Solar Energy Materials & Solar Cells 60 (2000) 99}103

Letters

A very simple solar tracker for space and terrestrial applications

V. Poulek *, M. Libra
Poulek Solar Co. Ltd., Kastanova 1481, CZ 250 01 Brandys n.L., Prague East District, Czech Republic Czech Technical University, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Technicka 4, 166 07 Prague 6, Czech Republic

Abstract A new very simple, reliable solar tracker is described. The solar tracker is based on a new arrangement of auxiliary bifacial solar cell connected directly to D.C. motor. Auxiliary solar cells (panels) can both sense and provide energy for tracking. 2000 Elsevier Sciece B.V. All rights reserved.

The bifacial auxiliary solar cell (panel) is "xed to a rotary axle of the tracker and is approximately perpendicular to bifacial solar arrays (Figs. 1}3). The auxiliary solar panel is connected directly to a permanent magnet D.C. electromotor (see Fig. 4.). The complete wiring diagram is even more simple than that of the similar system [1] with monofacial cells. Area of the auxiliary solar panel of the tracker is about 0.1% of the area of moved solar arrays. Fig. 1 shows the principle of the tracker. As the sun moves in the sky, the angle of incidence of solar radiation on sensing/driving cell increases untill the power of the driving D.C. motor, connected to this cell, is high enough to move solar arrays. Then the angle of incidence starts to decrease until the power of the D.C. motor is lower than that necessary to move solar collectors. The new arrangement of auxiliary bifacial solar cell together with bifacial solar arrays enables backtracking from any position (3603 tracking angle) while trackers based on similar technology [1] with standard monofacial solar cells (Fig. 5) have a tracking/backtracking angle of 1203. Use of bifacial solar arrays is possible because the e$ciency of the back side is approaching the e$ciency of front side by the new thin bifacial solar cells [2]. Bifacial solar panels are commercially available now.
* Corresponding author. Fax #420-202-804-017. E-mail address: poulek@telecom.cz (V. Poulek) 0927-0248/00/$ - see front matter 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved. PII: S 0 9 2 7 - 0 2 4 8 ( 9 9 ) 0 0 0 7 1 - 9

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V. Poulek, M. Libra / Solar Energy Materials & Solar Cells 60 (2000) 99}103

Fig. 1. Basic scheme of the tracker (plan view).

Fig. 2. Scheme of the terrestrial tracker.

The new design with 3603 tracking angle is suitable for space systems (Fig. 6) as well as for terrestrial applications (Fig. 3). Unlike standard trackers [1] with 1203 tracking angle it can work in regions above polar circle (Russia, Canada, Alaska, Scandinavia) where sun can shine 24 h a day [3]. Well-proven solar panels and permanent magnet D.C. motors are used in the tracker (neither exotic technologies nor hazardous materials are used). Unreliable and expensive components like batteries and driving electronics have been completely eliminated. It improves reliability substantially. It is probable that the above tracker is the most simple electromechanical tracker ever designed. This advantage is further emphasized by 3603 tracking angle of the tracker (the 3603 tracker is usually much more complex [3] than standard 1203 tracker). Its simplicity (i.e. reliability) is approaching the most simple passive (freone)

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Fig. 3. Photograph of the terrestrial tracker.

trackers but it is much more e!ective. It works also at low temperatures down to !403C where passive trackers does not work at all. The tracker is designed to follow the sun with optimum (not maximum) accuracy. Flat plate solar arrays can tolerate an angular deviation $53 without reduction of collected energy. Step tracking of #at plate solar arrays is always accurate enough to collect more than 95% of the energy of an ideal tracker. The tracker is more reliable than other trackers and it is worldwide patent pending (PCT).

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V. Poulek, M. Libra / Solar Energy Materials & Solar Cells 60 (2000) 99}103

Fig. 4. Complete wiring diagram of the tracker.

Fig. 5. Photograph of the 1 kW trackers with monofacial PV cells (ITER, Canary Islands).

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Fig. 6. Scheme of the space tracker on a satellite.

References
[1] V. Poulek et al., New Solar Tracker, Sol., Energy Mater. Sol. Cells 51 (1998) 113}120. [2] K.R. McIntosh et al., The impact of rear illumination on bifacial solar cells with #oating junction passivation, Proceedings of the second World Conference on Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conversion, Wienna, 6}10 July 1998, pp. 1515}1518. [3] R.E. Thomas et al., Seasonal Bene"ts of using bifacial PV modules and 3603 solar trackers in high northern lattitudes. Proceedings of the 15th European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference, Amsterdam, 11}15 April 1994, pp. 829}832.