Dual Open/Close Loop Control Device in Solar Tracking Systems

摘要

The work is focused on the design and development of a dual open/close loop control device to operate the solar tracking systems. The device seeks for increasing the performance of the solar systems that require to track the Sun by means of improving the tracking process. The proposed device allows a more precise tracking of the Sun no matter the sky is clear or not, and avoids continuous start-stop events, which are typical of the close loop tracking systems. The proposed methodology also improves solar energy gain because of the higher accuracy in tracking the Sun and reduces tracking system maintenance. The control methodology and device can be applied to solar thermal system and photovoltaics indistinctively.