Equipment Overview
The fully automatic solar tracker is an intelligent system that senses the azimuth and altitude of the sun in real time, driving photovoltaic panels, concentrators or observation equipment to always maintain the best angle with the sun’s rays. Compared with fixed solar devices, it can increase energy receiving efficiency by 20%-40%, and has important value in photovoltaic power generation, agricultural light regulation, astronomical observation and other fields.
Core technology composition
Perception system
Photoelectric sensor array: Use four-quadrant photodiode or CCD image sensor to detect the difference in solar light intensity distribution
Astronomical algorithm compensation: Built-in GPS positioning and astronomical calendar database, calculate and predict the sun’s trajectory in rainy weather
Multi-source fusion detection: Combine light intensity, temperature, and wind speed sensors to achieve anti-interference positioning (such as distinguishing sunlight from light interference)
Control system
Dual-axis drive structure:
Horizontal rotation axis (azimuth): Stepper motor controls 0-360° rotation, accuracy ±0.1°
Pitch adjustment axis (elevation angle): Linear push rod achieves -15°~90° adjustment to adapt to the change of solar altitude in four seasons
Adaptive control algorithm: Use PID closed-loop control to dynamically adjust the motor speed to reduce energy consumption
Mechanical structure
Lightweight composite bracket: Carbon fiber material achieves a strength-to-weight ratio of 10:1, and a wind resistance level of 10
Self-cleaning bearing system: IP68 protection level, built-in graphite lubrication layer, and continuous operation life in desert environment exceeds 5 years
Typical application cases
1. High-power concentrated photovoltaic power station (CPV)
The Array Technologies DuraTrack HZ v3 tracking system is deployed in the Solar Park in Dubai, UAE, with III-V multi-junction solar cells:
Dual-axis tracking enables a light energy conversion efficiency of 41% (fixed brackets are only 32%)
Equipped with hurricane mode: when the wind speed exceeds 25m/s, the photovoltaic panel is automatically adjusted to a wind-resistant angle to reduce the risk of structural damage
2. Smart agricultural solar greenhouse
Wageningen University in the Netherlands integrates the SolarEdge Sunflower tracking system in the tomato greenhouse:
The incident angle of sunlight is dynamically adjusted through the reflector array to improve the uniformity of light by 65%
Combined with the plant growth model, it automatically deflects 15° during the strong light period at noon to avoid burning the leaves
3. Space astronomical observation platform
The Yunnan Observatory of the Chinese Academy of Sciences uses ASA DDM85 equatorial tracking system:
In star tracking mode, the angular resolution reaches 0.05 arc seconds, meeting the needs of long-term exposure of deep-sky objects
Using quartz gyroscopes to compensate for the rotation of the earth, the 24-hour tracking error is less than 3 arc minutes
4. Smart city street light system
Shenzhen Qianhai area pilot SolarTree photovoltaic street lights:
Dual-axis tracking + monocrystalline silicon cells make the average daily power generation reach 4.2kWh, supporting 72 hours of rainy and cloudy battery life
Automatically reset to the horizontal position at night to reduce wind resistance and serve as a 5G micro base station mounting platform
5. Solar desalination ship
Maldives “SolarSailor” project:
Flexible photovoltaic film is laid on the hull deck, and wave compensation tracking is achieved through a hydraulic drive system
Compared with fixed systems, the daily fresh water production is increased by 28%, meeting the daily needs of a community of 200 people
Technology development trends
Multi-sensor fusion positioning: Combine visual SLAM and lidar to achieve centimeter-level tracking accuracy under complex terrain
AI drive strategy optimization: Use deep learning to predict the movement trajectory of clouds and plan the optimal tracking path in advance (MIT experiments show that it can increase daily power generation by 8%)
Bionic structure design: Imitate the growth mechanism of sunflowers and develop a liquid crystal elastomer self-steering device without motor drive (the prototype of the German KIT laboratory has achieved ±30° steering)
Space photovoltaic array: The SSPS system developed by Japan’s JAXA realizes microwave energy transmission through a phased array antenna, and the synchronous orbit tracking error is <0.001°
Selection and implementation suggestions
Desert photovoltaic power station, anti-sand and dust wear, 50℃ high temperature operation, closed harmonic reduction motor + air cooling heat dissipation module
Polar research station, -60℃ low temperature start-up, anti-ice and snow load, heating bearing + titanium alloy bracket
Home distributed photovoltaic, silent design (<40dB), lightweight rooftop installation, single-axis tracking system + brushless DC motor
Conclusion
With the breakthroughs in technologies such as perovskite photovoltaic materials and digital twin operation and maintenance platforms, fully automatic solar trackers are evolving from “passive following” to “predictive collaboration”. In the future, they will show greater application potential in the fields of space solar power stations, photosynthesis artificial light sources, and interstellar exploration vehicles.
Post time: Feb-11-2025