CN1195097A

CN1195097A - Solar tracking devices

Info

Publication number: CN1195097A
Application number: CN 97103872
Authority: CN
Inventors: 阿奈德·谢伦
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1997-04-03
Filing date: 1997-04-03
Publication date: 1998-10-07

Abstract

The solar tracking system maintains a solar collector with its responsive surface normal to the sun rays. It includes a shaft supported for rotation about an axis parallel to the north-south axis of the earth, a mean rate equal to the earth's rate of rotation. A solar collector securing assembly is located on one side of the shaft and includes a bracket, collars securing the bracket to the shaft, a support for fixing a solar collector pivoted to the bracket about a pivotal axis transverse to the shaft to vary the inclination of the support relative to the shaft and stays between the support and the bracket to maintain the support at an adjusted inclination. A counter-balancing system includes an arm secured to the shaft and extending normal thereto and away from the assembly and a weight adjustably mounted on the shaft.

Description

Solar tracking devices

The present invention relates to a day optrack, particularly, relate to and a kind ofly when sky is passed in sunset, make the acting surface of solar collector keep system from sunrise when the sun of looking from ground over against sunlight.

Solar energy equipment, as solar collector, the most effective towards penetrating the DT work that comes in its orientation according to geometry.Concerning flat board, when being oriented in light perpendicular to flat board, this is the best.Because the position of the sun constantly changes, receiving plane also constantly reorientation to keep the orientation conditions of the best.The device of tracking position of sun can have two types, first type of solar cell or other photoelectric sensor that utilization matches, and its orientation at this device is non-to produce different signals when best.This signal is used for feedback mechanism makes the receiver reorientation until obtaining preferential orientation.This device also is not proved to be very reliable, because it can not distinguish the sun that covered and the bright spot in the clearance, feedback mechanism makes receiver towards bright spot rather than sun orientation mistakenly.Like this, tracking has just been failed.And, these the device haze or the dust situation under be insecure.

The second kind of mechanism that follows the tracks of the sun uses the orientation of clockwork control receiver different time in a day.Yet, accurately follow motion and in one year the motion of (seasonality) of the sun in one day, this device also must be complicated on the expensive external structure except making.

Another shortcoming of above-mentioned two kinds of systems is the energy requirement during following the tracks of, because its mass unbalance.Because uneven, compare the position that the bigger moment of requirement is proofreaied and correct receiver with balance sysmte, often can not reach correct position, especially after long cloudy, appear at when day aerial when the sun.Under this situation, require enough moment to make receiver reach the optimum position.

So main purpose of the present invention is to propose a kind of solar tracking devices, its not only accurately but also require minimum energy input, and its manufacturing and use are simple and cheap.

Further purpose of the present invention is to propose several methods that daylight is followed the tracks of that are used for.

According to the present invention, a kind of solar tracking system has been proposed, the acting surface of solar collector is kept over against sunlight, comprise being mounted to around being parallel to the axle that earth north and south axle rotates, the stepper motor that axle is intermittently rotated by the average speed that equates with earth rate.The solar collector fixture is positioned at a side of axle, and comprises a support, and support is fixed to the axle collar on the axle; One support member is used for fixing solar collector, and the pivot perpendicular to axle on the support is a fulcrum, to change the gradient of support member with respect to axle; And the pillar between support member and the support is used for support member is remained on adjustable gradient, and oppositely balance sysmte comprises that being fixed to also vertical thus extension of axle from fixture leaves the shaft balancing arm and be installed in a last adjustable pouring weight.Reverse balance sysmte balance fixture and solar collector fixed thereon, and irrelevant to the inclined degree of axle with fixture to the turned position and the support member of axle.

Preferably, two solar collectors are installed on axle, one is to battery powered solar battery array, and battery to the stepper motor power supply, drives this axle through reduction gear box subsequently.Shade perpendicular to a pointer of solar collector plate is used to make this plate correctly to aim at.Perhaps, measure the electric current that is produced by solar cell, its maximum points out that solar panels correctly aim at the sun.

In the accompanying drawings, the parts of same numbering TYP:

Fig. 1 is the side view of most preferred embodiment of the present invention, is illustrated in the orientation to receiver between March 21 on Northern Hemisphere September 21;

Fig. 2 is the vertical view of motor driven systems;

Fig. 3 is the vertical view of manual driving system;

Fig. 4 is the side view that is similar to Fig. 1, but the receiver reorientation is to receive Northern Hemisphere March 21 to the solar energy between September 21.

