Title of Invention

A CLOCK CONTROLLED SUN TRACKING SYSTEM FOR SOLAR PHOTOVOLTAIC AND SOLOR THERMAL COLLECTORS

Abstract

A clock controlled sun tracking system for solar photovoltaic and solar thermal collector. It comprises a pair of PV Panels (1) mounted in frames (2) for said PV Panels (1) are mounted on members (9) for fixing PV frames (2) to shaft (8) having a special pulley (6) at the centre of said shaft (8), said shaft (8) with said special pulley (6) is mounted in a pair of bearing (11) in a cross shaped special frame (10). The special pulley (6) is driven by a wire rope (5), one end of said wire rope is wound over a clock pulley (4), mounted and driven by a clock (3) and the other end of said wire rope (5) is wound over a counterweight pulley (7) supporting a counterweight (12).

Full Text

DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION This invention relates to a clock controlled Sun Tracking system for maximising energy collection by a photovoltaic panel or a solar thermal collector every day. In most of the installations in use, these energy collectors are used in a fixed orientation, for example in the northern hemisphere the collectors are placed south normally inclined at an angle to the horizontal. However, as the sun traces the great circle from east to west, the insolation at the collector varies as the cosine of the angle of incidence. If a collector is tracked so that it faces the SOlar disc throughout the day, the energy collection by the device would be maximised. The commercially available tracing systems make use of servomotors with feedback controllers. There are disadvantages associated with the present system of tracking using servomotors etc. One of the main disadvantages with the present system is that it is costly and substantially add to the overall cost of the solar power system. another disadvantages associated with the present system is that it requires power supply to run. As the solar power system are mostly used in rural areas where there is no power supply such, such servo tracking system is dispersed with and thus making the solar power system less efficient. Yet another disadvantages associated with present systea is that it requires sophisticated level of maintenance. The solar power system are usually located in remote and rural areas and as such maintenance are not available. Consequently, tracking is noraally dispersed with. Therefore the main object of the prevent invention is to propose a novel clock controlled mechanism for tracking the sun which is simple and does not require any power supply. The mechanise is particularly useful in decentralised power systems located in remote and rural areas. Another object of the present invention is to propose a systea which is siaple enough requiring negligble maintenance. Yet another object of the present invention is to propose a systea which can be built by siaple fabrication at a low cost. According to the present invention there is provided a clock controlled sun tracking systea for solar photo- voltaic and solar theraal collector comprising a pair of PV Panels mounted in fraaes, the said fraaes for said PV Panels are mounted on aeabers for fixing PV fraaes to shaft having a special pulley at the centre of said shaft, the said shaft with said special pulley is mounted in a pair of bearing in a cross shaped special frame. said special pulley is driven by a wire rope, one and of said wire rope is wound over a clock pulley, mounted and driven by a clock and the othar and of said wire ropa is wound over a counterweight pulley supporting a counterweight. The nature of the invention, its abjective and further disadvantages residing in the same will be apparent from the following description made with reference to non-limiting exemplary embodiments of the invention represented in the accompanying drawings. Fig. 1 - Sectional elevation of the tracking system. Fig. 2 -A view of the system along a Section A-A. In accordance with the present invention, in this Mechanism the Collector or PV Panels (1) are driven by a counterweight (12) by means of a steel cable or wire rope (5) whose rate of release is governed by the escape mechanism of a conventional alarm clock (3). In this system the collectors or PV Panels (1 ) are mounted in a symmetrical fashion to mini lisa the effect of wind gusts. The system tracks the sun within 0.5 Degrees throughout the day. The pair of PV Panels (1) are mounted in frames (2). The frames (2) with PV Panels (t) are then mounted on numbers (9) for fixing the PV frames (2) with PV Panels (1) onto a shaft (8). A special pulley (8) is mounted at the centre of the shaft (8). The shaft (9) is mounted in a pair of bearings (11) placed at two ends and the asseably of shaft (8), special pulley (6) and the bearings (11) are aounted in cross shaped special fraae ( 