How Solar Trackers Boost Power Generation Efficiency?
Solar trackers are an integral part of the picture in the fast-growing era of renewable energy. Solar power has been one of the leading contenders in the past decade. To capitalize on the potential of solar energy, it is essential to optimize the efficiency of solar panels. And there come the trackers.
A solar tracker is a device that follows the sun's movement across the sky, adjusting the angle of solar panels to keep them facing directly at the sun. This helps solar panels capture more sunlight throughout the day, increasing their energy production.
In this article, we will look into how these trackers are a key factor in the space of renewable energy solutions. While exploring that, we will also look at the functioning and challenges they usually encounter. Let’s get started.
Understanding Solar Trackers
These trackers are sophisticated mounting systems designed to optimize the performance of industrial solar panels. Let’s try to look at the components that build the solar trackers.
● Mounting System: This is like a steady base for the solar panels and the entire tracking mechanism.
● Tracking Mechanism: This is the system that determines the sun’s position. How do they do it? Well, of course, they use solar powered GPS trackers and actuators to determine the position and adjust the angle of the solar panels accordingly.
● Solar Panels: These are plate-like structure that captures the sunlight and convert it into electricity. They are typically made of photovoltaic cells, which use semiconducting materials to produce an electric current when exposed to light.
Types of Solar Trackers
They are classified into two main types:
● Single-Axis Trackers: These are the trackers that rotate on a single axis, either east-west or north-south. They are simpler and more cost-effective than dual-axis trackers, making them a popular choice for large-scale solar installations.
● Dual-Axis Trackers: As the name suggests, these trackers rotate on both axes. Resulting in precise alignment with the sun's position throughout the day. This type of tracker can increase energy production by up to 40% compared to fixed solar panels, but they require more maintenance due to their complexity.
Working mechanism Solar tracker
These trackers are advanced technology that ensures the solar panels are always positioned at the optimal angle to capture maximum sunlight. These are the steps followed throughout the process:
1. Sun Tracking: There are Sensors embedded in the solar tracker system that continuously monitor the sun's position. These sensors can measure factors such as solar altitude and azimuth.
2. Angle Calculation: The tracking mechanism calculates the ideal angle for the solar panels to face the sun. The calculation is based on the sensor data embedded in the system.
3. Panel Adjustment: The adjustment of solar panels takes place at the calculated angle. It ensures that they are perpendicular with respect to the sunlight.
Advantages of Solar Trackers
A solar tracker offers a package of offerings compared to fixed solar panels. Here are some of the major advantages of having these trackers.
● Increased Power Generation: Historically, it has been observed that by aligning solar panels with the sun's position, trackers can successfully increase power output.
● Improved Energy Efficiency: They minimize the energy losses in the system. The accurate capturing of the sun’s angle results in more efficient power production.
● Enhanced Return on Investment: Any solar energy system can achieve better financial returns with increased energy generation.
● Longer Lifespan: They reduce the stress on solar panels which results in a longer lifespan. The stress is usually caused by uneven sunlight exposure.
Challenges and Considerations
While the solar tracker has many advantages, discussing the flip side is also equally important. Below are some of the major challenges with them.
● Cost: The cost of installing them is higher than that of fixed solar panel systems. However, the increased power generation and improved efficiency can offset this cost over a longer time.
● Maintenance: They need regular maintenance to ensure they are working properly. You have to clean the panels, then lubricate the moving parts, and the sensors must be well-calibrated periodically.
Conclusion:
While the initial installation of the solar tracker can be tiring and costly, the long-term benefits are worth the hassle. It's crucial to remember that a solar tracker's exact construction and parts can change based on the manufacturer and the particular model being used. Additional features like wind sensors, safety devices, or control systems with feedback could be added to solar trackers to enhance performance and shield the panels from adverse conditions.
A solar tracker is a great addition to the solar-tech industry. It optimizes the alignment of solar panels with the sun’s position to boost power generation. Since we are speaking about an optimized solar power system, do check the industry leader in it, KP Green Engineering Ltd.).
KP Green Engineering Limited offers comprehensive solutions all under one roof, specializing in engineering and steel structure manufacturing, reach them at info@kpgroup.co to know more about the same.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q.1. What are solar trackers?
A.1. Solar trackers are devices that adjust the position of solar panels to follow the sun’s path throughout the day, ensuring optimal exposure to sunlight and maximizing energy generation.
Q.2. How do solar trackers improve power generation efficiency?
A.2. Solar trackers increase power generation by allowing solar panels to continuously face the sun, capturing more sunlight throughout the day compared to fixed panels, which are stationary.
Q.3. What types of solar trackers are available?
A.3. There are two main types of solar trackers: single-axis trackers, which move panels along one axis (typically horizontal), and dual-axis trackers, which allow movement along both horizontal and vertical axes for even greater solar exposure.
