A tracking mechanism is often incorporated into the solar arrays to keep thearray pointed towards the sun. Our sun tracker system track the sun by use of sensors and rotate the solar panel by means of stepper motor. One of the biggest limitations of static solar panels is that they are only at maximum efficiency while the sun is shining directly on them. Therefore, the need to improve the energy efficiency of pv solar panel through building a solar tracking system cannot be overemphasized. This solar tracking system is a power generation method of solar energy. That is why many solar angles are used in pv power calculations, and solar tracking systems improve the efficiency of pv panels by following the sun through the sky. Advantages and disadvantages of a sun tracker system. Many traditional solar pv applications employ two axis trackers to position the solar panels perpendicular to the suns rays.
Solar tracking system an overview sciencedirect topics. Design of a solar tracking system for renewable energy asee. Mothers supersimple solar tracker diy mother earth. The sunairplus solar power controller board for raspberry pi, arduino and cell phone charger is a 3rd generation solar charging and sun tracking board designed by and manufactured by switchdoc labs.
Payloads are usually solar panels, parabolic troughs, fresnel reflectors, lenses or the mirrors of a heliostat. One thing that can improve the results of solar use is to actually track the suns movement. Stationary mounts, which hold panels in a fixed position, can have their productivity compromised when the sun passes to a lessthanoptimal angle. The first moves the pv panel in little squares in spherical coordinates, finds the point on the square with the best. You can use this board to power your projects and add a servo or stepper motor to allow it to track the sun using photoresistors to generate even more. The sun tracking solar power system is a mechatronic system that integrates electrical and mechanical systems, and computer hardware and software. Solar energy panels sun tracking solar power system and.
Sun tracking solar panel irjetinternational research. Unless the solar tracker stops in the midday position you are likely to be worse off than with a fixed solar array. We have three tracking algorithms to track the sun. Use actuator solutions fit for harsh conditions linak actuators for solar applications are thoroughly tested to endure even very tough environments. Jun 17, 2011 the sun is a great source of energy, however, efficiently collecting this energy can be hard to do. After the frame is built and the panel is attached, the linear actuator and sensor need to be installed for the unit to properly track the movement of the sun. Solar tracking uses complex instruments to determine the location of the sun relative to the object being aligned. My project will include the design and construction of a microcontrollerbased solar panel tracking system. The efficiency increases by 3040% more money the space requirement for a solar park is reduced, and.
Abstractin this paper, a solar tracking system for renewable energy is designed and built to collect free energy from the sun, store it in the battery, and convert. This project orients the solar panel toward the sun, so that it can utilize with higher accuracy. Bill lane department of electrical and computer engineering. The result is more power per square meter than any commercially available solar. Solar trackers are also more prone to storm damage than fixed arrays. Automatic solar tracking system mayank kumar lokhande abstract. The sun tracking solar panel consists of two ldrs, solar panel and stepper motor and atmega8 micro controller. Solar energy is rapidly gaining notoriety as an important means of expanding renewable energy resources. More power means a greater return on your solar investment, and energy savings you can take straight to the bank.
As sun is a moving object, this approach is not the best method. Solar tracking is the most appropriate technology to enhance the electricity production of a pv system. The main components in the solar tracking system are standard photovoltaic solar panels pv, a deep cycle rechargeable battery, battery charger, stepper motor. Other projects for final year students online free project. Solar tracking system mini project pdf downloads in this paper is described the design and construction of a microcontroller based solar panel tracking system. The control of these motors is ensured by a microcontroller. This article depicts sun tracking solar panel and its working.
Project report on solar tracking system electrical projects. Sun tracking solar panel using arduino project is based on arduino controller board which controls the various activities of the project. Solar panel tracking solutions are a type of device that host mounted photovoltaic panels, which use the sun to generate electricity. This is done so that rays from the sun fall perpendicularly unto the solar panels to maximize the capture of the rays by pointing the solar panels towards the sun and following its path across the sky. Solar is a nonconventional source of energy, considering this we have developed solar panels so that we can fulfill our electricity need. Sunpower helix tracker home solar panels, commercial. If during the day a snowfall covers the panels the entire fleet of panels can be set vertical with the click of a computer mouse. A solar tracker is a device onto which solar panels are fitted which tracks themotion of the sun across the sky ensuring that the maximum amount of sunlight strikes the panels. Commercial solar trackers are somewhat expensive but do extend the time that a solar panel receives solar energy. A solar tracking system is a specific device intended to move the pv modules in such a way that they continuously face the sun with the aim of maximizing the irradiation received by the pv array. Arduino based sun tracking solar panel project using ldr. A study on the effects of solar tracking systems on the.
