Determination of tracking error in an automatic sun tracking system

Abstract An experimental method is given to determine the tracking error of a single axis east-west sun tracking system suitable for mounting a linear concentrator or a photovoltaic array. The electromechanical tracking system is sensor controlled on a clear day and is clock driven in absence of the sun. The performance of the tracking system was studied with a composite parabola mounted on it and a tracking error of less than one degree was achieved; this can be improved by giving a southward tilt.