DESC:Field of invention
The present invention relates to solar tracking systems, and more particularly to, an advanced solar tracking system facilitating up to dual axis solar tracking.

Background of the invention
There are various types of solar tracking systems available in market that independently perform the task of controlling the movement of solar panels and maximize the utilization of solar energy. Development in the solar tracking devices has grown beyond imagination. In general, various types of solar tracking systems are available in the art and each of them has its own advantages and limitations.
Currently available solar tracking systems include solar collector, mountable rotatable heat gain transducers for changing the angle of solar collector, data processing controller, stepper motor, gear box used to track the sun. Conventionally, existing systems use optical sensors to track the sun. However, these systems are sometimes unable to detect the exact position of the sun if there is dust or dirt on the optical sensors. Furthermore, if the weather is cloudy, tracking may not function properly, or at all.
More specifically, in the conventional systems, solar tracking is performed using a stepper motor actuator, or a DC motor actuator with a positional feedback that leads to increase the number of components and complexity. Further, these prior art actuators or motors are very expensive and involve additional components that lead to increase the overall cost of the solar tracking system.
Furthermore, the prior art systems include optic sensors, voltage sensor, LEDs, antenna however the maintenance cost is high and how those systems handle dust and low lux values of the light is questionable. Further, the solar tracking system is difficult to manage as continuous calibration of mechanical structure is required using the feedback sensors otherwise it may fail to work efficiently. In addition, these solar tracking systems are very costly.
Accordingly there is a need of an advanced solar tracking system that overcomes all the aforementioned drawbacks of the prior art.

Summary of the invention
The present invention provides an advanced solar tracking system that comprising: the solar PV panel positioned on a side pipe and the solar PV panel connected to the lever bracket. The said lever bracket attached to the side pipe holding bracket with the single step pin, the lever bracket having a base connected to the lever pipe with the double step pin wherein the lever pipe configured to be vertically adjusted with the spacer boss. The said lever bracket restricts the movement of the solar PV panel.
In an embodiment, the daily actuator supported on a first daily actuator holder and the second daily actuator holder connected to the lever pipe to facilitate movement of the daily actuator in East-West direction in response to back and forth movement of the lever pipe. The seasonal actuator is supported on a first seasonal actuator holder and a second seasonal actuator holder wherein the second seasonal actuator holder connected to the base pipe. The base pipe having a base pipe bottom plate and the base pipe stand connected thereto. The first seasonal actuator holder connected to the center pipe with the base support bracket. The center pipe having the center boss receiving the center pin therein. The center pipe connected to the side pipe through the bolt clamp and the U bolt coupling plate. The first seasonal actuator holder and the second seasonal actuator holder configured to facilitate movement of solar panel in the North-South direction.
In an embodiment, the controller unit having the Wireless Communication Device, the CPU, the RTC (Real Time clock), and the Relay/Motor Controller positioned therein. The CPU configured to store data and communicate with the RTC to facilitate current time to the CPU. The said wireless communication device configured to receive inputs thereby communicating with a server for precisely controlling the RTC. The controller unit configured to control of ON and OFF mechanism of a plurality of relays connected thereto. The control unit controls the solar panels such that the solar panels are perpendicular to the sun rays for 3 to 4 hours extra exposure time and the said exposure time increases electric power generation by at least 21 % to 33 %.
The advanced solar tracking system utilizes four relays for mutual actuation of daily actuator and seasonal actuator to facilitate dual axis solar tracking. The said dual axis solar tracking involves solar tracking in East, West, South and North direction. The said advanced solar tracking system optionally facilitates single axis solar tracking which utilizes two relays for actuation of daily actuator without actuation of seasonal actuator. The single axis solar tracking involves solar tracking in East and West direction.
In an embodiment, the said actuators are driven by a DC motor connected thereto and the motor runs and draws more current therein such that time is measured for increased current for any actuator. The advanced solar tracking system having a plurality of current sensors which communicate with the controlling unit to control movement of actuator in response to the time retrieved from said current sensors such that solar panels are oriented towards sun. In this way the said current sensors provides accurate and automated measurement of time required for the actuators.
