Description:Field of Invention

This invention is mainly used for solar panels to track the sun position and produce more power than present fixed solar panels.

Background of the Invention

Solar energy is one of the most widely employed renewable resources for power generation because the sun is visible for half of the day. The majority of them are fixed solar panels that have been put in homes, businesses, and other places. These solar panels generate electricity, but their efficiency is low. Solar panels are required to track the sun and generate more electricity.

To increase the efficiency of solar panel most of them also use Fresnel lens, heliostat and reflectors which can also increase a small amount of power. When solar panels track the sun's position against fixed solar panels, we learned that the power consumption will increase by at least 20 to 30 percent. When solar panels are placed with solar tracks that track the sun's position, their efficiency will undoubtedly improve. We also learned that the solar tracker's power consumption is only 2 to 5% of the electricity provided by the solar tracker, resulting in an overall increase in the power produced by the solar panels.

There are a variety of techniques to install solar trackers. Solar tracking can be done by two ways and three methods. They are: (1) Single axis solar tracking system: In single axis tracking system the solar panel moves only in single direction. This tracking system consists of two LDR sensors placed on opposite sides of a solar panel, causing the solar panel to move along a single axis. (2) Dual axis solar tracking system: It is a method in which the solar panel rotates in 2 directions. This tracking system is made up of four LDR sensors that are placed at the four corners of the solar panel and allow it to move in two directions. (3) Active solar tracking system: Active solar tracking is a sort of solar tracking in which the movement of the solar panel to track the sun is powered by external power (i.e. batteries). Most of the active based solar tracking uses LDR sensor which detects the sun position. Arduino or micro-controllers are used to take the signals from sensors are make the motor to rotate which rotates the solar panel to track the sun position. (4) Passive solar tracking system: This is a sort of solar tracking that does not require any external electricity. It uses solar energy to move the solar panels in order to track the sun. (5) Chronological solar tracking system: Chronological tracking is based on natural observation of the Sun's position in a certain area and at a specific time of year.

US7847182B2, Sun tracking system for a solar panel, This sun tracking system includes a first and second photo sensor, separately mounted on a solar panel on two positions apart from one another and symmetrical with respect to a center of the panel. A first sleeve surrounds the first photo sensor; a second sleeve surrounds the second photo sensor. Each of the sleeves has an inclined opening with reference to the surface of the panel.

US3986021A, Passive solar tracking system for steerable Fresnel elements, This angular tracking servo system for passive tracking of the sun which utilizes solar radiation to control the attitude of a mirror element in an array of Fresnel reflectors. The array collects and focuses solar energy onto a high efficiency conversion device. The energy required to move the mirror element is supplied by a gear system which is attached through a pivot arm to a vertically moving float immersed in a chamber containing water.

WO2013042086A1, Passive heat source tracking system, This invention describes a method and an apparatus to track heat sources continuously without motorized means, inspired in the sunflower natural motion to offer incident radiation optimization. The method proposed takes advantage of unique thermodynamic properties of materials, namely thermal expansion, to induce motion. The method is particularly suitable for energy sources that radiate mostly in the near infrared and optical bands. The system is able to mimic the sunflower phototropic natural response for tracking a heat source, where the structural displacements of the system due to thermal expansion of the materials resemble to those of the natural turgor pressure in the sunflower stem. Among the most relevant applications, the method is especially suited for passive solar tracking systems.

US9494340B1, Solar module positioning system, This solar positioning system configured to position a body, such as, but not limited to, a solar module, perpendicular to incoming solar energy to maintain an optimal angle of incidence with efficacy is disclosed. The solar positioning system may include a support subsystem having a first mechanism for controlling rotational adjustments about a first axis and a second mechanism for controlling rotational adjustments about a second axis, thereby controlling pan and tilt adjustment. Positioning of the support subsystem may be controlled by a plurality of pyroelectric infrared sensors similarly oriented. A differential amplifier and a comparator may be coupled between the sensor subsystem and an integrated circuit to ignore brief flashes of light. The solar positioning system may also be used with a solar positioning control system to control the position of two or more solar modules, such as hundreds of solar modules in a solar farm.

US4649899A, Solar tracker, Apparatus for tracking the apparent motion of the sun utilizes a plurality of solar cells to generate an electrical signal when exposed to solar radiation. The solar cells are mounted inside a plurality of trough-like shadow boxes which permit exposure of the solar cells to solar radiation only at predetermined angles. The shadow boxes are mounted for concomitant rotation about a vertical and a horizontal axis and are driven by a pair of reversible motors. The motors are controlled by the output of the solar cells and reposition the shadow boxes to shade the solar cells responsive to the apparent motion of the sun.

Summary of the Invention

The main objective is to increase the power produced by a solar panel by making solar panel to track the sun position and increase its overall efficiency.

The above mentioned trackers uses an external power for tracking the solar panel which is solved by making tracking using liquid refrigerant by weight balancing.
The present invention is also focused on the design to make it comfortable to transport easily from one place to another.

Detailed Description of the Invention

The most commonly used solar tracker is active based solar trackers. These active based solar trackers uses LDR sensors with an arduino. A motor is connected with arduino which makes the solar panel rotate with respect to sun. Usage of this motor uses some power which decreases the overall power produced by an active based solar tracker.

