1. SOLAR TRACKING SYSTEM
A Report Submitted
in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of
Bachelor of Technology
in
Electronics and Communication Engineering
Submitted by
Sanjeev Kr. Talukdar, Kalyan Kr. Gogoi, Parviz Rahman Bora, Rezaul Islam
Roll No. DC2009BTE4089,DC2009BTE4101,DC2009BTE4102,DC2009BTE4107
Under Supervision of
Kabita Choudhury
Assistant Professor
DEPARTMENT OF ELECTRONICS AND
COMMUNICATION ENGINEERING
Don Bosco College Of Engineering And Technology
Assam Don Bosco University, Guwahati, Assam, India
2. i
Abstract
Solar energy is rapidly gaining notoriety as an important means of expanding renewable
energy resources. As such, it is vital that those in engineering fields understand the tech-
nologies associated with this area. Our project will include the design and construction of a
microcontroller-based solar panel tracking system. Solar tracking allows more energy to be
produced because the solar array is able to remain aligned to the sun. This system builds
upon topics learned in this course. A working system will ultimately be demonstrated to
validate the design. Problems and possible improvements will also be presented.
5. Chapter 1
INTRODUCTION
Contents
1.0.1 Objectives To Meet The Projects Are . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iv
1.0.2 Main Components to be used . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iv
A Solar Tracker is basically a device onto which solar panels are fitted which tracks the
motion of the sun across the sky ensuring that the maximum amount of sunlight strikes
the panels throughout the day. After finding the sunlight, the tracker will try to navigate
through the path ensuring the best sunlight is detected.
The Solar Tracking System is made as a prototype to solve the problem. It is completely
automatic and keeps the panel in front of sun until that is visible. The unique feature of
this system is that instead of taking the earth as its reference, it takes the sun as a guiding
source. Its active sensors constantly monitor the sunlight and rotate the panel towards the
direction where the intensity of sunlight is maximum. In case the sun gets invisible e.g. in
cloudy weather, then without tracking the sun the Solar Tracker keeps rotating the panel
in opposite direction to the rotation of earth. But its speed of rotation is same as that of
earth’s rotation. Due to this property when after some time e.g. half an hour when the sun
again gets visible, the solar panel is exactly in front of sun.
The design of the Solar Tracker requires many components. The design and construction
of it could be divided into five main parts, each with their main function. They are: 1.
Methods of Tracker Mount, 2. Methods of Drives, 3. Sensor and Sensor Controller, 4.
Motor and Motor Controller, 5. Tracker Solving Algorithm
1.0.1 Objectives To Meet The Projects Are
1.To design an effective sensor array to provide directional information to guide a major
drive system to track the movement of the sun across the sky. 2.The drive will have to
position a photo-voltaic panel to the best angle of exposure to sunlight for collection of solar
energy. 3.To present and run the Solar Tracker during the end-of-the course presentation.
1.0.2 Main Components to be used
1. Sensor, 2. DC Motor, 3. Panel, 4. Microcontroller
6. Chapter 2
Theoretical Survey
2.1 Microcontroller
The AT89C51 is a low-power, high-performance CMOS 8-bit microcomputer with 4Kbytes
of Flash programmable and erasable read only memory (PEROM). It is compatible with
the industry-standard MCS-51 instruction set and pin configuration. Thus the interfacing
and programming is same in Intel’s 8051 microcontroller with an advantage of EPROM
technology. That is the same hardware can be improved by changing the program. The
AT89C51 provides the following standard features: 4K bytes of Flash, 128 bytes of RAM,
32 I/O lines, two 16-bit timer/counters, a five vector two-level interrupt architecture, a
full duplex serial port, on-chip oscillator and clock circuitry. In addition, the AT89C51 is
designed with static logic for operation down to zero frequency and supports two software
selectable power saving modes. The Idle Mode stops the CPU while allowing the RAM,
timer/counters, serial port and interrupt system to continue functioning. The Power-down
Mode saves the RAM contents but freezes the oscillator disabling all other chip functions
until the next hardware reset.
2.2 DC Motor
: A DC motor is an electric motor that runs on direct current (DC) electricity. DC motors
were used to run machinery, often eliminating the need for a local steam engine or internal
combustion engine. DC motors can operate directly from rechargeable batteries, providing
the motive power for the first electric vehicles. Today DC motors are still found in ap-
plications as small as toys and disk drives, or in large sizes to operate steel rolling mills
and paper machines. Modern DC motors are nearly always operated in conjunction with
power electronic devices.Like all electric motors or generators, torque is produced by the
principle of Lorentz force, which states that any current-carrying conductor placed within
an external magnetic field experiences a torque or force known as Lorentz force. Brushless
DC motors use a rotating permanent magnet or soft magnetic core in the rotor, and sta-
tionary electrical magnets on the motor housing. A motor controller converts DC to AC.
This design is simpler than that of brushed motors because it eliminates the complication
of transferring power from outside the motor to the spinning rotor.
