Improving the energy efficiency of using solar panels

Abstract

The article describes a method for increasing the efficiency of using solar panels when using a two-axis system for tracking the sun. A mathematical model of solar panel operation has been developed for the following applications: stationary installation of solar panels and the use of a two-axis solar tracker. The solar tracker has the ability to rotate the solar panel by the azimuth angle from 0 to 170 degrees, by the Zenith angle from 0 to 90 degrees. The paper presents a method for calculating power generation by solar panels using a solar tracker and a variant of stationary installation of solar panels. Plots of the PV panel as a function of time at stationary position of the solar panels and using a solar tracker. As a result of mathematical modeling, when using a solar tracker, compared with a stationary installation of a solar panel, electricity generation increases by 89.9% on the example of June 22, and by the example of December 22, the increase in electricity generation is 19.6 %. Using a solar tracker during the year increases the efficiency of electricity generation by solar panels by an average of 45-55%. Data on azimuth angles of sunrise and sunset, as well as the Zenith angle depending on the time of day for the 22nd day of each month are given in the table below. The results obtained are presented for coordinates: 45 degrees 3 minutes North latitude 41 degrees 59 minutes East longitude, which corresponds to the locality of the city of Stavropol in the Russian Federation