Check out this video of a system designed by arizona man mike davis to have solar panels follow the sun across the sky. Sep 05, 2018 the sun tracking solar panel consists of two ldrs, solar panel and a servo motor and atmega328 micro controller. Above is a simplified schematic diagram of a verticalaxis solar tracker fitted to a solar panel located in the uk high latitude northern hemisphere. The hardware and software requirements of the sun tracking solar panel project include 8051 series microcontroller, dummy solar panel, stepper motor, voltage regulator, diodes, relay driver ic, transformer, keil compiler and languages. The sun tracking solar panel consists of two ldrs, solar panel and a servo motor and atmega328 micro controller. Download automatic solar tracker ppt presentation slides and seminar report in pdf for free for cse students.
The sun trackers are allweather, reliable and affordable tracking and positioning instruments. Arduino based sun tracking solar panel project using ldr and. Automatic sun tracking system seminar reportpdfppt download. A pair of sensors typically a type of cadmium sulphide photoresistor, or leds are used point to the east and west of the location of the sun. In this paper is described the design and construction of a microcontroller based solar panel tracking system. But the continuous change in the relative angle of the sun with reference to the earth reduces the watts delivered by solar panel. Many of the solar panels had been positioned on a fixed surface such as a roof. Automatic sun tracking system seminar report pdf ppt download abstract. A number of studies were carried out to apply solar tracking systems that showed. The designed solar tracker is able to maintain a difference angle of 1. Light dependent resistors produce low resistance when light falls on them. The tracking system will move the solar panel so that it is positioned perpendicular to the sun for maximum energy conversion at all time.
In countries like india, solar energy play a major role for daily usage of power consumption as it is a decentralized energy and economically cheap in nature. The earth receives 16 x 1018 units of energy from the sun annually, which is 20,000 times the requirement of mankind on the earth. If you live in an area where the sun s position in the sky changes drastically between summer and winter, a dualaxis tracker can collect more than enough. There are two main ways to mount a solar panel for tracking. Automatic solar tracking system international journal of core. For graphic presentation, a data file was created for each run of the program. Stationary mounts, which hold these panels in a fixed position, can have their productivity compromised when the sun passes to a lessthanoptimal angle. Also, since a panel which is incident to the sun can gather more amount of solar energy, the solar panel is attached to a motor. A solar tracker is a device that rotates an array of panels toward the sun throughout the day. A solar tracker is a device in which solar photovoltaic panels are mounted towards the sun by using photo sensors connected with motor. The sun tracking is performed by changing the solar panel orientation in horizontal and vertical directions by two motors. We all know sun is the best source of energy source and has been shining since the universe was created. Sun tracking solar panel project using microcontroller. Sun tracking solar panel using arduino nevon projects.
For example, a singleaxis tracker on a solar panel system can increase electrical productivity by 25 to 35 percent. Various types of the photovoltaic systems a solar cell is in fact a pn junction that produces dc electricity power by absorbing the sun radiation. The tracker uses two nema 23 bipolar stepper motors to rotate 2 photovoltaic cells around the altitude and azimuth axes. A solar panel in a fixed orientation between the dawn and sunset extremes will lose 75% of the energy in the morning and evening. But due to revolution of the earth, solar source i.
Fabrication of dualaxis solar tracking controller project. A solar panel is a cluster of solar cells arranged in a matrix. It also has a method of concentrating the sunlight onto the photoreceptors on the solar panel. Nov 28, 2017 solar panel the first step of this project is to build the base and attach the wheels, then build a sturdy frame for attaching the panel. If panels are able to move and track the sun, they will receive greater amounts of sunlight during the day, making them 3050% more efficient than unmoving panels. Are solar axis trackers worth the additional investment. These type of electrical projects are used to identify the position of the sun using a solar tracking system which consists of various solar cells and solar panels.
