Single axis horizontal solar tracker

amps

Dear all,

I am planning to construct single axis horizontal type solar tracker. I have designed Electronic parts which is working fine , Can someone tell me how to design mechanical structure and list of point consider while design. any report on Doing Fem analysis so can reverse engineer design.

If there is any link where they explains all design parts please share link.

Duane C. Johnson

Hi amps;

amps wrote: »

I am planning to construct a single axis horizontal type solar tracker.

Horizontal Axis tracking mounts are generally not recommended with the exception of Concentrating Parabolic Troughs. I usually want most designs to be based on Polar Axis tracking mounts.

I'm guessing that you may be actually thinking about a Vertical Axis tracking mount moving around the horizon.

What exactly are you thinking of building?
What is being tracked?
Be specific!

I have designed Electronic parts which are working fine , Can someone tell me how to design mechanical structure and list of point consider while design. any report on Doing FEM analysis so can reverse engineer design.

When designing tracking mounts I refer to the local building code for horizontal wind loading. This is usually 10#/ft² or a peak wind speed of 90mph, sometimes 15#/ft² or a peak wind speed of 105mph. This loading far exceeds the weight of the thing being tracked.

I too have been looking for an FEM, Finite Element Modeling, package that I can afford. Free would be nice.

In my opinion, the future of tracking mounts are based on the Tripod, and related, tracking mount designs.

If there is any link where they explains all design parts please share link.

I try to keep my commercial interests separate from this forum, but since you ask. See:
Red Rock Energy
LED3X Solar Trackers
Trackers
Gary Reysa's Build It Solar
And my Patent Database
We have a guy on this list, Prophead100, who is using the Propeller in computational, non sensor, based solar trackers. This is loosely based on the Arduino designs of Gabriel Miller's, aka Cerebral Meltdown.

I have been studying, building, and cataloging all forms of solar tracking. Even discovered a couple virtually no one knows about.
Arc Heliostats
2/3rd Motion Heliostats

If you have questions don't hesitate to ask.
Duane J (aka redrok in the solar tracking community)
redrok@redrok.com