Automated Dual-Axis Solar Tracker with Fresnel Lens

Abstract

Freshwater scarcity is a persistent global challenge, especially in rural and arid regions lacking access to efficient water purification systems. Solar distillation is an environmentally friendly and low-cost process but suffers from low productivity due to fixed-angle still designs. This study introduces an automated dual-axis solar distillation system enhanced with a Fresnel lens for concentrated solar heating. By continuously tracking the sun and focusing heat into the distillation chamber, the system increases daily water output by approximately 30% compared to conventional systems. The solution is stable, cost-effective, and suitable for remote deployments requiring minimal maintenance.

Introduction

Access to clean drinking water is increasingly challenged by pollution, industrialization, and population growth. Solar distillation is a sustainable solution, but conventional static solar stills suffer from limited sunlight exposure, low internal temperatures, and reduced water yield.

This project introduces a dual-axis automated tracking system combined with a Fresnel lens to maximize solar energy capture and improve thermal efficiency. The dual-axis system continuously aligns the still with the sun, while the Fresnel lens concentrates sunlight onto the water surface, significantly enhancing evaporation and distillate output.

Research shows that integrating sun tracking, optical concentration, insulation, and automation can improve solar distillation efficiency by 20–70%, making it viable for low-cost, rural, and off-grid applications. The system uses Arduino/microcontrollers, LDR sensors, servo motors, and insulated glass chambers for real-time automated operation. Mathematical modeling supports optimal solar irradiance alignment and concentration ratio calculations to maximize heat absorption and water yield.

The overall objective is a low-maintenance, high-efficiency solar still that overcomes the limitations of traditional designs and delivers clean water reliably using renewable energy.

Conclusion

The dual-axis solar tracker with Fresnel concentration substantially improves the performance of solar water distillation systems. It enhances thermal absorption, increases evaporation rates, and delivers significantly higher daily distilled water output. The system is: 1) Economical, 2) Low-maintenance, 3) Suitable for rural and off-grid applications. Future improvements may include IoT-enabled monitoring, weather-resistant housing, and larger distillation surfaces for industrial use.

References

[1] ScienceDirect (2015), Solar concentration improvements in solar distillation systems. [2] ScienceDirect (2012), Performance analysis of dual-axis solar tracking systems. [3] ResearchGate (2017), C-Band satellite imagery for structural system monitoring. [4] ScienceDirect (2015), Experimental improvement of passive solar distillation. [5] ScienceDirect (2019), Optical energy concentration techniques in solar collection systems.

Copyright

Copyright © 2025 Onkar Kannawar, Pavan Panchal, Radesh Nalwade. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.