Investigation of a single-axis discrete solar tracking system for reduced actuations and maximum energy collection.

Abstract This paper proposes a discrete single-axis solar tracking system that only actuates three times a day in the azimuthal plane to follow the sun. The preset tracking angles for the system are based on simulation runs for the site with incorporation of weather data to find optimum angles of discrete tracking. Simulation results indicate that there are no significant differences in total solar energy generation when using tracking angles based on either the isotropic or anisotropic models. Moreover, experimental results in the summer season showed that tracking the sun in only three optimized angle movements yielded around 91–94% of solar energy collection as a continuous single-axis solar tracker that moves three times an hour based on solar calculations. Experimental results agree within 11–17% with simulation data. Highlights • The effect of a PV discrete solar tracking technique on system performance and total energy gain compared to an identical single-axis tracking approach. • Discrete and continuous systems tracking angles are obtained from simulations based on typical solar conditions. • Theoretical and experimental results show no significant impact of using either Isotropic or Anisotropic models on the total energy collection of the tracking system. • Experiment results show that implementing a three step per day discrete tracking technique achieves around 91-94% of solar energy collection. • Potential of discrete solar trackers is clearly demonstrated as the number of tracker actuations is reduced dramatically relative to a continuous tracker. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]