Firestone Airstroke actuators

The Airstroke actuators from Firestone can continuously orient a solar tracker’s payload towards the sun to optimise the amount of energy produced from the installed power generating capacity. The product is suitable for commercial installations, where continuous focusing of the arrays through single- or dual-axis arrangements enhances energy returns.

The rubber and fabric actuators can be used to solve the problem of stationary solar collection panels becoming inefficient as the sun shifts from a 90° angle to the panels.

Usually inflated or deflated by standard fixed or mobile compressed air, typically 7 bar (100 psi), the actuators move photovoltaic systems to minimise an angle of incidence between the incoming sunlight and a photovoltaic array.

The actuators do not contain internal rods of seals to wear, unlike conventional metal cylinders, and have the ability to rotate through an angle without a clevis. They also have the ability to bend with load and to tolerate high side loadings to prevent breakage and wear.