Mechanically powered solar tracking system
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional solar tracking systems, especially in residential and portable settings, often result in reduced solar energy production due to fixed orientations, which fail to efficiently track the Sun's movement, leading to suboptimal angle of incidence and energy capture.
Innovation Solution
A mechanically powered solar tracking system that utilizes a mechanical energy storage system, such as a constant torque spring, and a movement modulating system, including a gearbox and rotary damper, to rotate a solar panel mount, approximating the Sun's azimuth changes throughout the day, ensuring a near-constant angle of incidence and maximizing energy capture.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If solar tracking is performed using sensors and electronic components, then tracking precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces electronic sensors and control systems with a purely mechanical tracking system. A constant torque spring provides continuous rotational force to turn the solar panel, while a rotary damper mechanically modulates this force to approximate the Sun's azimuth movement pattern. This mechanical substitution eliminates complex electronics while maintaining tracking functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical system is self-regulating through the interaction between the constant torque spring and rotary damper. The spring continuously stores and releases energy to drive rotation, while the damper automatically modulates the speed to match solar movement patterns without requiring external control signals or sensors. The system serves itself through inherent mechanical properties.
2Use of energy by moving object
If a mechanical energy storage system is used to power solar tracking, then energy consumption is reduced, but tracking speed and responsiveness decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The constant torque spring is pre-loaded and continuously stores mechanical energy in advance, ready to drive the tracking motion. This preliminary energy storage allows the system to maintain continuous movement without requiring real-time energy input, enabling slow but sustained tracking speed that matches the gradual movement of the Sun across the sky.
Solution Approach 2:
The rotary damper creates periodic modulation of the spring's energy release, varying the tracking speed to approximate the Sun's non-uniform azimuth movement. The system transitions between faster movement during certain periods and slower movement during others, matching natural solar patterns while maintaining continuous operation without external power.
3Productivity
If solar panels are kept in fixed orientation, then device complexity is reduced, but solar energy production decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the static fixed-orientation system into a dynamic tracking system. The constant torque spring continuously applies rotational force to change the panel's orientation, while the rotary damper modulates this change to follow solar movement patterns. This dynamic adjustment maintains optimal angle of incidence throughout the day, significantly improving energy capture.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously changes the orientation parameter of the solar panel by approximately 45 degrees from its initial position. This parameter change is driven by the mechanical energy storage system, allowing the panel to track the Sun's azimuth and maintain desirable angle of incidence, thereby increasing productivity without requiring complex electronic control.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This system enhances solar energy production by maintaining a desirable angle of incidence, potentially increasing energy capture by up to 40% compared to static installations, while being portable and energy-conscious, with the mechanical energy storage and modulation allowing efficient tracking without reliance on GPS or complex electronics.
Implementation Method 1
The disclosed mechanically powered solar tracking panel mount may be equipped with a constant torque spring to store mechanical energy
Implementation Method 2
a movement modulating system including a gear box and a rotary damper approximating the movement of the Sun in relation to the Solar Panel
Data Source
AI summary
A mechanically powered solar tracking system is disclosed. The mechanically powered solar tracking system may include a carriage, a carriage mount connected to the carriage, a pivot shaft including a pivot gear connected to the carriage or, a complex gearbox, a base including legs, a tracker disposed on the base, the tracker including a mechanical energy storage system and a movement modulating system. The mechanical energy storage system may be configured to store mechanical energy as the carriage is rotated from a first position to a second position, and the movement modulation system may be configured to modulate a rotation of the carriage from the second position to the first position as the mechanical energy storage system exerts a rotational force on the carriage.