Project description
Advanced design and development of solar trackers
Solar energy is considered one of the most viable renewable energy resources. In recent years, many solar energy collection systems have been developed that use solar trackers to increase the solar panel/mirror area exposed to sun radiation. However, existing solar tracker mechanisms are heavy, costly and high energy consuming, limiting the applications of solar energy collection. The EU-funded IDeCAST project will investigate the innovative design and control method of a pioneering generation of solar trackers with the characteristics of small torque, low energy consumption and high stiffness. The project expects to provide unique techniques and methodologies for the advanced design and development of solar trackers.
Objective
Solar energy has been considered as one of the viable sources of renewable energy over the past years. Many solar energy collection systems have been developed to convert solar energy into either electrical or thermal power for the industrial and domestic applications. In these systems, solar trackers are generally utilized to increase the solar panel/mirror area exposed to the direction of the sun radiation. However, the current solar tracker mechanisms are heavy, expensive and extremely high energy consumption, which significantly limits the applications of solar energy collection. The objectives of this project are to investigate the innovative design and control method of a new generation of solar tracker which has the characteristics of small torque, low energy consumption and high stiffness. The expected achievements will provide unique techniques/methodologies for breakthrough design and development of solar trackers. In this project, the Grassmann Geometry and the work principle of stone mill in ancient China will be utilized to invent a novel solar tracker with small torque and high energy efficiency, and the performance atlas method will be explored for mechanical structure optimization. Further, the friction compensation and wind disturbance rejection control methodologies are established to improve the performance of the developed system.
This project will bring the complementary expertise in advanced measurement and control, robotics and mechanisms led by the Warwick Group and the solar tracker design and analysis by Dr Wu. This combination has placed the team in the best position to achieve the ultimate objectives. The research will provide benefits for the sponsor by publishing high-ranking papers and inventing new solar trackers. The capability of development of new solar trackers is of prime importance to both UK and European engineers and scientists for better utilization of solar energy in the 21st century.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences mathematics pure mathematics geometry
- engineering and technology environmental engineering energy and fuels renewable energy solar energy solar thermal
- engineering and technology electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering electronic engineering robotics
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
MAIN PROGRAMME
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H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF)
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) H2020-MSCA-IF-2020
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
CV4 8UW COVENTRY
United Kingdom
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.