Passive solar tracking system to enhance solar cell output

摘要

A passive solar tracking system to enhance solar cell output is provided. The passive solar tracking system includes a panel having at least one solar cell for solar-to-electric conversion and an actuator that is arranged for moving the panel to provide the variable facing direction of the panel. The actuator is directly driven by light such as sunlight to provide artificial heliotropism-type movements of the panel, so that the panel passively tracks and continuously faces the sun. The actuator may be made from a composite material including a matrix of liquid crystal elastomer material incorporating single-wall or multi-wall carbon nanotubes and an elastic skeleton defined by a 3D polyurethane fiber-network. An actuator housing may be arranged with respect to the actuator for enhancing delivery of stimulus to the actuator. The actuator housing may include a heat collector and a light concentrator for facilitating actuation of the actuator.