14-06-2014, 03:41 PM
SOLAR TRACKER PANEL
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NEED OF A SOLAR TRACKER
Photovoltaic’s is the field of technology and research related to the application of solar cells as solar energy. Solar cells have many applications. Individual cells are used for powering small devices such as electronic calculators. Photovoltaic arrays generate a form of renewable electricity, particularly useful in situations where electrical power from the grid is unavailable such as in remote area power systems, Earth-orbiting satellites and space probes, remote radiotelephones and water pumping applications. Photovoltaic electricity is also increasingly deployed in grid-tied electrical systems.
Solar Energy has been the power supply of choice for Industrial applications, where power is required at remote locations. Most systems in individual uses require a few kilowatts of power. The examples are powering repeater stations for microwave, TV and radio, telemetry and radio telephones. Solar energy is also frequently used on transportation signaling e.g. lighthouses and increasingly in road traffic warning signals. Solar's great benefit here is that it is highly reliable and requires little maintenance so it's ideal in places that are hard to get to.
While the output of solar cells depends on the intensity of sunlight and the angle of incidence, it means to get maximum efficiency; the solar panels must remain in front of sun during the whole day. But due to rotation of earth those panels can’t maintain their position always in front of sun. This problem results in decrease of their efficiency. Thus to get a constant output, an automated system is required which should be capable to constantly rotate the solar panel. The Solar Tracking System is made as a prototype to solve the problem, mentioned above. It is completely automatic and keeps the panel in front of sun where we get maximum output
AIM OF PROJECT:
Our aim is to design the system, which will automatically track the sun’s position and accordingly change the direction of the solar panel to get the maximum output from the solar cell.
Along with this we are going to make a solar monitoring system using GSM and GPS module.
3PROBLEM DEFINITION
To implement a solar tracking system which will automatically track sun’s position to increase the efficiency of solar system. The GSM facility is provided within the system which helps the user to monitor the system from anywhere in the world.
RECENT TRENDS AND DEVELOPMENTS IN FIELD
Existing techniques for tracking sun rely typically on one of the following methods:
1. One of the methods makes use of sensors mounted on solar panels to obtain the desired rotation.
2. In other method the diurnal motion of the sun is well understood and the telescope is accurately mounted whose orientation is computer controlled depending on sun’s calculated position
But in our system we are directly tracking the sun’s position without making use of sensors thus making the system cost efficient. We are also providing the GSM facility by which we can monitor the system from anywhere in the world.
The charging of the solar cell will take place maximum when the sunrays are falling on it with some particular a guiding source. Solar cells constantly monitor the sunlight and rotate the panel towards the direction where the intensity of sunlight is maximum. The sun moves from the east to west during its day time.
LITERATURE SURVEY:
Criteria for choosing Micro controller:
1. The first & foremost criterion in choosing a Micro controller is that it must meet the task at hand efficiently & cost effectively. In analyzing the needs of a Micro controller based project, we must first see whether an 8-bit, or 16-bit, or 32-bit Micro controller can best handle the computing needs of the task most effectively. Among other considerations in the category are:
• Speed: What is the highest speed that the Micro controller supports?
• Packaging: Does it comes in 40-pin DIP (dual in line package) or 28-pin DIP or a QFP (quad flat package) or some other packaging format? This is important in terms of space, assembling & prototyping the end product.
• Power consumption: This is especially critical for battery-powered products.
• The amount of RAM & ROM on chip.
• The number of I/O pins & the timer on the chip.
• Cost per unit: This is important in terms of the final cost of the product in which a Micro controller is used.
• How many inbuilt function it has?
2. The second criterion in choosing a micro controller is how easy it is to develop products around it. Key considerations include the availability of an assembler, debugger, a code – efficient c language compiler, emulator, technical support, and both in-house and outside expertise.
PIC 89S52 from Micro-chip Corporation
The AT89S52 is a low-power, high-performance CMOS 8-bit microcontroller with 8K bytes of in-system programmable Flash memory. The device is manufactured using Atmel’s high-density nonvolatile memory technology and is compatible with the industry-standard 89S52 instruction set and pinout. The on-chip Flash allows the program memory to be reprogrammed in-system or by a conventional nonvolatile memory programmer. By combining a versatile 8-bit CPU with in-system programmable Flash on a monolithic chip, the Atmel AT89S52 is a powerful microcontroller which provides a highly-flexible and cost-effective solution to many embedded control applications.The AT89S52 provides the following standard features: 8K bytes of Flash, 256 bytes of RAM, 32 I/O lines, Watchdog timer, two data pointers, three 16-bit timer/counters, a six-vector two- level interrupt architecture, a full duplex serial port, on-chip oscillator, and clock circuitry. In addition, the AT89S52 is designed with static logic for operation
down to zero frequency and supports two software selectable power saving modes.
