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Tracking Solar Panel: Data Analysis

This document describes a solar panel tracking system that uses light dependent resistors (LDRs), an analog-to-digital converter, microcontroller, and stepper motor to automatically adjust the position of a solar panel to maximize exposure to the sun's rays. The system uses two LDRs on the solar panel to measure light intensity and determine if the panel is perpendicular to the sun. When light levels differ, the microcontroller activates the stepper motor to adjust the panel's tilt until both LDRs detect equal light intensity, indicating correct positioning for maximum solar absorption.

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Pravat Satpathy
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© © All Rights Reserved
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
180 views

Tracking Solar Panel: Data Analysis

This document describes a solar panel tracking system that uses light dependent resistors (LDRs), an analog-to-digital converter, microcontroller, and stepper motor to automatically adjust the position of a solar panel to maximize exposure to the sun's rays. The system uses two LDRs on the solar panel to measure light intensity and determine if the panel is perpendicular to the sun. When light levels differ, the microcontroller activates the stepper motor to adjust the panel's tilt until both LDRs detect equal light intensity, indicating correct positioning for maximum solar absorption.

Uploaded by

Pravat Satpathy
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Tracking Solar Panel: Data Analysis

1) At what angle to the Sun’s rays must you position a solar panel to expose the panel to the
maximum intensity of light? Draw a diagram describing your answer.

2) Use the following diagram and data from the Data Log to propose a relationship between
the Sun’s altitude and the tilt of a solar panel positioned for maximum solar intensity.

solar panel

Sun’s altitude (○)

tilt of solar
panel (○)

Remember, the sum of the angles of a triangle equals 180○.

The objective of this project is to control the position of a solar panel in


accordance with the motion of sun. Brief Methodology: This project is designed with
solar panels, LDR, ADC, Microcontroller, Stepper Motor and its driving circuit. In this
project two LDRs are fixed on the solar panel at two distinct points. LDR (Light
Dependant Resistor) varies the resistance depending upon the light fall. The varied
resistance is converted into an analog voltage signal. The analog voltage signal is then
fed to an ADC. ADC is nothing but analog to digital Converter which receives the two
LDR voltage signals and converts them to corresponding digital signal. Then the
converted digital signal is given as the input of the microcontroller. Microcontroller
receives the two digital signals from the ADC and compares them. The LDR signals are
not equal except for normal incidence of sunlight. When there is a difference between
LDR voltage levels the microcontroller program drives the stepper motor towards
normal incidence of sunlight.

2
1) INTRODUCTION Renewable energy is rapidly gaining importance as an energy
resource as fossil fuel prices fluctuate. At the educational level, it is therefore critical for
engineering and technology students to have an understanding and appreciation of the
technologies associated with renewable energy.
One of the most popular renewable energy sources is solar energy. Many
researches were conducted to develop some methods to increase the efficiency of
Photo Voltaic systems (solar panels). One such method is to employ a solar panel
tracking system .This project deals with a micro- controller based solar panel tracking
system. Solar tracking enables more energy to be generated because the solar panel is
always able to maintain a perpendicular profile to the sun’s rays. Development of solar
panel tracking systems has been ongoing for several years now. As the sun moves
across the sky during the day, it is advantageous to have the solar panels track the
location of the sun, such that the panels are always perpendicular to the solar energy
radiated by the sun. This will tend to maximize the amount of power absorbed by PV
systems. It has been estimated that the use of a tracking system, over a fixed system,
can increase the power output by 30% - 60%. The increase is significant enough to
make tracking a viable preposition despite of the enhancement in system cost. It is
possible to align the tracking heliostat normal to sun using electronic control by a micro
controller. Design requirements are: 1) During the time that the sun is up, the system
must follow the sun’s position in the sky. 2) This must be done with an active control,
timed movements are wasteful. It should be totally automatic and simple to operate. The
operator interference should be minimal and restricted to only when it is actually
required. The major components of this system are as follows.

1) Input photo transducer (LDR).

2) Analog to digital converter.

3) 555 Timer.

4) Output mechanical transducer (stepper motor).

3
LDR
DC
Relay Motor
Driver

LM39
3
Controll
er

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