Indigenous Development of Learning based Rotational Solar Charging Station for Rural Areas

Project Title

Indigenous Development of Learning based Rotational Solar Charging Station for Rural Areas

Project Area of Specialization Computer ScienceProject Summary

Introduction:

The commercial and domestic markets energy demands have been reported to be rising at an alarming growth over recent years. Although non-renewable resources are rapidly reducing, there is really no other choice for providing usable energy rather than use renewable resources. Solar energy is one of these resources, and is the most accessible and easy to harness through solar panels. This project enhances the productivity of solar energy harvesting. The Rotating Solar Panel Using Arduino project aims to power a 9VDC battery using a solar panel positioned on a frame which can rotate using a motor. These motors are getting controlled by an Arduino Uno Board. The Rotating Solar Panel system scans from one surface to another to assess the current position of the sun and, as a result, the best location for harnessing solar energy. To charge the battery, the position with the maximum energy capacity is chosen. By adjusting the Solar panel to be incident directly towards the Sun on a daily basis, we can get the most from it. As a result, this project improves the efficiency hence the smartness of the solar tracking operation.

Problem Statement:

The problem with fixed solar panel is that it is fixed at a certain position and does not follow the sun so when the sun moves away from its path, energy is not produced, even when it is facing towards the sun it cannot get its full potential as it is not in the best position to get sun light, plus in normal solar systems there is no wireless or easily accessible interface or front end, the user has to go to solar panel and check the charge controller for the battery life and other real time details of the solar panel.

Therefore, we proposed a rotating solar panel with a mobile application interface to get the maximum energy and make the life of the user easier. In our system the solar panel will rotate with respect to the sun and follow the sun until dawn which means energy will be stored and used the whole time until the sun is set out. The second is the mobile application interface all the data about the solar panel for example; Voltage, Battery charging, will be Displayed on application which means the user does not have to go to the system and check the details, we will be shifting towards real time data completely

Project Objectives

The purpose of this project will be able to achieve the following objectives, is

1. Build the proto-type of the circuit
2. Implement the code and test it
3. Assemble the hardware
4. Deploy the code on Arduino and test it
5. Working of the solar panel with sunlight

Description of the Goals are as under:

1. To achieve the first goal, we will use the software Proteus and design the circuit of our project consisting of all the components.
2. To achieve the second goal, we will deploy the code in the Arduino on our prototype and test if the circuit is working properly or not and if the solar panels are rotating and showing the position & voltage on the LCD.
3. To achieve our third goal, we will assemble all the components of our hardware together and construct it using the same circuit as of the prototype. We will do the soldering and connect all of them together.
4. To achieve our fourth goal, we will now deploy the code on the Arduino directly using the Arduino Compiler.
5. To achieve our fifth goal, all of the objectives of our project would have been completed by at this stage so we will now test our project.

Project Implementation Method

This project is the rotation of solar panel through sunlight. The solar panel will be rotated according to the sunlight which will be done by Light Dependent Resistors (LDRs). The acceptance of light in LDR will be set according to the threshold of the sun. A mobile application will be designed that will show the Voltage, Battery charging, and Direction (Degrees) received from solar panel in real time by simply checking the application or the LCD available on the circuit box. The data will be sent through HC-05 is a Bluetooth device which displays the data in real time and a MEGA ARDUINO will be used with SIM900 GSM module which will also send data to the user mobile. Rotating the panel and showing data in real time is our target to achieve. Rotating solar panels are nearly negligible in Pakistan and showing real time data in solar system is a plus point. By using LDR’s we will detect the angles to monitor position of the solar plate. The data displaying on the LCD will also be displayed on the Application which can be accessed easily. The prime benefit of using micro controller HC-05 is it built in Bluetooth module. This real time data can be utilized in many ways like if there is a problem with the battery it will show that it is not getting charged at that time, it can also show the amount of battery left through which the user can get to know how much more time they will have electricity. There is a problem which will be solved through the charge controller that if the battery will reach 0 percent that means if you use the full battery, it will be useless and will not charge again so to overcome this charge controller is used which will restrict the flow when the battery level reaches 50 % which can also be changed and configured, it also helps in sending the current from plate to battery which means it will send the amount of current that the battery can tolerate. 

Benefits of the Project

1. Energy demands in the recent years have been recorded to be growing at an exponential rate by the commercial and as well as domestic markets. While the non-renewable resources are rapidly getting depleted, it leaves no other option but to use renewable resources to produce usable energy. One of these resources, the Solar energy is the most abundant and easy to harness resource through Solar panels. This project makes this process of harnessing solar energy more efficient.
2. The Rotating Solar Panel Using Arduino project aims at charging a 9VDC Battery with the help of a Solar Panel mounted on platform which can rotate with the help of a motor. This motor is getting controlled by an Arduino Uno Board which is in turn mounted on the PCB. The Rotating Solar Panel system scans from one horizon to other to know the current position of sun and hence the position from which the greater solar energy can be harnessed. The position which has the highest energy capacity is chosen to charge the Battery. In this way, we can harness the most of from the Solar panel by adjusting it to be incident directly towards Sun consistently. Thus, this project makes this process of harnessing solar energy more efficient and hence smarter.

Technical Details of Final Deliverable

Phase 1: Plan (4 weeks approx.)

• The Problem statement is evaluated thoroughly.
• The context of the problem was developed. What is the problem that needs to be fixed? The Gap was figured out.
• Parties involved; the stakeholders, the various users, and people involved in developing the project.
• The process was developed (May have some changes as the project progresses).

Phase 2: Concept of Operations (3-4 weeks approx.)

• Project Proposal and Introductions was completed.
• Reviewed Functional and non-Functional requirements.
• Literature was reviewed.

Phase 3: Design and Testing ( 5-6 weeks approx.)

• The longest phase in design process. This contains the Critical path for my project.
• It is the most important phase as mistakes, errors can be looked into and corrected.
• A Simulation model will be built and improved through repetition.

Phase 4: Sensitivity and Utility/Cost (3-4 weeks approx.)

• Testing of whether or not our experiments and simulation work
• Their correctness, their overall value.
• May have to re-design models and conduct testing again based on results.

Phase 5: Analysis of Systems (3-4 weeks)

• Trade-off analysis and policy analysis.

Phase 6: Presenting

• FYP Presentation & Demonstration

Final Deliverable of the Project HW/SW integrated systemCore Industry ITOther Industries Energy Core Technology RoboticsOther Technologies Clean TechSustainable Development Goals Good Health and Well-Being for People, Sustainable Cities and CommunitiesRequired Resources

Item Name	Type	No. of Units	Per Unit Cost (in Rs)	Total (in Rs)
			Total in (Rs)	70000
Total cost of dSolar Panel, 3 Servo Motors, Bluetooth Device, 02 Arduino, Male & Female Jumper Wires, Iron & Soldering Wire Station, LDR’s, Resistors, Bread Board, Battery Bank, Buttons, Potentiometer, LCD	Equipment	1	70000	70000