A new single-axis tracker by Axsus Solar was launched at the Solar Power International trade show in Las Vegas this week, incorporating more off-the-shelf parts, less steel, and a more secure mounting system for panels, according to Yury Reznikov, VP of business development for the Ontario-based company.
A key feature of the Axsus tracker design is that it utilizes 25% less steel than a standard torque-tube tracker design. As a result, “We should be in the bottom third of the cost universe for trackers,” says Reznikov.
Another advantage of the design is that the double-rail table support eliminates bending and micro-cracking in the modules, which is a common problem with tracker designs in which the support clamps are located very close to the torque tube, Reznikov says.
A second way the new design helps eliminate stress on the modules is that there is no cumulative torsion build-up along the length of the array, which trackers with tube designs commonly exhibit, he said. This torque elimination comes from the use of a small drive shaft that moves the gear box, which absorbs almost all of the panel and superstructure weight, Reznikov says.
The basic array design is for 180 panels with 72 cells each, per 24V motor, yielding 65kWp per row. The system can be installed with either 1,000V or 1,500V wiring.
Available with either a self-powered battery or a DC connection, the array can withstand wind speeds up to 150 mph.
The tracker is also adaptable to undulating ground, able to ramp up a 10 percent incline every 12 panels, and two workers can install the tracker without the need for any machinery.
The system comes with a 15-year warranty on structure, and 5 years on drive and controls. The company offers extentions up to 25 years.
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