10). Through the horizontal part of the special fraae (10), a wire rope (5) which wounds the special pulley (6) at the centre and at one end is wound over a clock pulley (4). The clock pulley (4) is mounted and driven by a clock (3). The other end of the wire rope (5) is wound over a counterweight pulley (7) and supports a counter- weight (12). The operation of the system is very simple. As the counterweight ( 12) moves down due to gravity, the wire rope (5) rotates the special pulley (6) which in turn rotates the PV Panel (1). The downward aoveaent of the counterweight (12) is controlled precisely by the clock pulley (4) which is connected and driven by the alarm clock (3). The systea is run between 9 am to 3Pm by resetting the PV Panel (1) and counterweight (12) at 9am and made to run till 3Pm and then stopped. The procedure is repeated everyday. The design features enable a simple fabrication procedure, and the overall cost of the tracking systea is negligible in comparison with the cost of the PV nodules. The cost of the systea can be considerably lowered by aass production. The system requires practically no maintenance, and its operation can be learned by any individual without any formal technical training. The solar tracker was subjected to periodic tests from September 1994 to June 1996. The consolidated test results are given below in a tabular fora: TRACKING ERROR IN DEGREES The invention described hereinabove is in relation to non - limiting embodiments and as defined by the accompanying claims. WE CLAIM: 1. A clock controlled sun tracking system for solar photovoltaic and solar thermal collector comprising a pair of PV Panels (1) mounted in frames (2), the said frames (2) for said PV Panels (1) are mounted on members (9) for fixing PV frames (2) to shaft (8) having a special pulley (6) at tha centre of sail shaft (8) said shaft (8) with said special pulley (6) is mounted in a pair of bearing (11) in a cross shaped special frame (10) said special pulley (6) is driven by a wire rope (5), one end of said wire rope is wound over a clock pulley (4) mounted and driven by a clock (3) and the other end of said wire rope (5) is wound over a counterweight pulley (7) supporting a counterweight (12). 2. A clock controlled sun tracking system as claimed in claim 1 wherein special frame (10) is of tubular section and the two tubes cross each other at right angle. 3. A clock controlled sun tracking system as claimed in claims 1 and 2 wherein the special pulley (6) is located at the central point of the special frame (10). 4. A clock controlled sun tracking system as claimed in claims 1 to 3 wherein the wire rope (5) and the shaft (6) with a special pulley (6) are at right angle to each other. 5. A clock controlled sun tracking system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the clock (3) controlling the movement of the counterweight (12) and the PV Panal (1) is a conventional mechanical alarm clock. 6. A clock controlled sun tracking system for solar photovoltaic and solar thermal collector as herein described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 1. A clock controlled sun tracking system for solar photovoltaic and solar thermal collector comprising a pair of PV Panels (1) mounted in frames (2), the said frames (2) for said PV Panels (1) are mounted on members (9) for fixing PV frames (2) to shaft (8) having a special pulley (6) at tha centre of sail shaft (8) said shaft (8) with said special pulley (6) is mounted in a pair of bearing (11) in a cross shaped special frame (10) said special pulley (6) is driven by a wire rope (5), one end of said wire rope is wound over a clock pulley (4) mounted and driven by a clock (3) and the other end of said wire rope (5) is wound over a counterweight pulley (7) supporting a counterweight (12). 2. A clock controlled sun tracking system as claimed in claim 1 wherein special frame (10) is of tubular section and the two tubes cross each other at right angle. 3. A clock controlled sun tracking system as claimed in claims 1 and 2 wherein the special pulley (6) is located at the central point of the special frame (10). 4. A clock controlled sun tracking system as claimed in claims 1 to 3 wherein the wire rope (5) and the shaft (6) with a special pulley (6) are at right angle to each other.

Documents:

236-cal-1998-granted-abstract.pdf

236-cal-1998-granted-claims.pdf

236-cal-1998-granted-correspondence.pdf

236-cal-1998-granted-description (complete).pdf

236-cal-1998-granted-drawings.pdf

236-cal-1998-granted-examination report.pdf

236-cal-1998-granted-form 1.pdf

236-cal-1998-granted-form 18.pdf

236-cal-1998-granted-form 2.pdf

236-cal-1998-granted-form 3.pdf

236-cal-1998-granted-form 5.pdf

236-cal-1998-granted-gpa.pdf

236-cal-1998-granted-reply to examination report.pdf

236-cal-1998-granted-specification.pdf