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⚫ | [[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. |
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⚫ | [http://www.simply-solar.de/index.php/products/tracking-systems 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}} |
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⚫ | [[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 |
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⚫ | 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 [http://www.solarcue.com SolarCue system], another is the [[Raspberry Pi: Solrmatic]] |
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⚫ | 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. |
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⚫ | 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. |
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+ | ==Tracking for the HotPot solar cooker== |
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+ | [[File:HotPot_tracker.jpg|right|300px]] |
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+ | Most are familiar with the [[HotPot]], a fine quality cooker. It does an excellent job of representing a solar cooker as a desirable appliance. However, the original design was created for use in tropical or semi-tropical areas bounded by the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn (23.5°). The reflectors have been oriented for a more overhead sun position, which limit the cooking time in temperate locations to a 2 - 4 hour window. Here is an article that talks more about this issue. The author has been working on a tilting base mechanism to allow the reflectors to pick up early and late day sun. However, it may be a better idea to supplement the HotPot reflectors with a [[Windshield Shade Solar Cooker|windshield shade]] tipped forward and wrapped behind the cooker to catch the early and late day sun, as the pot and glass enclosure are really not suited for non-level conditions. [http://www.instructables.com/id/Hot-Pot-is-a-great-solar-cooker-but-was-designed-/ Details on this tracking design here]. |
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+ | {{Main|HotPot}} |
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+ | ==Concepts for low-tech tracking== |
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[[File:Von Oppen tracking diagram.jpg|thumb|none|400px|The Von Oppen system uses a half filled bottle to act as a floating piston, which drops when the water is slowly drained from the reservoir.]] |
[[File:Von Oppen tracking diagram.jpg|thumb|none|400px|The Von Oppen system uses a half filled bottle to act as a floating piston, which drops when the water is slowly drained from the reservoir.]] |
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+ | [[File:GÜNEŞİ TAKİP EDEBİLEN OCAK, SOLAR COOKER THAT TRACKS THE SUN|thumb|none|400px]] |
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+ | [[File:Solar oven tracker wiring|thumb|left|400 px| A very clear short video of a simple photovoltaic tracking mechanism.]] |
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⚫ | [http://www.simply-solar.de/index.php/products/tracking-systems 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}} |
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+ | [[File:CATASSOL automatizado 1|thumb|left|400px|[[Pleno Sol]] provides a short demonstration of the photovoltaic tracking system they have developed.]] |
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⚫ | 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. |
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⚫ | 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. |
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− | {{clr}} |
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*'''December 2010:''' Programable system tracks the sun, and turns the reflector away when cooking is completed. |
*'''December 2010:''' Programable system tracks the sun, and turns the reflector away when cooking is completed. |
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− | [[ |
+ | [[File:Cooking a Yam 12-30-10.wmv|400px|none|]] |
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+ | |[[File:Solar Oven with Tracker .mpg|425px]] |
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− | |<youtube>92xBhfcUX0A</youtube> |
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|'''March 2011:''' Box cooker rotated by PV panels sending power to 12 volt motor. As one PV panel begins to receive less light, it sends less power to the servo, which operates the motor until both panels are a sending balanced power stream. |
|'''March 2011:''' Box cooker rotated by PV panels sending power to 12 volt motor. As one PV panel begins to receive less light, it sends less power to the servo, which operates the motor until both panels are a sending balanced power stream. |
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+ | [[File:ME102 UC Berkeley Solar Tracker Project|425px|none]] |
|'''April 2010:''' UC Berkeley student tracking system demonstration |
|'''April 2010:''' UC Berkeley student tracking system demonstration |
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+ | |[[File:Revolutionary Solar! Stirling engine mount + Liquid piston tracker|425px]] |
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− | |<youtube width="610" height="425">0-bj0guW0k0</youtube> |
