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Actuation
Abhiram Bhuvanendran1, Vighneswar Praful1, Anjali B S1, J Ramprabhakhar2
1
Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering, Amrita School of Engineering, Bengaluru, Amrita Vishwa
Vidyapeetham, India
2
Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Amrita School of Engineering, Bengaluru, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham,
India
e-mail: bs_anjali@blr.amrita.edu
Abstract— This paper is to design and develop a microcontroller of the system. In this paper, a new solar tracking mechanism
based solar mirror actuation system. In recent years solar energy with a mirror booster is introduced. Mirror increases the
has rapidly become an alternative means of power source all over output power generated by the solar panel since more
the world. Solar energy becomes profitable when maximum irradiance will be present on its surface compared to the
irradiance is available on the surface of the panel, but during off-
condition where the mirror booster is not present [4]. The
noon conditions, the irradiance on the surface reduces thereby
resulting in less power generation by the panel. This paper deals designed tracker has a precise control mechanism. The design
with the design and construction of the solar-tracking system and implementation methodology of a small prototype of
with a mirror by using ATmega168 microcontroller programmed single axis solar tracking system with a mirror booster is
by Arduino. The mirror reflecting more irradiance is used to presented. This paper proposes a new solar power generation
maximize the efficiency. The mirror will travel from East to West system is composed of solar tracking with mirror booster
and vice-versa, while the solar panel is kept in the North-South actuated by a microcontroller programmed by Arduino
direction at a particular angle with respect to surface level. The programming board in order to provide maximum irradiance
prototype is a programmed ATmega168 microcontroller which to the surface of the solar panel during off noon conditions [5].
controls the system by communicating with a current sensor,
In this experiment is manually sampled and proper resistance
voltage divider measurements and motor driver based on the
movement of the sun. The performance and characteristics of the (load) applied to obtain maximum power for any given
proposed system are experimentally analyzed. environmental conditions. In this study, a prototype is
developed and tested to verify the performance of the
proposed solar power generation system.
Keywords— Arduino, DC Motor, Solar Panel, Mirror
II. SOLAR TRACKING
I. INTRODUCTION
The current dependence on fossil fuels for energy is one of Solar tracking involves tracking the position of the sun by
the greatest concerns of our generation. The problem is that means of actuating a panel according to the various position of
the extraction of these fuels requires some input energy and the sun. But this is not restricted to the solar panel only as
the returns have to be greater than the amount of energy even reflectors or lenses can also be made to do the same to
invested. Since the fossil fuel supplies are getting strained, increase the irradiance on the surface of the solar panel. One
they are also becoming increasingly expensive. Also the way to achieve this is by actuating a mirror with the help of an
pollutants released are dangerous [1]. algorithm developed after collecting data on the Sun’s position
Solar energy is gaining importance since it causes less throughout the day [5],[6].
pollution, no noise and the cost of fossil fuel energy is rising. A. Solar Panel
A major factor in favour of solar energy is the decreasing cost A group of photovoltaic cells connected together either in
of solar cells [2],[3]. This enables small capacity distributed series or parallel makes the Solar panel. A series connection is
power generation systems with solar energy to be widely used needed for a higher voltage output whereas a parallel
in residential applications in the near future. Unless high connection gives a higher current output. Mostly poly silicone
efficient solar panels are used, the only way to enhance the cells are used in the making of solar cells although much
performances by increasing the intensity of light falling on it research is going into other materials such as Gallium Arsenide
i.e. .by increasing the irradiance on the surface of the panel. to increase the efficiency of the cell. All such materials use the
Solar trackers are the most appropriate and proven technology energy from the photon to produce a flow of current with the
that increases the efficiency of the solar panel by keeping the respective materials producing different levels of efficiency in
panels always aligned with the sun. Even though the the conversion of light energy to electricity.
technology for trapping solar energy is already in existence,
the process proposed is used to increase the overall efficiency
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initializes with a particular position in the morning,
incrementally actuate the mirror as per the time till evening
and then return back to its initial position. The experimental
setup is shown in Fig.6.
Fig. 3 VI Characteristics at 11 am
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TABLE 1
DATA COLLECTED ON A PARTICULAR DAY DURING OFF NOON CONDITIONS
Time angle Irr-wom Irr-wm Rload Vwom Iwom Vwm Iwm Pwom Pwm
The output efficiency of solar cells is less and this reduces [3] Pankaj Kumar Sharma, Anurag Shukla “Design of an Automatic Solar
Tracking System to Maximize Solar-Energy Extraction”, Imperial
its commercial penetration. The proposed system consists of a International Journal of Eco-friendly Technologies Vol. - 1, Issue-1
DC motor that drives a mirror reflector controlled by a (2016), pp.84-88
microcontroller. This system is also simple and economical, [4] CH Srisailam, T. Srihari, T. ChinnaBabu, “Improvement Of Solar
and it is useful for rooftop applications. The system can also Energy By Mirror Reflection Method”, International Journal of
be integrated into any existing solar panel system without Engineering Research and General Science Volume 3, Issue 3, May-
June, 2015
affecting the electrical circuitry.
[5] Shahjahan Ahmed, Mohammed MahmudulAlam Mia,
SushantaAcharjee, Md. Abdul AwalAnsary, “More Efficient Use Of
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