The design and development of a clockwork solar tracking mechanism | |
| Author | Sompong Boonthumjinda |
| Call Number | AIT Thesis no.AE-79-20 |
| Subject(s) | Sun-dials Solar energy research |
| Note | A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirement for the degree of Master of Engineering, School of Environment, Resources and Development |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Abstract | This thesis describes the design, construction and development of a polar axis tracking mechanism that can automatically track the sun by using a weight-driven pendulum clock as a timing device. The period of the pendulum used is 0.942 second per cycle. The escape wheel speed of 33. 9 second per revolution is reduced to 24 hour per revolution (15° per hour) at the tracking shaft by using clock-wheels and sprocket-wheels. The mechanism is so designed that it can be used at any latitude from S0°N to so0 s; furthermore, the maximum torque that it can bear is about 38.2 kg-cm. The maximum error detected at the tracking shaft was 1° per day. Two prototypes were fabricated. The first one can continuously operate up to 24 hours; however, the second one with a simple-automatic- eastward mechanism, was so developed that its continuous performance is about one week. |
| Year | 1979 |
| Type | Thesis |
| School | School of Environment, Resources, and Development |
| Department | Department of Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources (Former title: Department of Food Agriculture, and BioResources (DFAB)) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Agricultural and Food Engineering (AE) |
| Chairperson(s) | Exell, Robert H.B. |
| Examination Committee(s) | Singh, Gajendra ;Jindal, Vinod Kumar |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | Government of Canada |
| Degree | Thesis (M.Eng.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 1979 |