The said controller unit monitors time period for which the current remains high and accordingly determines required controlled movement of the actuators.

Brief description of the drawings
FIG. 1A, 1B, 1C and 1D show an assembly of an advanced dual axis solar tracking system constructed in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of a center boss of the advanced dual axis solar tracking system of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of a lever bracket of the advanced dual axis solar tracking system of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a schematic representation of a side pipe coupling of the advanced dual axis solar tracking system of FIG. 1;
FIG. 5 is a front view of a side pipe holding bracket of the advanced solar tracking system of FIG. 1;
FIG. 6 is a front view of a seasonal actuator of the advanced dual axis solar tracking system of FIG. 1;
FIG. 7 is a schematic representation of side pipe and lever pipe and respective couplings of the advanced dual axis solar tracking system of FIG. 1;
FIG. 8 is a schematic representation of a U bolt clamp of the advanced dual axis solar tracking system of FIG. 1;
FIG. 9 is a schematic representation of U bolt coupling of the advanced dual axis solar tracking system of FIG. 1;
FIGS. 10A , 10B, 10C and 10D show an assembly of an advanced single axis solar tracking system constructed in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention;
FIGS. 11 A and 11B show a schematic representation of the advanced single axis solar tracking system assembly of FIG. 10; and
FIG. 12 is a schematic block diagram of a controller unit adapted for the advanced single/dual axis solar tracking system of the present invention.
Detailed Description of the invention
The foregoing objects of the present invention are accomplished, and the problems and shortcomings associated with the prior art, techniques and approaches are overcome by the present invention as described below in the preferred embodiments.
Accordingly, the present invention provides an advanced Solar Tracking System that optionally facilitates either a dual axis tracking or a single axis tracking and which is configured to track the sun at any point of time with precision. The present invention also provides the Solar Tracking System that has very low maintenance, as it uses a plain DC motor to avoid complexity and a single controller that is capable of controlling plurality of solar panels at a time.
Referring to FIGS. 1, 1A, 1B and 1C, in an embodiment, an advanced dual axis solar tracking system (100) is shown. The advanced dual axis solar tracking system (110) comprises a solar PV panel (101), a lever bracket (102), a side pipe holding bracket (103), a lever pipe (104), a side pipe (105), a single step pin (106), a single step boss (106A), a double step pin (107), a double step boss (107A), a spacer boss (108), a U bolt clamp (109), a U bolt coupling plate (110), a side pipe coupling (111), a lever pipe coupling (112), a base pipe bottom plate (113), a base pipe stand (114), a Gusset plate (115), a concrete block (116), a first daily actuator holder (117), a second daily actuator holder (118), a daily actuator (119), a seasonal actuator (120), a first seasonal actuator holder (121), a second seasonal actuator holder (122), a base support bracket (123), a center boss (124), a center pin (125) and a center pipe (126).
Referring now to FIGS. 1-10, the assembled unit (100) is designed such that the side pipe (105) holds the solar PV panel (101), lever bracket (102), and side pipe holding bracket (103). The lever bracket (102) connects the solar PV panel (101) with the system (100). The lever bracket (102) restricts the movement of the solar PV panel (101). The base of lever bracket (102) is connected to the lever pipe (104) using the double step pin (107). The double step pin (107) is inserted through the hole (107A) aligned along the Y axis of the lever bracket (102) and lever pipe (104). The side pipe holding bracket (103) rotates the lever bracket (102) as it pushed back and forth. The lever bracket (102) is attached to side pipe holding bracket (103) using the single step pin (106) wherein said single step pin (106) is passed through a single step boss/ hole (106A) that is aligned with the lever bracket (102) and side pipe holding bracket (103). The single step pin (106) secures the position of the lever bracket (102). The single step pin (106) also allows rotation of the lever bracket (102) therein.
Referring FIGS 5, side pipe holding bracket (103) is an adjustable bracket that can slide along the length of the side pipe (105). Once the appropriate distance between two solar panels is determined, each one of the side pipe holding bracket (103) are secured accordingly. The side pipe holding bracket (103) is the connecting point for the lever bracket (102), and to the entire structure.
