Solar Panel Tracking Control With Accelerometer Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional solar generation systems with fixed positions and angles struggle to maintain optimal power generation efficiency due to changing sun positions, and existing adjustable systems face precision issues with motor-driven mechanisms that can slip, leading to inaccuracies in tilting and directional adjustments.
Innovation Solution
An automatic solar tracking adjustment/control apparatus utilizing an accelerometer to detect and correct the tilting direction and inclination angle of solar panels, driven by motors through flexible steel cables and idling members, ensuring precise alignment with preset parameters.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a motor-driven chain or belt mechanism is used to adjust the solar panel inclination angle, then the solar panel can be tilted by different inclination angles with the change of the position of the sun, but the chain or belt will slip to cause error in precision, making it hard to rotate and tilt in an expected direction and inclination angle
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the motor-driven chain or belt mechanical transmission system with a direct-drive mechanism where the motor's output shaft is directly connected to the drive gear. This eliminates the intermediate chain or belt components that cause slipping, thereby maintaining adjustable inclination angles while achieving precise positioning without mechanical slip errors
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates sensors (such as encoders or position sensors) that detect the actual inclination angle of the solar panel and feed this information back to the control unit. The control unit compares the actual angle with the target angle and adjusts the motor output accordingly, ensuring precise tilting accuracy even with mechanical variations
2Ease of manufacture
If a fixed position solar generation apparatus is used, then the structure is simplified and installation cost is lower, but the solar panel cannot always face the sun, resulting in poor power generation efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the static fixed-position solar panel system into a dynamic adjustable system. The solar panel is mounted on a support structure with a drive mechanism that enables it to change its inclination angle dynamically according to the sun's position, thereby maintaining optimal power generation efficiency while preserving relatively simple installation through modular design
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
The apparatus ensures precise and continuous alignment of solar panels with the sun, enhancing power generation efficiency by accurately adjusting the tilting direction and inclination angle in real-time, overcoming the limitations of fixed systems and motor-driven inaccuracies.
Implementation Method 1
a detection/correction module disposed on the carrier platform for detecting and obtaining actual parameters including tilting direction and inclination angle of the carrier platform
Data Source
AI summary
An automatic solar tracking adjustment/control apparatus of solar generation system includes a support assembly, a two-dimensionally movable pivotal rotational assembly disposed on the support assembly, a solar generation module disposed on the support assembly via the pivotal rotational assembly and at least one drive assembly disposed between the support assembly and the solar generation module. The drive assembly drives the solar generation module to tilt in different directions and angles according to reference parameters in a control unit. A detection/correction module is disposed on the solar generation module for detecting actual parameters of the solar generation module. The control unit compares the actual parameters with the reference parameters to modify the output of the drive assembly so as to adjust the tilting direction and inclination angle of the solar generation module.