Tom Sponheim (talk | contribs) m (→External links) |
Tom Sponheim (talk | contribs) No edit summary |
||
Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{GoogleTranslateLinks}} |
{{GoogleTranslateLinks}} |
||
− | {{Updated| |
+ | {{Updated|8|11|14}} |
[[Solar box cookers]] and [[solar panel cookers]] normally do not need to be turned to follow the sun unless you are cooking beans or an especially large amount of food. They may need to be moved once over a three or four hour cooking period. However, [[parabolic solar cooker]]s require reorientation with the sun much more often. If tracking the sun is necessary, some of the ideas below will serve this purpose. Note that this page emphasized low-tech tracking methods that could be built with materials available in developing countries. |
[[Solar box cookers]] and [[solar panel cookers]] normally do not need to be turned to follow the sun unless you are cooking beans or an especially large amount of food. They may need to be moved once over a three or four hour cooking period. However, [[parabolic solar cooker]]s require reorientation with the sun much more often. If tracking the sun is necessary, some of the ideas below will serve this purpose. Note that this page emphasized low-tech tracking methods that could be built with materials available in developing countries. |
||
__TOC__ |
__TOC__ |
Revision as of 03:34, 12 August 2014
Last edited: 11 August 2014
|
Solar box cookers and solar panel cookers normally do not need to be turned to follow the sun unless you are cooking beans or an especially large amount of food. They may need to be moved once over a three or four hour cooking period. However, parabolic solar cookers require reorientation with the sun much more often. If tracking the sun is necessary, some of the ideas below will serve this purpose. Note that this page emphasized low-tech tracking methods that could be built with materials available in developing countries.
Scheffler Community Kitchen clockwork tracking system
Simply Solar provides explanation of their various tracking systems at Scheffler tracking systems. The mechanical system incorporates a clockwork mechanism, and often uses recycled bicycle parts. It is run by a weight and controlled by a pendulum. Resetting the reflector back from the evening position to the morning position is done by hand. They also offer photovoltaic options as well.
- See Scheffler Community Kitchen.Scheffler Community Kitchen
Programable tracking systems
Still in its infancy, programable tracking systems are being developed with software to not only rotate the reflector to maintain maximum exposure to the sun, but to also control cooking time and desired temperatures. One example of auto tracking and monitoring system is the SolarCue system, another is the Raspberry Pi: Solrmatic
Photovoltaic tracking systems
A clever system has been developed by several designers, which uses two photovoltaic panels configured to maintain an even balance of power to a small electrical turntable motor. The required photovoltaic panels typically are fairly small, and are placed side by side, but at slightly different angles to face the sun. As the sun moves across the sky one panel will begin to receive less direct sunlight.
The resulting electrical imbalance causes the dominant panel to engage the motor. The turntable will rotate until both photovoltaic panels face the sun equally, and the motor disengages. The simple system can be fairly lightweight for rotating a box or panel cooker. However, a larger parabolic solar cooker, which will benefit the most from a good tracking system, will require a stronger motor and larger panels to rotate the cooker.
More information about the system designed by Marian Popescu can be found at DIY solar tracking system
Concepts for low-tech tracking
350px|none|See Tracking Solar Accumulating Barbecue.
Audio and video
thumb|400px|left
- December 2010: Programable system tracks the sun, and turns the reflector away when cooking is completed.
400px|
425px|April 2010: UC Berkeley student tracking system demonstration |
March 2010: Tracking Solar Accumulating Barbecue - Brian White |
May 2008: Clock based dripper tracker demo |
June 2006: Dripper tracker for parabolic solar accumulator |
See also
- Raspberry Pi: Solrmatic
- Scheffler Community Kitchen
- Sun Switch
- Tracking Solar Accumulating Barbecue
- Tanoor
- Brian White
- Super Solar Tracker for Solar Ovens
- Solar calculations
External links
- Cuisson Solaire Innovante: Mécanisme suivi de trajectoire solaire permettant le guidage d’une parabole - (English version)
- DIY photovoltaic solar tracking system
- Scheffler tracking systems
- Solar cooker research in Jordan
- Solar Tracking With A Box-Style Cooker - Jim Thomasson
- Readymade Solar Oven Trackers available for purchase at: www.solaroventrackers.com
- Solar Oven Trackers - Small Power Systems
- French: Pisteurs pour four solaire
- Appropedia heliostats article
- LightManufacturing Systems heliostats (commercial) and Solar Manufacturing systems