Tracker Rotation Angles

General

This section describes how tracker rotation angles are calculated in the Proximal Performance Model.

Caveats

At the moment, only two dimensional modeling is taken into account. This means that 3D models such as terrain avoidance are not implemented (yet).
At the moment, only solar position is taken into account. This means that tracker algorithms which take into account all-sky conditions are not implemented (yet).
At the moment, only full cell module algorithms are taken into account. This means that tracker algorithms which take into account half-cell shading electrical effects are not implemented (yet).

Acronyms:

Tracking
aoi: Angle of Incidence

Legend

  flowchart LR

  %% --- CLASSES ---
  classDef source fill:#6B7A8F, color:#CCCCCC
  classDef previous fill:#4F5B6F,color:#CCCCCC
  classDef model fill:#202020, color:#CCCCCC
  classDef inputs fill:#1A1A1A, color:#CCCCCC
  classDef outputs fill:#B39245, color:#CCCCCC

  database[(Database)]:::source
  previous{{Previous Calculation}}:::previous
  model_step[[
    Modeling Step
    DEFAULT MODEL CHOICE
  ]]:::model
  model_inputs[\
    Input Parameters
    for Modeling Step
  /]:::inputs
  model_outputs([Calculated Parameters]):::outputs

  database --> model_inputs
  previous --> model_inputs
  model_inputs --> model_step --> model_outputs --> model_inputs

Model Chain

  flowchart TD

  classDef source fill:#6B7A8F, color:#CCCCCC
  classDef previous fill:#4F5B6F,color:#CCCCCC
  classDef model fill:#202020, color:#CCCCCC
  classDef model_dashed fill:#202020, color:#CCCCCC, stroke-dasharray: 5 5
  classDef inputs fill:#1A1A1A, color:#CCCCCC
  classDef outputs fill:#B39245, color:#CCCCCC

  %% --- Data Sources ---
  met_params{{
    --- MET PARAMS ---
    apparent_zenith
    azimuth
  }}:::previous
  met_params --> tracker_rotation_angles_inputs
  click met_params "meteorological_parameters.html"

  pv_system[(
    --- PV SYSTEM ---
    tracker_tilt
    tracker_azimuth
    tracker_max_angle
    tracking_type
    gcr
  )]:::source
  pv_system --> tracker_rotation_angles_inputs

  %% --- Tracker Rotation Angles ---
  tracker_rotation_angles_inputs[\
    apparent_zenith
    azimuth
    tracker_tilt
    tracker_azimuth
    tracker_max_angle
    tracking_type
    gcr
    /]:::inputs
  tracker_rotation_angles_inputs --> tracker_rotation_angles

  tracker_rotation_angles[[
    pvlib.tracking
    .single_axis
    ANDERSON_MIKOFSKI_2020
    ]]:::model
  tracker_rotation_angles --> tracker_rotation_angles_outputs
  click tracker_rotation_angles "https://pvlib-python.readthedocs.io/en/stable/reference/generated/pvlib.tracking.singleaxis.html#pvlib.tracking.singleaxis"

  tracker_rotation_angles_outputs([
    tracker_rotation_angle
    surface_tilt
    surface_azimuth
    aoi
    ]):::outputs

Edits and Additions

If you would like to see support for another algorithm or would like to suggest edits or additions to this documentation page, please open an issue on the Proximal GitHub repository.

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