Reconfigurable Single Axis Sun Tracking Mechanism for Improved Energy Harvesting Project at IIT Madras

Economic yet efficient design of reconfigurable single-axis sun-tracking mechanisms for improved energy harvesting

Objective

• To develop a reconfigurable single-axis solar tracker mechanism to achieve a practical compromise between the higher efficiency of the dual-axis tracker and the simplicity and economy of the single-axis tracker.

Description

• The project will be implemented in three phases, as delineated below. Phase 1: Optimal design of the reconfigurable tracker mechanism, Phase 2: Development and testing of prototypes (lab-scale and full scale), Phase 3: Deployment and in-situ testing of prototypes

Impact

• This project can provide a practical solution to the problem of efficient yet economical sun-tracking systems. As per preliminary calculations, it is estimated that the enhancement in collection efficiency will translate into reduction in collection area, consequently the infrastructure cost and land requirement by 30% or more, if deployed in Jammu or further north, On the theoretical side, it can establish a new paradigm for design of mechanisms, wherein a single mechanism can be optimised for multiple tasks by means of easy reconfigurations. Thus, the traditional 'hard automation' afforded by mechanisms can acquire some flexibility to perform more than a single fixed task. In developing countries such as our own, there is a huge scope for automation of tasks in small and medium scale industries, agriculture and construction, However, often, sophisticated solutions, such as those based on robotics, are inaccessible due to constraints of cost and technical expertise. Simpler and affordable mechanism-based solutions can fill this void in an effective manner. This project is expected to be a step in that direction.