DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION AND TEST OF A PASSIVE SOLAR TRACKING DEVICE

DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION AND TEST OF A PASSIVE SOLAR TRACKING DEVICE

Abstract:

This project is aimed at designing, constructing and testing of a single axis, variable speed passive solar tracking device. This is because all the solar trackers in use in the country are mainly imported. The design works on the principle that Freon – 12 (Dichloroflouromethane) boils at very low temperatures i.e. somewhat lower than – 300 F (-34.44oC) thus generating great pressures even with just a small quantity of it evaporating. This pressure generated from the evaporation of some of the Freon – 12 tilts the collector in the direction of the sun through a hydraulic cylinder pivoted to the collector base. The solar tracker was designed, constructed, and tested by mounting a solar Photovoltaic (PV) module on the tracker and comparison of the power output of the PV module on the tracker against that of a stationary PV module was made. Results showed that the tracking panel had an average relative performance of about 30% over the stationary module and a cost of over N40, 000.00 cheaper than that of the imported one. It was thus concluded that the project was a success because the relative performance obtained is in agreement with reported performances of similar tracking devices.

DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION AND TEST OF A PASSIVE SOLAR TRACKING DEVICE