As shown in Figure 1,

support

27 and 29 is rigidly fixed on the rotatable axle 16 by the

axle collar

28 and 30 respectively, support member 1 is as mounting platform support solar gatherer, as receiver, reflector or its combination, can be any geometry, fulcrum be fixed on the support 27 by a pivot 17 perpendicular to axle 16.Equally, the fulcrum of support member 3 is at support 29 head lamp brush guard pivots 18 places.Utilize

pivot

17 and 18 respectively tilting-

trap support member

1 and 3 just might change its spatial orientation, this is to concentrate the light of the sun desired according to the motion of earth every year (seasonality).

Adjustable pillar

23 and 22 remains on required gradient with the

support member

1 and 3 of correspondence respectively.Axle 16 remains the north and south axle that is parallel to the earth, can accomplish this point by calibrated horizontal base plate 12, makes base plate maintenance level with four horizontal screws, and wherein two are expressed as 13 and 9 in the drawings, and two other screw is positioned at thereafter in this view.Axle 16 diagonal angle equals to use the latitude in the place of this system.Axle 16 is supported by the roller bearing 15 and the conical roller bearing 5 of its end.Oppositely counter-jib 2 adjustable grounds are fixed on the axle 16, can and rotate around it along its slip, and counter-jib 2 is with a reverse balance mass piece M perpendicular to axle 16, are positioned at from the adjustable radial distance P2 of axle 16.Oppositely the mass M on the counter-jib 2 can be relatively spools 16 radially move, and the center of gravity of support member 1 is from axle 16 radial distance P1 places.When axle 16 rotated, sunlight collector and fixture thereof were

parts

1,23,27,28 and 3,22, and 29,30 quality moves the reverse balance by mass M.If one of

support member

1 and 3 or both rotate around

pivot

17 and 18, then its radial distance from axle 16 can change, and must change the distance of mass M from axle.11 pairs of axles 16 of one vertical column provide support and make its maintenance straight.One sleeve 11a is arranged at vertical column 11 tops, and axle (16) process therefrom is rotatable and be supported.

Bearing

15 and 5 is installed in respectively on

vertical column

14 and 6, and

vertical column

6,11 and 14 is fixed on the base plate 12, can be made up of solar battery array the solar collector that support member 3 loads.Pointer 4 is mounted to the solar cell that loads perpendicular on the support member 3, and pointer 4 is used for aiming at, and like this, the solar cell on receiver on the support member 1 or the support member 3 is over against sunlight.The length of pointer shade has been pointed out the degree of alignment error, will not have shade under the situation of aiming at fully.Pointer 4 can be installed on the support member 1.

The mass balance of axle can realize like this that at first make the solar collector surface that is installed on

support member

1 and 3 over against sunlight respectively with

pivot

17 and 18, turning cylinder 16 then.In this position, oppositely counter-jib 2 moves along this axle, and a mass M is swayed in given radial position.In addition, can be radially near and leave axle 16 moving mass piece M.Solar cell is also referred to as solar panels, be used for battery 10 chargings, battery 10 is used for subsequently to stepper motor 20 power supplies, it passes through as shown in Figure 2, and bearing arrangement 8 driving shafts 16. stepper motors 20 rotate by a series of pulses, construct each pulse according to it and rotate a certain amount of number of degrees, this class motor can be worked under 110 volts or 220 volts, and most of in the world usually areas all can normally be used.If can not obtain power supply, the electric power that then can use solar cell (Fig. 1) to produce is powered to motor 20.Do not stipulate the supply voltage of motor 20 among Fig. 2, this will depend on the place to use.Among Fig. 2, the link of motor 20 is expressed as 22, and the Electric Machine Control end is 21.

The axle 16 of rotating mass balance carries out the daylight tracking after pointer 4 is aimed at sunlight for the first time, and the earth rotated 360 degree (1 circle) around its north and south axle in about 3 hours 56 minutes, and the time altogether of a circle is 86,160 seconds, so the earth rotated 1 and spends in 239.333 seconds.Like this, can provide the pulse of the desired right quantity of controller 21 (Fig. 2), make motor rotate 1 degree in per 239.333 seconds motor 20.The power demand that should note motor descends with the number of degrees that will rotate preset time.For example, if want to rotate during per 1196.665 seconds 5 degree rather than rotate 1 degree during per 239.333 seconds, then can require more powerful motor (more expensive motor usually) to do this work.

Have several method to follow the tracks of, according to circumstances decide, a kind of method can be better than other method.

First kind also is the simplest method, and as mentioned above, the rotation of the earth manually makes turning cylinder turn over certain number of degrees at a certain time interval, can only be to accomplish this point by the shade of checking pointer 4 generations.That is, according to making pointer 4 shadeless methods come turning cylinder.Because the earth rotates with very slow speed, this method is very useful in many countries, perhaps, people do not want to spend on gear-box, stepper motor etc. there, in this case, axle 16 must be supported on the bearing 15 and 5 (Fig. 1), needs solar collector and reverse balance sysmte 2,2a and a M who is installed on the support member 1.If use support column 11, system can work more betterly; Perhaps, the space between the

post

14 and 6 is done lessly, can save post 11.

