Smart Commercial Single Axis Solar Tracking System

Sunlight based tracker, a framework that positions an object at a point comparative with the Sun. The most-well-known applications for sun powered trackers are situating solar panels so they stay perpendicular to the Sun's rays. PV sun powered trackers adjust the direction that a solar panel is faci

Project Title

Smart Commercial Single Axis Solar Tracking System

Project Area of Specialization

Electrical/Electronic Engineering

Project Summary

Sunlight based tracker, a framework that positions an object at a point comparative with the Sun. The most-well-known applications for sun powered trackers are situating solar panels so they stay perpendicular to the Sun's rays. PV sun powered trackers adjust the direction that a solar panel is facing according to the position of the Sun in the sky. By keeping the panel opposite to the Sun, more daylight strikes the solar panel, less light is reflected, and more energy is ingested. Trackers are used to minimize the angle of incidence between the approaching daylight and a photovoltaic panel, at times known as the cosine error. Reducing this angle expands how much energy produced from a fixed amount of installed power generating capacity.The project aims to make more efficient and improved design version of single axis solar trackers which are currently available in market. It will enhance the tracker’s efficiency and accuracy.The project will include both domains, hardware and software. The mechanical design will be improved by using good geometry and materials, efficient motor and gears. While, the software will be made with high accuracy sun positioning algorithms integrated with GPS to calculate position and time as well as other sensors for various features. The tracking system will be integrated with a mobile app and SCADA system, giving user full control and data monitoring of the system.

Project Objectives

The objectives are as follows

Objective 1 :

Task 1 : In motor selection, efficiency, torque load and degree of control will be considered. Gear will be selected on optimum turn-ratio specification.

Task 2: The gear and the motor will be coupled and then integrated with motor driver and microcontroller for accurate control and positioning of the solar plates, Finally the working of the whole motor drive will be tested with loads and angles.

Objective 2:

Task 3: For software development to control the hardware, Raspberry pi microcontrollers will be used, Different sun-positioning algorithms will be reviewed and the best fitting one will be selected to be implemented through programming. Different sensors will be integrated to monitor real time weather conditions , that are wind speed, solar irradiance and rain sensor. In different weather conditions different actions will be taken by the system to ensure safety and efficiency of solar panels.

Task 4: The control and monitoring system will be developed with raspberry pi with a user friendly environment. which will display the condition of the system and gives full control for different purposes. All the components of the system will be placed in compact design cover, with separate power supply provided to the system which will be solar based.

Objective 3:

Task 5: A lightweight and durable supporting frame will be designed, First of all, A 3D model will be designed on software, Different materials will be selected and will be analyzed with different geometries of the frame. It’s mechanical factors will be assessed and design will be corrected to optimum parameters.

Task 6 : After completion the Efficiency, Accuracy and maximum loading limit of the project will be tested and analyzed with various physical conditions.
 

Project Implementation Method

The project will be started by reviewing previous methods, outcomes, and designs, then selection of the economical components to be used. It will start with acquisition of constituent machine parts: microcontroller, drive, motor and gear parts.

 In motor selection, efficiency, torque load and degree of control will be considered. Gear will be selected on optimum turn-ratio specification.

The gear and the motor will be coupled and then integrated with the motor driver and microcontroller for accurate control and positioning of the solar plates, finally, the working of the whole motor drive will be tested with loads and angles.

Different sun-positioning algorithms will be reviewed and the best fitting one will be selected to be implemented through programming

A lightweight and durable supporting frame will be designed

The control and monitoring system will be developed in a user-friendly environment.

Benefits of the Project

The majority of clients of solar power here have fixed solar systems or single-axis tracking ones but use imported trackers. Residential customers use fixed solar panels. While single-axis tracking can increase the converted energy or in other words efficiency of solar panels, The commercial standards design will surely claim its spot in the local market. Hence will be first step towards local solar tracker manufacturing.

Technical Details of Final Deliverable

Commercial standard complete 3 kilowatts domestic PV sun tracking system with controlling software and an Mobile App will be developed.

Final Deliverable of the Project

HW/SW integrated system

Core Industry

Energy

Other Industries

Core Technology

Clean Tech

Other Technologies

Internet of Things (IoT)

Sustainable Development Goals

Affordable and Clean Energy, Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, Climate Action

Required Resources

If you need this project, please contact me on contact@adikhanofficial.com