Report 2

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CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION

Solar tracking systems and heating and cooling systems are defined in this report. In

addition to our current knowledge, we are adding some new literature surveys, data collection

and data analysis which is useful for solar tracker project. Moreover, this report also mentions

about problem definition, hypothesis, literature survey, data collecting and data analysis for

investigation and evaluation on the solar heating and cooling system of a house.

1.1 INTRODUCTION

A Solar tracker is a device for orienting a solar photovoltaic panel or concentrating solar

reflector or lens toward the sun. The sun's position in the sky varies both with the seasons

(elevation) and time of day as the sun moves across the sky. Solar powered equipment works

best when pointed at or near the sun, so a solar tracker can increase the effectiveness of such

equipment over any fixed position, at the cost of additional system complexity.

Solar tracking systems and heating and cooling systems have many type of applications for

solar power systems which are consist of this report. Therefore, there are several factors that

effect the efficiency of the collection process. The efficiency is very important to this system.

There are two main criteria for solar tracker which are efficiency and cost.

Solar trackers have many advantages which are;

Need no fuel

Non-polluting & quick responding

Adaptable for on-site installation

Easy maintenance

Can be integrated with other renewable energy sources

Simple & efficient

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CHAPTER 2

PROBLEM DEFINITION

2.1 PROBLEM DEFINITON

One of the most important problems facing the world today is the energy problem. This

problem is resulted from the increase of demand for electrical energy and high cost of fuel.

The solution was in finding another renewable energy sources such as solar energy, wind

energy, potential energy...etc. Nowadays, solar energy has been widely used in our life, and

it's expected to grow up in the next years. Tracking systems try to collect the largest amount

of solar radiation and convert it into usable form of electrical energy (DC voltage) and store

this energy into batteries for different types of applications. The sun tracking systems can

collect more energy than what a fixed panel system collects.

Figure 1. Solar Tracker Mechanism with parts

Figure 2. Solar Tracker Mechanism

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2.2 HYPOTHESIS

In our project we have a hypothesis for investigation and evaluation on the solar heating and

cooling system of a house which is shown in the below.

• The project is to build a solar tracker system that heat, and cool indoor areas, by using

a Arduino, and with the use of appropriate heating and cooling mechanisms, in

Ankara, in summer season.

Figure 3. Solar Heating and Cooling Scheme

2.3 RESEARCH QUESTION

• How can we build a solar tracking system with the use of %21,5 efficiency solar panel

and control the climation of an indoor area?

Figure 4. Photovoltaic Solar Cell

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CHAPTER 3

LITERATURE SURVEY

The aim of the project is to build a solar tracking system, as to improve the efficiency of the

electricity produced by the sun panel. Nelson Kelly A. And Thomas Gibson L. (2009) claim

that it is well-known that two-axis tracking, in which solar modules are pointed at the sun,

improves the overall capture of solar energy by a given area of modules by 30–50% versus

modules with a fixed tilt. There are many researches and many different types of two axis sun

tracking systems. In this chapter there are some literature surveys added on this project. In

addition to this, most important systems are analyzed, and explained.

The aim of the F. Huang project is designed a microcontroller based automatic sun tracker

combined with a new solar energy conversion unit in 1998 .The automatic sun tracker was

implemented with a dc motor and a dc motor controller. The solar energy conversion unit

consisted of an array of solar panels, a step-up chopper, a single-phase inverter, an ac mains

power source and a microcontroller based control unit. High efficiency was achieved through

the automatic sun tracker and the Maximum power point tracker (MPP) detector. In this

system, the MPP detection and the power conversion were realized by using the same

hardware circuit. This system very efficient with using maximum power point tracker

detector. In contrast to the existed literature surveys, in these system, the MPP was detected

by software which was embedded in a microcontroller. [F. Huang, 1998].

Another study of Hasan A. Yousef had given the design and Implementation of a fuzzy logic

computer controlled sun tracking system to enhance the power output of photo-voltaic (PV)

solar panels in 1999. The Hasan A. Yousef tracking system was driven by two permanent

magnet DC motors to provide motion of the PV panels in two axes. A PC-based fuzzy logic

control algorithm utilizing the knowledge of the system behaviour was designed in order to

achieve the control objectives because the control of the dual axis tracking system. These

solar tracker system implementation of such a controller was realized by building.

