A photovoltaic tracking system, as its name suggests, is a photovoltaic system that can automatically track the sun and increase overall power generation. It can track the movement of the sun in real time and adjust the spatial angle of the photovoltaic module surface through mechanical, electrical, electronic circuits, programs, and other methods, allowing sunlight to directly irradiate the photovoltaic array. In this way, it increases the amount of solar radiation received by the photovoltaic array and improves the overall power generation of the solar photovoltaic power generation system.
With increasing global attention to climate change and sustainable development, climate change has become a severe challenge faced by the world. This has encouraged countries to regard green transformation as a key path for future development. Among them, solar photovoltaic technology continues to advance, and photovoltaic tracking systems have more prominent advantages in improving solar panel power generation efficiency.
▶ Advantages and Challenges of Photovoltaic Tracking Systems
A photovoltaic tracking system, as its name suggests, is a photovoltaic system that can automatically track the sun and increase overall power generation. It can track the movement of the sun in real time and adjust the spatial angle of the photovoltaic module surface through mechanical, electrical, electronic circuits, programs, and other methods, allowing sunlight to directly irradiate the photovoltaic array. In this way, it increases the amount of solar radiation received by the photovoltaic array and improves the overall power generation of the solar photovoltaic power generation system.
With the sun rising in the east and setting in the west, photovoltaic tracking systems need to continuously adjust their orientation. Therefore, the bearings supporting solar panels are important components that cannot be ignored. Among them, the bushing that ensures rotation plays the role of supporting loads and enabling rotation, requiring more diverse performance requirements.
f the bushing experiences problems such as cracking or wear, replacement will become a major challenge, causing serious impacts on the entire photovoltaic tracking system.
How to ensure the long-term use of materials is important for photovoltaic power generation. It is necessary to find a material solution that can withstand long-term ultraviolet radiation and also withstand common pollutants that cause equipment wear in windy environments.
▶ Performance Requirements for Bearing Materials
Because photovoltaic products generally have a long design service life, usually 25 years, and need to receive sunlight exposure for long periods of time, they are generally installed in sun-rich Gobi areas. Therefore, they also have certain requirements for temperature resistance.
To ensure long-term use and reduce maintenance costs, bearings need to have corresponding performance characteristics:
Currently, photovoltaic support bearings usually use UPE and POM for processing. There is a gap between the shaft sleeve and the main shaft, and in strong wind conditions, this causes serious impact on the structure. If the two need to achieve close contact, UPE has very poor flowability, making it difficult to process precision components. The strength of POM cannot meet the requirements, and after adding glass fiber reinforcement, its toughness still cannot meet the requirements. However, PK materials can meet the requirements in terms of flowability, impact resistance, and wear resistance, improving structural durability.
▶ Advantages of INNOKETONE® PK Materials
INNOKETONE® PK series products can meet these requirements and ensure long-term performance retention during outdoor use under harsh environments:
● Excellent Weather Resistance and UV Resistance:
Compared with POM (polyoxymethylene), modified PK materials maintain stable mechanical properties when exposed to ultraviolet radiation and other harsh weather conditions for long periods. They are less likely to experience powdering and cracking.
● Excellent Strength and Wear Resistance：
The excellent strength and wear resistance of PK materials provide sufficient impact resistance in windy environments. At the same time, their wear resistance reduces losses caused by friction, ensuring system stability and durability.
● Good Flowability:
Compared with UPE (ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene), PK materials have better flowability and can meet more design and processing requirements.
● Low Carbon and Environmental Protection:
Throughout the entire lifecycle of material production, processing, and waste treatment, PK materials can significantly reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, thereby reducing the overall carbon footprint of products.
▶ Development Prospects of the Photovoltaic Industry
Currently, China’s photovoltaic industry ranks among the global leaders in manufacturing scale, industrial technology level, application market expansion, and industrial system development. It also has a solid foundation for moving toward intelligent photovoltaics. To achieve carbon peak by 2030 and carbon neutrality before 2060, the photovoltaic industry will become one of the new energy industries maintaining rapid development over the long term. Intelligent photovoltaics will become an important future energy support, and distributed photovo
At the same time, we will continue to deepen the research and innovation of modified PK materials to meet higher requirements for applications in the photovoltaic industry. We will make materials more suitable for operating environments with strong winds and vibration, while further reducing maintenance costs. Materials will continue to play their roles in stability, wear resistance, corrosion resistance, impact resistance, low-temperature resistance, aging resistance, self-lubrication, and many other aspects.