In the second approach, do not need electric component yet, can use the gear-box of worm and gear system 8, as shown in Figure 3, an available knob 19 rotary worms, making worm screw begin to rotate with the required moment of n gear is the 1/n of the required moment of axle of rotation gearless system.

In the third method, use a stepper motor 20 with gear-box 8, reduce to obtain desirable moment.Fig. 1 and 2 sees in required system.In this case, two limit switches 24 and 25 (see figure 2)s can be arranged, a starting position that is used for morning, the 2nd stop position that is used for evening can also have a reset switch 26.Here, in the morning can be with the fast speeds turning cylinder so that pointer 4 is aimed at sunray (controller of most of motors has the characteristic of variable pulse speed) abreast.At this moment, the electric current output of the solar cell 3 that measures of galvanometer (not shown) can be maximum.Can adopt connecting line, galvanometer can place indoor like this, be easy to from the alignment case of indoor inspection pointer 4, in the abominable place of climatic environment, also wishing can be at indoor aligning pointer 4, if be provided with solar cell and galvanometer, then the latter can be used for aiming at supporter and need not pointer 4, after aiming at

support member

1 and 3, stepper motor 20 (Fig. 2) can be set rotate with tracking velocity (rotating speed of the earth but direction is opposite), until evening, this moment, 25 actions of second limit switch stopped the rotation of motor, and motor can in the opposite direction rotate with fast speed then, until making the action of first limit switch, can repeat this circulation like this to stop operating.

In the 4th kind of method, as required, can be without limit switch, in case after aiming at, stepper motor can be set at tracking velocity and rotate, even also be so evening because it will from now on everyday month in and month out in the aligning sun.

Should notice that

support member

1 and 3 solar collectors that load must be all the time perpendicular to the sunlight orientations, because seasonal variations (motion of the earth in 1 year) also aligning mistake can occur.Carry out reorientation by regulating supporter 1 (or 3) for the inclination of

pivot

17 and 18 with

pillar

22 and 23, proofread and correct nearest aligning mistake, also need to readjust reverse balance sysmte 2 during each inclination that changes solar collector, because variation has taken place the radial distance of its corresponding center of gravity.And what should clarify here is, in preset time, provides motion about single north and south axle to system, provides motion through

pivot

17 and 18, and these pivots are used for making solar energy receiving surface reorientation when stabilizer shaft.

In the 5th kind of method, the rotation of axle there is a reference position, it can be the position at midnight.The time started in morning is expressed as t _M, unit is second, this moment apart from midnight, the angular interval of position was 0 _M.According to per 239.333 seconds 1 degree of the rotating speed of the earth, can be written as:

O _m=t _M/ 239.333 degree

Be 180 degree apart from noon position the midnight of axle.After a certain in the morning setting-up time begins, sustainable time t _TFollow the tracks of the sun.The position, angle that relative starting position stops will be

O _E=t _T/ 239.333 degree

Motor rotates in an opposite direction then, considers that the angular speed that returns can be N times of tracking velocity, and the time of returning the position in morning should be

t _R＝t _T/N

When motor no longer rotates, moment t _IFor

t _I＝(86160-t _M-t _R-t _T)

Like this, can be to motor programming with at time t _TThe interior sun of following the tracks of is then at time t _RIn rotate with n tracking velocity doubly, return the home position, at time (t _T+ t _M) in motor idle.Be programming like this, axle must be positioned at first apart from position O at midnight _MDegree is from time at midnight t _MThe back starts.Must remember simultaneously, (follow the tracks of or return) n times (speed reducing ratio of considering gear-box is n) that rotating speed of motor is necessary for the rotating speed of axle between each moving period.Controller must corresponding adjustment to the pulse rate of motor.According to said method, in whole process, need not people's intervention.

Fig. 1 and 4 is illustrated respectively in the orientation of

receiver

1 and 3 during September 21 to March 21 and March 21 to September 21 in the Northern Hemisphere.Under first kind of situation,

pivot

17,18 positions are the highest, and

pivot

17,18 positions are minimum under second kind of situation, and the

axle collar

28 and 30 can open so that the position-reversed of axle 16 upper supporting

pieces

27 and 29.

From the above mentioned, can see that the present invention has at large discussed may various case, and the system and method that has proposed have the people to intervene or accurately worked reliably during unmanned the intervention.

