SkySmart designed by Arctech Solar is a revolutionary product in the PV industry. It integrates the latest technologies, including SPT, cleaning equipment, wireless communication and so on. All of these technologies are optimized to work in concert, overcoming the challenges faced by today’s solar developers and fusing into a unique solar tracking system as a whole.

Challenges of the PV Industry:

1.N-S Slope

For any installation, it is necessary for the linked system to horizon its panels by increasing or reducing the height of post. However, when the higher poster is used, the structure of tracking system needs to be further strengthened. If the height of the post is higher than 3m, it is a red flag for installation. To be more specific, when the solar system is 1000v, the string of the panels varied between 18~22, and the 40m length is a perfect fit for the row. While when the system turns to 1500v, the perfect length of one row is up to 66m. In this case, it is inappropriate to use the same strategy by only increasing the height of the post. Besides, due to the fact that an increasing number of solar trackers have been gradually applied in the hilly area, adapting the slope is becoming an urgent challenge for the solar tracking and racking manufacturers.

2.Module Cleaning

Cleaning the modules regularly can make a contribution to achieve the higher energy yield, however it is a costly maintenance expense and a risk for module cleaning.

3.Battery

The Self Powered Tracker (SPT) has become gradually accepted by project owners. Basically, some trackers are using an extra panel to charge a lithium-ion battery, and most of battery are LiFePO4. It is a very common way to power the DC motor. In this case, the battery needs to be charged every day. Once the battery is charged too many times, battery service life will be shortened. According to NREL’s research（Ahmad & Santhanagopalan, 2013）, after 7 years daily charging, in some area, the battery only has around 80% capacity left, which means the battery needs to be designed with more capacity than it required (see the chart below).

(NREL, 2013)

Arctech Solar’s Solutions:

Facing with these challenges mentioned above, Arctech Solar came up with a unique approach by designing SkySmart.

SkySmart

1.20%N-S Slope

Based upon the condition described above, SkySmart is specially designed as 2 in portrait with special top of post, it can handle up to 20% slope, equivalent to 11.3 degrees.

2.Double Pitch Risk-free Drive-through Space

Thanks to the advantage of unlimited access throughout the site provided by SkySmart, there is no need for vehicles to turn around which saves labor cost for module cleaning. Additionally, adjacent modules can be turned face-to-face so that both modules could be cleaned at the same time. Most importantly, compared to 1 in portrait, SkySmart with the design of 2 in portrait can provide vehicles with double pitch drive-through space for module cleaning. As such, SkySmart can effectively prevent modules from damages.

3.Self-powered to Optimize the Battery Life

SkySmart, with the introduction of its dedicated self-powered tracker(SPT) and Li-ion battery as a backup, has set out a very unique battery control system. The motor and the extra battery are both powered directly from a string of modules, and the extra Li-ion battery is only used for backup to bring the tracker to the safety position when emergencies come up, such as storm or heavy snow. Hence, there is no need to charge the battery every day. In the meanwhile, SkySmart can extends the battery service life.

4.A Special-designed Tracking System for Bifacial Module

Due to its advantage of dual side power generation, bifacial modules have becoming the next generation of PV module, especially when it is combined with solar tracker, the energy production can increase up to 30% as additional energy output.

5.LoRa-Wireless Communication Revolution

With low consumption and mesh network, Zigbee had been used for solar tracker wireless communication for decade. In 2015, Semtech developed a new wireless module-LoRa, with lower consumption and larger coverage range than Zigbee. In 2017, SkySmart applies the latest communication technology---Lora Wireless to the tracking system for the first time in the world.

Benefits of SkySmart:

SkySmart not only combines all the benefits of independent system, but it also provides many research achievements conducted by Arctech Solar. With its smart design, SkySmart can help customers maximize the performance of modules, generate more revenues with higher energy yield and lower operating and maintenance costs.

Reference:

Pesaran, A. & Santhanagopalan, S. 2013, ‘Addressing the Impact of Temperature Extremes on Large Format Li-Ion Batteries for Vehicle Applications’. NREL, March, PP.26