Modeling and Analysis of Zenith based Passive Solar Tracking Mechanism

A novel gravity-based, power-free solar tracking mechanism is being developed to track the movement of the sun across day length. A compound parabolic collector having 3 parabolic segments is chosen due to its high intercept factor and suitability to the current tracking as compared to a cylindrical parabolic collector. Used to concentrate the incident solar radiation to the focal point, the Compound Parabolic Collector accumulates heat at the central coil, which is in turn used for process heating applications. The working of the tracking mechanism is studied to find the tracking loads in the east and the west sides of collector. We intend to simulate the tracking motion from the sunrise to sunset, in order to validate the empirical findings. The identified design variants are sprocket wheel diameter, suspension, solar collector’s weight, counter balance and loading on the shaft. The recommended diameter for the sprocket wheel and shaft is 2500mm and 50mm respectively.

Design and analysis of a gravity-based passive tracking mechanism to a linear solar concentrating collector

A novel gravity-based power-free solar tracking mechanism has been developed to track a linear solar concentrating collector. Multireflector compound parabolic collectors having three parabolic segments and two flat surfaces is chosen due to its high intercept factor and suitability to the current tracking. The working of tracking mechanism is studied to find the tracking loads in the east and the west sides of collector. A generalized mathematical model is derived to simulate the tracking motion from the sunrise to sunset. The identified design variants are sprocket wheel diameter, spring stiffness, solar collector’s weight, counter balance, and tracking wheel radius. The spring length is derived from the constraints. To make a compact product, the tracking load has been minimized at large sprocket wheel, low stiff spring, lighter collector weight, and small radius of tracking. For a typical collector load of 50 kg, the designed tracking load is 50 kg with 620 mm spring length, 250 mm of sprocket wheel diameter and 60 mm tracking radius.

Study on Simulation of the Chain Transmission Mechanism

The chain transmission’s feature, the main failure form of roller chain and the research for the simulation of the chain transmission mechanism are introduced. Taking the simulation of the chain transmission mechanism in feeding system of a mechanical equipment as the research object, the kinematical properties and the affecting factors are analysed in this paper. It adopts the advanced connection pair to establish relationship between the sprocket-wheel and rollers, and realistically simulates the kinematical characteristics of the chain transmission mechanism. It provides a reference for the optimization design of the structure of the chain and sprocket wheel, through the analysis on the moving velocity and acceleration curve of the chain. It also provides a basis for verifying whether the chain and sprocket-wheel meet the design requirements or not.

Optimal Design of Tooth Profile for Sprocket Wheel on No Arching Sintering Machine

Aimed at the instability factors of no arching sintering machine in the operation, their causes is analyzed, from the theoretical design, the composite tooth profile curve of sprocket wheel is optimized. Combined with the motion characteristics of the pallet car and the conditions required, by choosing proper motional parameters, a unified curve equation of tooth profile is gained. According to the actual size of the sprocket wheel, the two composite tooth shape of sprocket wheel before and after optimization is compared, and the velocity and acceleration characteristics of the composite tooth profile curve are analyzed. The results show that the optimized composite tooth profile curve of the sprocket wheel is more simple and reasonable, and can improve the engagement condition of the sprocket wheel and the pallet car, easy to manufacture, these provide a theoretical basis for the stability operation of no arching sintering machine.