Techno-Environmental Feature-Based Sun Tracking Model Fabrication & Optimal Analyses by Precise Position Algorithm
Techno-Environmental Feature-Based Sun Tracking Model Fabrication & Optimal Analyses by Precise Position Algorithm
ISSN No:-2456-2165
Abstract:- A hardware model of a solar tracker has been Many residential localities comprising of small enclaves
developed to explore different technical and have started their own power generation by installing solar
environmental aspects to generate maximum power. The panels as backup power systems [3]. As the solar rays are a
proposed model consists of a dual-axis structure, whose never-ending source, this type of energy is considered the
operation is based on maximum solar irradiance for a most promising electrical power producing option in the
specific location. Three modes of operation differing in future [4]. Besides electrical energy, other forms of energy,
the degree of freedom of axes movement were tested using such as heat, light, and sound, can also be obtained from solar
two distinct control strategies. Further, different tilt energy [5]. The most important aspect of solar energy is the
angles were considered for this study. The software associated reduction in the emission of different pollutants
platform used to operate the hardware model is Arduino like CO2, NOX, etc., which further helps protect the
Pro Mini. To analyse the effect of the above approaches geosphere and forest cover of the Earth from getting damaged
on the output voltage and to further assess the [6]. A solar tracker system is one of the most effective
implications on the all-day efficiency and cost, an in-house methods for utilizing solar energy [7,8]. The solar tracker
computer code written in the C programming language is basically helps the solar panel orient towards the sun's rays.
used as the basic controller. The code interfaced with The solar intensity varies from time to time. Hence, the solar
Arduino UNO. The Precise Position Algorithm was tracker helps the unit focus and utilize maximum solar
implemented to improve the utilization of solar rays irradiation for a particular position and time [9]. The use of a
further. The single-axis tracker harnessed 25% less tracker improves the critical irradiance value relative to a
power than the dual-axis tracker, while the fixed-axis fixed solar system [10, 11]. These fixed array systems
tracker captured 51% less. Tilting the axis at an angle of generally result less efficiently in comparison with the tracker
28o degrees provided the maximum power. The use of the system having non-zero degrees of freedom in axis motion
Precise Position Algorithm resulted in 11% more all-day [12]. An annual extra electrical power of 40% can be
power and 40% more efficiency than the C programming- generated using a variable boost solar tracker [13]. Despite
based Arduino UNO. various models of solar trackers available in the market, the
single-axis tracker and the dual-axis tracker are still the most
Keywords:- Solar tracker; Fabrication; Optimization, popular in applications [14]. The movement of a single-axis
Precise Position Algorithm. tracker involves locating the sun's position on one axis, i.e.,
either horizontal or vertical, while the dual-axis tracker can
I. INTRODUCTION move over both axes. The authors in [15] have also fabricated
such a model. With all such features of solar trackers, the
The electricity demand is increasing daily, hand-in-hand analyses of operational parameters such as all-day efficiency,
with the burgeoning number of automated units. At the same optimal power, and cost estimation with different tilt angles
time, the conventional energy sources are falling behind due considering Indian geographical location are sparse in the
to the fast-depleting reserves of coal, oil, and natural gas. literature. Fabrication of such solar tracker-based systems
Renewable sources are coming up to compensate for such using open-source hardware such as Arduino Pro Mini is
shortfalls. Rain, tides, geothermal fossils, bio-masses, solar quite rare, which motivated the present work.
rays are the most common sources which replenish
themselves naturally [1]. Among the renewable sources, solar II. PROBLEM FORMULATION
energy can be considered a plentiful source that can be used
to generate electrical power by several technologies. The The present work fabricates a dual-axis solar tracker and
work reported here is undertaken in India, a tropical country further analyses its performance. The performance analysis is
with abundant solar irradiation where almost a fifth of the based on solar voltage, solar power, cell temperature with
world population resides. The Indian government has varying slopes and climatic conditions. The fabricated solar
prioritized solar energy as a technology of interest for tracker model is mainly divided into three parts: input,
meeting the majority of the electricity demand [2]. controller, and output. The light-dependent resistors (LDRs)
provide the input data, while the electrical power corresponds
to the output. The controller is implemented through the C
programming-based Arduino Pro Mini. The efficiency of the
𝐺𝐵 𝛽 1 − 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝛽
+ √ 𝑠𝑖𝑛3 ( )] + 𝐺𝜌𝑔 ( )
Fig 2.1. Concept behind fabrication of the dual-axis solar 𝐺 2 2
tracker
(2.3)
𝐶 = 𝐶𝑂 + 𝐶𝑖
where PPV is the solar power output under standard
(2.4)
conditions, GC and GSTC are the solar irradiances at a
particular place over day hours, and solar irradiance at
where Ci and CO are the initial and operating costs,
standard conditions, respectively. The operating temperature
respectively. The operating cost is evaluated based on power
is fixed at 25°C, considering the tropical latitudes of India. A
generated at different hours along with the maximum value
power temperature coefficient of k and an optical quality of
detected by the tracker. The initial cost involves the
1.5 have also been considered in this regard. Further, the
purchasing capital, depreciation cost, and the depreciation
efficiency(PV) of the solar unit can be calculated on the factor [18].
