Sustainability has become a priority in recent times. As a result, users are keen on replacing their fossil fuels with green energy sources like solar energy, wind energy, and so on. The solar energy has emerged one a popular alternatives for fossil fuels. It is a source of natural and ecologically clean source of energy. This energy is captured using solar panels. Like any other energy-capturing device, solar panels are equipped with various accessories like solar actuators that contribute to their performance. Also, solar panels may be equipped with solar trackers that enable more efficient energy capturing. Solar trackers typically feature sensors, a solar controller, and electric linear actuators. Sensors detect the sun rays and the actuators usually move the solar panel in the direction of the sun to capture maximum solar energy.  Do you want to know how these actuators contribute to the functioning of solar panels? What are the considerations to be made while choosing them? If yes, this post answers these questions and more.

Solar Tracker Actuators: How Do They Add to the Performance of Solar Panels?

The actuators used in a solar tracker are designed for immense durability, resilience, and reliability. Owing to this design, they contribute to the performance of solar panels in many ways. The pointers will help you understand it better.

Lightweight and Compact Construction:

Over the years, solar panel designs have evolved for the better. The designs of accessories fitted to these panels have evolved too. Solar tracking actuators that support solar trackers have compact designs and they efficiently contribute to the performance of these devices.

Improved Energy Efficiency:

Stationary solar panels have been used for a long time. These panels had some limitations in energy capture due to the changes in the movement of the sun. However, now they are being equipped with solar trackers, which can easily track the sun’s movement and move the panels for maximizing output. According to a study, solar tracking systems equipped with efficient solar actuators can improve the energy efficiency of solar panels by up to 40%. Generally, DC actuators are used in solar trackers as they help improve the efficiency of solar trackers.

Consistent Performance:

Heavy rain, storm, and other environmental elements may affect the performance of regular actuator-driven devices used outdoors. However, electric linear solar actuators are designed to withstand unfavorable environmental conditions. They help align the movement of solar trackers to match the sun angles during environmental disturbances. This ensures consistent performance of solar panels in any condition.

Environmentally Friendly:

Most industrial equipment is fitted with hydraulic actuators. Hydraulic actuators are fitted with fluid motor or cylinder, which use hydraulic power to facilitate the motion.  The fluid in the motor may leak in unfavorable conditions causing environmental pollution. Against this, the electric linear actuators used in most solar trackers are fitted with electric motors (DC or AC). Hence, there is no chance of fluid leakage, which makes them extremely environmentally friendly. Also, these actuators are generally lubricated for life and require no regular lubrication.

Low Maintenance Requirements:

Solar actuators possess rugged designs and are often rigorously tested for performance. This helps ensure their performance in all adverse conditions and drastically reduce their maintenance requirements.

Owing to the increasing demand for solar trackers, today, you can see many actuator manufacturers specializing in solar tracker actuators. But not all actuators are designed the same, hence, you need to be extra careful while choosing them. The next section introduces you to factors that you must look into while buying solar actuators.

Things to Consider When Buying Solar Tracker Actuators

Here are some points that will help ease your selection of solar tracker actuators:

Protection Level Required:

These actuators will be used outdoor, so you need to ensure they are designed to be used in outdoor applications.. IP65 and IP66 are two popular choices of protection ratings. But you need to be cautious, these IP ratings do not guarantee they will be suitable for use in outdoor applications.

Noise Level:

Although electric linear actuators used in solar devices are among silent ones, still, you need to check on their noise levels. Many times, the actuators generate noises while moving trackers, which can be annoying. So, ensure that the ones that you choose are quiet enough for your installation.

Precision:

Performance of a solar tracker depends on the type of actuator used. This means, you cannot ignore this factor. Check the level of precision offered by the actuator.

Temperature Resistance:

Although these actuators are designed for long-term outdoor use, it doesn’t mean they can always withstand extremely high or low temperatures. Ensure that the actuator you choose is designed to withstand the ambient temperatures and extreme temperatures in your region.

Learn more on this topic in our related blog: How are Electric Linear Actuators Important for Solar Tracker System

As said before, there are many manufacturers offering solar actuators, still Venture Mfg. Co. stands tall among them. Venture has been providing various types of solar actuators for years now. You can choose from various types of standard and customized ACME screw actuators.  

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Why Actuators are used in Automation Functions?

With the increasing utilization of automated machinery/systems, there has also been a rise in the demands for actuators, which play a play a vital role in the automation process. Actuators, which are responsible for moving, controlling or positioning a mechanism or system, make the working of automated equipment seamless and easy. There are several types of actuators available with different stroke, speed, shape, size and capacity to best suit the application or in other words, to make the best actuation possible.
Let us now examine a few industries wherein actuators play a crucial role in automated systems to simplify processes which were once done manually.

• Solar: The industry utilizes several types of actuators including ball screw and ACME actuators to automate the functioning of various solar tracking devices, solar power concentration equipment, photovoltaic device, and photovoltaic concentration equipment, among several others. Thus, solar actuators play a vital role in solar energy generation by providing desired motion to the equipment used.
• Military: Actuators for the military industries are ruggedly built to withstand harsh environmental conditions, extreme weathers, and severe attacks. These military actuators are basically equipped in tanks, cannon carriers, airplanes, fighter planes, helicopters, ships, and robots, because they offer complete movement.
• Satellite: The industry has swiftly switched from mechanization to automation. The use of several linear and rotational actuators help automate the working of several equipment. These include dish antennas, sensors, earth-imaging equipment, and so on. Specially designed and high quality satellite actuators are sought after for precise positioning and motion control for the industry.
• Construction: The industry depends on high speed automated machines/systems to carry out several dangerous and tedious tasks. Actuators of varied types are used in these systems, because they are known to delivering powerful movements to heavy duty machineries like loading trucks, towing trucks, and cranes. Actuators for the construction industry are built to offer durable, reliable and long-lasting performance.
• Warehouse: Modern day warehouses rely on the highly advanced automated systems to optimize logistics management, and related activities. A wide range of actuators are being used in the making of robotic systems, conveyor units, forklift units, among others to provide superior performance in terms of precision, power and speed of operation. Actuators for warehouse are designed to thrive in rugged environments and extreme conditions.

Besides the aforesaid industries, actuators help to automate several processes and systems in agricultural, food, medical, nuclear, automotive, manufacturing, arts and entertainment, and transportation industries.

Learn more on this topic in our related blog: How are Electric Linear Actuators Helpful in Industrial Applications

Being a critical element in every actuation system, actuators are being produced in several specifications by huge numbers of manufactures. Here comes the selection of the right manufacturer becomes crucial. To get the best performance out of the actuators, it is important that they must be manufactured to the highest quality standards keeping in mind the specific automation requirements of the industries. This calls for the importance of partnering only with the leading manufactures in the industry. Venture Mfg. Co. is a trusted name when it comes to manufacturing good quality linear actuators for various automation applications across industries.

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