INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITYINTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF TECHNOLOGY COLLEGE OF TECHNOLOGY TWINTECH (IUCTT) TWINTECH (IUCTT)

B. ENG (HONS) ELECTRONICS AND INSTRUMENTATION SYSTEM

Solar Tracking System

by

Khew Chee ChuanPrakash Kuppusamy

IntroductionIntroduction Global warming has increases the demand and request for green

energy producing by renewable sources as an example solar power There are two main ways to make the solar cells more efficient,

either by improving the actual cell or by installing the solar panels on a tracking base that follows the sun

The tracking system is able to track the sun from east in the morning to west in the evening

The ability in tracking the solar energy increases the efficiency by 20-62% and also the output of solar panel

Solar panel is the most vital part of solar power system in producing electricity and able to capture the sun’s heat directly before converting into electricity power

Problem StatementProblem Statement

Fixed type solar panels are not able to capture the sun light when the sun planet moves to other way round

There are two main ways to make the solar cells more efficient, either by improving the actual cell or by installing the solar panels on a tracking base that follows the sun

The ability in tracking the solar energy increases the efficiency by 20-62% and also the output of solar panel

The tracking system is the best way in improving solar cells which reacts to Earth rotation against to sun planet

ObjectiveObjective To design and construct a single axis solar tracking system which

able to reacts to Earth rotation against to sun planet To build a microcontroller solar array that actively tracks the sun to

maximum solar panel output To build a sensors to locate the sun's position at any instance and

aligning the array using the microprocessor so that all incident rays are normal to the array surface

Project ScopeProject Scope To design a control system that track the movement of sun to

maximize the output of the solar panel by using microcontroller To determine type of sensor which suitable to attract the sun

position to solar panel

CurrentA B

SolarApplication

End

False

True

Start

SunnyDays

PIC

CurrentA = B

Motor Stop

FalseTrue

Compare photometric current A & B

MotorStay

Motor startTurn Left /

Right

AutomateSystem

Flow Chat of Single Axis Tracking SystemFlow Chat of Single Axis Tracking System

Sun Tracking Sensors (STS)Sun Tracking Sensors (STS)

Step-1, shows when sun is in front of solar panel, both sensors i.e. STS-1 & STS-2 getting same amount of light

Step-2, after some time earth rotates the solar panel gets repositioned with respect to sun and STS-1 abstains less amount of light and Photodiode STS-1 sends signal to the microcontroller to rotates motor, resulting the rotation of solar panel towards the sun

Finally step-3 shows the reorientation of solar panel and continues until the end of day

Example Of Solar Tracking SystemExample Of Solar Tracking System

Fixed Solar Panel

Solar Tracking System

ComparisonsComparisonsFixed Solar Panel Fixed ground system, means panels only can be fix in certain places

to catch sun light Not able capture sun light when sun planet moves other way round Decrease of their efficiency

Solar Tracking System Able to reacts to Earth rotation against sun planet to catch sun light Able to track sun light form east in the morning to west in the

evening Solar energy increases the efficiency and also the output of solar

panel

Statement Of HypothesesStatement Of Hypotheses There are two main ways to make the solar cells more efficient,

either by improving the actual cell or by installing the solar panels on a tracking base that follows the sun

The ability in tracking the solar energy increases the efficiency by 20-62% and also the output of solar panel

The tracking system is the best way in improving solar cells which reacts to Earth rotation against to sun planet

Significance Of StudiesSignificance Of Studies Solar panel is the most vital part of solar power system in

producing electricity Solar panels able to capture the sun’s heat directly before

converting into electricity power Use of solar power for residential use is developing and catching

the world market In growing towards greener ways to power the world and minimize

greenhouse gas emissions, solar power (photovoltaic) system is a sustainable way to convert the energy of the sun into electricity

Project OutcomeProject Outcome To design and construct a single axis solar tracking system which

able to reacts to Earth rotation against to sun planet To build a microcontroller solar array that actively tracks the sun to

maximum solar panel output To increase the ability in tracking the solar energy by 20-62% and

also the output of solar panel In growing towards greener ways to power the world and minimize

greenhouse gas emissions, solar power (photovoltaic) system is a sustainable way to convert the energy of the sun into electricity

ReferenceReference Pitak Khlaichom (2008); Optimization of Solar Tracking System based on

Geneic Algorithms - Naresuan University O.Stalter, B.Burger, S.Bacha, D.Roye (2009); Integrated Solar Tracker

Positioning Unit in Distributed Grid-Feeding Inverters for CPV Power Plants - ICIT Australia

A.M.Morega, A.Bejan; A Constructal Approach to the Optimal Design of Photovoltaic Cells - Int. Journal of Green Energy

M.A.Panait, T.Tudorache (2008); A Simple Neural Network Solar Tracker for Optimizing Conversion Efficiency in Off-Grid Solar Generators - ICREPQ Spain

http://www.solar-tracking.com

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