SEMINAR ON

SOLAR TRACKER
REPRESENTED
BY

YASH MITTAL
(EEE-03814804913)
UNDER THE GUIDENCE
OF

JITENDER LATHER SIR

What is Solar Tracker?

Solar tracking is way to improve the efficiency of solar power

plants. As the sun moves across the sky an electric actuator
system makes sure that the solar panels automatically follow
and maintain the optimum angle in order to make the most
of the sunbeams.
Solar tracker also helps in 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. Precise tracking of the sun is achieved
through systems with single or dual axis tracking.

NEED OF SOLAR TRACKER?

Direct power lost (%) due to misalignment (angle i
(From the vertical))

LOST= 1COS i

Hours
30
45
60
75

2
3
4
5

1.4%
30%
>50%
>75%

The Sun travels through 360 degrees east to west per day, but from the perspective of any
fixed location the visible portion is 180 degrees during an average 1/2 day period (more in
spring and summer; less, in fall and winter). Local horizon effects reduce this somewhat,
making the effective motion about 150 degrees. A solar panel in a fixed orientation between
the dawn and sunset extremes will see a motion of 75 degrees to either side, and thus,
according to the table above, will lose 75% of the energy in the morning and evening.
Rotating the panels to the east and west can help recapture those losses.

CONT.....
Thus the primary benefit of a tracking system is to collect
solar energy for the longest period of the day, and with the
most accurate alignment as the Sun's position shifts with the
seasons.
The efficiency increases by 20-60% (= more money)
depending on where you are in the world.
Solar trackers generate more electricity in roughly the same
amount of space needed for fixed tilt systems, making them
ideal for optimizing land usage.
In certain states some utilities offer Time of Use (TOU) rate
plans for solar power, which means the utility will purchase
the power generated during the peak time of the day at a
higher rate. In this case, it is beneficial to generate a greater
amount of electricity during these peak times of day. Using a

TYPES & WORKING

There are three types of Solar Tracker:1. PV Solar Tracker(Non Concentrating Type)
Photovoltaic panels accept both direct and diffuse
light from the sky. The panels on standard photovoltaic
trackers always gather the available direct light. The tracking
functionality in
standard photovoltaic trackers is used
to minimize the angle of incidence
between incoming light and the
photovoltaic panel.

2. CSV Solar Tracker (Concentrator

photovoltaic )
The optics in CPV modules accept the direct component of the incoming
light and therefore must be oriented appropriately to maximize the
energy collected.
The tracking functionality in CPV modules is used to orient the optics
such that the incoming light is focused to a photovoltaic collector.
The physics behind CPV optics requires that tracking accuracy increase
as the systems concentration ratio increases.
Concentrated photovoltaic trackers are used with refractive and
reflective based concentrator systems.
In typical high concentration systems tracking accuracy must be in the
0.1 range to deliver approximately 90% of the rated power output.

CPV MODULE

3. Concentrated Solar Power (CSP)

tracker: Concentrated Solar Power is based
on concentrating sunlight onto a
small surface which is then heated.
The heat is converted to energy
through either a sterling engine or
a fluid that is heated and used for
power generation.
CSP can be obtained through
different solar power systems such
as a solar tower with heliostats, a
parabolic through and a Fresnel
collector.

Classification of Solar Tracker

1. Single Axis Tracker:Single axis trackers have one degree of freedom that
acts as an axis of rotation.
It can further classified intoi)-Horizontal single axis tracker (HSAT)
. Horizontal trackers typically have the face
of the module oriented parallel to the axis of
rotation.
. Panels are mounted upon the tube, and the
tube will rotate on its axis to track the apparent
motion of the Sun through the day.

ii. Vertical single axis tracker

(VSAT)
. The axis of rotation for vertical
single axis trackers is vertical
with respect to the ground.
. These trackers rotate from East
to West over the course of the
day.
. Such trackers are more
effective at high latitudes than
are horizontal axis trackers.
. As a module tracks, it sweeps
a cone that is rotationally
symmetric around the axis of

It can be further classified into two categories:a) Tilted single axis tracker (TSAT)
. All trackers with axes of rotation between
horizontal and vertical are considered tilted
single axis trackers.
. Tracker tilt angles are often limited to
reduce the wind profile and decrease the
elevated end height.
a) Polar aligned single axis trackers (PASAT)
. This method is scientifically well known as
the standard method of mounting a
telescope support structure.
. In this particular implementation of a tilted
single axis tracker, the tilt angle is equal to
the site latitude. This aligns the tracker axis
of rotation with the earths axis of rotation

2. Dual Axis Tracker: Dual axis trackers have two degrees of

freedom that act as axes of rotation.

Dual axis trackers allow for optimum solar
energy levels due to their ability to follow the
Sun vertically and horizontally.
It can be further classified into two categories:I.
Tiptilt:
. A tiptilt dual axis tracker (TTDAT) is sonamed because the panel array is mounted
on the top of a pole.
. On top of the rotating bearing is a T- or Hshaped mechanism that provides vertical
rotation of the panels and provides the main
mounting points for the array.
I. Azimuth-altitude:
. An azimuthaltitude dual axis tracker (AADAT)
has its primary axis (the azimuth axis) vertical
to the ground.
. It can support large arrays due to its design.

 Tip Tilt Dual Axis Tracker

Azimuth Dual Axis Tracker

Working & Construction

Active trackers use motors and gear trains to direct the
tracker as commanded by a controller responding to the
solar direction.
Counter rotating slewing drives sandwiching a fixed angle
support can be applied to create a "multi-axis" tracking
method which eliminates rotation relative to longitudinal
alignment.
Active two-axis trackers are also used to orient heliostats movable mirrors that reflect sunlight toward the absorber of
a central power station.
Light-sensing trackers typically have two or more
photosensors, such as photodiodes, configured differentially
so that they output a null when receiving the same light

THANK YOU