Comparative assessment of single axis manual solar PV trackers: A case study for agricultural applications
Harnessing solar energy through photovoltaic (PV) systems has become crucial due to the global need for sustainable energy solutions. Agricultural projects are often conducted in remote areas lacking direct access to the power grid. This study evaluates four solar system configurations for irrigatio...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Elsevier
2025-04-01
|
| Series: | Energy Conversion and Management: X |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590174525000595 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1850133536389988352 |
|---|---|
| author | Jad Atallah Pierre Rahme Jimmy S. Issa |
| author_facet | Jad Atallah Pierre Rahme Jimmy S. Issa |
| author_sort | Jad Atallah |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Harnessing solar energy through photovoltaic (PV) systems has become crucial due to the global need for sustainable energy solutions. Agricultural projects are often conducted in remote areas lacking direct access to the power grid. This study evaluates four solar system configurations for irrigation. The first is a fixed-panel system with panels oriented south at an optimized tilt angle. The second and third systems involve manual adjustment, requiring one or two rotations per day to enhance solar tracking. The fourth configuration is a dual-axis tracking system, which continuously tracks the sun in real-time. The case study, conducted over six months (May to October) in northern Lebanon, utilized hourly solar irradiance data from an on-site pyranometer to determine optimal tilt angles for the fixed and manually adjusted systems. Solar irradiation received by each configuration was then calculated and compared. Results show the dual-axis system performed best, capturing 38% more solar energy than the fixed system. Manually adjusted systems also improved efficiency, with one-time daily rotation increasing energy capture by 23% and two-time daily rotation by 28%. Although the dual-axis system achieves maximum performance, manually adjusted systems provide a cost-effective alternative with significant efficiency gains and lower installation and maintenance expenses. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-bcec5d5234fa4abab68c03f4d6531367 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2590-1745 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Energy Conversion and Management: X |
| spelling | doaj-art-bcec5d5234fa4abab68c03f4d65313672025-08-20T02:31:56ZengElsevierEnergy Conversion and Management: X2590-17452025-04-012610092710.1016/j.ecmx.2025.100927Comparative assessment of single axis manual solar PV trackers: A case study for agricultural applicationsJad Atallah0Pierre Rahme1Jimmy S. Issa2Department of Industrial and Mechanical Engineering, Lebanese American University, P.O. Box 36, Byblos, LebanonCorresponding author.; Department of Industrial and Mechanical Engineering, Lebanese American University, P.O. Box 36, Byblos, LebanonDepartment of Industrial and Mechanical Engineering, Lebanese American University, P.O. Box 36, Byblos, LebanonHarnessing solar energy through photovoltaic (PV) systems has become crucial due to the global need for sustainable energy solutions. Agricultural projects are often conducted in remote areas lacking direct access to the power grid. This study evaluates four solar system configurations for irrigation. The first is a fixed-panel system with panels oriented south at an optimized tilt angle. The second and third systems involve manual adjustment, requiring one or two rotations per day to enhance solar tracking. The fourth configuration is a dual-axis tracking system, which continuously tracks the sun in real-time. The case study, conducted over six months (May to October) in northern Lebanon, utilized hourly solar irradiance data from an on-site pyranometer to determine optimal tilt angles for the fixed and manually adjusted systems. Solar irradiation received by each configuration was then calculated and compared. Results show the dual-axis system performed best, capturing 38% more solar energy than the fixed system. Manually adjusted systems also improved efficiency, with one-time daily rotation increasing energy capture by 23% and two-time daily rotation by 28%. Although the dual-axis system achieves maximum performance, manually adjusted systems provide a cost-effective alternative with significant efficiency gains and lower installation and maintenance expenses.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590174525000595Solar tracking systemsIrrigation efficiencySolar energy optimization |
| spellingShingle | Jad Atallah Pierre Rahme Jimmy S. Issa Comparative assessment of single axis manual solar PV trackers: A case study for agricultural applications Energy Conversion and Management: X Solar tracking systems Irrigation efficiency Solar energy optimization |
| title | Comparative assessment of single axis manual solar PV trackers: A case study for agricultural applications |
| title_full | Comparative assessment of single axis manual solar PV trackers: A case study for agricultural applications |
| title_fullStr | Comparative assessment of single axis manual solar PV trackers: A case study for agricultural applications |
| title_full_unstemmed | Comparative assessment of single axis manual solar PV trackers: A case study for agricultural applications |
| title_short | Comparative assessment of single axis manual solar PV trackers: A case study for agricultural applications |
| title_sort | comparative assessment of single axis manual solar pv trackers a case study for agricultural applications |
| topic | Solar tracking systems Irrigation efficiency Solar energy optimization |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590174525000595 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT jadatallah comparativeassessmentofsingleaxismanualsolarpvtrackersacasestudyforagriculturalapplications AT pierrerahme comparativeassessmentofsingleaxismanualsolarpvtrackersacasestudyforagriculturalapplications AT jimmysissa comparativeassessmentofsingleaxismanualsolarpvtrackersacasestudyforagriculturalapplications |