Claims

1. a solar tracking devices makes the acting surface of solar collector keep vertical with sunlight, comprises one; The bracing or strutting arrangement of axle is mounted to described axle can rotate around a turning cylinder that is parallel to earth north and south axle; The tumbler of axle rotates described axle off and on the average speed that equals earth velocity of rotation; The solar collector fixture is positioned at a side of described axle and comprises the support member of a fixed solar gatherer; One support; Be used for described support is fixed to collar device on the described axle; Pivot device, making described support member is fulcrum with described pivot perpendicular to the fulcrum axis of described axle, to change the gradient of described support member, the result changes the gradient of described gatherer with respect to described axle; Leg unit between described support member and described support, makes described support member remain on adjustable gradient to described axle, changes the radial distance of the center of gravity of described gatherer from described axle thereby can change described support member simultaneously; And, reverse balance sysmte, comprise the counter-jib that is fixed on the described axle, extend and leave described fixture perpendicular to described, one pouring weight is installed on the described counter-jib, with respect to the described diameter of axle to adjustable, but described thus counter-jib and described pouring weight in fact the quality of the described fixture of balance and solar collector fixed thereon with respect to the motion of described axle, and regardless of the gradient of the relative described axle in turned position of the described relatively axle of described fixture with described support member.

2. system as claimed in claim 1, it is characterized in that: the bracing or strutting arrangement of described axle comprises-base plate, make the horizontal device of base plate maintenance level,-to being erected at the pillar on the described base plate, described axle tilts with respect to described base plate, and have top and bottom, one ball bearing unit is in the upper end of the described axle of one of described pillar upper support, and a conical roller bearing device is in the lower end of the described axle of another upper support of described column.

3. system as claimed in claim 2 is characterized in that, further comprises fixing and is erected at the 3rd column on the described base plate, is between the column of mentioning first, connects and support rotationally the middle part of described axle, prevents sagging.

4. system as claimed in claim 1, it is characterized in that, the fixture of described solar collector is installed on the described axle between the upper end that is in described the 3rd column and described axle, and, further comprise the second solar collector fixture, be similar to the solar collector fixture of mentioning first, be installed on the described axle between the lower end that is in described the 3rd column and described axle, the solar energy collecting fixture of mentioning first is in the same side of described axle, the described pouring weight of described counter-jib and described reverse balance sysmte can two solar collector fixture of balance and is fixed solar collector on it, and two gatherers are mounted to its acting surface perpendicular to sunlight.

5. system as claimed in claim 4, it is characterized in that, be combined with a solar panel that is fixed on the described second solar collector fixture, described collecting board is made up of solar cell, and, further comprise the battery that is connected to described solar cell, be used to store the electric energy that solar cell produces, and, further comprise electric stepper motor, being connected to described axle can drive it, and by described powered battery.

6. system as claimed in claim 1 is characterized in that, comprises that further one is erected at the pointer on the described support member, casts a shadow when misalignment sunlight, provides a described support member suitably not aim at the index signal of sunlight thus.

7. system as claimed in claim 1 is characterized in that, further comprises a knob assembly, is used for manually described axle being rotated certain number of degrees every same time interval the time.

8. system as claimed in claim 1 is characterized in that, further comprises a gear box device between described axle and described knob assembly.

One kind day light tracking method, solar panel is mounted to adjustable ground inclination on a rotating axle, this is parallel to the north and south axle of the earth, to the reverse balance of described collecting board described relatively axle adjustable ground, described method comprises the following steps: to make described collecting board to aim at the sun, rotates described axle by mean speed identical with earth rotation and rightabout with step-by-step system with gear-box with stepper motor.

10. method as claimed in claim 9 is characterized in that, the rotation of described axle is in same direction continuous action.

11. method as claimed in claim 9, it is characterized in that the rotation of axle stopped in setting in set the time in the morning the time in the evening, and axle stops between of of described setting and described setting then at first with the fast speed backward rotation time in the morning the time in the evening.

12. method as claimed in claim 9 is characterized in that, the step that described collecting board is aimed at is undertaken by adjusting the described turned position and the inclination of described collecting board, is zero up to the shade that stands vertically the pointer on described collecting board.

13. method as claimed in claim 9, it is characterized in that, described collecting board is formed by solar battery array, regulates the turned position of described axle simultaneously and the inclination of described collecting board is carried out the step that described collecting board is aimed at until the electric current maximum that measures by the electric current output of measuring described battery.

14. method as claimed in claim 9 is characterized in that, the step that makes described collecting board aim at the sun is carried out once, and further comprises the following steps: to described stepper motor programming, from t the time started in the morning _MRise, at time t _TIn carry out stepping with motor speed n by solar energy tracking speed and rotate, subsequently at time t _RInterior speed with N times of tracking velocity makes the motor counter-rotating, and at time t _IIn stop, continuous repetitive cycling then, wherein

t _I＝(86160-t _M-t _R-t _T)

t _M, t _RAnd t _TShow that with stopwatch from 86160 seconds predetermined reference time daystart, n is described gear

The speed reducing ratio of case.