Different tracking strategies for optimizing the energetic efficiency of a photovoltaic system

The paper presents researches in the field of increasing the efficiency of the solar energy conversion in the photovoltaic (PV) systems. The idea is to design and optimize a tracking mechanism, which changes the position of the PV panel in order to maximize the solar radiation degree of use. The tracking system is approached in mechatronic concept, by integrating the electronic control system in the mechanical structure of the solar tracker. In order to accomplish the paper goal, we used an optimization strategy which intends to optimize the motion/control law, in fact to obtain as much as possible energy gained through tracking the sun path with minimum energy consumption for driving the system. The optimization strategy is possible by developing the virtual prototype of the mechatronic tracking system.