Single Axis Solar Tracker for Maximizing Power Production and Sunlight Overlapping Removal on the Sensors of Tracker

(1) * Mst Jesmin Nahar Mail (Begum Rokeya University Rangpur, Bangladesh)
(2) Md Rasel Sarkar Mail (World University of Bangladesh, Bangladesh)
(3) Moslem Uddin Mail (Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, Malaysia)
(4) Md Faruk Hossain Mail (Prime University, Bangladesh)
(5) Md Masud Rana Mail (Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, Malaysia)
(6) Md. Riyad Tanshen Mail (World University of Bangladesh, Bangladesh)
*corresponding author

Abstract


This paper presents the design and execution of a solar tracker system devoted to photovoltaic (PV) conversion panels. The proposed single-axis solar tracker is shifted automatically based on the sunlight detector or tracking sensor. This system also removes incident sunlight overlapping from sensors that are inside the sunlight tracking system. The Light Dependent Resistor (LDR) is used as a sensor to sense the intensity of light accurately. The sensors are placed at a certain distance from each other in the tracker system to avoid sunlight overlapping for maximum power production. The total system is designed by using a microcontroller (PIC16F877A) as a brain to control the whole system. The solar panel converts sunlight into electricity. The PV panel is fixed with a vertical axis of the tracker. This microcontroller will compare the data and rotate a solar panel via a stepper motor in the right direction to collect maximum photon energy from sunlight. From the experimental results, it can be determined that the automatic (PV solar tracker) sun tracking system is 72.45% more efficient than fixed panels, where the output power of the fixed panel and automatically adjusted panel are 8.289 watts and 14.287 watts, respectively.

Keywords


Solar Energy; Photo-voltaic panel (PV); Sensors (LDR); Tracking system; Microcontroller

   

DOI

https://doi.org/10.31763/ijrcs.v1i2.333
      

Article metrics

10.31763/ijrcs.v1i2.333 Abstract views : 4976 | PDF views : 3491

   

Cite

   

Full Text

Download

References


[1] X. Du et al., "Design and optimization of solar tracker with u-pru-pus parallel mechanism," vol. 155, p. 104107, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mechmachtheory.2020.104107

[2] M. H. Tania and M. Alam, "Sun tracking schemes for photovoltaic panels," in Developments in Renewable Energy Technology (ICDRET), 2014 3rd International Conference on the, 2014, pp. 1-5, IEEE. https://doi.org/10.1109/ICDRET.2014.6861673

[3] H. Mousazadeh, A. Keyhani, A. Javadi, H. Mobli, K. Abrinia, and A. Sharifi, "A review of principle and sun-tracking methods for maximizing solar systems output," Renewable and sustainable energy reviews, vol. 13, no. 8, pp. 1800-1818, 2009. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2009.01.022

[4] R. Akikur, K. Ullah, H. Ping, and R. Saidur, "Application of Solar Energy and Reversible Solid Oxide Fuel Cell in a Co-Generation System," International Journal of Innovation, Management and Technology, vol. 5, no. 2, p. 134, 2014. https://doi.org/10.7763/IJIMT.2014.V5.501

[5] P. Kofinas, A. I. Dounis, G. Papadakis, and M. Assimakopoulos, "An Intelligent MPPT controller based on direct neural control for partially shaded PV system," Energy and Buildings, vol. 90, pp. 51-64, 2015. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2014.12.055

[6] E. Roohollahi, M. Mehrabian, and M. Abdolzadeh, "Prediction of solar energy gain on 3-D geometries," Energy and Buildings, vol. 62, pp. 315-322, 2013. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2013.03.008

[7] M. Mamun, M. R. Sarkar, M. Parvez, M. J. Nahar, and M. S. Rana, "Determining the optimum tilt angle and orientation for photovoltaic (PV) systems in Bangladesh," in 2017 2nd International Conference on Electrical & Electronic Engineering (ICEEE), 2017, pp. 1-4, IEEE. https://doi.org/10.1109/CEEE.2017.8412910

[8] K. Solangi, M. Islam, R. Saidur, N. Rahim, and H. Fayaz, "A review on global solar energy policy," Renewable and sustainable energy reviews, vol. 15, no. 4, pp. 2149-2163, 2011. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2011.01.007

[9] C. F. Hsu, R.-K. Li, H.-Y. Kang, and A. H. Lee, "A systematic evaluation model for solar cell technologies," Mathematical Problems in Engineering, vol. 2014, 2014. https://doi.org/10.1155/2014/542351

[10] J. F. Lee, N. A. Rahim, and Y. A. Al-Turki, "Performance of dual-axis solar tracker versus static solar system by segmented clearness index in Malaysia," International Journal of Photoenergy, vol. 2013, 2013. https://doi.org/10.1155/2013/820714

[11] I. S. Kim, "Robust maximum power point tracker using sliding mode controller for the three-phase grid-connected photovoltaic system," Solar Energy, vol. 81, no. 3, pp. 405-414, 2007. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2006.04.005

[12] S. Abdallah and S. Nijmeh, "Two axes sun tracking system with PLC control," Energy conversion and management, vol. 45, no. 11, pp. 1931-1939, 2004. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enconman.2003.10.007

