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Case Studies | Mechanical Engineering | Mexico | Volume 7 Issue 11, November 2018

Solar Tracking

Ernesto Mendoza V. | Alan Vzquez R. | J. Alfredo Carrasco T.

Abstract: This article is focused on the design and construction of a solar tracker, with this design is intended to make more efficient the solar collection of photovoltaic panels and thus optimize their performance. Currently, we find that the photovoltaic panels are placed in a single position, this position is determined in an empirical way since the panels are placed pointing towards the place where the sun at a certain time of day emanates a greater amount of energy, however, this is not always true, because the seasons determine the position of the sun, for that reason they cannot capture the solar energy at all times. In this way the idea arises that these panels can be optimized so that they increase their level of use of solar energy. This situation led to the construction of a solar tracker that allows to maintain the photovoltaic panels perpendicularly with the sun throughout the day and thus capture the largest possible amount of energy that radiates the main star. All this is carried out through a pair of electric motors and a microcontroller (Arduino) that make possible the movement of the structure to place the photovoltaic panels pointing towards the sun.

Keywords: Solar tracker, Photovoltaic panels, Renewable energies, Solar energy

Edition: Volume 7 Issue 11, November 2018,

Pages: 401 - 407