My internship was from 1st July, 2015 to 31st August, 2015 at Center for studies of science, technology and policy (CSTEP).
The main aim of the internship was creating a mathematical model of the fixed panel (tilted) and single axis tracking solar panel (Horizontal and tilted) and it’s shading effects.
The shading effects of tilted fixed panels, horizontal tracking panels and tilted single axis tracking panels was completed successfully.
The internship started off with me finding out the various solar angles required for the tracking and other solar related calculations. The various angles that were taken into consideration were:
Latitude Angle
Declination Angle
Hour Angle
Solar altitude angle (α) and solar zenith angle (θs)
Solar Azimuth angle (A)
Since the above mentioned angles were taken with different orientations by different authors a common base was considered for orientation of all the angles. The calculation of these angles was done and a solar calculator was created which could locate the position of sun for a given month, for a given day and for a given hour of the day.
The calculation of shading effects in case of a fixed solar panel which is tilted to face south in the north-south direction was done.
Then I started off with the calculation of angle of rotation provided in a single axis tracking solar panel which is tilted and rotated in the east-west direction to get maximum efficiency for a single axis tracker. Then using this the shading distance occurring during the day of the month for a given dimension of the solar panel was calculated. The shading distance was then used to calculate the area of the panels shaded when arranged in an array with a certain distance.
Using the above concept the area of shading for horizontal tracking solar panel which is not tilted was calculated. All the calculations were used to provide the distance at which the various solar panel systems (Fixed, Single axis tracking with tilt and single axis tracking without tilt) should be placed in an array to avoid shading due the other panels.
The overall learning experience was very fruitful. The internship can be extrapolated to dual axis tracking and the internal effects for all the other types tracking systems.
The main aim of the internship was creating a mathematical model of the fixed panel (tilted) and single axis tracking solar panel (Horizontal and tilted) and it’s shading effects.
The shading effects of tilted fixed panels, horizontal tracking panels and tilted single axis tracking panels was completed successfully.
The internship started off with me finding out the various solar angles required for the tracking and other solar related calculations. The various angles that were taken into consideration were:
Latitude Angle
Declination Angle
Hour Angle
Solar altitude angle (α) and solar zenith angle (θs)
Solar Azimuth angle (A)
Since the above mentioned angles were taken with different orientations by different authors a common base was considered for orientation of all the angles. The calculation of these angles was done and a solar calculator was created which could locate the position of sun for a given month, for a given day and for a given hour of the day.
The calculation of shading effects in case of a fixed solar panel which is tilted to face south in the north-south direction was done.
Then I started off with the calculation of angle of rotation provided in a single axis tracking solar panel which is tilted and rotated in the east-west direction to get maximum efficiency for a single axis tracker. Then using this the shading distance occurring during the day of the month for a given dimension of the solar panel was calculated. The shading distance was then used to calculate the area of the panels shaded when arranged in an array with a certain distance.
Using the above concept the area of shading for horizontal tracking solar panel which is not tilted was calculated. All the calculations were used to provide the distance at which the various solar panel systems (Fixed, Single axis tracking with tilt and single axis tracking without tilt) should be placed in an array to avoid shading due the other panels.
The overall learning experience was very fruitful. The internship can be extrapolated to dual axis tracking and the internal effects for all the other types tracking systems.