Nov 24, 20 an offtheshelf 12 v solar panel, small servo motor, and arduino uno microcontroller were used to create a sun tracking solar panel. A dualaxis tracker increases that boost by as high as another 10 percent. The unit is a mobile system aimed to provide energy in remote areas or during emergency conditions. The solar panels1 must remain in front of sun during the whole day. Automatic sun tracking system seminar report, ppt, pdf for. The tracking system amortizes itself within 4 years. Conversely the sun rises north of east and sets north of west in the winter months which means that the sun will be shining on the front of a fixed solar module all day. Penetration level of fixed panels and equipped to the sun tracker solar farms. A solar tracking system is composed of three welldifferentiated. I have always thought about using solar tracking for a solar panel.
Photoresistors will be used as sensors in this system. We can harness solar energy by either converting it into electricity using solar cell or using solar thermal energy by means of solar cooker, solar water heater or by using it to heat or cool a room using solar passive systems. The servo motor connected to the panel rotates the panel in the direction of sun. Other fixed systems will have losses from the impact of snow and ice whereas for the star tracker it is minimized. The solar tracker comprises comparator ic lm339, hbridge motor driver ic l293d ic2 and a few discrete components. The solar panels then proceed to track the sun across the sky. Sun chart sun path charts can be plotted either in cartesian rectangular or polar coordinates. Thus to get a constant output, an automated system is required which should be capable to constantly rotate the solar panel. We suggest that you try it as a solar panel first to make sure that it moves how you expect. In remote areas the sun is a cheap source of electricity because instead of hydraulic generators it uses solar cells to produce electricity.
A solar cell is a twolayered semiconductor device that is used to absorb the radiation. Pdf on may 3, 2005, rana liaqat ali and others published automatic sun tracking system find, read and cite all the research you need on researchgate. The system will consist of light sensing system, microcontroller, gear motor system, and a solar panel. They presented design and construction of an automatic sun tracking system which is capable of providing best alignment of solar panel with the sun. Cartesian coordinates where the solar elevation is plotted on x axis and the azimuth is plotted on the y axis. Tout the current tilt angle of pv panel at any position. This paper describes the matlabsimulink simulation of a sun tracking solar power system.
The unit built is protected against gusts ofwind 50mhr or greater that could potentially damage it, in which case the panel would be placed in a protective position. The block diagram of the proposed system is as shown in fig. Fall 20 me4243 controls lab project, texas tech university. Design of a solar tracking system for renewable energy.
Two light dependent resistors are arranged on the edges of the solar panel. Amongst these the most popular and best method to harness solar. Department of electrical engineering solar panel tracking control. Heavy rain, strong winds, high or low temperatures and heavy loads in general are taken into consideration when choosing materials and designs. One of the most promising technology of converting solar energy to electrical energy is photovoltaic effect. A seminar project report arduino based solar tracking system. Jun 03, 20 the enduser will prefer the tracking solution rather than a fixed ground system to increasetheir earnings because.
Besidesthat, it is to improve the overall electricity generation using single axis sun tracking system and also to provide the design for residential use. Assembly of tracking system for solar energy application. The automatic sun tracking system asts was made as a prototype to solve the problem, mentioned above. The aim of automatic solar tracker is to design the system, which will automatically track the sun s position and accordingly change the direction of the solar panel to get the maximum output from the solar cell. The space requirement for a solar park is reduced, and they keep the same output. A solar tracker is a device that orients a payload toward the sun. Sun tracking system for solar panel engineering projects. In this article we are going to make a sun tracking solar panel using arduino, in which we will use two ldrs light dependent resistor to sense the light and a servo motor to automatically rotate the solar panel in the direction of the sun light. For flat panel photovoltaic systems, trackers are used to minimize the angle of incidence between the incoming sunlight and a photovoltaic panel, sometimes known as. In this context solar tracking system is the best alternative to increase the efficiency of the photovoltaic panel. Solar energy is very important means of expanding renewable energy resources.
