3.
AIM AND OBJECTIVES
The aim of the present work is to provide a constant rotational speed to a rotatable
platform carrying solar device, in the present case a domestic solar oven taken as an
example. It involves design, development and testing of a simple all
hydraulic/mechanical solar tracking system as an alternative to costly electrical or
electronic control systems for use in households or in a small community. The research
studies intend to develop an affordable, effective and convenient sun tracker for small
solar thermal energy devices to promote their large scale applications even among poorer
sections of the society to enhance energy and environment conservation.
Another objective of the present work is to apply the proposed one axis hydro-
mechanical tracker to a solar cooker considering it as one of the examples of small solar
devices.
A prospective scheme of hydro-mechanical single axis sun tracker
The basic components of a conventional single axis sun tracker controller are(1)
a timer,(2) an actuator controlled by the timer, (3) energy source to drive the actuator and
(4) a power transmission mechanism connected to load. The proposed novel scheme
eliminates the need for an external electric or mechanical energy supply source and
instead uses gravitational energy to drive the system forward and manual work to restore
the system to starting stage.
Design of a hydraulic timer
Fig. Adjustment of flush tank controls to work as a constant pressure head
reservoir under development.
It would be shown using the governing equation of poiseuille type of hydraulic
flow, how a flush tank with a capillary tube attached to it, can be adapted to work as a
timer with an accuracy reasonable enough for satisfactory and improved function of a
box type solar cooker. A method of improving the accuracy of timing also would be
presented in the thesis.
A design variant of gravity driven single axis sun tracker
One design variant of single axis sun tracker may comprise of a hydraulic timer
letting water flow at constant desired rate enabled at constant pressure head. The very
slow rate of azimuthal tracking at one revolution per day requires a very slow rate of flow
which can be enabled using a very narrow passage leading to poiseuille type of flow.The
water flow is directed to a reservoir set on a spring loaded and guided platform. The rate
of water flow would govern the rate of slide down of platform due to the increasing
weight of water filling the reservoir.
Fig. Moving hydraulic platform under development to actuate sun tracking
A link attached to the reservoir cap would draw a rotating platform through a
guided string. This hydro-mechanical solution would need proper matching of sizes of
sub-systems to achieve the desired rate of rotation, even under load.
A design variant of gravity driven actuator
Adjustable dead weight
Guiding rods End cover plate
Moving ratchet rod
Bellow Pinion rod with worm
Rotating platform
for solar oven
Worm gear
Water or air
charging &
Construction
A metallic or plastic bellows has two end cover plates with holes for guiding rods and
one drain/charging hole at the bottom end cover plate. A flexible draining/charging tube
has a two way cock with one large port for charging and one pre-set micro port for
draining water. When top end cover plate slides down it moves a attached ratchet rod to
drive a pinion rod driving the worm gear drive of rotating platform. One removable dead
weight is attached to top end cover plate. Maximum rotation of platform is 180 deg.
Constant speed required is 15 deg/hour.
Operation
For a given platform with a required driving force for its worm gear drive, dead weight
required is chosen. It gives constant driving pressure at any given instant. For a given
fluid (here, water) size of micro port is determined experimentally and set once for given
operational conditions. When connected to a overhead tank through the two way valve
water is charged into the bellows chamber fully and valve is set for opening draining
micro port. Slow draining at constant pressure moves ratchet rod as the bellows collapses
slowly. At the end of complete downward motion in the evening the valve is
set for
charging at the end of which the valve is closed until next day’s
operation.
Adva
ntag
es
No piston-cylinder is required which may require sealing against water leakage
and increase operational pressure needs. Constant driving force irrespective of
degree of completion of ratchet rod motion is possible. Slip less positive
driving force via worm gear can be realized.
