fix: refactor doc comments and keep internal _prep_inputs_tracking

Author: JoLo90

docs/sphinx/source/whatsnew/v0.15.2.rst

@@ -10,15 +10,11 @@ Breaking Changes
 
 Deprecations
 ~~~~~~~~~~~~
-* The function :py:func:`pvlib.clearsky._is_leap_year` is deprecated and will be
-  removed in v0.17.0. Use :py:func:`pandas.Timestamp.is_leap_year` instead.
-  (:issue: `2764`, :pull:`2766`)
-* The function :py:func:`pvlib.irradiance._liujordan` is deprecated and will be
-  removed in v0.17.0. (:issue: `2764`, :pull:`2766`)
-* The function :py:func:`pvlib.modelchain.get_orientation` is deprecated and will
-  be removed in v0.17.0. (:issue: `2764`, :pull:`2766`)
-* The method :py:meth:`pvlib.modelchain.ModelChain._prep_inputs_tracking` is
-  deprecated and will be removed in v0.17.0. (:issue: `2764`, :pull:`2766`)
+* The following functions have been deprecated and will be removed in v0.17.0:
+   - :py:func:`pvlib.clearsky._is_leap_year` (use :py:func:`pandas.Timestamp.is_leap_year` instead)
+      (:issue: `2764`, :pull:`2766`)
+   - :py:func:`pvlib.irradiance._liujordan` (:issue: `2764`, :pull:`2766`)
+   - :py:func:`pvlib.modelchain.get_orientation` (:issue: `2764`, :pull:`2766`)
 
 
 Bug fixes

pvlib/modelchain.py

@@ -1252,13 +1252,6 @@ def _prep_inputs_airmass(self):
             model=self.airmass_model)
         return self
 
-    @deprecated(
-        since="0.15.2",
-        removal="0.17.0",
-        name="Modelchain._prep_inputs_tracking",
-        alternative=None,
-        addendum=None,
-    )
     def _prep_inputs_tracking(self):
         """
         Calculate tracker position and AOI

tests/test_modelchain.py

@@ -1818,19 +1818,6 @@ def test_get_orientation_deprecation():
     assert surface_azimuth == 180
 
 
-@fail_on_pvlib_version('0.17.0')
-def test_prep_inputs_tracking_deprecation(sapm_dc_snl_ac_system, location):
-    mc = ModelChain(sapm_dc_snl_ac_system, location)
-    # Set up mock results and system attributes required by the method
-    mc.results = MagicMock()
-    mc.system.singleaxis = MagicMock()
-    mc.system.axis_tilt = 0.0
-    mc.system.axis_azimuth = 180.0
-    with pytest.warns(pvlibDeprecationWarning,
-                      match='will be removed in 0.17.0.'):
-        mc._prep_inputs_tracking()
-
-
 # tests for PVSystem with multiple Arrays
 def test_with_sapm_pvsystem_arrays(sapm_dc_snl_ac_system_Array, location,
                                    weather):