GUJARAT TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY

LD COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
A Report on:

Design of a Solar Photovoltaic Efficiency Tracking

System for Improving Solar

Under subject of
Design Engineering, 2-A
BE SEM 5

Name of student Enrolment no.

Mehta Vathsal Pranay 180280109049

Mankodiya Aditya Vinodkumak 180280109047
Mehta Shivam 180280109048

Guided by: Professor Jiten Chavda

Abstract:
The objective of this project is to make a smart solar panel which is follow the
sun light. Solar panel converts sun light into electricity. It is eco- friendly and
low-cost energy. But the solar panel is unable to move in front of the light
source, hence solar panel does not produce electricity of its full capacity which
is available. Solar panel is unable to move, it is fixed at one position. If we want
full energy output from solar panel then we need to move manually solar
panel in front of the sun light.

The aim of the project is to make an automated system which can track the
movement of sun in the entire day. Once tracking is achieved with a help of an
actuator coupled with the system should change the position of solar panel so
that we can work at full efficiency throughout the day.

Today our govt is motivated to reduce our carbon footprint and move towards
more sustainable and environmentally friendly methodology of development.
The main disadvantage in today in the world of solar generation is its
efficiency. The aim of this project is to overcome this disadvantage.

The report contains a brief literature regarding what are solar panels, different
types of solar panels, different tracking algorithms, a block diagram and some
simulation results. It also contains various canvases that were prepared during
the design process
TYPES OF SOLAR PANELS:

1) MONO CRYSTALLINE:

Mono crystalline solar panels are made from a large crystal of silicon. These
types of solar panels are the most efficient as in absorbing sunlight and
converting it into electricity, however they are the most expensive. They do
somewhat better in lower light conditions then the other types of solar panels.

2) POLYCRYSTALLINE:

Polycrystalline solar panels are the most common type of solar panels on the
market today. They look a lot like shattered glass. They are slightly less efficient
then the monocrystalline solar panels and less expensive to produce. Instead
of one large crystal, this type of solar panel consists of multiple amounts of
smaller silicon crystal.
 3) CAST POLYSILICON:

In this process, molten silicon is cast in a large block which, when cooled, can
be cut into thin wafers to be used in photovoltaic cells. These cells are then
assembled in a panel. Conducting metal strips are then laid over the cells,
connecting them to each other and forming a continuous electrical current
throughout the panel.

4) AMORPHOUS SOLAR PANELS:

Amorphous solar panels consist of a thin-like film made from molten silicon
that is spread directly across large plates of stainless steel or similar material.
These types of solar panels have lower efficiency then the other two types of
solar panels, and the cheapest to produce. One advantage of amorphous solar
panels over the other two is that they are shadow protected. That means that
the solar panel continues to charge while part of the solar panel cells is in a
shadow. These work great on boats and other types of transportation.
Efficiencies of different types of solar panels:

Efficiency-
Solar Cell Type Advantages Disadvantages
Rate

High efficiency rate;

Monocrystalline
optimised for
Solar Panels ~20% Expensive
commercial use;
(Mono-SI)
high life-time value

Sensitive to high
Polycrystalline temperatures; lower
~15% Lower price
Solar Panels (p-Si) lifespan & slightly less
space efficiency

Thin-Film: Relatively low costs;

shorter warranties &
Amorphous Silicon ~7-10% easy to produce &
lifespan
Solar Panels (A-SI) flexible

Solar tracker & cooling

Very high
Concentrated PV system needed (to
~41% performance &
Cell (CVP) reach high efficiency
efficiency rate
rate)

The most commonly available solar panels that are used in our house holds
have an efficiency of 21%. The initial establishment cost of these panels is also
very high. The payback period is the biggest obstacle that prevent its
omnipresence.

People hesitate to shift to these modes mainly due these factors. Our project is
mainly a try to over come these limitations and persuade more and more
people to shift and adopt these modes.
 Types of trackers:
Single axis trackers:

Horizontal axis:

Several manufacturers can deliver single axis horizontal trackers which may be
oriented by either passive or active mechanisms, depending upon
manufacturer. In these, a long horizontal tube is supported on bearings
mounted upon pylons or frames. The axis of the tube is on a North-South line.
Panels are mounted upon the tube, and the tube will rotate on its axis to track
the apparent motion of the sun through the day. These devices are less
effective at higher latitudes. The principal advantage is the inherent robustness
of the supporting structure and the simplicity of the mechanism.

