Mono-Objective Optimization of a Photovoltaic Tracking System with LPF Controllers

Abstract:

The work deals with the optimal design of a single-axis solar tracker, which is used to adjust the daily position of a photovoltaic system in order to capture as much as possible solar radiation. The two main components of the solar tracker (the mechanical device and the control system) have been coupled (integrated) in the concurrent engineering concept. For assuring high stability and robustness, the control system is a cascaded two-loop employing LPF (Low-Pass Filter) controllers. The controlled parameter in the main (external) loop is the daily angle of the photovoltaic platform, while in the secondary (internal) loop the linear velocity in the driving actuator is monitored. The mono-objective optimization problem is described in the following way: to minimize the difference between the imposed and current daily angle (thus preserving a high energetic efficiency of the tracking system), considering the controllers’ gains as independent design parameters.

• Periodical: Applied Mechanics and Materials (Volume 823)
• Pages: 7-12
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMM.823.7
• Online since: January 2016
• Authors: Cătălin Alexandru*
• Keywords: Design for Control, Efficiency, Low-Pass Filter, Pv System, Tracking Mechanism

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