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Solar panels are an area of technology where EcoGeeks are always excited
to find new developments. Photovoltaic panels are being installed in more
and more places, and people are looking for ways to improve the performace
of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems in all kinds of ways. While there are
some technologies that seek to improve on the basic flat panel with concentrating
mirrors or spherical collectors that
are more efficient than flat panels when the sun is at an angle, tracking
the sun to keep the panel perpindicular to the solar rays is still one of
the best ways to improve the output of a solar PV panel. But the way to
do this has generally been with expensive, motor-driven equipment.
The Portasol Tracker system is motorless and uses no electricity. Instead, it uses a hydraulic system powered by the sun heating a fluid to create the pressure to drive the tracker. It is ideal for small installations, where spare current to run a tracking motor is a serious drawback.
"The device works by absorbing heat from a combination of increasing ambient air temperature and direct solar radiation to provide an expansion of a liquid at a controlled rate. Increasing hydraulic pressure drives the mechanism until sundown when the liquid cools and contracts allowing gravity and a small spring bias to return the array to the morning position."
There are several different versions, including a two-axis system that will also adjust to solar altitude according to the season. According to a company contact, the system will function in cold weather and in conditions of as much as 60 to 70 percent overcast.
The inventor is appearing on an Australian reality TV show for inventors. There are other eco-friendly projects there as well, including several projects dealing with water purification in various forms. Check the sidebar list of related inventions in the category 'Ecological.' This is an Australian product, and may not have North American distribution yet. But if this works as well as the developers claim, it's likely to be useful for many small solar applications, and we expect they'll start supplying them to the northern hemisphere soon.
via: o2 network mailing list site: Portasol Trackers
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written by Sharky, March 15, 2008
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written by John, September 04, 2008
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written by Victor Victor, September 12, 2009
Further, website says to download an order form. There is no form to download that I can find. Anyone find one?
Still further, is there anyone who has an operating Portasol Tracker so that I can verify with a current owner that the product performs as advertised? For example: how does the unit perform on a day when the temperature starts high and goes down. Please answer via email. Thanks.
VV
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written by Victor Victor, September 12, 2009
Thanks.
VV
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Did appear, last week. I object to The Inventors being referred to as a "reality TV show". It's been an Australian institution since the 1970s (60s?) and pre-dates the whole Reality TV concept by decades. To slap it in the "reality TV category cheapens its seriousness considerably. ;)