Design and Analysis of Solar Panel Tracking System

Abstract

Allah created human beings with needs. To fulfil these needs He created resources and commanded us to search out these resources. As the human race is evolving, it is exploring more and more, making advancements in science, arts, culture and civilization. The needs of human beings are also becoming more and more complex. We have needs from very basic like food and water to very complex like running industry, global communication systems, transportation etc. Though our energy needs are becoming more and more complex and energy has transformed into many forms, we still need primary energy sources like hydel, thermal and solar. The problem observed in static solar panel is that the angle of incident ray of the sun does not remain perpendicular to the surface of the solar panel hence its efficiency is decreased. A solar tracker is a mechanism that rotates solar panel towards the sun and collects more energy than the static panel. Structure of the previously designed single axis tracker was bulky causing the linear actuator to consume more electrical energy. Moreover, the tracker had problems of mechanical stability during motion. We modelled the older version of single axis solar tracker using AUTODESK INVENTOR 10 and ANSYS WORK BENCH 10. Dynamic and structural analysis showed the drawbacks of displaced centre of gravity, excessive vibrations, shaft deflection (axis of rotation) and higher structure disturbance against wind loads. Based on dynamic analysis, new optimal design has been proposed in which all the above problems are addressed by shifting the centre of gravity to the axis of rotation, reducing weight of upper frame and readjusting the rotating mechanism. The calculation shows 39.5 % decreased consumption of energy by linear actuator, reduced vibration, less deflection of shaft and more resistance to wind loads. The new design also reduces material cost by 34% approximately.