offer real-time monitoring and control solutions for solar power plant performance. Innovations in the lightning protection zone concept and minimal quantity measurement schemes enable more cost-effective design of protection systems without reducing the level of protection. The results show that these various protection methods can provide effective and efficient protection for solar power plants, enabling optimization of system function and safety. In conclusion, the protection systems reviewed in this study offer a sustainable solution to Indonesia's energy challenges by utilizing the maximum potential of solar energy. The potential for further research is presented in this article to develop more efficient and effective protection methods.

Evaluation of a Kirigami-inspired double-skin adaptive façade for natural ventilation and solar harvesting to enhance indoor environment and energy performance

A novel kirigami-inspired design concept for an environmentally responsive adaptive façade is presented and evaluated for the objectives of solar energy harvesting and adaptive ventilation through controllable surface orientation and opening. The concept is a double-skin façade where the outer skin includes a straight cut kirigami-inspired adaptive component. Controllable actuation of the kirigami-inspired section opens the outer skin for ventilation while also changing the orientation of the outer surface for solar tracking. The primary objective of this study is to evaluate the potential benefits for this concept integrated within a building façade for solar energy harvesting, air changes, and indoor temperature control. As such, a computational study is used to estimate the proposed facade concept's performance within various generalized building-environment scenarios. The methodology is detailed to computationally estimate the potential environmental performance of this concept with respect to solar harvesting with adhered solar panels, as well as air changes and HVAC cost for associated interior spaces. The example scenarios include various building components, from a single room to multiple building stories, and two geographic locations with significantly different environmental conditions, and both daily and yearly performance estimates are shown. The component is most effective when the outdoor temperature is near to the desired indoor temperature and wind speeds are mild, but can still reduce HVAC usage for more disparate temperatures. For example, in the scenarios shown the component can eliminate HVAC use for a 5°C difference between outdoor and indoor temperature and reduces HVAC usage for temperature differences up to 15°C. Moreover, the component has the potential to significantly increase net energy generation, with yearly performance estimated for the scenarios to be as much as 25% greater than that of a flat closed façade. However, the component cut parameters can have a significant impact on environmental performance, and thus require careful design consideration.

Output power analysis of low concentrated solar cells with fresnel lens optics

In this work, we introduce a П-shaped LCPV which works with a simple single-axis solar tracking system. The simulation of the П-shaped LCPV was made on COMSOL Multiphysics and output power of the LCPV was modeled and compared with other PV, LCPV systems using predicted optical efficiency at different incidence angles by regression methods such as XGBoost regression, Linear Regression, Support Vector Regression, Decision Tree Regression, Random Forest Regression. The most effective one was XGBoost regression with accuracy of 91.23931 %. The П-shaped LCPV generates 2.2 times more energy than the fixed nine-solar cell panel per a day. Using nine solar cells and the designed optics allows the system to operate well at wider incidence angles using a single-axis solar tracking system which rotates the system only 4 times a day. The П-shaped LCPV is less complex and cheaper than an ordinary Fresnel lens-based LCPV.

Coffee Drying Tool with LQR-PID Control

Indonesia ranks as the third largest coffee bean producer globally due to its favorable climate for coffee cultivation and production. The drying process is one of the crucial stages in coffee bean processing as it significantly impacts the bean's quality. This study focuses on optimizing the drying process through the implementation of a sun tracking system mechanism. In essence, a sun tracking system is employed to maximize sunlight exposure by controlling the tray's position to constantly align with the sun's movement. The constructed system comprises both mechanical and electrical components. The control methods utilized in this system involve LQR and PID control. Experimental results will be analyzed to determine which controller yields the best performance.

Adaptive control systems for dual axis tracker using clear sky index and output power forecasting based on ML in overcast weather conditions

The use of artificial intelligence in renewable energy systems increases energy generation and improves energy system management. The control system of many solar trackers is designed for maximum radiation power conditions and shows decent performance indicators, but during rapidly changing weather conditions or cloudy days, the performance of the solar trackers is reduced due to moving parts and low irradiance. Some studies show that the horizontal configuration produces more energy with scattered solar radiation than solar tracking systems. This work shows the possibility of using solar tracking systems under different weather conditions and cloudy days. To achieve the goals, a new adaptive control system for dual-axis solar trackers with astronomical tracking was developed, which differs from traditional controls in the use of horizontal configurations under certain weather conditions. The assessment of spatio-temporal weather conditions was carried out using the Clear Sky Index (CSI) and was complemented by forecasting the panel's power output. The study found that at 0.4 CSI values, the horizontal configuration exhibits higher power output than solar tracking systems, providing the potential to use the threshold for adaptive control. The developed system is more efficient by 18.3 %, 14.9 %, and 10.01 % than the horizontal configuration, single-axis, and dual-axis solar trackers.

Fully planar solar-pumped fiber laser with 0.1% slope efficiency.

