Solar Tracker
Regardless of the type of solar platform you use, maximizing exposure to the sun is the key to efficient energy product. The solar tracker is the key to getting the most bang for your buck.
Solar Tracker
After a building is fitted with solar photovoltaic panels or if a solar reflector is used, it can be quite beneficial to use a solar tracker to position the device so that it is best utilizing the sun. For solar PV panels, solar trackers are typically used to enhance performance of the unit, particularly during the afternoon. It is during the afternoon that most systems that are tied into a grid become overburdened because many people are home. Also during the summer months, the air conditioning is being run during these hours, causing an increased drain on power supply.
In recent years, solar panels have become more efficient. However, in many cases the panels are placed in one position, even though the sun continuously moves. Therefore, the panels have times where they are not receiving an optimal amount of sunlight. If a solar tracker is used, however, then the panel moves in relation to the sun moving and therefore the maximum efficiency can be obtained.
Passive solar trackers work by utilizing a liquid which expands and contracts. The liquid has a low boiling point and the heat from the sun causes pressure to build up and the liquid to move. The movement from side to side causes the tracker to move. This system is not extremely precise and so it is not recommended for use on a solar reflector where precision is important. For a regular PV panel, however, this system is quite ideal. An active solar tracker uses motors and gears to move the panel through use of a controller. These systems are more precise than a passive system.
Solar trackers are set on a particular axis. These include polar, horizontal axis orientation and vertical axis orientation. There is no one clear winner when it comes to axis selection; rather it depends on your location and simple personal preference.
Solar trackers are relatively new and are not very widely available. Prices vary greatly and depend on the type of tracker purchased and what type of axis it has. Typically, active solar trackers start at around twenty-two hundred dollars. The units with more modules typically cost around six thousand dollars. For some consumers, the cost of adding a solar tracker can be prohibitive. But many find that they are able to gain so much more use from their PV panels that the additional cost is worth it, especially considering that a solar panel system is expensive to start with. For a little extra money, the system which has a solar tracker can perform at a much higher efficiency.
