SOLAR

TRACKING SYSTEM
Project Report

Department of Mechanical Engineering

Bahauddin Zakariya University
Group Members:

Muhammad Aqib 2018-ME-08

Qasim Tariq 2018-ME-33
Muhammad Abdullah 2018-ME-24
Usama Kaleem 2018-ME-25
Ahmad Shafeeq 2018-ME-28
Faisal Rehman 2018-ME-13

Project Incharge:

Engr. Hafiz Liaqat Ali

 Single Axis Solar Tracking System
Using Arduino
M Abdullah (24), M Aqib (08), M Qassim Tariq (33)
Usama Kaleem (25), Ahmed Shafeeq (28), Faisal Rehman (13)
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, Pakistan

Abstract:
Solar power generation had been used as a renewable energy since years ago. Residential that uses solar
power as their alternative power supply will bring benefits to them. The main objective of this paper is
to present development of an automatic solar tracking system whereby the system will caused solar
panels will keep aligned with the Sunlight in order to maximize in harvesting solar power. The system
focuses on the controller design whereby it will caused the system is able to tracks the maximum
intensity of Sunlight is hit. When the intensity of Sunlight is decreasing, this system automatically
changes its direction to get maximum intensity of Sunlight. LDR light detector acts as a sensor is used to
trace the coordinate of the Sunlight by detecting brightness level of Sunlight. While to rotate the
appropriate position of the panel, a DC-geared motor is used. The system is controlled by two relays as a
DC-geared motor driver and a microcontroller as a main processor. This project is covered for a single
axis and is designed for low power and residential usage applications. From the hardware testing, the
system is able to track and follow the Sunlight intensity in order to get maximum solar power at the
output regardless motor speed.

Introduction:
The development of solar energy conversion methods inevitably leads to the development of
autonomous systems based on photovoltaic panels, such as portable and low-power solar power
plants, street lighting systems, transport, Smart Grid systems, etc. However, when developing and
designing any autonomous systems, there is a question of a compromise between the reliability, ease of
implementation, cost, and efficiency of photovoltaic systems [1–4]. Today, there are various methods
and technologies that increase the efficiency of photovoltaic systems. One of these methods is a solar
tracking system (solar tracker). Currently, solar trackers are divided into two main groups depending on
their rotation mechanism: single-axis trackers and two-axis trackers. Both groups increase the efficiency
of solar cells [5–8]. For large solar power plants, it is cost-effective to use two-axis tracking systems [9–
11]; because the larger the area of the solar panels, the more energy is generated, thus the energy of the
rotating motors can be neglected [12]. A number of other researchers compared the characteristics of
single-axis and two-axis trackers and showed an increase in the energy of two-axis trackers compared to
single-axis trackers by 3–5% [13]. In articles [14], single-axis trackers consisting of several solar panels
are considered. The authors conducted the experiment for a year, and as a result, the data obtained from
the single-axis tracker were compared with the data from the two-axis tracker. It was concluded that the
efficiency difference between them was 4%. The main objective for this project is to develop the sun
tracking solar system model which is a device that follow the movement of the Sun regardless of motor
speed. Beside that, it is to improve the overall electricity generation using single axis sun tracking
system. Depending on the latitude of a particular area and the influence of climatic conditions, trackers
with one axis of rotation are installed with the optimal annual angle of inclination to the Sun [15,19].
In the article [16], a single-axis tracker with a vertical axis of rotation was considered. As a result, the
authors came to the conclusion that in more areas of Chinese territory, such a tracker is the most
optimal. The authors of the article [17] also developed a highly efficient single-axis tracker with a
vertical rotation axis. In the article [18,19], the authors developed a single-axis solar tracker with an
East–West rotation axis and compared it with a stationary solar panel. The tracker’s efficiency was 12–
20% more than fixed solar panel.

Methodology:
The motivation for the research project was due to the fact that the existing solar tracking systems are
costly, have a low solar conversion efficiency and are difficult to maintain in developing countries. The
solar tracking device is a key component in improving the performance of solar collectors for
sustainable power generation [20,21,22]. A solar tracker can keep the collector aperture perpendicular to
the incident light to maximize the solar radiation. It must be reliable and able to follow the sun with a
certain degree of accuracy, return the collector to its original position at the end of the day or during the
night, and track during periods of intermittent cloud cover. a design of an existing single axis solar
tracking device. The arrows show the direction of rotation of the tracker [23]. In addition, a solar tracker
can turn the collector out of focus to protect it from hazardous environmental and working conditions
such as wind gusts, overheating, and failure of the system. To overcome the problem of low energy
conversion efficiency and to get the maximum possible efficiency, it was necessary to optimize the
design of all solar system components [24].
Electric Motor:
Electric motors are continuously used in solar tracking systems due to the fact that they can draw power
straight from the grid. They are however difficult to control in situations where low speed is required,
which is a basic requirement for solar tracking systems. A simple industrial servo motor consists of a
permanent magnet DC motor with an integral tachometer that provides an output voltage proportional to
speed. The drive electronics delivers the necessary voltage and current to the motor based on the voltage
fed back from the tachometer. In this example, a commanded speed (represented as a command
reference voltage) is set in the driver, then the circuitry in the driver compares the tachometer feedback
voltage and determines if the desired speed has been accomplished - known as a closed velocity loop.
The velocity loop is monitoring the commanded velocity and tachometer feedback, while the driver
adjusts the power to the motor to maintain the desired commanded velocity. In a more sophisticated
servo motor system, multiple embedded loops are tuned for optimal performance to provide precision
motion control. The system consists of current, velocity, and position loops that utilize precision
feedback elements. Each loop signals the subsequent loop and monitors the appropriate feedback
elements to make real time corrections to match the commanded parameters.
Fig. 1.1 Block Diagram of Hardware Implementation of Single Axis Solar Tracker

Fig. 1.2 Algorithm for Single Axis Solar Tracker

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