An interfacing card consisting of sensor data acquisition, motor driving circuits, signal

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conditioning circuits and serial communication with the PC. These type of controller and PC

based fuzzy logic control algorithm will back up our solar tracker. [ Hasan A. Yousef , 1999]

The study of Chee-Yee Chong had given the process for track fusion in 2000. They used the

concept of multiple targets tracking in these system because it had shown that tracking with

multiple sensors can provide better performance than using a single sensor. The approach of

these system to multiple targets tracking with multiple sensors was to first perform single

sensor tracking and then fused the tracks from the different sensors. By using two processing

for tracking fusion were presented: sensor to sensor track fusion, and sensor to system track

fusion. These solar tracker sensor system logic will useful for our solar tracker efficiency.

[Chee-Yee Chong, 2000]

The study of Ashok Kumar Saxena and V. Dutta had designed a microprocessor based

controller for solar tracking in 1990. The controller capacity were useful in autonomous photo

voltaic systems that control system were monitoring in remote areas. Solar tracking was

achieved in both open loop and closed loop modes. The controller was totally automatic and

did not need any operator interference unless needed. The system is very useful because

[Ashok Kumar Saxena and V.Dutta, 1990].

Another study of Konar and A.K. Mandal had given a microprocessor based automatic

position control in the year of 1991. They had designed for controlling the azimuth angle of

an tilted photovoltaic solar panel and cylindrical reflector to get the illumination surface for

positioned because of the collection of maximum solar irradiation. The system resulted in

saving of solar energy. The system was designed as a fake tracker in which step tracking way,

which system had been used to keep the motor idle for saving energy. Temperature variations

in environmental parameters caused by fog, rain, distance from the location where the solar

panel was located, the system did not affect proper direction when the system try to finding

sun. This system is very efficient way because the solar tracker have a saving energy

mode.[A. Konar and A.K Mandal, 1991]

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The study of Zeroual had designed an automatic sun-tracker system for optimum solar

energy collection in the year of 1997. They used electro-optical sensors for sun finding and a

microprocessor controller in this system. Moreover, this system allowed to use solar energy

collectors to follow the sun position for optimum efficiency. The solar tracker system had a

modular structure which the system have facilitates its application to different systems

without any modifications. The system had been applied to control a water heating solar

system for houses in domestic uses. Many parameters had been controlled for system security

such as temperature, pressure and wind velocity. The solar tracker system had been tested for

a long period in variable illumination of the sun. The results are showed that it gives high

accuracy. In addition to this, this system is very efficient for our solar tracker with use in

heating and cooling systems in the houses. [A.Zeroual, 1997].

The other study of Eftichios Koutroulis had given the microcontroller based photovoltaic

maximum power point tracking control system in the year of 2001. Maximum power point

tracking (MPPT) was used in photovoltaic systems to maximize the photovoltaic array output

power. A new maximum power point system tracking had developed,consisting of a dc/dc

converter, which was controlled by a microcontroller-based unit. The photovoltaic arrays

output power send to a load was increased using maximum power point control systems. The

resulting system had high-efficiency and lower-cost. This system is shows the way how can

design a solar tracker with microcontroller which is have a high efficiency. [ Eftichios

Koutroulis, 2001].

The last study of A.Khalil had given in experimental investigation way of a sun tracking

system in the year of 2004. This sun tracking system is tried to collect the largest amount of

solar radiation and converted it into usable form of electrical energy. Thus, this system stored

this energy into batteries for different types of applications. The sun tracking systems could

collect more energy than what a fixed panel system collected. Therefore, the system was easy

to implement and efficient. The sun tracking system was an efficient system for solar energy

collection. This study is useful for our high efficiency solar tracker. [A.A. Khalil, 2004]

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CHAPTER 4

DATA COLLECTION

4.1 DATA COLLECTION

In our data collection, we have collect mechanism structure, reference system structure,

software and control system of the solar tracker by the help of the both literature survey and

internet research.

