Effect of Tracking System Configurations to Beam Aperture Irradiance of Parabolic Dish in Bandung, Indonesia

Abstract

The collector surface of the parabolic dish solar power plant can be installed in some configurations, such as fixed (non-tracking), single axis, and two-axis tracking system. This paper presents the effect of tracking system configurations to beam aperture irradiance calculation result by comparing fixed (non-tracking) and two-axis tracking system. Both configurations were designed by measuring beam normal irradiance and calculating the angle of incidence. The beam normal irradiance was measured in Bandung, Indonesia on 26 July 2019 at 07:07 until 16:07. The angle of incidence of fixed (non-tracking) was calculated by determining the constant and independent variable of design, calculating solar altitude angle and solar azimuth angle. The independent variables were aperture tilt angle and aperture azimuth angle. The design result for fixed (non-tracking) system in Bandung at that date, the highest sum of beam aperture irradiance during that periods was obtained at aperture tilt angle 15 degrees and aperture azimuth angle 15 degrees. The two-axis tracking gave a better result of beam aperture irradiance than fixed (non-tracking) at that position with the difference of 14.19%. However, fixed (non-tracking) gave simpler operation and cheaper operating costs than two-axis tracking.