Two axes detector for photovoltaic panels' automatic full angle orientation

Abstract

A significant efficiency increase of the photovoltaic systems can be obtained by optimal exposure to the sunlight, using automatic solar trackers. In this paper we propose a detector for one or two axis automatic orientation, which permit a continuous tracking for the entire zenith angle range. The detector has a monotonous and almost linear characteristic for incident angles from −90° to 90°, on any axe. It is appropriate for an analog, low cost, tracking procedure, but also for a digital, more precise one. The West to East return procedure is simple, because of the illumination of at least one cell.