Testing the new solar tracker with shape memory alloy actors

Author

Poulek, V.

Author_Institution

Poulek Solar Int., Prague, Czech Republic

Volume

1

fYear

1994

fDate

5-9 Dec 1994

Firstpage

1131

Abstract

A new low-cost (95 USD/m²) single axis passive solar tracker based on shape memory alloy (SMA) actuators has been tested. The SMA actuator can be easily deformed at relatively low temperatures (by the tracker actuators below 70°C). It returns back to its original shape when heated above transformation temperature, producing mechanical work. During thermal cycles, the SMA actuator works as a heat engine. The efficiency of the SMA actuators (~2%) is approximately two orders of magnitude higher than that of bimetallic actuators (which could be theoretically also used)

Keywords

actuators; deformation; heat engines; shape memory effects; solar cell arrays; solar cells; testing; tracking; 2 percent; actuators; heat engine; mechanical work; shape memory alloy actors; single axis passive tracking system; solar arrays; solar tracker; thermal cycles; transformation temperature; Actuators; Heat engines; Lenses; Mirrors; Shape memory alloys; Sun; Temperature; Testing; Thermal conductivity; Torque;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Photovoltaic Energy Conversion, 1994., Conference Record of the Twenty Fourth. IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference - 1994, 1994 IEEE First World Conference on

Conference_Location

Waikoloa, HI

Print_ISBN

0-7803-1460-3

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/WCPEC.1994.520161

Filename

520161