Talk:Sun-tracking: Difference between revisions
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== Parabolic dish is best for steam because it allows for simple tracking solution == | == Parabolic dish is best for steam because it allows for simple tracking solution == | ||
Instead of the Solar Fire's P32 method, I would use a parabolic dish which will be more powerful in early morning and late afternoon, capturing a lot more area. The support point would need to be 3 meters above the ground and strong enough for winds as the top edge of the dish would be 6 meters above the ground. Use an equatorial axis that is adjusted once every few days and you only need 1 axis of solar tracking instead of the P32's 5 different adjustments every 10 minutes or so. Physically aim it in the morning at say 9 am, then adjust a single potentiometer at 3 pm and you're good to go indefinitely as long as the timer remains on time. This assumes equatorial axis that is adjust every week. [[User:Zawy|Zawy]] 16:16, 31 July 2011 (CEST) | Instead of the Solar Fire's P32 method, I would use a parabolic dish which will be more powerful in early morning and late afternoon, capturing a lot more area. The support point would need to be 3 meters above the ground and strong enough for winds as the top edge of the dish would be 6 meters above the ground. Use an equatorial axis that is adjusted once every few days and you only need 1 axis of solar tracking instead of the P32's 5 different adjustments every 10 minutes or so. Physically aim it in the morning at say 9 am, then adjust a single potentiometer at 3 pm and you're good to go indefinitely as long as the timer remains on time. This assumes equatorial axis that is adjust every week. Receiver bucket of water will be 1.5 meters from dish's center support point. [[User:Zawy|Zawy]] 16:16, 31 July 2011 (CEST) | ||
Revision as of 14:17, 31 July 2011
I would also recommend including content about passive solar tracking, as this eliminates both electronics and motors from the equation, and makes solar tracking possible with relatively basic materials. See the zomeworks tracker for details on this method: http://zomeworks.com/products/pv-trackers. Electronic solar trackers can often provide a 100% increase in photovoltaic efficiency, and passive trackers provide between 45% and 85%, depending on a number of environmental factors, foremost being wind.
However, since they have very few moving parts, and rely on gravity + evaporation to track the sun, they require almost no upkeep. Compared to electronic/motorized trackers, these guys are the epitome of lifetime engineering.
Combo Tracker?
Could you do both, calculate where the sun should approximately be and then use feedback to accurately place it? Catprog 15:16, 28 July 2011 (CEST)
Parabolic dish is best for steam because it allows for simple tracking solution
Instead of the Solar Fire's P32 method, I would use a parabolic dish which will be more powerful in early morning and late afternoon, capturing a lot more area. The support point would need to be 3 meters above the ground and strong enough for winds as the top edge of the dish would be 6 meters above the ground. Use an equatorial axis that is adjusted once every few days and you only need 1 axis of solar tracking instead of the P32's 5 different adjustments every 10 minutes or so. Physically aim it in the morning at say 9 am, then adjust a single potentiometer at 3 pm and you're good to go indefinitely as long as the timer remains on time. This assumes equatorial axis that is adjust every week. Receiver bucket of water will be 1.5 meters from dish's center support point. Zawy 16:16, 31 July 2011 (CEST)