Made available in DSpace on 2016-08-31T13:33:38Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 RomeniaGV_DISSERT.pdf: 3190598 bytes, checksum: 478a0cda7a4c2391088f6946ab2c42c1 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-08-15 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / The photovoltaics energy has been explored as one of the solutions to the decline in oil production, and environmental worries. However, generating electric energy throw the sun is still considered uncompetitive when considering other sources, because it shows low efficiency and high production costs. Trying to turn it more attractive to the financial point view, sun trackers are been used to increase the photovoltaics system efficiency. Considering it, this work aims to perform a comparative study between a static photovoltaic solar panel and a one axis mobile panel, both installed in Mossoró/RN. The city is located on northeast semi-arid, under high levels of solar radiation, on dry and hot climate regions, achieving high temperatures during day. Initially are discussed concepts related to solar photovoltaics energy, and tracking technologies. Then, are described the control components, sensing and structures used on the photovoltaics systems proposed. Lastly, the analyses about the functioning and comparing study about the performance of the static and mobile system were realized, allowing to conclude that the sun tracker panel showed low gain on the generated power when compared to the static panel / A energia solar fotovoltaica vem sendo explorada como uma das soluções energéticas ao declínio da produção de petróleo, e preocupações ambientais. No entanto, geração de energia elétrica através do sol ainda é considerada pouco competitiva frete à outras fontes, por apresentar baixo rendimento e alto custo de produção. Na tentativa de torna-la mais atrativa do ponto de vista financeiro, rastreadores solares têm sido utilizados a fim de aumentar o rendimento dos sistemas fotovoltaicos. Neste sentido, o presente trabalho tem por objetivo realizar um estudo comparativo entre um painel solar fotovoltaico estático e um painel com mobilidade em um eixo, instalados na cidade de Mossoró/RN. O município em questão está localizado no semiárido nordestino, sob altos índices de radiação solar, em uma região de clima seco e quente, atingindo elevadas temperaturas durante o dia. Inicialmente são abordados conceitos relativos à energia solar fotovoltaica, e tecnologias de rastreamento do sol. Em seguida, descreve-se os componentes de controle, sensoriamento e estruturas utilizadas nos sistemas fotovoltaicos propostos. Por fim, foram realizadas as análises de funcionamento e o estudo comparativo de desempenho do sistema estático e do móvel, que permitiram concluir o que painel com rastreio do sol apresentou baixo ganho médio na potência gerada em relação ao painel fixo

Submitted by GILBERTO BUENO DE OLIVEIRA JUNIOR null (gilberto.bueno@yahoo.com.br) on 2016-02-03T13:55:05Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação - Concentrador Solar - VERSÃO FINAL - V0017.pdf: 5444637 bytes, checksum: 24e8c86834b9e8a8354dc9e314104039 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Ana Paula Grisoto (grisotoana@reitoria.unesp.br) on 2016-02-05T11:29:33Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 oliveirajunior_gb_me_bauru.pdf: 5444637 bytes, checksum: 24e8c86834b9e8a8354dc9e314104039 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-02-05T11:29:33Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 oliveirajunior_gb_me_bauru.pdf: 5444637 bytes, checksum: 24e8c86834b9e8a8354dc9e314104039 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-12-18 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / The searching for renewable energy sources has mobilized much of the scientific community, which work is tireless in pointing out feasible solutions to use clean energy. Solar energy is natural choice among others, because its availability and amount. A known way to use this energy is by focusing solar rays through parabolics, which allow rays concentration to a small area. The advantage of this type of project is to produce thermal energy at high temperatures. This energy has a wide application on producing other forms of energy such as electric power in turbines since solar concentrators provide steam at high pressure and temperature. The goal of this study is to build a solar concentration device and measure the energy produced, as well its efficiency in transformation. Thus, was built up a parabolic concentrator and a solar tracker to motion in three dimension, which allows device alignment towards incidence of solar rays. Was utilized a pumping system to flowing thermal fluid at high temperatures through the absorber. The energy balance of this thermal fluid, led to obtain behavior curves of net power and system efficiency. The experimental was divided in two parts. On the first one, was obtained the stagnation temperature and the other one, was measured the eficiency over a circulating thermal fluid. The stagnation temperature measured in december was 476,5°C, at 4:25PM. The second part of tests has shown an efficiency of 33% on first one assay. However when was utilizing another form to measure the solar irradiation (theoretic approach), the efficiency rises between 45% to 55%, regarding steady state conditions. Furthermore, this work allowed discussions to discover ways to increase the energy efficiency. / A busca por formas alternativas de energia tem mobilizado grande parte da comunidade científica, cujos trabalhos são incansáveis em apontar soluções viáveis para o aproveitamento das energias renováveis e limpas. A energia solar se destaca dentre todas pela sua disposição e quantidade. Uma forma já conhecida de sua utilização é através da concentração em sistemas parabólicos, que permitem o direcionamento dos raios do Sol para uma pequena área. A vantagem deste tipo de projeto é a produção de energia térmica a altas temperaturas e pressões. Essa energia concentrada possui grande aplicação, pois permite a conversão eficiente em energia elétrica, produzidas em turbinas a vapor. O objetivo deste trabalho foi construir um dispositivo termo-eletrônico para concentração solar e, com isso, quantificar a energia produzida, bem como sua eficiência. Assim sendo, foi construído um concentrador parabólico e um rastreador solar com movimento tridimensional, que permite o alinhamento do equipamento com a incidência dos raios do Sol. Foi utilizado ainda, para circulação no interior do absorvedor, um sistema de bombeamento de fluido térmico de alto ponto de ebulição e que não sofria deformação a altas temperaturas. O balanço energético no dispositivo permitiu obter as curvas de potência útil e da eficiência do sistema. O experimento foi dividido em duas partes. Na primeira parte, foi obtida a temperatura de estagnação e na outra parte, foi medida a eficiência energética sobre o fluido térmico em circulação. A temperatura de estagnação medida em dezembro foi de 476,5 °C, às 4:25 PM. A segunda parte dos testes mostrou uma eficiência de 33% no primeiro ensaio. No entanto, quando se utilizou uma outra forma de medir a irradiação solar (abordagem teórica), a eficiência aumentou, permanecendo entre 45% a 55%, considerando regime permanente. Além disso, possibilitou a discussão de formas de incrementar a sua eficiência. / Capes: 2012/2014

