Solar energy collector sun-tracking apparatus and method
A solar energy collector is mounted for adjustable azimuth rotation about a vertical axis and adjustable elevation tilting about a horizontal axis for pointing toward the sun. The collector is driven for rotation about the vertical axis and for tilting about the horizontal axis by drive mechanism controlled by the angle of incidence of the sun's rays to the collector when the insolation is above a predetermined intensity. When the insolation is below such predetermined value, the drive mechanism is controlled by a stored computerized program. Control responsive to the sun's rays is effected by at least one light sensitive photoelectric cell. Preferably one pair of cells is arranged in a horiziontal axis and another pair is arranged in a plane perpendiuclar to such horizontal axis. The photoelectric cells are buried in shield tubes to shield the cells from stray light. However, the outer end of the tubes are canted to increase the field from which direct rays from the sun will activate the photoelectric cells. Switching between control responsive to sun's rays and control by a computerized program is effected by a light level sensitive photoelectric cell. Further, the collector rotating and tilting drive mechanism is responsive to a stored computerized program that will effect return of the collector from a terminal position at sunset to an initial position for reactivation at sunrise of the following day.
- Assignee:
- IFI; EDB-82-038734
- Patent Number(s):
- US 4290411
- OSTI ID:
- 5980526
- Resource Relation:
- Patent File Date: Filed date 5 Jun 1978
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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