basis of temperature, wind speed, and certain geographical
parameters of a specific location. The working formula is
given below in equation 2.2 as [16]:
V. RESULTS
The best values of voltage, current, and power as obtained in the second mode (Case II) are shown in Table 5.2.
Time(hours) 8th 9th 10th 11th 12th 13th 14th 15th 16th 17th
Voltage 6.0 6.1 6.1 6.2 6.6 6.3 5.3 3.6 3.0 -
Current 30.0 35.0 50.0 58.0 60.0 56.0 30.0 20.0 10.0 -
Power 180.0 213.5 305.0 360.0 396.0 352.8 159.0 72.0 30.0 -
The results achieved in the third mode of operation have been represented in Table 5.3. The all-day power output calculated
as per the data evaluated by Arduino-based programming for Cases I, II, and III are 2068.3mW, 3208.5mW, 4284.2 mW,
respectively.
In order to explore the possible gain achieved, the fixed axis and single-axis orientation were kept almost the same. Further,
three modes of operation are conducted with the variation of slopes. The tilt angle of only one axis can be controlled in the first and
second modes. As the tilt angle can be varied only for a tracker having one axis fixed, the effect of tilt angle was not studied for the
dual-axis tracker. Hence, case III has been studied by implementing both the Precise Position Algorithm and the Arduino-based
programming. When the axis under control was put under varying slopes, the orientation of the other axis was automatically
controlled by Arduino based program.
In order to validate the experimental data, as well as explore a more precise and accurate result, simulating models have been
further developed using the PVSYST software. The latitude of 28.613939 N and longitude of 77.209023 E corresponding to the
place New Delhi have been considered for this study. The study includes varying slopes in generating maximum power for a
particular time and controller.
Further, the values of power for different slopes for Cases I and II are shown below in Tables 5.4 and 5.5, respectively.
As the tilt angle has been varied over the axis, which is
under control at a time, the fixed axis control (case I) and
single-axis control (case II) have been studied with different
slopes resulting in different power outputs. It has been
observed that, as in fixed axis control, both the axes come
under complete control for the same value of tilt; hence table
IV shows the best possible tilt angle for different hours of a
day. Power generation varies depending on the intensity of
solar irradiance for different hours of the day. A maximum
power generation of about 462.4mW is achieved at 12.00
noon. The precise solar angle obtained for maximum average
power is 27.85 degrees. However, a tilt angle of 30 degrees
corresponding to noon of a particular day generated a solar
power of about 630 mW. Figure 5.1. Power output from fixed axis tracker Vs. single-
axis tracker
The annual optimum horizontal tilt angle for New Delhi
was found as 27.95° using the program PVSYST. Estimated
gains in annual average solar radiation (based on monthly,
seasonal, and annual optimum tilt angles) were 13.13%,
11.80%, and 7.58% for New Delhi.
The comparative results in table V show that an all-day Fig 5.4. Power output as evaluated by C programming and
power gain of 11% can be achieved using the Precise Position the Precise Position Algorithm
Algorithm with respect to that of the generic program
Arduino. The results show a better power profile obtained on an
hourly basis by the Precise Position Algorithm in comparison
A pictorial comparison between the power generated by to the C programming-based Arduino controller. This can be
the implementation of two methods on an hourly basis is explained as follows: unlike the C programming, the Precise
shown below in figure 5.4. Position Algorithm considers the latitude, longitude,
azimuthal angle, zenith angle, elevation angle along with
solar irradiances. Apart from more power generation, the
implementation of the Precise Position Algorithm resulted in
more accurate data corresponding to power, voltage, and
current. Moreover, the energy efficiency calculated by the
Arduino C program is obtained as 37%, while that obtained
by the Precise Position Algorithm is 41%. Further, the cost
calculated for developing the proposed model, rated 100 mA,
Biographies