• The Transactions of The Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers
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• v.59 no.10
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• pp.1823-1831
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• 2010

This paper proposes an automatic tracking control algorithm for efficiency improvement of photovoltaic generation. Increasing the power of PV systems should improve the efficiency of solar cells or the power condition system. The normal alignment of the PV module always have to run perpendicular to the sun's rays. The solar tracking system, able to improve the efficiency of the PV system, was initiated by applying that to the PV power plant. The tracking system of conventional PV power plant has been studied with regard to the tracking accuracy of the solar cells. Power generation efficiency were increased by aligning the cells for maximum exposure to the sun's rays. Using a perpendicular position facilitated optimum condition. However, there is a problem about the reliability of tracking systems unable to not track the sun correctly during environmental variations. Therefore, a novel control algorithm needs to improve the generation efficiency of the PV systems and reduce the loss of generation. This control algorithm is the proposed automatic tracking algorithm in this paper. Automatic tracking control is combined the sensor and program method for robust control in environment changing condition. This tracking system includes the insolation, rain sensor and anemometer for climate environment changing. Proposed algorithm in this paper, is compared to performance of conventional tracking control algorithm in variative insolation condition. And prove the validity of proposed algorithm through the experimental data.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Illuminating and Electrical Installation Engineers
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.33-38
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• 2010

Recently, photovoltaic generator system is widely extended by energy policy of the government. Add to this, high efficiency of photocell power generation is steady needed to sun tracking method. However sun tracking method is not widely extended by insufficiency of tracking technology. As method of solving this problem, this paper applied sunlight sensor and neural network control algorithm for maximum power tracking of sun photocell. Sun tracking sensor consists of one upright square pole and form light sensor of east, west, south, north on flat board. Sun tracking dual axes control is operated respectively by two motor. Motor control input is calculated by neural network control algorithm. The function of proposed control method is verified by sun tracking experiment of photocell generation. The sun tracking method of this paper is increased 32[%] efficiency more than fixed method.

• Journal of the Korean Solar Energy Society
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.47-59
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• 2016

As the usage of sun tracking system in solar energy utilization facility increases, requirement of more accurate computation of sun position has also been increased. Accordingly, various algorithms to compute the sun position have been proposed in the literature and some of them insist that their algorithms guarantee less than 0.01 degree computational error. However, mostly, the true meaning of accuracy argued in their publication is not clearly explained. In addition to that, they do not clearly state under what condition the accuracy they proposed can be guaranteed. Such ambiguity may induce misunderstanding on the accuracy of the computed sun position and ultimately may make misguided notion on the actual sun tracking system's sun tracking accuracy. This work presents some comments related to the implementation of sun position computational algorithm for the sun tracking system. We first introduce the algorithms proposed in the literature. And then, from sun tracking system user's point of view, we explain the true meaning of accuracy of computed sun position. We also discuss how to select the proper algorithm for the actual implementation. We finally discuss how the input factors used in computation of sun position, like time, position etc, affect the computed sun position accuracy.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of IIIuminating and Electrical Installation Engineers Conference
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• 2008.05a
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• pp.403-406
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• 2008

In this paper proposes a novel tracking algorithm regarding the power loss when operating a tracking system for a rapidly changing insolation to improve the power of PV tracking system. In case of tracking an azimuth and altitude of the sun in realtime, therefore, the actual PV power is less increasing than the power of tracking system fixed a specific position. To reduce the power loss, this paper proposes a nonel control algorithm of the tracking system. The paper is analyzed efficiency about conventional PV tracking method, comparing proposed algorithm with high performance method. We show propriety of proposed algorithm by means of the demonstrable study.

• Journal of Power Electronics
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.405-411
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• 2010

This paper proposes a novel tracking algorithm considering radiation to improve the power of a photovoltaic (PV) tracking system. The sensor method used in a conventional PV plant is unable to track the sun's exact position when the intensity of solar radiation is low. It also has the problem of malfunctions in the tracking system due to rapid changes in the climate. The program method generates power loss due to unnecessary operation of the tracking system because it is not adapted to various weather conditions. This tracking system does not increase the power above that of a power of tracking system fixed at a specific position due to these problems. To reduce the power loss, this paper proposes a novel control algorithm for a tracking system and proves the validity of the proposed control algorithm through a comparison with the conventional PV tracking method.

