Integrated Closed Loop Tracking System For Rooftop Concentrator Modules

Integrating HCPV modules with a tip‐tilt mechanism and a closed loop tracking system provides a practical solution enabling CPV to compete with traditional flat plate silicon panels on the commercial rooftop. The concentrating panels mount on typical commercial racking structures without requiring special alignment or calibration. Custom sun sensors with both wide and narrow angle sensitivities generate differential error signals that enable the tracking system to achieve an RMS tracking stability better than 0.02° and an accuracy to position the panel within the 98% regime of the overall panel acceptance angle. Stable and accurate tracking incorporated into a rooftop friendly package results in a concentrating panel that can deliver a greater energy harvest than traditional silicon panel technologies.