Backtracking angle

What it is

Common angle: every tracker of an orientation group turns to the same backtracking rotation, computed as if the field were one plane. Terrain-aware: each tracker computes its own rotation from its axis tilt and from the heights of all its neighbours on both sides, so that it neither receives nor casts beam shade. Terrain-aware needs a scene with trackers, backtracking on, and near shading by direct projection or off; a request without them is refused.

Typical values and how to get it

Common angle; terrain-aware for trackers on uneven ground.

Values

Planar backtracking, PVsyst application = common_angle (default): one backtracking rotation per orientation group, the field taken as one plane · Terrain-aware backtracking = terrain_aware: each scene tracker's own rotation from its neighbours' heights

References

1. Anderson & Mikofski 2020, Slope-Aware Backtracking for Single-Axis Trackers, NREL/TP-5K00-76626

API

array.backtracking_angle