Solar Tracking System
Solar Tracking System
INTRODUCTION
• A solar tracker is a device that orients a payload toward the
sun.
• Payloads can be photovoltaic panels, reflectors, lenses or other
optical devices.
• In concentrated photovoltaic (CPV) and concentrated solar
thermal (CSP) applications are used.
• These trackers are used to enable the optical components in
the CPV and CSP systems.
• The optics in concentrated solar applications accept the direct
component of sunlight and therefore must be oriented
appropriately to collect energy.
• Tracking systems are found in all concentrator applications
because such systems do not produce energy unless pointed at
the sun
WHY SOLAR TRACKING SYSTEMS?
• Global warming has increased the demand and request for
green energy produced by renewable sources such as
solar power.
• Consequently, solar tracking is increasingly being applied
as a sustainable power generating solution.
• Solar Tracking System is a device for orienting a solar
panel or concentrating a solar reflector or lens towards
the sun.
• Concentrators, especially in solar cell applications,
require a high degree of accuracy to ensure that the
concentrated sunlight is directed precisely to the powered
device.
CONCEPT OF SOLAR TRACKERS
• Sunlight has two components,
Direct beam
Diffuse sunlight
• The direct beam that carries about 90% of the solar energy.
• The diffuse sunlight that carries the remainder the diffuse
portion is the blue sky on a clear day and increases
proportionately on cloudy days.
• As the majority of the energy is in the direct beam,
maximizing collection requires the sun to be visible to the
panels as long as possible.
TYPES OF SOLAR COLLECTOR
• Different types of solar collector and their location
require different types of tracking mechanism.
• Solar collectors may be:
▫ non-concentrating flat-panels, usually photovoltaic or
hot-water,
▫ concentrating systems, of a variety of types.
• Solar collector mounting systems may be fixed
(manually aligned) or tracking.
• Tracking systems may be configured as:
▫ Fixed collector / moving mirror
▫ Moving collector
FIXED COLLECTOR / MOVING MIRROR
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