Astrophysics and Astronomy Commons^™

Optimizing A Passive Tracking Solar Panel System, Carsten Johnson

Scholars Day Conference

Renewable energy has been gaining attention from individuals to government agencies as the negative effects of fossil fuel usage has been realized. Solar power is a reliable and green alternative to fossil fuels. Solar power is harnessed through the direct absorption of rays from the sun. In this experiment, a passive sun-tracking system using a shape memory alloy (SMA), gears, and a fresnel lens rotated a solar panel to face the sun throughout the day. At the end of the day the system rotates the solar panel back to the east in preparation for the next day’s cycle to begin. …