2.3 Sensors
: A sensor is a device that measures a physical quantity and converts it into a signal
which can be read by an observer or by an instrument. 1.The Light Sensor can be used
for measurements of light intensity in a variety of situations. 2.Perform inverse square
light intensity experiments using a point source of light. 3.Conduct polarized filter studies.
4.Demonstrate the flicker of fluorescent lamps and other lamps. 5.Carry out solar energy
7. 2.3. Sensors vi
studies. 6.Perform reflectivity studies. 7.Study light intensity in various parts of a house
or school. 8.Use it as part of a study of plant growth to measure light intensity.
8. Chapter 3
LITERATURE SURVEY
3.1 Paper 1
" Solar Tracker Robot using Microcontroller" by A.B. Afarulrazi, W. M. Utomo, K.L. Liew
and M. Zarafi published in 2011 International Conference on Business, Engineering and
Industrial Applications.
3.1.1 Summary
In the paper entitled," Solar Tracker Robot using Microcontroller" by A.B. Afarulrazi, W.
M. Utomo, K.L. Liew and M. Zarafi published in 2011 International Conference on Business,
Engineering and Industrial Applications describes to design and develop an automatic Solar
Tracker Robot (STR) which is capable to track maximum light intensity. The efficiency
of the solar energy conversion can be optimized by receiving maximum light on the solar
panel. STR is microcontroller based and built to move the solar panel in one axis, which is
from east to west and vice versa. Servo motor is the actuator used to move the solar panel
due to the high torque and small in size. The STR will automatically adjust the position
of the robot so that it always faces the same direction. This will ensure the solar panel
receiving optimum sunlight if external force is applied to move the STR.
3.2 Paper 2
," Design and Construction of an Automatic Solar Tracking System by Md. Tanvir Arafat
Khan, S.M. Shahrear Tanzil, Rifat Rahman, S M Shafiul Alam published in 6th Interna-
tional Conference on Electrical and Computer Engineering ICECE 2010, 18-20 December
2010, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
3.2.1 Summary
In the paper entitled," Design and Construction of an Automatic Solar Tracking System
by Md. Tanvir Arafat Khan, S.M. Shahrear Tanzil, Rifat Rahman, S M Shafiul Alam
published in 6th International Conference on Electrical and Computer Engineering ICECE
2010, 18-20 December 2010, Dhaka, Bangladesh describes a microcontroller based design
methodology of an automatic solar tracker. Light dependent resistors are used as the
sensors of the solar tracker. The designed tracker has precise control mechanism which will
provide three ways of controlling system. A small prototype of solar tracking system is
also constructed to implement the design methodology presented here. In this paper the
design methodology of a microcontroller based simple and easily programmed automatic
solar tracker is presented. A prototype of automatic solar tracker ensures feasibility of this
design methodology.
9. 3.3. Paper 3 viii
3.3 Paper 3
" IMPLEMENTATION OF A PROTOTYPE FOR A TRADITIONAL SOLAR TRACK-
ING SYSTEM" by Nader Barsoum published in the 2009 Third UKSim European Sympo-
sium on Computer Modeling and Simulation.
3.3.1 Summary
In the paper," IMPLEMENTATION OF A PROTOTYPE FOR A TRADITIONAL SO-
LAR TRACKING SYSTEM" by Nader Barsoum published in the 2009 Third UKSim Euro-
pean Symposium on Computer Modeling and Simulation describes in detail the design and
construction of a prototype for solar tracking system with two degrees of freedom, which
detects the sunlight using photocells. The control circuit for the solar tracker is based on
a PIC16F84A microcontroller (MCU). This is programmed to detect the sunlight through
the photocells and then actuate the motor to position the solar panel where it can receive
maximum sunlight. This paper is about moving a solar panel along with the direction
of sunlight; it uses a gear motor to control the position of the solar panel, which obtains
its data from a PIC16F84A microcontroller. The objective is to design and implement an
automated, double-axis solartracking mechanism using embedded system design in order to
optimize the efficiency of overall solar energy output.
3.4 Paper 4
" Microcontroller Based Solar Tracking System" by Aleksandar Stjepanovic, Sladjana Stjepanovic,
Ferid Softic, Zlatko Bundalo published in Serbia,Nis,October 7-9, 2009.
3.4.1 Summary
In the paper entiled," Microcontroller Based Solar Tracking System" by Aleksandar Stjepanovic,
Sladjana Stjepanovic, Ferid Softic, Zlatko Bundalo published in Serbia,Nis,October 7-9,
2009 describes the design and construction of a microcontroller based solar panel tracking
system. Solar tracking allows more energy to be produce because the solar array is able
to remain aligned to the sun. The paper begins with presenting background theory in
light sensors and stepper motors as they apply to the project.In the conclusions are given
discussions of design results. The paper begins with presenting background theory, light
sensors and stepper motors as they apply to the project. The paper continues with specific
design methodologies pertaining to photocells, stepper motors and drivers, microcontroller
selection, voltage regulation, physical construction, and a software/system operation expla-
nation. The paper concludes with a discussion of design results and future work.
