According to the control mode, the sun tracking device mainly has two modes: photoelectric sensor tracking and sun trajectory tracking.
1. The principle of photoelectric sensor tracking
When the sun’s position changes, the change in the intensity of the sun’s light causes a change in the electrical signal output by the photoelectric sensor. This change is analyzed, judged, and processed, and the information obtained is used to drive the motor to change the position of the sun tracking device and make the photoelectric sensor reach a new balance. So back and forth.
The characteristics of the sensor tracking mode: the sun tracking is realized by the information interaction between the photoelectric sensor and the direction of the sun. The photoelectric sensor collects the sun’s position information in real time, and the computer analyzes and compares the change of the sun’s light intensity, thereby driving the sun tracking device to track the sun. This method is not affected and restricted by the geographical location where the sun tracking device is installed and the time difference between winter and summer, and the device is convenient and flexible to use and has high tracking accuracy. Its main disadvantage is that when it is cloudy, the solar irradiance is weak, and the photoelectric converter is difficult to respond to changes in light. In cloudy weather, when the sun itself is blocked by clouds, or a relatively bright spot appears in the sky due to thinning of the clouds, the photoelectric tracking method may cause the tracking device to malfunction or even cause serious accidents.
2. The principle of tracking the sun’s trajectory
Using computer database technology, according to astronomical formulas, the azimuth and altitude data of the sun from sunrise to sunset every day of the year are calculated and stored in the computer. And according to the designated azimuth information on the day of the sun, the motor is controlled to rotate to drive the tracking device to track the sun.
The characteristics of the sun’s trajectory tracking mode: determine the sun’s position information according to the geographic location and time, and perform agreed tracking according to the inherent trajectory of the current time and day where the sun tracking device is located. This method is not affected by weather conditions, but the sun’s trajectory varies with the geographic location, declination, and seasonal changes where the tracking device is placed. The current tracking position is a function of the time and space of the tracking device, and the premise of accurate tracking is to ensure the accurate positioning of the sun tracking device and the sun’s trajectory algorithm; since the operating trajectory is restricted and restricted by the installation position of the sun tracking device, the application of this tracking mode on long-distance mobile carriers, such as cars, ships, airplanes, and mobile weather observation stations, is restricted; in addition, in order to avoid the problem of circuit winding caused by the rotating movement of the mechanism, it is necessary to set the limit position limit mark of the mechanism to realize the expected reset of the mechanism.
3. Dual mode control system
That is, the two control modes coexist in the sun tracking device. According to environmental conditions, in sunny weather and strong solar irradiance, the photoelectric sensor tracking mode is adopted, and in rainy weather, when the sun’s rays are weak, it will automatically switch to the sun’s trajectory tracking mode. The two control modes cooperate with each other to make up for the shortcomings and complement each other to achieve high-precision all-weather automatic tracking.