Design Development and Experimental Validation of a Passive Solar Tracking System Based on Pressure Driven Fluid Dynamics

Vishnu Prasad C H, Ashin Shaju K, S. Krishnanunni

Abstract: The growing global demand for clean and sustainable energy has intensified interest in improving the efficiency of photovoltaic (PV) power systems. Since PV output depends strongly on alignment with the sun, fixed-panel installations can sustain optimal orientation for only a limited period each day, resulting in reduced energy capture. This paper presents the design, fabrication, and experimental validation of a passive solar tracking system driven by thermally generated pressure in a working fluid. The system operates entirely without electrical components such as motors or controllers: a sealed pressure chamber containing a low-boiling-point liquid generates internal pressure on heating, which is transmitted through a connecting tube to a pneumatic actuator that produces the mechanical motion required to adjust panel tilt. A prototype was designed using suitable structural materials and fabricated to demonstrate the underlying working principle. Experimental evaluation confirms that the generated pressure is sufficient to produce controlled, repeatable movement of the panel, and the system exhibits stable operation while converting thermal energy directly into mechanical actuation. The proposed design offers a simple, cost-effective, and energy-independent means of improving solar panel alignment, and is particularly well suited to small-scale and off-grid applications where reliability and low maintenance are essential.

Keywords: Passive solar tracking; photovoltaic systems; thermal pressure; pneumatic actuation; renewable energy; sustainable design