• Journal of Institute of Control, Robotics and Systems
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.388-396
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• 2011

Sun tracking system is the most important subsystem in parabolic dish type solar thermal power plant, since it determines the amount of thermal energy to be collected, thus affects the efficiency of solar thermal power plant most significantly. Various types of sun tracking systems are currently used. Among them, use of photo sensors to located the sun(which is called sensor type) and use of astronomical algorithm to compute the sun position(which is called program type) are two of the mostly used methods. Recently some uses CCD sensor, like CCD camera, which is called image processing type sun tracking system. This work is concerned with the analysis of sun tracking performance of various types of sun tracking systems currently used in the parabolic dish type solar thermal power plant. We first developed a sun tracking error measurement system. Then, we evaluate the performance of five different types of sun tracking systems, sensor type, program type, hybrid type(use of sensor and computed sun position simultaneously), tracking error compensated program type and image processing type. Experimentally obtained data shows that the tracking error compensated program type sun tracking system is very effective and could provide a good sun tracking performance. Also the data obtained shows that the performance of sensor type sun tracking system is being affected by the cloud significantly, while the performance of a program type sun tracking system is being affected by the sun tracking system's mechanical and installation errors very much. Finally image processing type sun tracking system can provide accurate sun tracking performance, but costs more and requires more computational time.

• Journal of the Korean Solar Energy Society
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.50-57
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• 2009

Heliostat in the tower type solar thermal power plant is a mirror system tracking the sun's movement to collect the solar energy and it is the most important subsystem determining the efficiency of solar thermal power plant. Thus a good performance of it, which is mostly the accurate sun tracking performance under the various hazardous operating condition, is required. Heliostat control system is a system to manage the heliostat sun tracking movement and other operations. It also communicates with the master controller through the heliostat filed control system to receive and send the informations required to operate the heliostat as a part of the solar thermal power plant. This study presents a heliostat control system designed and developed for the 1MW solar thermal power plant. We first define the functionality of heliostat control system. Then sun tracking controller as well as the sun tracking algorithm satisfying the required functionality have been developed. We tested the developed heliostat control system and it showed a good performance in regulation of heliostat motion and communication.

• Journal of Institute of Control, Robotics and Systems
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• v.15 no.12
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• pp.1169-1174
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• 2009

In this paper, a prototype of implementable Sun tracking algorithm for mobile systems powered by alternative energy is proposed. The proposed system uses 2-axis tilt sensor and 3-axis magnetic sensor to measure orientation and posture of the system according to the horizon coordinates system, which are used to compensate tilt effects. Then through astronomical calculation using the present time and position informations obtained from GPS sensors, the calculated azimuth and altitude of the Sun in that location. The position of the Sun is converted to that of the mobile Sun tracking system coordinates and used to control A-axis and C-axis of the system.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of IIIuminating and Electrical Installation Engineers Conference
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• 2009.10a
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• pp.375-378
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• 2009

This paper proposes active tracking algorithm to improve efficiency of PV system. Active tracking algorithm tracks sun position using sensor method and program method with insolation condition. Also, in this case that insolation is very low, tracking system is controlled by environment mode to reduce the power loss. Proposed algorithm is applied the PV system and analyzes the generation value. And this algorithm proves the validity of this pater through the experimental result.

• Journal of Power Electronics
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.1051-1057
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• 2013

This paper proposes an implementable sun tracking algorithm for portable systems powered by alternative energy sources. The proposed system uses a 2-axis tilt sensor and a 3-axis magnetic sensor to measure the orientation and posture of the system, according to a horizon coordinates system, and compensate for tilt effects. Then, through an astronomical calculation, using the present time and position information obtained from GPS sensors, the azimuth and altitude of the sun in that location is calculated and converted to portable sun tracking system coordinates and used to control the A- and C-axes of the system.