Design and realization of a novel sun tracking system with absorber displacement for parabolic trough collectors

Abstract

Algeria has an important solar irradiation potential especially in the southern area. Technically, the hard climate of the region makes exploitation of this energy very difficult; thus, looking for adequate and innovative solutions is a necessity. In this paper, we propose and describe a new single axis sun tracking system that has a moveable absorber which can be adjusted in order to minimize the optical losses caused by the cosine effect in parabolic trough concentrators (PTC). This new system was tested in the region of Ghardaïa (32.48°, −3.66°, 502 m), which is 640 km to the south of Algiers. First, a theoretical study and simulations were carried out using trnsys software. After simulations and design calculations, the different parts of the prototype, the mechanical structure and the electronic cards, were implemented. For the data collection system and the control system, many sensors were installed for those purposes. A complete evaluation of the PTC was made according to the ASHRAE 93-1986 (RA 91). The obtained experimental results are in a good agreement with those obtained by simulation using trnsys software [S. A. Klein et al., see http://sel.me.wisc.edu/trnsys for trnsys version 16, Solar Energy Laboratory, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2004]. The efficiency of the proposed sun tracking system lies between the efficiencies of a single axis and a two axes sun tracking systems. Efficiencies close to 50% were obtained.

Receiver Temperature Maps of Parabolic Collector Used for Solar Food Cooking Application in Algeria

“…Therefore, theses cookers are usually equipped with sun following devices. The most recent work done in this field is the sun tracking system with absorber displacement of Gama; Larbes; Malek; Yettou and Adouane [39].…”

A Novel Solar Tracker Based on Omnidirectional Computer Vision

“…Values of these resistors are evaluated in real time using a microcontroller which drives the two DC motors via a command circuit (Figure 7(b)) to achieve optimal orientation. Such solar tracking techniques have been widely adopted in the literature because of the simplicity of their conception [18][19][20][21][22].…”

Optimization of light-dependent resistor sensor for the application of solar energy tracking system

“…Tracking control parameters are designed to capture maximum irradiance in solar tracking applications such as analog signal of three LDRs arranged in tetrahedron [11], voltage difference of LDR sensors for single direction tracking systems [12], analog voltage of LDR with optimized series connected load resistance ( R L ) [13], digital value of LDR sensor along with real-time virtual instrumentation test bench tool [14], and photo-resistance ( R ph ) of LDR sensor in terms of voltage [15].…”