Our current move towards paying more attention to halting global warming and the accumulation of greenhouse gases is something which is naturally pushing more attention onto sources of natural energy and ways to utilise them to their fullest extent properly. Of all the types of natural energy, one which has been on the receiving end of a lot of recent attention is solar energy. Solar panels and other methods of using the heat and light of the sun such as Arduino solar tracker have been in use for some time, but the use of electric linear actuators is something which is set to change their use for the better.
The best way for electric actuators to be used in solar energy is through the use of solar tracking – moving panels to match the sun as it move across the sky, to get the maximum amount of light and heat available. While fixed panels are useful, particularly if they are faced to the south (therefore getting the most of the light in any case), actuators can make the adjustments necessary to allow the panels to operate at peak efficiency.
Linear Actuators
Electric actuators are equipment used in machinery which require precision and control, while also offering benefits in the form of a longer working lifetime, and less space requirement, among other things. Actuators can be used in solar panels to increase their output, and make them more efficient at gathering solar energy before it is converted into electricity. Up until recently, solar panels were fixed in one place, which did limit their efficiency in gathering power – actuators can now be fixed to the bottom of the panels, allowing them to move to follow the sun. Actuators can be remote controlled, meaning that there is no need to be on-site to handle the actuators, unless there is a problem.
Increased Efficiency
Using linear actuators in solar panels will be useful for a number of reasons: being able to track the sun as it moves across the sky (or as the world rotates, depending on how you look at it). The efficiency of solar panels which can move is increased by up to forty five percent.
Another reason for increased efficiency is the overall set-up of an actuator. There are many kinds of actuator, but most are constructed to withstand heavy usage, so they do not require much in terms of maintenance. Another point in their favour is that there are fewer moving parts used in the construction of linear actuators than there are in other pieces of equipment which could be used to move solar panels. This means that there is less that can go wrong with the actuator while it is in use, therefore meaning potentially less time spent repairing the equipment.
Electric motors have the potential to revolutionise solar energy, in terms of how it is collected. The ability to move solar panels to coincide with the movement of the sun will enable panels to collect almost half as much energy again as they do now. With the extra power being put to good use providing renewable electricity for as many people as possible, the unique construction of actuators in particular means that there will be much less maintenance needed overall; thus, further increasing the efficiency of the panels.
Article Submitted By Community Writer