Fisheye lens design for sun tracking cameras and photovoltaic energy systems

Furkan E. Sahin

doi:10.1117/1.JPE.8.035501

27 July 2018 Fisheye lens design for sun tracking cameras and photovoltaic energy systems

Furkan E. Sahin

Author Affiliations +

Journal of Photonics for Energy, Vol. 8, Issue 3, 035501 (July 2018). https://doi.org/10.1117/1.JPE.8.035501

Abstract

Solar panels are gaining global popularity for electrical energy generation. However, efficiency of static solar panels can vary during the day. Solar panels can have increased energy output if they are actively oriented to capture the most amount of sunlight as the sun moves in the sky. In order to achieve this active orientation, sun’s angular position needs to be estimated. Sun’s position in the sky and zenith angle can be determined by automatic analysis of images captured by a whole sky camera. As the purpose of a whole sky, sun tracking camera is to accurately identify solar zenith angle, a special camera integrated with a fisheye lens with equidistant (f-theta) mapping can be designed. Due to the angular linearity of equidistant fisheye lenses, solar zenith angle can be directly calculated after the position of the sun in a whole sky image is detected with digital image processing algorithms. This paper presents the optical design of a compact, high-resolution equidistant fisheye lens with low deviation from the f-theta distortion profile. The lens can be integrated with a commercial image sensor array to form a low-cost whole sky camera for accurate sun tracking in solar energy generation systems.

Citation Download Citation

Furkan E. Sahin "Fisheye lens design for sun tracking cameras and photovoltaic energy systems," Journal of Photonics for Energy 8(3), 035501 (27 July 2018). https://doi.org/10.1117/1.JPE.8.035501

Received: 26 April 2018; Accepted: 5 July 2018; Published: 27 July 2018

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available