Aout the current azimuth angle of pv panel at any position. The suntura solar tracker is a dual axis solar tracker which follows the sun from sunrise to sunset. Explore automatic sun tracking system with free download of seminar report and ppt in pdf and doc format. Jan 31, 2011 thanks to a new algorithm based on astronomical data, the solar panels track the sun in line with not only the time of day but also the time of year and the precise geographical location of the. If one of the axis seems to be off, then you may have put in one of the servos backwards. Compared to a fixed panel, a mobile pv panel driven by a sun tracker may boost consistently the energy gain of the pv panel.
Advantage of this project is that solar panel will always follow the sun light will always face towards the sun to get charge all the time and can. Out of these flat plates, collectors are most widely used. The solar energy system designed and developed includes a solar panel, a battery, and an inverter. This can be seen in the graph of two side by side solar panels, one mounted on a tracker, the other static, below. Single axis trackers usually use a polar mount for maximum solar efficiency. One of the solutions is to actively track the sun using a sun tracking device to move the solar panel to follow the sun.
Stationary mounts, which hold panels in a fixed position. Design and simulation of a sun tracking solar power system. The narrower the angle of incidence, the more energy a photovoltaic panel can produce. Pdf format and can easily be converted to the solar tracking system sun. The solar panel is designed with a tracking mechanism that directs the panel towards the area of high sunlight intensity. In this thesis, we have constructed a 2 axis solar tracker which can track the sun.
Solar panels are used to convert light energy into electrical energy. By following the sun, the suntura solar tracker can increase solar panel efficiency by. The angle between a photovoltaic pv panel and the sun affects the efficiency of the panel. Product specification sunairplus solar power controller board.
Solar trackers single axis and solar trackers dual axis for solar tracking or actually sun tracking that you get 62% more energy from the pv solar panels. Feb 21, 2014 solar tracker is the best solution for receiving maximum radiation. An active tracker uses motors to direct the panel toward the sun by relying on a sensing circuit to detect light intensity. Solar panel tracking solutions are a more advanced technology for mounting photovoltaic panels. The enduser will prefer the tracking solution rather than a fixed ground system because. Make a simple, lowcost solar tracker see the image gallery for the diagrams of the. While the output of solar cells depends on the intensity of sunlight and the angle of incidence. Introduction since this project is about creating a solar tracker, some light dependent circuit element.
Sun tracking system for solar panel project is made to tracking the sun at day time for utilizing its solar energy properly for solar panel. With a dualaxis solar tracker, panels will always be oriented towards the sun, no matter the season or time of day, maximizing the solar system energy production and resulting in up to 45% more energy. Solar tracking system full circuit diagram available. Stationary mounts, which hold panels in a fixed position, can have their productivity compromised when the sun passes. As such, it is vital that those in engineering fields understand the technologies associated with this area. I have not purchased any yet but decided to make a small scale solar tracker that i use with our solar cooler. Lightdependent resistors ldr1 through ldr4 are used as sensors to detect the panel s position relative to the sun. Io inputs and outputs pin input power to the angle optimizer block and output power form the pv panel.
One of helwan university research team designed a tracking system for solar energy application, and this animation i have done by solid works to. As such, it is necessary to have it equipped with a sun tracker. Also explore the seminar topics paper on automatic sun tracking system with abstract or synopsis, documentation on advantages and disadvantages, base paper presentation slides for ieee final year electronics and telecommunication engineering or ece students for the year 2015 2016. Designed to deliver 60% more energy over 25 years in. Design and implementation of a sun tracker with a dual. Diy solar panels that track the sun popular mechanics. This book on practical automatic solartracking suntracking is in. You may expect a 15% gain of a tracker over a fixed array set at the best angle for the month of june in hobart, and a 10. Advantage of this project is that solar panel will always follow the sun light will always face. A solar tracker increases the performanc of solar pv panels in the shoulder periods of the day, where a static fixed mount panel would only receive obscured exposure.
Solar trackers are rising in popularity, but not everyone understands the complete benefits and potential drawbacks of the system. A seminar project report arduino based solar tracking. Advantages and disadvantages of a solar tracker system. It is completely automatic and keeps the panel in front of sun until that is visible. These instruments typically include computers, which can process complicated algorithms that enable the system to track the sun, and sensors, which provide information to a computer about the sun s location or, when attached to a solar panel with a simple circuit board, can.