The present invention is completely depends upon the solar energy. It does not use any external energy to track the sun position. This will increase the overall power produced by the sun tracking solar panel.

In this invention a liquid refrigerant is used which moves from the cylinder to another and makes the solar panel to move towards the sun and track the sun position. The liquid refrigerant used is R134a (1, 1, 1, 2-Tetrafluoroethane) moves from one canister to other because of its high vapor pressure for increase in temperature. Tetrafluroethane (CF3CH2F) is another name for R134a, which belongs to the HFC (hydroflorocarbon) refrigerant family. For temperature increase, R134a liquid refrigerant is employed because of its low boiling point and high vapour pressure.
Properties of R134a:-
• Boiling Point :- -14.9⁰F or -26.1⁰C
• Auto- Ignition Temperature :- 770⁰C
• Ozone Depletion Level = 0
• Solubility in Water = 0.11% by weight at 77⁰F or 25⁰C
• Critical Temperature = 252⁰F or 122⁰C
• Global Warming Potential (GWP) = 1200

Here the part (5) is stand which is made of wood. Two stands are made which gives support to overall sun tracker. The stand consists of two screws on either sides on which the frame is attached. The stand can also be made of other materials. The part (4) is a frame which is also made up of wood. The frame is made according to the dimensions of solar panel. The solar panel is placed on frame which gives support to the frame. The strips are placed on either sides of the frame on which the canisters are placed. The frame is attached to the just stand placed on the screws which can be moved freely to track the sun position. The frame gives support to solar panel and canisters

The part (1) used is a solar panel which converts the solar energy into electricity. The solar panel can be used of any type. This solar panel is placed on the frame where the frame moves moves tracking the sun position. As the frame moves it also moves the solar panel.

The part (2) is canister which is used to store the liquid refrigerant. The canisters are filled with R134a liquid refrigerant which are placed on the frame on either sides of solar panel. The canisters are connected to each other by gas pipe. The part (3) is a gas pipe which is used to flow the liquid refrigerant from one canister to other. The gas pipe is connected to both the canisters. The part (6) is shielding plate made of aluminum. These shielding plates are used to cover the half of the canister. The plates are covered so the solar rays do not falls on the canisters.

As per the design the final product has been fabricated in which R134a liquid has been filled approximately 200grams in both the canisters. Assume that the canister which is placed in east side is called an east canister, and the one which is placed west side is called a west canister. Initially the liquid refrigerant in both the canisters are same. When the canisters are placed on the frame it balances the frame which makes the frame to be straight. When the solar tracker is placed under sun in the morning, the solar panel is facing up straight. As we all know, the sun rises in the east, and sunlight strikes the west side canister because the east canister is shielded. Now the west canister is heated up as sunlight falls on it. As soon as sunlight falls on the canister, the R134a liquid refrigerant in the canister heats up, it vaporizes into a gas with a high vapour pressure. The vapour pressure created in west canister is more than east canister. The pressure difference will make the liquid refrigrant to move from west canister to east canister. As the refrigerant moves from east canister to west canister the amount of refrigerant in east canister increases which makes the frame to move towards east side as the weight increases. The direction of frame in morning is towards east.

Based on the direction of sun the intensity of light striking on the canister differ which creates the different vapour pressure of liquid refrigerant in the canister. As the time goes on the sun rises from east to west which also changes the sunlight direction and make increases the sun intensity in east canister which increases the vapour pressure in east canister. This makes the liquid refrigerant to flow from east canister to west canister. During afternoon the sun is approximately straight to the earth which makes the sunlight to fall equal on both the canisters. So the vapour preesure created in both the canisters are equal which makes equal amount of liquid refrigerant in both the canisters. So during afternoon the frame is straight balanced as the liquid refrain is same in both the canisters.

During evening the sun moves towards west which increases the intensity on the east canister as the west canister is covers by shielding plate. This will make the east canister to heated up and makes the liquid refrigerant to vaporize. The vapour pressure created in east canister is more than west canister. This pressure difference will make the liquid refrigerant to move from east canister to west canister which increases the weight in west canister. The increase in weight will make the frame to move towards west direction as shown in fig.12 which tracks the position of the sun. In this way the solar panel tracks the sun positon throughout a day.

Brief description of Drawing

Figure 1: Schematic diagram of solar panel with sun position tracking

4 Claims & 1 Figure , Claims:The scope of the invention is defined by the following claims:

Claims:

1. A “solar panel with sun position tracking “, comprising:
a) A solar panel (1) placed on the frame. The frame is connected to two canisters (2) which are placed on the frame on either sides of the solar panel and a gas pipe (3) connects both the canisters.
b) A secondary frame (4) is provided to support the solar panel and canisters and for movement to track the sun position.
c) A rigid Stand (5) is provided to support the complete solar tracker and the canister is protected by a shielding (6) cover

2. As mentioned in the claim 1, the canisters are filled with the liquid refrigerant (R134a) which moves from one canister to other canister based on sun position.

3. As mentioned in the claim 1, the frame is connected to the stand just by a screw for free movement of the frame to track the sun position.

4. As mentioned in the claim 1, the gas pipe is connected to both the canisters for the movement of the liquid refrigerant from one canister to other.