The first daily actuator holder (117) and the second daily actuator holder (118) are adjustable brackets are mounted over the lever pipe (104). The first daily actuator holder (117) and the second daily actuator holder (118) are connected to the daily actuators (119). The first daily actuator holder (117) and the second daily actuator holder (118) moves in back and forth motion thereby pushing the lever pipe (104) back and forth. The lever pipe (104) can be adjusted vertically for the varying lengths of the actuator using the space boss (108).
Referring to FIGS 1-10, the center pipe (126) includes the center boss (124) and a hole through which the center pin (125) is inserted. The center pipe (126) is connected to the seasonal actuator (120) with second seasonal actuator holder (122) that is adjustable bracket. The bottom of the seasonal actuator (120) is attached to the base pipe using the first seasonal actuator holder (121) thereby causing movement of solar panels in the north-south direction.
The center pipe (126) is attached to the side pipe (105) through the U bolt clamp (109) and U bolt coupling plate (110) that bears all the weight of the component that attached to the side pipe (105). In an alternative embodiment, the center pipe (126) may be attached to the base pipe stand (114) using the base support bracket (123).
In one embodiment, the entire solar tracker module with all the components is connected through a side pipe coupling (111) to another solar tracker module in series thereby separating each module from one another. Similarly, the lever pipe coupling (112) connects lever pipe (104) of one module to the lever pipe (104) of another module. The entire solar tracking system is supported by the base pipe bottom plate (113) and the base pipe stand (114) that gives stability to the overall structure. The base pipe stand (114) is secured by 15-gusset plates that provide structural stability. The base pipe bottom plate (113) is secured by a concrete block (116).
In the context of present invention, an operation of the advanced Solar Tracking system (100) is facilitated using the daily actuator (119) and the seasonal actuator (120) mounted on the system (100) that are being controlled through a Controller. The controller optionally moves the system (100) in East-west or North-south direction as per user’s requirement. It is understood that the controller runs a circuit that has logic for moving the solar panels in either east-west or north-south directions.
Referring to FIGS. 10A- 12, in an alternative embodiment, an advanced single axis solar tracking system (200) is shown. The single axis solar tracking system (200) comprises a solar PV panel (201), a lever bracket (202), a side leg stand (203), a profile bracket (204), a Trusses and pearling arrangement (205A, 205B), a lever pipe (206), a linear actuator (207), a tin sheet (208), a first boss (209), a first pine (210), a second pine (211), an actuator clamping bracket 1 (212), an actuator clamping bracket 2 (213), a middle leg stand (214), a second boss (215) and a lever pipe coupling (216).
Referring now to FIGS. 10-11, the assembled unit (200) is designed such that the solar panel (201) is connected to the lever bracket with the screw at the both end with the system (200). Each solar panel is mounted with two lever brackets. The top hole of the said lever bracket (202) is attached to side leg stand (203) and middle leg stand (214) using the second pine (211) through a first boss (209) and the bottom hole of the lever bracket (202) is connected to the lever pipe (206) using the first pine (210) through the second boss (215). It allows the movement of solar panel in East-West direction.
In this alternative embodiment, the said East-West direction movement is controlled through the lever mechanism using the linear actuator (207) which is mounted between the side leg stand (203) and lever pipe (206) with actuator clamping bracket 1 (212) and actuator clamping bracket 2 (213) respectively. The said linear actuator (207) is powered by DC motor (not shown). The said actuator clamping bracket 1 (212) is fixed using bolt and nut, while the actuator clamping bracket 2 (213) is sliding type bracket that can slide along the length of the lever pipe (206). The linear actuator (207) moves in back and forth motion thereby pushing the lever pipe back and forth thereby causing movement of solar panels in the East-West direction. The lever pipe (206) of the system is connected to other lever pipe (6) using lever pipe coupling (216).
Referring to FIGS 10-11, the side leg stand (203) and middle leg stand (214) are connected to crust of profile bracket (204) through welding. The said profile bracket (204) is used to fix the side leg stand (203) and middle leg stand (214) on the crust of the tin shed having valley and crust. In the context of present invention, distance between side leg stand (203) and middle leg stand (214) is 2226 mm. However it is understood that said distance may vary depending on the size of the solar panels and user’s requirement.
