Development of a dual axis solar tracking concept using morphological analysis

Abstract

Solar energy is an abundant and clean resource. However, solar energy applications face the main dual challenges of low efficiency and high capital investment due to complexity in design. To mitigate low efficiencies, electro-mechanical trackers that follow the sun path to enhance reception of solar energy are used. Usually these devices are complex. The aim of this paper is to come up with a simpler and more efficient system by advancing previous work by the authors that reviewed existing dual-axis solar trackers and collated the fundamental functional objectives embodied in the most efficient ones. The fundamental functional objectives are used, in this paper, to generate different design alternatives with the aid of a morphological analysis technique. The alternatives are evaluated using a five-point Likert scale to select a simpler, more efficient, and practical dual axis photovoltaic solar tracking concept. The selected concept is to be prototyped and tested in another future investigation.