Helio tracker

P.V. integrated shading device

Master thesis (2021)

Authors

S.S. Padmanabha Architecture and the Built Environment

Contributors

M. Overend Structural Design & Mechanics - Architecture and the Built Environment (mentor)
E. Brembilla Building Physics - Architecture and the Built Environment (graduation committee member)
Faculty
Architecture and the Built Environment, Architecture and the Built Environment
Copyright: © 2021 Shefalika Padmanabha
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Published Date

06-07-2021

Language

English

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Faculty

Architecture and the Built Environment

Abstract

The EU is committed to reducing the energy used and Co2 produced by 2050. Every component plays an important part in building an energy efficient building. This thesis looks at P.V. integrated shading devices.

Shading devices are designed to block the excess solar radiation coming into the building to reduce the energy load of a building. This surface can be utilized to generate electricity by adding P.V. panels. P.V. panels are more efficient if they track the sun’s movement to increase the amount of solar radiation falling on the surface. The existing solar tracking devices fail due to multiple gears and the load of the panel on the rotational device.

To tackle this problem heliotropic plants were studied. Heliotropic plants follow the sun’s movement to receive more solar radiation for photosynthesis. The internal mechanisms and forces of a sunflower (heliotropic plant) that cause this movement was analysed through an experiment and digital image correlation. The analysis showed that the sunflower’s stem utilizes water to expand and contract the sides of the stem in a diurnal pattern so that the stem can track the sun. This expansion and contraction curves the stem to move it 14 degrees which is sufficient to increase the solar radiation on the plant.

This property of expansion and contraction was taken forward to design a sun tracking P.V. integrated shading to produce more energy. The expansion and contraction of the device were enabled by utilizing segments that were moved by piezo electric actuators. The Piezo electric actuator uses the energy generated from the P.V. panel and converts it to mechanical energy which enables the rotation of the device.

To find the angle for rotation a simulation was made to find the angle at which the P.V. panel produces the most energy and the angle at which the shading device reduces the load on the heating or cooling device. The device is designed to track the change in the sun's altitude as this rotation produces the most energy for a P.V. panel and a shading device. The device responds to the change in altitude four times a year as this corresponds to the seasons to which the shading device rotates.

There were two simulations made for the energy saved by the P.V. integrated shading device. The first simulation was for the Netherlands, factoring the energy saved by the shading device and the energy losses by the mechanical parts the device produces 196kW/ year and reduces the heating and cooling load by 16%. In Abu Dhabi, the same device produces 777kW/ year which reduces the cooling load by 15%.