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|'''March 2010:''' [[Tracking Solar Accumulating Barbecue]] - ''[[Brian White]]'' |
|'''March 2010:''' [[Tracking Solar Accumulating Barbecue]] - ''[[Brian White]]'' |
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+ | |[[File:Clock based dripper tracker demo.|425px]] |
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− | |<youtube>vL14kpcR8yw</youtube> |
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|'''May 2008:''' Clock based dripper tracker demo |
|'''May 2008:''' Clock based dripper tracker demo |
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+ | |[[File:Dripper tracker for parabolic solar accumulator!|425px]] |
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− | |<youtube>69FXae8DOlU</youtube> |
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|'''June 2006:''' Dripper tracker for parabolic solar accumulator |
|'''June 2006:''' Dripper tracker for parabolic solar accumulator |
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==See also== |
==See also== |
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+ | *[[Raspberry Pi: Solrmatic]] |
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*[[Scheffler Community Kitchen]] |
*[[Scheffler Community Kitchen]] |
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*[[Sun Switch]] |
*[[Sun Switch]] |
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==External links== |
==External links== |
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+ | *[http://www.scribd.com/doc/236395487/Redirecting-Sunlight-with-Polar-Tracking-in-Developing-Countries-and-Elsewhere Redirecting Sunlight with Polar Tracking in Developing Countries… and Elsewhere] - ''[[Pete Schwartz]]'' |
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+ | *{{GoogleLinkAuto|1=http://www.suncalor.com/?C=S;O=A|2=Cuisson Solaire Innovante: Mécanisme suivi de trajectoire solaire permettant le guidage d’une parabole}} |
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*[http://electroschematics.com/8019/diy-solar-tracker-system DIY photovoltaic solar tracking system] |
*[http://electroschematics.com/8019/diy-solar-tracker-system DIY photovoltaic solar tracking system] |
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*[http://www.simply-solar.de/index.php/products/tracking-systems Scheffler tracking systems] |
*[http://www.simply-solar.de/index.php/products/tracking-systems Scheffler tracking systems] |
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− | *[http://iapnews.wordpress.com/2010/02/12/solar-cooker-research-in-jordan/ Solar cooker research in Jordan] |
+ | *[http://web.archive.org/20100228043451/iapnews.wordpress.com/2010/02/12/solar-cooker-research-in-jordan/ Solar cooker research in Jordan] |
*[http://solarcooking.org/research/cookpend.htm Solar Tracking With A Box-Style Cooker] - ''[[Jim Thomasson]]'' |
*[http://solarcooking.org/research/cookpend.htm Solar Tracking With A Box-Style Cooker] - ''[[Jim Thomasson]]'' |
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*Readymade Solar Oven Trackers available for purchase at: [http://www.solaroventrackers.com/ www.solaroventrackers.com] |
*Readymade Solar Oven Trackers available for purchase at: [http://www.solaroventrackers.com/ www.solaroventrackers.com] |
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*[http://lightmanufacturingsystems.com/heliostats/ LightManufacturing Systems heliostats (commercial) and Solar Manufacturing systems] |
*[http://lightmanufacturingsystems.com/heliostats/ LightManufacturing Systems heliostats (commercial) and Solar Manufacturing systems] |
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[[Category:Materials]] |
[[Category:Materials]] |
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+ | [[Category:Tracking systems]] |
Revision as of 18:12, 8 October 2014
Last edited: 8 October 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
Tracking for the HotPot solar cooker
Most are familiar with the HotPot, a fine quality cooker. It does an excellent job of representing a solar cooker as a desirable appliance. However, the original design was created for use in tropical or semi-tropical areas bounded by the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn (23.5°). The reflectors have been oriented for a more overhead sun position, which limit the cooking time in temperate locations to a 2 - 4 hour window. Here is an article that talks more about this issue. The author has been working on a tilting base mechanism to allow the reflectors to pick up early and late day sun. However, it may be a better idea to supplement the HotPot reflectors with a windshield shade tipped forward and wrapped behind the cooker to catch the early and late day sun, as the pot and glass enclosure are really not suited for non-level conditions. Details on this tracking design here.
- Main article: HotPot
Concepts for low-tech tracking
See Tracking Solar Accumulating Barbecue.
Audio and video
- December 2010: Programable system tracks the sun, and turns the reflector away when cooking is completed.
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
- Redirecting Sunlight with Polar Tracking in Developing Countries… and Elsewhere - Pete Schwartz
- 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