03-03-2011, 09:34 AM
[attachment=9398]
Automation of solar tracking for home application
Abstract
The project researches a new sun light tracking automatic system based on programmable logic controller (PLC).
It not only can automatically adjust the orientation of the solar cell panels according to sun light direction, but also can member and correct automatically, coordinate location
with different time during tracking without human intervention.
The power obtained from solar panel is stored in a battery and used to drive a home appliance
The on and off of the appliance is automated and controlled using PLC to save energy
Block Diagram
Introduction
If vertical direction can always be kept between solar cell panels and light, in order to maximize the solar energy received, which it can take full advantage of abundant solar energy resources.
According to experiments about solar power generation, under the same conditions, the generating power of tracking automatically increases about 35% than fixed ones.
As a result, it is a very valuable research about designing and developing control system of tracking automatically sun light.
According to studies a large amount of energy is being wasted to unattended rooms. This could be prevented by home automation by cutting off the appliances in the absence of persons.
• Literature Survey
• Existing methods
Disadvantages:
Built using microcontroller, which are not expandable.
Any modification requires rebuilding of hardware
Very expensive to build solar power stations, although the cost is coming down as technology improves. In the meantime, solar cells cost a great deal compared to the amount of electricity they'll produce in their lifetime.
Can be unreliable unless you're in a very sunny climate.
There exist more loss in light energy.
Proposed Work
Solar panel is a board that contains many solar cells. These two sensors are mounted in “V” shape as in figure 1 exactly in the middle of the solar panel.
The automatic sun tracking is accomplished according to following 3-step diagram. There is 2 sensors used in this project.
The idea of using the sensor is selecting two most appropriate types which in this case the use of LDR (Light Dependant Resistor) which sense light energy. Since these sensors give resistance proportional to light efficiency.
If the sun light is detected the sensor and the plc give the command to change the direction of PV cell. in this project has no loss of light energy and can save 99% energy.
• Step-1 shows that when the sun is in front of solar panel, both sensors which is STS-1 and STS-2 are getting same amount of light.
• In step-2, after some time as the earth rotates the solar panel gets repositioned with respect to sun and STS-1 obtains less amount of light.
• At this point the STS-1 sends signal to the circuit. Then the circuit will sends data to the PLC and process it to rotate the stepper motor, result in the rotation of solar panel towards the sun.
• Finally step-3 shows the reorientation of solar panel. Finally step-3 shows the reorientation of solar panel. The process continues until the end of day
Advantages and expected outcomes
35% more energy can be obtained from the PV panels which tracked the sun on two axes when compared to the PV panels at fixed positions.
Due to the mentioned benefit which will be obtained by using this system, it is certain that less PV panels will be used in sun-tracking PV systems.
sun-tracking PV systems will be more economical regarding the number of panels used and they will decrease the investment costs.
As the project is based on PLC, it has the prime advantage of expandability for future requirements.
PLC is used as centralised controller for home automation
Automation of solar tracking for home application
Abstract
The project researches a new sun light tracking automatic system based on programmable logic controller (PLC).
It not only can automatically adjust the orientation of the solar cell panels according to sun light direction, but also can member and correct automatically, coordinate location
with different time during tracking without human intervention.
The power obtained from solar panel is stored in a battery and used to drive a home appliance
The on and off of the appliance is automated and controlled using PLC to save energy
Block Diagram
Introduction
If vertical direction can always be kept between solar cell panels and light, in order to maximize the solar energy received, which it can take full advantage of abundant solar energy resources.
According to experiments about solar power generation, under the same conditions, the generating power of tracking automatically increases about 35% than fixed ones.
As a result, it is a very valuable research about designing and developing control system of tracking automatically sun light.
According to studies a large amount of energy is being wasted to unattended rooms. This could be prevented by home automation by cutting off the appliances in the absence of persons.
• Literature Survey
• Existing methods
Disadvantages:
Built using microcontroller, which are not expandable.
Any modification requires rebuilding of hardware
Very expensive to build solar power stations, although the cost is coming down as technology improves. In the meantime, solar cells cost a great deal compared to the amount of electricity they'll produce in their lifetime.
Can be unreliable unless you're in a very sunny climate.
There exist more loss in light energy.
Proposed Work
Solar panel is a board that contains many solar cells. These two sensors are mounted in “V” shape as in figure 1 exactly in the middle of the solar panel.
The automatic sun tracking is accomplished according to following 3-step diagram. There is 2 sensors used in this project.
The idea of using the sensor is selecting two most appropriate types which in this case the use of LDR (Light Dependant Resistor) which sense light energy. Since these sensors give resistance proportional to light efficiency.
If the sun light is detected the sensor and the plc give the command to change the direction of PV cell. in this project has no loss of light energy and can save 99% energy.
• Step-1 shows that when the sun is in front of solar panel, both sensors which is STS-1 and STS-2 are getting same amount of light.
• In step-2, after some time as the earth rotates the solar panel gets repositioned with respect to sun and STS-1 obtains less amount of light.
• At this point the STS-1 sends signal to the circuit. Then the circuit will sends data to the PLC and process it to rotate the stepper motor, result in the rotation of solar panel towards the sun.
• Finally step-3 shows the reorientation of solar panel. Finally step-3 shows the reorientation of solar panel. The process continues until the end of day
Advantages and expected outcomes
35% more energy can be obtained from the PV panels which tracked the sun on two axes when compared to the PV panels at fixed positions.
Due to the mentioned benefit which will be obtained by using this system, it is certain that less PV panels will be used in sun-tracking PV systems.
sun-tracking PV systems will be more economical regarding the number of panels used and they will decrease the investment costs.
As the project is based on PLC, it has the prime advantage of expandability for future requirements.
PLC is used as centralised controller for home automation