Amorphous silicon cell array powered solar tracking apparatus

Patent · Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1985

OSTI ID:865691

Hanak, Joseph J ^[1]

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1. Lawrenceville, NJ

An array of an even number of amorphous silicon solar cells are serially connected between first and second terminals of opposite polarity. The terminals are connected to one input terminal of a DC motor whose other input terminal is connected to the mid-cell of the serial array. Vane elements are adjacent the end cells to selectively shadow one or the other of the end cells when the array is oriented from a desired attitude relative to the sun. The shadowing of one cell of a group of cells on one side of the mid-cell reduces the power of that group substantially so that full power from the group of cells on the other side of the mid-cell drives the motor to reorient the array to the desired attitude. The cell groups each have a full power output at the power rating of the motor. When the array is at the desired attitude the power output of the two groups of cells balances due to their opposite polarity so that the motor remains unpowered.

• Research Organization: National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: EG-77-C-01-4042
• Assignee: RCA Corporation (Princeton, NJ)
• Patent Number(s): US 4556788
• OSTI ID: 865691
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

amorphous
silicon
cell
array
powered
solar
tracking
apparatus
cells
serially
connected
terminals
opposite
polarity
input
terminal
dc
motor
mid-cell
serial
vane
elements
adjacent
selectively
shadow
oriented
desired
attitude
relative
sun
shadowing
reduces
power
substantially
drives
reorient
output
rating
balances
due
remains
unpowered
input terminal
serially connected
opposite polarity
power output
amorphous silicon
solar cell
solar cells
silicon solar
solar tracking
dc motor
cell array
tracking apparatus
silicon cell
cell reduces
power rating
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