A new PV design, called <||>1-axis three-position tracking PV module<||>, was proposed in the present study. Every PV module is mounted on an individual sun tracking frame. The 1-axis tracking mechanism adjusts the PV position only at three fixed angles (three-position tracking): morning, noon, and afternoon. This <||>1-axis three-position sun tracking PV module<||> can be designed in a simple structure with low cost. A design analysis of the 1-axis three-position sun tracking PV module was carried out in the present study. The analytical results show that the optimal stopping angle β is about 50° and the optimal switching angle is half of the stopping angle, i.e. θ(subscript H)=β/2, and both are independent of the latitude. The analysis also indicates that the effect of installation misalignment away from the true south direction is negligible (<2%) if the alignment error is less than 15°. At mid-low latitude region φ<40°, the reduction of power generation due to misalignment is only about 5% even if the alignment error is 35°. The analytical results show that the present 1-axis three-position sun tracking PV module is quite promising in cost reduction. It is estimated that the cost reduction for the present 1-axis three-position PV tracking module is about 15%.
A new PV design, called <||>1-axis three-position tracking PV module<||>, was proposed in the present study. Every PV module is mounted on an individual sun tracking frame. The 1-axis tracking mechanism adjusts the PV position only at three fixed angles (three-position tracking): morning, noon, and afternoon. This <||>1-axis three-position sun tracking PV module<||> can be designed in a simple structure with low cost. A design analysis of the 1-axis three-position sun tracking PV module was carried out in the present study. The analytical results show that the optimal stopping angle β is about 50° and the optimal switching angle is half of the stopping angle, i.e. θ(subscript H)=β/2, and both are independent of the latitude. The analysis also indicates that the effect of installation misalignment away from the true south direction is negligible (<2%) if the alignment error is less than 15°. At mid-low latitude region φ<40°, the reduction of power generation due to misalignment is only about 5% even if the alignment error is 35°. The analytical results show that the present 1-axis three-position sun tracking PV module is quite promising in cost reduction. It is estimated that the cost reduction for the present 1-axis three-position PV tracking module is about 15%.