ABSTRACT
An adaptive storey-high structure, which incorporates three series of shading modules of thin-film CIGS photovoltaics on aluminum substrates, is presented in the current paper. In order to adapt to the sun position, the hybrid structure tracks the sunlight and induces rotations of the photovoltaic modules in two planes. The hybrid structure consists of a series of column elements with a secondary system of struts and two continuous cables of variable length positioned at the façade plane between successive slabs. Through length variation of the cables, the struts slide through the columns in alternating direction over the height providing a respective rotation of the photovoltaic modules perpendicular to the façade plane. Moreover, through rotation of the columns in the horizontal plane, respective rotations of the photovoltaic modules are enabled. The kinematics analysis presented refers to the system motion in the vertical plane.