In the context of present invention, an operation of the advanced Solar Tracking system with single axis (200) is facilitated using the linear actuator (107) which is mounted on the system (200) and being controlled through a Controller. The controller moves the system (200) in East-west direction as per user’s requirement. It is understood that the controller runs a circuit that has logic for moving the solar panels in east-west directions.
Referring to FIG 12, the said controller unit optionally controls both the dual axis tracking system (100) and single axis tracking system (200). The controller unit includes a Wireless Communication Device (301), a CPU (302), a Real Time clock (RTC) (303), a Relay/DC Motor Controller (304). The CPU (302) stores and runs the main program and RTC (303) provide current time to the CPU (302). The wireless Communication Device (301) receives inputs such as time, date and configuration information from the server and keeps RTC time up-to-date and also allows remote controlling capabilities. The circuit itself controls on and off mechanism of the relays connected thereto. The said relays are configured to actuator and each relay facilitates the movement of the actuator rod in one direction. For instance, when the relay is turned on, it extends one of the actuator rods whereas when the other relay turned on, it retracts the actuator rod therein. In the present embodiment two actuators and four relays are used. In the present embodiment, the logic in the circuit detects the amount of time that the relays/motor controller (304) need to turn on to move the actuators (119), (120) (207), either forwards or backwards. A current sensor provides accurate and automated measurement of time through the actuators (119), (120) (207), wherein an amount of current flowing through it increases when the actuator is energized. The system (100), (200) determine the time it requires to extend and retract the shaft of the actuator (119), (120) (207). When the motor is running, it draws more current. The time is measured for this increased current for any given actuator. The system (100), (200) monitors the time period that the current remains high and then uses that to determine the how much each axis should move throughout the day and the year. This function can be performed manually as well. It also uses a RTC (real time clock) (303) to keep the system time. There are two separate readings for increased current can be measured for the forward movement time and the backward movement time.
In the context of the present invention, calibration uses the respective north-south and east-west formulas to divide the total time such that those divided times are used throughout the day to turn on the actuator (119), (120) (207), for that much time.
The system (100, 200) uses the following formula to move the panels in the East-West direction in solar tracking systems (100, 200) wherein movement of panels is calculated as below-
Movement of panels = 1000 milli seconds* ((actuator Runtime* Angle for the hour)/ total angle)) /Number of moves in one hour.
It is observed that the controller unit stores the memory for each day using the above formula. The linear actuator moves 6 times per hour, for just over 12 hours per day.
EXAMPLE- 1
In day time at 6.00 AM to 7 AM, provided that the system had not skipped the previous movements due to energy outage or the system being hanged, then using these formulas for East-West, the movement of panels was calculated as below-
Movement of Panels = 1000 milli seconds* ((actuator Runtime* Angle for the hour)/ total angle))/Number of moves in an hour
It was observed that actuator run time was 45 seconds, an angle for the hour was 3.4, 4.0 and the like, the total angle was 38 and number of moves in an hour was 6.
The system used the following formula to move the panels in the North-South direction using the following formula-
Movement = ((nth day of the Year)*actuator Delay Time per Day)*seasonal Daily Percentage,
wherein, day nth day of the Year is the actual day of that particular year. For example, considering date as 18th March 2020 and that there is no leap year, the actual day would be sum of 31 days of January, 28 days of February and 18 days of March which would be equal to 77. Accordingly, the nth day in such case would be 77th day of year 2020.
Accordingly, the Actuator Delay Time per Day was calculated as below-
Actuator Delay Time per Day = (1000 milliseconds * ((float) (actuator Runtime)/182) and Seasonal Daily Percentage was observed to be 0.95.
EXAMPLE- 2
In day time at 10:30 AM, provided that the system had not skipped the previous movements due to energy outage or the system being hanged, then using these formulas for North-South, the movement of panels can be calculated as below-
Movement of panels= ((day Number of Year)*actuator Delay Time per Day)*seasonal Daily Percentage,
wherein, in an exemplary embodiment, days number of year was 165, seasonal Daily Percentage was 0.95.
