Cascade closed-loop control of solar trackers applied to HCPV systems

Ruben Garrido and Arturo Díaz

Renewable Energy, 2016, vol. 97, issue C, 689-696

Abstract: High concentration photovoltaic (HCPV) modules require a high precision tracking system for reaching their highest conversion efficiency. One way to accomplish this goal is by using a closed-loop mechanism and a sun sensor to track the sunlight. This paper proposes a cascade control algorithm capable of achieving a sun tracking error of 1′ for its application in high concentration photovoltaic systems. The algorithm follows an inner loop-outer loop topology. The inner loop employs a Nonlinear Proportional-Proportional Integral (NP-PI) controller and the outer loop resorts on a Proportional Integral (PI) controller. A tuning procedure for setting up the cascade controller is also described. Experiments on a laboratory prototype compare the performance of the proposed cascade controller with a PI controller not resorting on an inner loop. These outcomes show that the proposed control law provides improved tracking accuracy with less actuator wear.

Keywords: Solar energy; Solar tracking; High concentration photovoltaics; Cascade control; PID control; Real-time motion control (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (9)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:renene:v:97:y:2016:i:c:p:689-696

DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2016.06.022

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