[13] S. Yilmaz, H. R. Ozcalik, O. Dogmus, F. Dincer, O. Akgol, and M. Karaaslan, "Design of two axes sun tracking controller with analytically solar radiation calculations," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, vol. 43, pp. 997-1005, 2015. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2014.11.090

[14] R. C. Neville, "Solar energy collector orientation and tracking mode," Solar energy, vol. 20, no. 1, pp. 7-11, 1978. https://doi.org/10.1016/0038-092X(78)90134-2

[15] S. A. Kalogirou, "Design and construction of a one-axis sun-tracking system," Solar Energy, vol. 57, no. 6, pp. 465-469, 1996. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0038-092X(96)00135-1

[16] W. A. Lynch and Z. M. Salameh, "Simple electro-optically controlled dual-axis sun tracker," Solar Energy, vol. 45, no. 2, pp. 65-69, 1990. https://doi.org/10.1016/0038-092X(90)90029-C

[17] K. Park, J.-H. Lee, S.-H. Kim, and Y. K. Kwak, "Direct tracking control using time-optimal trajectories," Control Engineering Practice, vol. 4, no. 9, pp. 1231-1240, 1996. https://doi.org/10.1016/0967-0661(96)00129-3

[18] J. Rizk and Y. Chaiko, "Solar tracking system: more efficient use of solar panels," International Journal of Electrical and Computer Engineering, vol. 2, no. 5, pp. 784-786, 2008. https://publications.waset.org/10334/solar-tracking-system-more-efficient-use-of-solar-panels

[19] F. Hruska, "Experimental Photovoltaic System," Annals of DAAAM & Proceedings, 2009.

[20] F. Hruska, "Aspects of Enlargement of the Photovoltaic System-De10," Annals of DAAAM & Proceedings, 2011.

[21] A. Al-Mohamad, "Efficiency improvements of photo-voltaic panels using a Sun-tracking system," Applied Energy, vol. 79, no. 3, pp. 345-354, 2004. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2003.12.004

[22] C. Chin, A. Babu, and W. McBride, "Design, modeling and testing of a standalone single axis active solar tracker using MATLAB/Simulink," Renewable Energy, vol. 36, no. 11, pp. 3075-3090, 2011. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2011.03.026

[23] G. Mwithiga and S. N. Kigo, "Performance of a solar dryer with limited sun tracking capability," Journal of Food Engineering, vol. 74, no. 2, pp. 247-252, 2006. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfoodeng.2005.03.018

[24] O. Bingöl, A. Altıntaş, and Y. Öner, "Microcontroller based solar-tracking system and its implementation," Pamukkale University Journal of Engineering Sciences, vol. 12, no. 2, 2011. https://www.ijser.org/paper/Microcontroller-Based-Solar-Tracking-System-and-its-Implementation.html

[25] P. Hatfield, "Low cost solar tracker," Bachelor of Electrical Engineering Thesis, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Curtin University of Technology, 2006.

[26] I. Palavras and G. Bakos, "Development of a low-cost dish solar concentrator and its application in zeolite desorption," Renewable energy, vol. 31, no. 15, pp. 2422-2431, 2006. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2005.11.007

[27] D. A. Hapidin et al., "The Study of Velocity Measurement Using Single Light Dependent Resistor (LDR) Sensor," 2018 3rd International Seminar on Sensors, Instrumentation, Measurement and Metrology (ISSIMM), 2018, pp. 111-114. https://doi.org/10.1109/ISSIMM.2018.8727728

[28] C. Alexandru, "A novel open-loop tracking strategy for photovoltaic systems," The Scientific World Journal, vol. 2013, 2013. https://doi.org/10.1155/2013/205396

[29] Y. Yao, Y. Hu, S. Gao, G. Yang, and J. Du, "A multipurpose dual-axis solar tracker with two tracking strategies," Renewable Energy, vol. 72, pp. 88-98, 2014. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2014.07.002

[30] G. C. Bakos, "Design and construction of a two-axis Sun tracking system for parabolic trough collector (PTC) efficiency improvement," Renewable energy, vol. 31, no. 15, pp. 2411-2421, 2006. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2005.11.008


Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.


Copyright (c) 2021 Mst Jesmin Nahar, Md Rasel Sarkar, Moslem Uddin, Md Abdul Halim, Md Masud Rana, Md. Riyad Tanshena

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

 


About the JournalJournal PoliciesAuthor Information

International Journal of Robotics and Control Systems
e-ISSN: 2775-2658
Website: https://pubs2.ascee.org/index.php/IJRCS
Email: ijrcs@ascee.org
Organized by: Association for Scientific Computing Electronics and Engineering (ASCEE)Peneliti Teknologi Teknik IndonesiaDepartment of Electrical Engineering, Universitas Ahmad Dahlan and Kuliah Teknik Elektro
Published by: Association for Scientific Computing Electronics and Engineering (ASCEE)
Office: Jalan Janti, Karangjambe 130B, Banguntapan, Bantul, Daerah Istimewa Yogyakarta, Indonesia