SOLAR TRACKER, AND METHOD FOR OPERATING SAME

摘要

The present invention relates to a solar tracker and to a method for operating same, capable of controlling the azimuth and elevation in accordance with the changing portion of the sun in the celestial sphere by the diurnal motion and annual motion so as to enable solar energy collection apparatuses to track the travel of the sun for a long period of time. The solar tracker according to the present invention is provided with two rotating shafts which are responsible for the right ascension and declination, respectively, wherein the movements of the rotating shafts are not independent from each other. One rotating shaft moves in dependence on the other rotating shaft, wherein the dependent relationship is mechanically constrained according to the correlation between the diurnal motion and annual motion of the sun. As a result, the tracker of the present invention can track the diurnal motion of the sun with a single actuator and, at the same time, compensate the annual motion which changes in the meridian altitude according to the change of seasons. The solar tracker and the method for operating same in accordance with the present invention, enables the tracking of the diurnal motion and annual motion of the sun using one actuator, thereby maximizing solar power generation efficiency and reducing initial installation costs and maintenance costs.

主权项

1. A solar tracker 1000, comprising:
a right ascension rotation shaft 100 installed in parallel with the Earth's rotation axis a34 and configured to track a change in a right ascension a11 occurring due to a diurnal motion of the Sun a01; a right ascension rotation actuator 200 configured to actuate the right ascension rotation shaft 100; a declination rotation shaft 300 perpendicular to the right ascension rotation shaft 100 and configured to reciprocatingly rotate on a four season cycle to track a change in a declination a12 occurring due to an annual motion of the Sun a01; and a declination actuation mechanism 400 configured to transfer a portion of rotational power generated when the right ascension rotation actuator 200 actuates the right ascension rotation shaft 100 to the declination rotation shaft 300 to allow the declination rotation shaft 300 to reciprocatingly rotate upwards and downwards, and comprising a one-way clutch 450 installed at one point in a power transfer path from the right ascension rotation actuator 200 to the declination rotation shaft 300 and configured to select and transfer a one-way rotation component of the rotational power to be transferred to the declination rotation shaft 300.