A Cost-effective Microcontroller based Sensor for Dual Axis Solar Tracking

Abstract

Energy crisis is one of the most important issues in today’s world. Conventional energy resources are limited and are one of the primary reasons for pollution and global warming. The use of renewable energy is becoming increasingly popular. Solar energy is rapidly gaining ground as an important mean of expanding renewable energy use. Solar tracking is employed in order to maximize solar radiation collection by a photovoltaic panel. In this paper we present the design, fabrication, and testing of an active dual axis closed loop solar tracking sensor. The compactness of the design facilitates its easy mounting on any surface or place exposed to solar irradiance. The solar irradiance is detected by an Organic Photovoltaic Cell (OPV) which scans the sky for the maximum power point. Different modes of operation have been accommodated in a single generic mode which stops operation at night and facilitates night return of the panel(s) the sensor is connected to. This system is independent with respect to geographical location of the solar panel and diurnal as well as seasonal variations. This sensor can be effectively employed in efficient solar energy extraction for systems of any scale. The operation of the system is also independent with respect to the initial configuration and the starting conditions. The experimental testing shows agreement with true sun coordinates with a satisfactory degree of accuracy. This work can be extended to reduce the scan time of the sensor.