Accordingly, the Actuator Delay Time per Day was calculated as below-
Actuator Delay Time Per Day = (1000 milliseconds * ((float)(actuator Runtime)/182), wherein, actuator run time was 40 seconds.
The foregoing description of specific members of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching.
The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the present invention and its practical application, to thereby enable others, skilled in the art to best utilize the present invention and various members with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.
It is understood that various omission and substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstance may suggest or render expedient, but such are intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the scope of the present invention.
,CLAIMS:1) An advanced solar tracking system comprising:
a solar PV panel (101) positioned on a side pipe (105), the solar PV panel (101) connected to a lever bracket (102), the lever bracket (102) attached to a side pipe holding bracket (103) with a single step pin (106), the lever bracket (102) having a base connected to a lever pipe (104) with a double step pin (107), the lever pipe (104) configured to be vertically adjusted with a spacer boss (108);
a daily actuator (119) supported on a first daily actuator holder (117) and a second daily actuator holder (118) connected to the lever pipe (104), the first daily actuator holder (117) and the second daily actuator holder (118) configured to facilitate movement of the daily actuator (119) in East-West direction in response to back and forth movement of the lever pipe (104);
a seasonal actuator (120) supported on a first seasonal actuator holder (121) and a second seasonal actuator holder (122), the second seasonal actuator holder (122) connected to a base pipe, the base pipe having a base pipe bottom plate (113) and a base pipe stand (114) connected thereto, the first seasonal actuator holder (121) connected to a center pipe (126) with a base support bracket (123), the center pipe (126) having a center boss (124) receiving a center pin (125) therein, the center pipe (126) connected to the side pipe (105) through a bolt clamp (109) and a U bolt coupling plate (110), the first seasonal actuator holder (121) and the second seasonal actuator holder (122) configured to facilitate movement of solar panel (101) in the North-South direction; and
a controller unit having a Wireless Communication Device (301), a CPU (302), a RTC (Real Time clock) (303), a Relay/Motor Controller (304) positioned therein, the CPU (302) configured to store data and communicate with the RTC to facilitate current time to the CPU (303), the said wireless Communication Device (301) configured to receive inputs thereby communicating with a server for precisely controlling the RTC, the controller unit configured to control of ON and OFF mechanism of a plurality of relays connected thereto.
2) The advanced solar tracking system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said dual axis solar tracking system includes the lever bracket (102) restricts the movement of the solar PV panel (101).
3) The advanced solar tracking system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said system utilizes four relays for mutual actuation of daily actuator (119) and seasonal actuator (120) to facilitate dual axis solar tracking.
4) The advanced solar tracking system as claimed in claim 3, wherein dual axis solar tracking involves solar tracking in East, West, South and North direction.
5) The advanced solar tracking system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said system utilizes two relays for actuation of daily actuator (119) without actuation of seasonal actuator (120) to facilitate single axis solar tracking.
6) The advanced solar tracking system as claimed in claim 5, wherein single axis solar tracking involves solar tracking in East and West direction.
7) The advanced solar tracking system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control unit controls the solar panels (101) such that the solar panels (101) are perpendicular to the sun rays for an exposure time of at least 3 to 4 hours.
8) The advanced solar tracking system as claimed in claim 7, wherein said exposure time increases electric power generation by at least 20 to 23 %.
9) The advanced solar tracking system as claimed in claims 1, wherein said actuators are driven by a DC motor connected thereto.
10) The advanced solar tracking system as claimed in claim 9, wherein the motor runs and draws more current therein such that time is measured for increased current for any actuator.
11) The advanced solar tracking system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the amount of current flowing through the actuator increases when the actuator is energized.
12) The advanced solar tracking system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said system includes a plurality of current sensors that provides accurate and automated measurement of time required for the actuators.
13) The advanced solar tracking system as claimed in claim 12, wherein the current sensors communicate with the controlling unit to control movement of actuator in response to the time retrieved from said current sensors such that solar panels are oriented towards sun.
14) The advanced solar tracking system as claimed in claim 13, wherein the controller unit monitors time period for which the current remains high and accordingly determines required controlled movement of the actuators.