“ … Solar Thermal System For the Union College Achilles Center Gareth Lewis Advisor: Professor Wilk Fall Term 2009 … Development of Sun-Tracking System for Solar Modules By Gareth Lewis ********** Submitted in partial fulfillment of … ”
Abstract
The purpose of this project was to research and develop a sun-tracking system for
solar modules. Research and modeling were performed in the fall term to determine the
potential increase in sun exposure obtained with a tracking system rather than a stationary
array. Using hourly insolation data from the National Solar Radiation Data Base, I
determined that a sun-tracking system in Schenectady is capable of increasing the sun
exposure to upwards of 50%. This led to the design of a prototype tracking system, with
the emphasis on simplicity in manufacturing and low cost. The tracking system designed
is unique in that it simplifies dual axis tracking into a single active tracking axis. This
reduces the number of drives which in turn lowers the amount of power required to track,
thus allowing for more of the absorbed energy to be used as power.
I proposed this project because I am interested in renewable energies, specifically
solar, and wanted to apply my engineering and design skills with my passion for the
environment to a technical problem in the field. It is well known that solar technology’s
limiting factor is its low efficiency, and it is therefore struggling to compete with other
technologies. Since I could not hope to improve photovoltaic cell efficiency in an
academic year and with available funding, I sought out other ways of improving solar
power output and found sun-tracking systems interesting.
I gratefully acknowledge the support from the Union