The Idle Mode stops the CPU while allowing the RAM, timer/counters, serial port, and interrupt system to continue functioning. The Power-down mode saves the RAM contents but freezes the oscillator, disabling all other chip functions until the next interrupt
Voltage Regulator 7805:
We need the regulated 5 V output for the most of the IC’s used in our system. Now the output of bridge rectifier is unregulated DC. To get 5V regulated DC output from it we have used regulator IC 7805. The 7805 is designed with adequate heat sinking and can deliver output currents in excess of 1A. It has internal thermal overload protection and internal short circuit current limiting. For proper operation a common ground is required between input and output voltages
Stepper Motor and its Interfacing with Micro Controller
Stepper motor is a digital actuator whose input is in the form of programmed energization of the stator windings and whose output is in the form of discrete angular rotation
Selection of the stepper motor:
To select appropriate stepper motor for our system was important task before use. We had gone through following criterion of the stepper motor to get the appropriate one.
Need of Solar Monitoring System
Our Government pays 1300 Rs. Per street light for per years to some agencies for checking proper working of a panel. The contract is made for 5 years so in all total it pays 6500 Rs per street light. So instead of giving that money to some agencies for monitoring the street light we are going to design a solar street light monitoring system which will work for lifetime so there will lots of saving of money. So we are going to design a system which will monitor all street light panel which will give panel voltage, panel current, battery voltage, battery temp. If any street light is not working then it will be firstly known to our base station through our project accordingly then that street light will given service
Solar Cell:
A solar cell, sometimes called a photovoltaic cell, is a device that converts light energy into electrical energy. A single solar cell creates a very small amount of energy (about .6 volts DC) so they are usually grouped together in an integrated electrical panel called a solar panel. Sunlight is a somewhat diffuse form of energy and only a portion of the light captured by a solar cell is converted into electricity
When the sun rays fall on the solar cell in some particular direction then only we get maximum output .The output of solar cells depends on the intensity of sunlight and the angle of incidence. To get the maximum output the solar panels must remain in front of sun during the whole day. Hence the solar cells are rotated in the direction of sun’s position where we get maximum efficiency; the solar cell captures the sun’s rays and gives the analog output to the ADC.
Sunlight is made up of packets of energy called photons. When the photons strike the semi-conductor layer (usually silicon) of a solar cell a portion of the photons are absorbed by the material rather than bouncing off of it or going through the material.
When a photon is absorbed the energy of that photon is transferred to an electron in an atom of the cell causing the electron to escape from its normal position. This creates, in essence, a hole in the atom. This hole will attract another electron from a nearby atom now creating yet another whole, which in turn is again filled by an electron from another atom. This hole filling process is repeated a few zillion times and voila, an electric current is formed
CAPACITOR-
A capacitor (formerly known as condenser) is a passive electronic component consisting of a pair of conductors separated by a dielectric (insulator). When there is a potential difference (voltage) across the conductors, a static electric field develops in the dielectric that stores energy and produces a mechanical force between the conductors. An ideal capacitor is characterized by a single constant value, capacitance, measured in farads. This is the ratio of the electric charge on each conductor to the potential difference between them.
Capacitors are widely used in electronic circuits for blocking direct current while allowing alternating current to pass, in filter networks, for smoothing the output of power supplies, in the resonant circuits that tune radios to particular frequencies and for many other purposes.
The effect is greatest when there is a narrow separation between large areas of conductor, hence capacitor conductors are often called "plates", referring to an early means of construction. In practice the dielectric between the plates passes a small amount of leakage current and also has an electric field strength limit, resulting in a breakdown voltage, while the conductors and leads introduce an undesired inductance and resistance
Ceramic capacitor
A ceramic capacitor is a fixed value capacitor with the ceramic material acting as the dielectric. It is constructed of two or more alternating layers of ceramic and a metal layer acting as the electrodes. The composition of the ceramic material defines the electrical behavior and therefore the application of the capacitors, which are divided into two stability classes:
• Class 1 ceramic capacitors with high stability and low losses for resonant circuit application.
• Class 2 ceramic capacitors with high volumetric efficiency for buffer, by-pass and coupling applications.
