Power feedback strategy based on efficiency trajectory analysis for HCPV sun tracking

TL;DR

This paper introduces a power feedback control strategy for high-concentration photovoltaic sun trackers that adaptively corrects for mechanical and installation errors by analyzing electric power, eliminating the need for calibration.

Contribution

It proposes a novel power-based control method that continuously adapts to errors without calibration, ensuring accurate sun tracking in HCPV systems.

Findings

Effective under sunny and cloudy conditions

Works with various installation precisions

Eliminates calibration requirements

Abstract

This paper presents a control strategy for sun trackers which adapts continuously to different sources of error, avoiding the necessity of any kind of calibration by analyzing the produced electric power to sense the position of the Sun. The proposed strategy is able to meet the strict specifications for HCPV sun trackers despite of mechanical uncertainties (misalignments in the structure itself, misalignment of the solar modules with respect to the wing, etc.) and installation uncertainties (misalignments of the platform with respect to geographical north). Experimental results with an industrial-grade solar tracker showing the validity of the proposed control strategy under sunny and moderate cloudy conditions, as well as with different installation precisions by un-calibrating the system on purpose are exposed.