TITLE:
A Sun Tracking System Design for a Large Dish Solar Concentrator
AUTHORS:
Xiaoshan Jin, Guoqiang Xu, Rongjiu Zhou, Xiang Luo, Yongkai Quan
KEYWORDS:
Renewable Energy; Solar Energy; Sun tracking; PLC; Combination Tracking Mode
JOURNAL NAME:
International Journal of Clean Coal and Energy,
Vol.2 No.2B,
July
24,
2013
ABSTRACT: Energy crisis promotes the development of renewable
energy, especially the solar energy. Sun tracking system proposed in this paper
is such a device for efficiency improvement. This closed loop tracking system
with two axis sun tracking method is controlled by a programmable logic
controller (PLC) and is used for a large dish solar collector. A combination tracking
mode combined active and passive tracking methods used in the design make the
tracker efficient whatever the circumstances. Two stepper motors and two
reduction boxes move the device towards the sun with chain transmission.
Besides sun tracking, the system also has functions of overheat monitoring,
wind speed monitoring and measurement of illumination.