Ceramic capacitors, especially the multilayer version (MLCC), are the most produced and used capacitors in electronic equipment with a produced quantity of approximately 1000 billion pieces per year.[1]
Ceramic capacitors of special shapes and styles are used as capacitors for RFI/EMI suppression, as feed-through capacitors, and in larger dimensions as power capacitors for transmitters
MICROCONTROLLER
The AT89S52 is a low-power, high-performance CMOS 8-bit microcontroller with 8K bytes of in-system programmable Flash memory. The device is manufactured using Atmel’s high-density nonvolatile memory technology and is compatible with the industry- standard 80C51 instruction set and pinout. The on-chip Flash allows the program memory to be reprogrammed in-system or by a conventional nonvolatile memory programmer. By combining a versatile 8-bit CPU with in-system programmable Flash on a monolithic chip, the Atmel AT89S52 is a powerful microcontroller which provides a highly-flexible and cost-effective solution to many embedded control applications.The AT89S52 provides the following standard features: 8K bytes of Flash, 256 bytes of RAM, 32 I/O lines, Watchdog timer, two data pointers, three 16-bit timer/counters, a
six-vector two-level interrupt architecture, a full duplex serial port, on-chip oscillator, and clock circuitry. In addition, the AT89S52 is designed with static logic for operation down to zero frequency and supports two software selectable power saving modes.The Idle Mode stops the CPU while allowing the RAM, timer/counters, serial port, and interrupt system to continue functioning. The Power-down mode saves the RAM contents but freezes the oscillator, disabling all other chip functions until the next interrupt
VOLTAGE REGULATOR
The KA78XX/KA78XXA series of three-terminal positive regulator are available in the TO-220/D-PAK package and with several fixed output voltages, making them useful in a wide range of applications. Each type employs internal current limiting, thermal shut down and safe operating area protection, making it essentially indestructible. If adequate heat sinking is provided, they can deliver over 1A output current. Although designed primarily as fixed voltage regulators, these devices can be used with external components to obtain adjustable voltages and currents
BATTERY
In electricity, a battery is a device consisting of one or more electrochemical cells that convert stored chemical energy into electrical energy.[1] Since the invention of the first battery (or "voltaic pile") in 1800 by Alessandro Volta and especially since the technically improved Daniell cell in 1836, batteries have become a common power source for many household and industrial applications.
There are two types of batteries: primary batteries (disposable batteries), which are designed to be used once and discarded, and secondary batteries (rechargeable batteries), which are designed to be recharged and used multiple times. Batteries come in many sizes, from miniature cells
Secondary battery
rechargeable battery, storage battery, or accumulator is a type of electrical battery. It comprises one or more electrochemical cells, and is a type of energy accumulator. It is known as a secondary cell because its electrochemical reactions are electrically reversible. Rechargeable batteries come in many different shapes and sizes, ranging from button cells to megawatt systems connected to stabilize an electrical distribution network. Several different combinations of chemicals are commonly used, including: lead–acid, nickel cadmium (NiCd), nickel metal hydride (NiMH), lithium ion (Li-ion), and lithium ion polymer (Li-ion polymer).
Rechargeable batteries have lower total cost of use and environmental impact than disposable batteries. Some rechargeable battery types are available in the same sizes as disposable types. Rechargeable batteries have higher initial cost but can recharged very cheaply and used many times
Usage and applications
Rechargeable batteries are used for automobile starters, portable consumer devices, light vehicles (such as motorized wheelchairs, golf carts, electric bicycles, and electric forklifts), tools, and uninterruptible power supplies. Emerging applications in hybrid electric vehicles and electric vehicles are driving the technology to reduce cost and weight and increase lifetime.[1]
Traditional rechargeable batteries have to be charged before their first use; newer low self-discharge NiMH batteries hold their charge for many months, and are typically charged at the factory to about 70% of their rated capacity before shipping.
Grid energy storage applications use rechargeable batteries for load leveling, where they store electric energy for use during peak load periods, and for renewable energy uses, such as storing power generated from photovoltaic arrays during the day to be used at night. By charging batteries during periods of low demand and returning energy to the grid during periods of high electrical demand, load-leveling helps eliminate the need for expensive peaking power plants and helps amortize the cost of generators over more hours of operation.
The US National Electrical Manufacturers Association has estimated that U.S. demand for rechargeable batteries is growing twice as fast as demand for nonrechargeables.[2]
Charging and discharging
Further information: Battery charger
During charging, the positive active material is oxidized, producing electrons, and the negative material is reduced, consuming electrons. These electrons constitute the current flow in the external circuit. The electrolyte may serve as a simple buffer for internal ion flow between the electrodes, as in lithium-ion and nickel-cadmium cells, or it may be an active participant in the electrochemical reaction, as in lead–acid cells
RESULT AND CONCLUSION
Each and every project is never complete as new things are learned further modifications can be done.
Thus we have tried to make an automated solar tracking system which will increase the efficiency of the solar panel system available. Although there is higher initial cost involved we have tried to make the system cost effective .This is just the beginning, we can add different enhancements to make the system more efficient so that it will work round the year. The solar panels using this system compared with the system prevalent at present has many advantages.
In the present system, solar panels used are stationary which gives less output and hence decrease the efficiency. But by making use of tracker solar panels we can increase efficiency of solar system.
The operator interference is minimal since the system is automated this increases efficiency of the stationary solar system..
There is a lot of hard work involved in developing such a project. Through years of experience the project will get better
Each project will get better than previous one as practice can make us perfect.