A slope efficiency of 0.1% has been achieved for a fully planar solar-pumped fiber laser (SPFL) with a diameter of 30 cm and an output power of 34 mW. The fiber length is constrained to 400 m, but numerical simulations indicate that the maximum laser output power can be elevated to 113 mW by simply extending the length of the fiber and housing it in the same body. The tolerance to the solar tracking error was quantified, and the results demonstrated that more than 80% of the maximum output power can be sustained up to a ±23° tracking error. This study demonstrates the capability of the fully planar SPFL to operate without solar tracking.

Assessment of a mixed-mode vertical solar dryer for experimental turmeric drying

Solar drying, an eco-friendly and sustainable approach harnesses solar radiations to remove moisture from a drying commodity, thereby preventing its spoilage and extending shelf life. Turmeric (Curcuma longa), a popular herb is being used for centuries in Ayurveda as a traditional medicine. Since, fresh turmeric contains 80–90 % moisture content, therefore, it is quite difficult to store for a longer period. An innovative and compact mixed-mode vertical solar dryer (MVSD) with a circular solar collector (solar tracking geometry) is developed and tested for turmeric slices drying under partial and fully loaded conditions. Turmeric samples of 2, 3 and 4 mm slices thicknesses were used for experimentation under partial loading condition. The thickness of the turmeric slices was observed to affect the performance of the MVSD. The drying rate and thermal efficiency were observed to be highest for 3 mm thick turmeric slices sample under partially loaded condition. The MVSD was further tested with full loading capacity for 3 mm thick turmeric slices drying under natural and forced convection (NC and FC), respectively modes. The drying behavior of turmeric slices was well described by Midilii-Kucuk model. Heat transfer coefficients and efficiency (thermal and exergy) were observed to be higher under FC mode. Embodied energy and energy payback time were observed as 554.44 and 585.53 kWh; and 4.39 and 4.55 years under NC and FC modes, respectively. Annualised cost and payback period were observed to be desirable for NC mode.

Bioinspired 4D Printed Tubular/Helicoidal Shape Changing Metacomposites for Programmable Structural Morphing

AbstractBiological structures combine passive shape‐changing with force generation through intricate composite architectures. Natural fibers, with their tubular‐like structures and responsive components, have inspired the design of pneumatic tubular soft composite actuators. However, no development of passive structural actuation is available despite the recent rise of 4D printing. In this study, a biomimicry approach is proposed with inspiration from natural fiber architecture to create a novel concept of thermally active 4D printed tubular metacomposites. These metacomposites exhibit high mechanical performance and 3D‐to‐3D shape‐changing ability triggered by changes in temperature. A rotative printer is proposed for winding a continuous carbon fibers reinforced PolyAmide 6.I composite on a PolyAmide 6.6 polymer mandrel in a similar manner to the structure of cellulose microfibrils within the polysaccharide matrix of natural fiber cell‐walls. The resulting 4D printed tubular metacomposites exhibit programmable rotation and torque in response to thermal variations thanks to the control of their mesostructure and the overall geometry. Energy density values representing a trade‐off between the rotation and the torque are comparable to shape memory alloys when normalized by stiffness. Finally, a proof of concept for an autonomous solar tracker is presented, showcasing its potential for designing autonomous assemblies for structure morphing.

Simulation model for electrical and agricultural productivity of an olive hedgerow Agrivoltaic system

Given the need to promote a more sustainable energy model that contributes to the fight against Climate Change and the consequent advancement of photovoltaics, Agrivoltaics is presented as a solution to the conflict over land use, since it makes it possible to reconcile agricultural production and photovoltaic power simultaneously on the same piece of land. However, it is a new production model and there are still many aspects to research. This work presents a mathematical model to simulate the spatial distribution of the solar radiation in the canopy of the crop of an agrivoltaic plant in which N-S solar trackers are alternately combined with olive groves in hedgerows. In this way, simulation has the advantage of predicting the expected behaviour of one or more configurations of agrivoltaic installations and, on the basis of this simulated behaviour, making decisions during the design phase to optimize their performance. To do this, various models have been integrated to simulate both the behaviour of irradiance on its way from the Sun to the crop, using geometric-vector analysis, and the irradiance absorption processes on its way through the canopy of the crop. Thus, the global model presented allows estimating the electrical and oil production of an agrivoltaic plant such as the one described. From this global model, electrical and oil productions have been systematically simulated for a set of agrivoltaic plants whose design parameters range around the intermediate values of an agrivoltaic facility with olive groves in hedgerows spaced 10 m apart and alternated with 3 m wide and 3 m hight N-S solar trackers. For this intermediate facility, the annual productions of oil and electricity are 789kg/year·ha and 891MWh/year·ha, respectively. Finally, the oil and energy productions of all the simulated agrivoltaic facilities and their design parameters have been interrelated obtaining mathematical equations to determine in a simple way the influence on the productions of the geometrical design variables of the agrivoltaic installation (height of the solar trackers, width of the collectors and distance between hedgerows). Therefore, the model presented makes it possible to advance in the evaluation of the possible integration of olive groves in agrivoltaic systems and their profitability, constituting an important benefit for the implementation of agrivoltaics in the Mediterranean regions where olive groves play a significant role in agricultural production systems.