Solar Angles and Tracking Systems
Students learn about the daily and annual cycles of solar angles used in power calculations to maximize photovoltaic power generation. They gain an overview of solar tracking systems that improve PV panel efficiency by following the sun through the sky.
Figure 1. The solar power array at Nellis Air Force Base (NV) uses tracking devices to keep the solar panels pointed toward the sun. Tilted toward the south, each set of solar panels rotates around a central bar to track the sun from east to west.Copyright Nellis Air Force Base, US Department of Energy http://apps1.eere.energy.gov/news/news_detail.cfm/news_id=11486
With PV solar power becoming popular in many different applications, more engineers are needed who understand how to maximize a PV panel's power output so they can design PV arrays that create as much clean energy as possible from this technology. The optimal design of a PV array depends on the location and position of the panels, so engineers must understand the basics of solar angles to design the most-efficient systems.
After this lesson, students should be able to:
- Describe how the sun moves in the sky throughout the day and during the course of a year.
- Explain the efficiency advantages of solar tracking systems.