3.5 Paper 5
" Microcontroller-Based Two-Axis Solar Tracking System" by Lwin Lwin Oo and Nang
Kaythi Hlaing published in Second International Conference on Computer Research and
Development.
3.5.1 Summary
In the paper entitled," Microcontroller-Based Two-Axis Solar Tracking System" by Lwin
Lwin Oo and Nang Kaythi Hlaing published in Second International Conference on Com-
10. 3.5. Paper 5 ix
puter Research and Development describes to develop and implement a prototype of two-
axis solar tracking system based on a PIC microcontroller. The parabolic reflector or
parabolic dish is constructed around two feed diameter to capture the sun’s energy.The
focus of the parabolic reflector is theoretically calculated down to an infinitesimally small
point to get extremely high temperature. This two axis auto-tracking system has also been
constructed using PIC 16F84A microcontroller. The assembly programming language is
used to interface the PIC with two-axis solar tracking system. The temperature at the
focus of the parabolic reflector is measured with temperature probes. This auto-tracking
system is controlled with two 12V, 6W DC gear box motors. The five light sensors (LDR)
are used to track the sun and to start the operation (Day/Night operation). Time Delays
are used for stepping the motor and reaching the original position of the reflector. The
two-axis solar tracking system is constructed with both hardware and software implemen-
tations. The designs of the gear and the parabolic reflector are carefully considered and
precisely calculated.
11. Chapter 4
CIRCUIT AND WORKING
4.1 BLOCK DIAGRAM
Figure 4.1: BLOCK DIAGRAM
4.2 System Concept
Our design of Solar Tracker is to develop and implement a simplified diagram of a horizontal-
axis and active tracker method type of solar tracker fitted to a panel. It will be able to
navigate to the best angle of exposure of light from the torchlight. A pair of sensors is
used to point the East and West of the location of the light. A scaled-down model of a
prototype will be designed and built to test the workability of the tracking system. The
center of the drive is a DC motor. Figure shows a schematic diagram of a horizontal-axis
solar tracker. This will be controlled via microcontroller program. The designed algorithm
will power the motor drive after processing the feedback signals from the sensor array.
12. 4.3. Flowchart xi
Figure 4.2: Diagram of Horizontal axis Solar Tracker
The Microcontroller program will also include monitoring and display of light intensity
output from the photodiodes. The light detected by the Eastward-facing sensor is at a
lower intensity to that detected by the Westward-facing sensor. Hence, the sensor must be
turned westwards (by the motor controlled by the solar tracker circuit) until the levels of
light detected by both the East and the West sensors are equal. At the point of the solar
panel will be directly facing the light and generated electricity optimally. Obviously real
world solar trackers are not so simple. A solar tracker must be able to reset itself at sunset
so it is ready for sunrise, it must cope with heavy cloud, and it. In addition a mount for
the solar panel must be constructed which can cope with strong winds and a suitable motor
found.
4.3 Flowchart
14. Chapter 5
PROGRESS
We are studying on various IEEE research papers about our Project and related topics
to our project. We are studying for the assembly language program to implement in our
project. We have made the simplified algorithm with flowchart for our project. We have
bought some of our Components but till now we have not got all the components. As soon
as we receive all the components we will start working on the hardware section.
15. Chapter 6
CONCLUSION
A modeling and optimization method from a new point of view is proposed. More
factors can be taken into consideration in the future modeling and optimization, such as
the sensitivity range of the controlling system which determines when the solar tracker
should operate to generate more power or stay still to save energy. The research provides
references for solar tracking system designing, and the modeling and optimization method
can be modified and applied in other mechanical and electronic systems.
16. Chapter 7
REFERENCES
1. " Solar Tracker Robot using Microcontroller" by A.B. Afarulrazi, W. M. Utomo,
K.L. Liew and M. Zarafi published in 2011 International Conference on Business,
Engineering and Industrial Applications
2. " Design and Construction of an Automatic Solar Tracking System by Md. Tanvir
Arafat Khan, S.M. Shahrear Tanzil, Rifat Rahman, S M Shafiul Alam published in
6th International Conference on Electrical and Computer Engineering ICECE 2010,
18-20 December 2010, Dhaka, Bangladesh
3. " IMPLEMENTATION OF A PROTOTYPE FOR A TRADITIONAL SOLAR TRACK-
ING SYSTEM" by Nader Barsoum published in the 2009 Third UKSim European
Symposium on Computer Modeling and Simulation
4. " Microcontroller Based Solar Tracking System" by Aleksandar Stjepanovic, Sladjana
Stjepanovic, Ferid Softic, Zlatko Bundalo published in Serbia,Nis,October 7-9, 2009
5. " Microcontroller-Based Two-Axis Solar Tracking System" by Lwin Lwin Oo and Nang
Kaythi Hlaing published in Second International Conference on Computer Research
and Development