4.1.1 SOLAR TRACKER MECHANISM

The important and useful project is the study of, Bostancı. S. And Tang T. (2006). The

study is a very 7aket he7nal industrial one.In this solar tracker panel mechanism consists of

two frames that connected to each other, and motors connected in two sides. The use of two

frames connected together decreases the momental force on the motors, by this way ideal

energy consumption is achieved.In our solar tracker, we use this panel mechanism beacuse of

this mechanism provides a low energy consumption for rotation. A frame carries three

photovoltaic panels, and each can move in horizontal axis, the frame itself can move in the

vertical axis, so the two axis sun tracking is being achieved.Instead of three photovoltaic

panels, we can use only one panel in this mechanism. This panel mechanism is efficient for

rotation when the system tracking the sun. The system is one of the most important studies in

literature. We have inspired our solar tracker mechanism by the help of this study.

Figure 5. Solar Tracker Mechanism Structure

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The mechanism of solar panel consists of two frames connected to each other;

- Outer Frame

- Inner Frame

- Solar Panel

Figure 6. Our Solar Tracker Mechanism

Dc Motors:

-12 v dc motor for ınner panel (left side)

-24 v dc motor for outer panel (right side)

Figure 7. Our DC motors

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4.2 CONTROLLER OF THE SOLAR TRACKER

In our solar tracker, we use new technology controller which is called as Arduino. This

system provides us easy user interface and programming. By the help of this, we achieved

efficient controlling system for solar tracker in two axis direction.

Figure 8. Arduino processor

(http://hearth.com/econtent/index.php/wiki/8d1e6930d8db3a522ab33b88366567a7/)

Figure 9. Dc motor controller by arduino (breadboard scheme)

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4.2.1 SOFTWARE FOR SOLAR TRACKING

We use simple software that demonstrate basic Arduino commands which are shown in the

below. In these demonstration, we use Solar cells as a sensor.

if(pil1 - pil2>100)

{

digitalWrite(motor1Pin1, LOW);

digitalWrite(motor1Pin2, HIGH);

}

else if (pil2 - pil1>100)

{

digitalWrite(motor1Pin1, HIGH);

digitalWrite(motor1Pin2, LOW);

}

else if(pil1-pil2<100 && pil2-pil1<100)

{

digitalWrite(motor1Pin1, LOW);

digitalWrite(motor1Pin2

4.3 REFERENCE SYSTEM MECHANISM

The system of Hamilton J. S. uses a pyramid reference system to track the sun. This design

is useful by the help of a four sided pyramid structure with solar cells mounted on each side.

The solar cells,which are acting as sensors, are positioned so they are orthogonal to the

opposing sensor. While the design from Larard (1998) was kept, the size of the pyramid

structure was increased to accommodate the larger solar panels used as sensors. This structure

provides that when the pyramid is pointing directly at the sun the four sensors will have the

same voltage reading. By having the sensors set at 45˚ angles, when the pyramid is not

pointing directly at the sun the voltage will increase on the side(s) which is the most exposed

to the sun. This allows for comparisons to be made between opposing sets of sensors,which in

turn can be used to control the direction of movement of the array. This system is a very

efficient way to track the sun in two axis,pyramid shape reference system provides a high

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efficiency. In addition to this, by the help of the reference system, solar tracker use minimum

energy for tracking the sun. As a result, we used these pyramid shape structure in our solar

tracker by the help of Hamilton J. S. study.

Figure 10. Our Pyramid Shape Structure

Figure 11.Solar Cell (Our sensors)

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CHAPTER 5

DATA ANALYSIS

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CHAPTER 6

CONCLUSION

In this report,the solar tracking system will be good system for making of improve the solar

tracker, solar cell, equivalent circuit of a solar cell and software. The controller circuit used to

applied this system has been designed with a minimal number of components and has been

integrated onto a single Arduino for simple assembly. The use of dc motors enables accurate

tracking of the sun while keeping track of the array's current position in relation to its initial

position. All of the criteria is extremely important to solar tracker heating and cooling.This

report is consist of explain; problem definition, hypothesis, literature survey, data collecting

and data analysis.In addition, we can seek data collection and data analysis which are product

of long study.This study is extensive research to solar tracker heating and cooling systems.

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