Optimizing adjustment timing for dual tilt solar panels fixture for maximizing solar energy capture: a case study in Iran

This research investigates the impact of optimizing the timing of changing the angle of solar panels on their optimal installation angle and the consequent increase in solar radiation intensity on the panel surface across different geographical regions. It specifically compares a solar fixture that can switch between two angles with a six-month adjustment period to a fixture with a fixed angle. To achieve this, three nonlinear optimization problems were formulated: one to determine the optimal installation angle for a fixed-angle fixture, another to determine the two optimal angles with a six-month adjustment period, and a third to establish the two optimal angles along with the ideal timing for angle adjustments using appropriate mathematical relationships. A review of 4,700 locations across Iran, which encompassed all cities and most settlements, revealed that employing a fixture with two adjustable angles and an optimal adjustment time could enhance solar radiation on the panel surface by up to 3% (approximately 72 [ k W h m 2 y r ] ) compared to a fixture with a fixed optimal angle. In contrast, when adjusting the angle every six months, the increase in radiation was estimated to be approximately 0.4% (approximately 10 [ k W h m 2 y r ] ). Although the proposed approach (using a fixture with two adjustable angles and an optimal adjustment time) results in a significant increase in electrical energy compared with the two conventional methods, the considerable increase in the installation angle, and consequently, the greater distance between panel rows, means that this approach is only practical in areas where there are no space limitations for installation.