The thesis deals with a construction of solar tracker designed from the MayTec Profile System using SEW Eurodrive’s electric actuation and accessories. The work describes the design of a laboratory assignment which uses these elements. In the preface information is provided about the construction of solar trackers on which the thesis is based. The next parts of the text are dedicated to each step of the construction design and its variants. A description of how to activate the drive and the design of the connection scheme are also included as well as the technological and construction evaluation. The conclusion contains an economical evaluation of the whole construction.

This master’s thesis is focused on current possibilities of solar energy utilization – especially on concentrating solar power systems – and their optimization using solar tracking systems to maximize energy gain. The thesis also deals with solar position algorithm and offers an Arduino based automatic dual axis solar tracker design which provides various solar devices the ability to pivot using stepper motors, DC motors or servos. The motion might be driven by calculated solar position or by actual illuminance.

Solar parks are increasingly getting a larger market share of PV installations over the world, and have for the last couple of years managed to establish itself in the Swedish market. The market has for a long time been known for its decline in module prices, which has allowed an emergence of more efficient PV-techniques such as one-axis trackers and bifacial modules. Bifacial modules use the backside of modules for improved utiliziation of incoming light, while one-axis trackers have the ability to track the sun in order to maximise light absorption. These innovations have now caught the interest of companies willing to invest in large-scale PV-farms, where efficient land use is highly regarded. The aim of this thesis was to examine how bifacial modules and one-axis trackers perform in terms of system performance and profitabilty if implemented in 'Solpark Fyrislund', a solar park owned by Vasakronan AB. This was done by modelling and simulating cases in which said techniques were incorporated. The data was later used to estimate profitabilty of each investigated case. Results showed that the highest system performance and profitability was achieved by installing bifacial modules on the site. One-axis trackers are currently too expensive, require higher maintenance and has a higher demand for land, resulting in its profitability not being justified. It was also found that the current configuration could be optimized further for higher profit, by slightly reducing the pitch as well as increasing the tilt of the existing modules. The study should be followed up by further investigating the use of backtracking for one-axis trackers. Said innovations should also be more established in the Swedish market so that CAPEX- and OPEX prices become more accessible.

Methods were developed for the design of a solar powered UAV capable of tracking the sun to achieve maximum solar energy capture. A single-axis solar tracking system was designed and constructed. This system autonomously rotated an onboard solar panel to find the angle of maximum solar irradiance while the UAV was airborne. A microcontroller was programmed and implemented to control the solar tracking system. A solar panel and an efficient airframe capable of housing the solar tracking system was designed and constructed. Each of these subsystems was tested individually with either ground or flight tests. Ultimately, the final assembled system was tested. These tests were used to determine where and when a UAV with an onboard solar tracker would be advantageous over a conventional solar powered UAV with PV cells statically fixed to its wings. The final UAV had a wingspan of 3.2 meters, a length of 2.6 meters, and weighed 4.1 kilograms. Its solar panel provided a maximum power output of 37.7 watts. The predicted system performance, airframe drag, and system power requirements were validated with a battery powered flight test. The UAV's analytical model predicted the drag to be 41% lower than the actual drag found from flight testing. Full system functionality was verified with a solar powered flight test. The results and analysis of the system tests are presented in this thesis. The net energy increase from the solar tracking UAV over a conventional solar powered UAV for the duration of a day is dependent on season and geographical location. The solar tracking UAV that was developed was found to have a maximum net energy gain of 34.5% over a conventional solar powered version of the UAV. The minimum net energy gain of the solar tracking UAV was found to be 0.8%.

This thesis project investigates, analyzes, designs, simulates, constructs and tests a dual-axis solar tracker system to track the sun and concentrates the heat of the sunlight, using a Fresnel lens, into a small area, which is above of an evaporator, to increase the temperature of the seawater to convert it into freshwater. The dual-axis solar tracker was designed with the main objectives that the structure was portable, dismountable, lightweight, low cost, corrosion resistant, wires inside pipes, accurate, small size, follow the sun automatically, off-grid (electrical), use green energy (solar powered), and has an empty area right below of the lens. First, a 500 mm diameter flat Fresnel lens was selected and simulated based on an algorithmic method achieved by a previous PhD student at UNT using MATLAB®, to give the optimization lens dimensions. The lens profile was drawn with AutoCAD®, then output profile lens was simulated in COMSOL Multiphysics®. The objective was to provide the high efficiency, optimum and high precision of the focal rays and heat to the receiver of the evaporator. A novel dual-axis solar tracker system was then designed that is portable, dismountable, lightweight and corrosion resistant. The solar tracker tracks the sun in two axis of rotation automatically during the day time, maximizing the angles of inclination on each axis. After testing computer simulations, the dual-axis solar tracker system was constructed and tested. Last, a detailed cost analysis was performed of the entire project. The outcome of this work can be applied for desalination seawater purposes or other any Fresnel lens application that require a focal high temperature directed by dual-axis solar tracker system.

No description available.