Although using sun-trackers are not mandatory in PV systems, their application improves the efficiency and maximizes daily collected energy. To maximize collected energy from an on-board PV array, on a solar assist plug-in hybrid electric tractor (SAPHT) a sun-tracking system was designed and installed. Considering the mobile structure above the SAPHT, designing a time and date independent sun-tracker was desirable. Using four light dependent resistive sensors a sun-tracking system on a mobile structure was constructed and evaluated. Using the designed sun-tracking system, the experimental tests illustrated that 30% more energy was collected in comparison to that of the horizontally fixed mode. Only 1.8% of all maximized energy is consumed by actuators of the designed tracking system. However, the developed sun-tracking system is robust and inexpensive and showed acceptable performance during experimental tests.

Issue Section:
Research Papers
Keywords:
agricultural machinery, photovoltaic power systems, tracking, photovoltaic, sun-tracker, insulation, declination angle, light dependent resistive
Topics:
Actuators, Construction, Design, Motors, Photovoltaic power systems, Sensors, Solar energy, Agricultural machinery, Insulation
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 by American Society of Mechanical Engineers
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