Problem statement
Energy Harvesting Efficiency :
Fixed solar panels have a limited exposure to sunlight throughout the day, leading to
suboptimal energy harvesting efficiency.
Manual Adjustment Requirement :
Maximizing solar energy capture often requires manually adjusting solar panels to face
the sun, which is impractical for large-scale installations and may not be feasible for
remote systems.
Variability in Sun’s Position : The sun’s position changes throughout the day and
across seasons, requiring a dynamic solution to track its movement for optimal energy
capture.
Abstract
The automatic solar tracker is designed to address the inefficiency of fixed
solar panels by dynamically adjusting their orientation to follow the sun’s path from
sunrise to sunset. This system aims to enhance energy harvesting efficiency and reduce
the need for manual interventions in solar panel alignment. By incorporating sensors and
control mechanisms, the tracker ensures continuous optimization of the solar panels’
angles, resulting in increased solar energy capture.
Outcome
Solar Tracking Mechanism
Implement a system that utilizes sensors (such as light sensors or GPS) to continuously
monitor the sun’s position and adjust the orientation of solar panels accordingly.
Microcontroller/Control System
Employ a microcontroller or a dedicated control system to process the sensor data and
actuate the movement of the solar panels. This system should be capable of precise
adjustments to follow the sun’s path throughout the day.
Power Source
Use a sustainable power source, such as a small solar panel or a backup battery, to
ensure continuous operation of the tracking system.
Weather Resistance
Design the tracker to withstand various weather conditions, ensuring its durability and
functionality in adverse environments.
Remote Monitoring and Control
Integrated a remote monitoring and control feature, allowing users to track the system’s
performance and make adjustments if necessary. This can be achieved through a user
interface or a connected network.
Reference
solar energy has become an increasingly important and popular renewable energy source. By using a solar tracking system, we can produce an abundance of energy and improve the efficiency of solar panels. The solar panel’s efficiency lies in its perpendicular proportionality with the sun’s rays. Although cheaper options are also available, its installation charge is high. A prototype solar panel is discussed in this paper based on the sun’s rays as the reason for its design and construction. Arduino is used as the main control circuit. As a result of the programming of this device, the LDR sensor, when it detects sun rays, will provide direction to the Servo Motor in order to move the solar panel. Consequently, the solar panel is positioned so that it can receive the maximum amount of sunlight.
- Photovoltaic Fed, “Flyback Converters using Improved Perturb and Observe Algorithm”, Proceedings of the 2021 4th International Conference on Computing and Communications Technologies ICCCT 2021, pp. 434-437, 2021.
- S S. Mohan, S. Saravanakumar Vinothkumar and M. Sudarsan, Online transformer monitoring systems, Advancesin Parallel Computing, vol. 39, pp. 824-829, 2021.
- S. Mohan, “Solar powered energy efficient distriution system”, Test Engineering and Management, vol. 81, no. 11-12, pp. 3549-3552, 2019.
- M. Chegaar, A. Hamzaoui, A. Namoda, P. Petit, M. Aillerie and A. Herguth, “Effect of illumination intensity on solar cells parameters”, Energy Procedia, vol. 36, pp. 722-729, 2013.
- W.Z. Leow, Y.M. Irwan, M. Irwanto, M. Isa, A.R. Amelia and I. Safwati, “2016 Temperature Distribution of Three-Dimensional Photovoltaic Panel by Using Finite Element Simulation”, International Journal on Advanced Science Engineering and Information Technology, vol. 6, pp. 607-612.
https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/10047670/references#references