Vertical axis:

A single axis tracker may be constructed that pivots only about a vertical axle,
with the panels either vertical, at a fixed, adjustable, or tracked elevation
angle. Such trackers with fixed or (seasonably) adjustable angles are suitable
for high latitudes, where the apparent solar path is not especially high, but
which leads to long days in Summer

Two-axis mount:

Altitude-azimuth:

A type of mounting that supports the weight of the solar tracker and allows it
to move in two directions to locate a specific target. One axis of support is
horizontal (called the altitude) and allows the telescope to move up and down.
The other axis is vertical (called the azimuth) and allows the telescope to swing
in a circle parallel to the ground. Restricted to active trackers, this mount is
also becoming popular as a large telescope mount owing to its structural
simplicity and compact dimensions.
Multi-mirror reflective unit:

A multiple mirror reflective system combined with a central power tower is

employed at the Sierra Sun Tower, located in Lancaster, California. This
generation plant operated by E-solar is scheduled to begin operations on August
5, 2009. This system, which uses multiple heliostats in a north-south alignment, uses
pre-fabricated parts and construction as a way of decreasing start-up and operating
costs.

Active tracker:

Active trackers use motors and gear trains to direct the tracker as commanded
by a controller responding to the solar direction. Active two-axis trackers are
also used to orient heliostats - movable mirrors that reflect sunlight toward the
absorber of a central PowerStation. As each mirror in a large field will have an
individual orientation these are controlled programmatically through a central
computer system, which also allows the system to be shut down when
necessary.

Passive tracker:

Passive trackers use a low boiling point compressed gas fluid that is driven to
one side or the other (by solar heat creating gas pressure) to cause the tracker
to move in response to an imbalance. As this is a non-precision orientation it is
unsuitable for certain types of concentrating photovoltaic collectors but works
fine for common PV panel types. These have viscous dampers to prevent
excessive motion in response to wind gusts. Shader/reflectors are used to
reflect early morning sunlight to "wake up" the panel and tilt it toward the sun,
which can take nearly an hour. The time to do this can be greatly reduced by
adding a self-releasing tiedown that positions the panel slightly past the zenith
(so that the fluid does not have to overcome gravity) and using the tiedown in
the evening. (A slack-pulling spring will prevent release in windy overnight
conditions.)
 Block diagram of solar tracking system:

Components discussion:

THE MICROCONTROLLER:

A microcontroller is a general-purpose device, but that is meant to read data,

perform limited calculations on that data and control its environment based on
those calculations. The prime use of a microcontroller is to control the
operation of a machine using a fixed program that is stored in ROM and that
does not change over the lifetime of the system. The microcontroller design
uses a much more limited set of single- and double-byte instructions that are
used to move data and code from internal memory to the ALU. The
microcontroller is concerned with getting data from and to its own pins; the
architecture and instruction set are optimized to handle data in bit and byte
size.

LCD (LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAY)

The Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) is a low power device (microwatts). Now a days
in most applications LCDs are using rather using of LED displays because of its
specifications like low power consumption, ability to display numbers and
special characters which are difficult to display with other displaying circuits
and easy to program.
An LCD requires an external or internal light source. Temperature range of
LCD is 0ºC to 60ºC and lifetime is an area of concern, because LCDs can
chemically
degrade these are manufactured with liquid crystal material (normally organic
for LCDs) that will flow like a liquid but whose molecular structure has some
properties normally associated with solids.

L293D DRIVER

The L293D is a monolithic integrated high voltage, high current four channel
driver designed to accept standard DTL or TTL logic levels and drive inductive
loads and switching power transistor. To simplify use as two bridges is pair of
channels is equipped with an enable input. A separate supply input is provided
from the logic, allowing operational at a low voltage and internal clamp diodes
are included. This device is suitable for use in switching applications at
frequencies up to 5 KHz The L293D is assembled in a 16-lead plastic package
which has 4 centre pins connected together and used for head sinking
POWER SUPPLY:

In this project power supplies with +5V & -5V option normally +5V is enough
for total circuit. Another supply is used in case of OP amp circuit .Transformer
primary side has 230/50HZ AC voltage whereas at the secondary winding the
voltage is step downed to 12/50hz and this voltage is rectified using two full
wave rectifiers .The rectified output is given to a filter circuit to filter the
unwanted ac in the signal After that the output is again applied to a regulator
LM7805(to provide +5v) regulator. WhereasLM7805 is for providing 5V
regulation.
Canvases :

1) AEIOU CANVAS:
2) Mind Mapping Canvas:
3) Empathy Canvas:
4) Ideation Canvas:
5) LNM Canvas:
6) Product Development Canvas:
Simulation results and prototype:
Conclusion:

All my team members have worked satisfactorily in this venture.