PROJECT ON SOLAR SEEKER

BY-:Anugya Shukla

INTRODUCTIONAs the range of applications for solar energy increases, so does the need for improved materials and methods used to harness this power source. There are several factors that affect the efficiency of the collection process. Major influences on overall efficiency include solar cell efficiency, intensity of source radiation and storage techniques. The materials used in solar cell manufacturing limit the efficiency of a solar cell. This makes it particularly difficult to make considerable improvements in the performance of the cell Therefore, the most attainable method of improving the performance of solar power collection is to increase the mean intensity of radiation received from the source.

There are three major approaches for maximizing power extraction in medium and large scale systems. They are sun tracking, maximum power point (MPP) tracking or both.

Components RequiredThe major components used in this project are•Microcontroller•Motor driver•DC Motor •LDR

Basic Block Diagram

LDR MICROCONTROLLER

DC MOTOR

Solar panel

OBJECTIVEIf we could configure a solar cell so that it

faces the sun continually as it moves across the sky from east to west, we could get the most electrical energy possible.

Going outside to a solar cell every hour to turn it toward the sun might be possible, but this would still not be an efficient method. A photo sensor is employed to control the solar cell tracking system.

TRACKING TECHNIQUESThe two general forms of tracking used are:

Fixed control algorithms

Dynamic tracking

FIXED CONTROL ALGORITHM

In the fixed control algorithm systems, the path of the sun is determined by referencing an algorithm that calculates the position of the sun for each time period. That is, the control system does not actively find the sun's position but works it out given the current time, day, month, and year.

DYNAMIC TRACKING

The dynamic tracking system, on the other hand, actively searches for the sun's position at any time of day (or night).Common to both forms of tracking is the control system. This system consists of some method of Direction control, such as DC motors, stepper motors, and servo motors, which are directed by a control circuit, either digital or analog.

Main Componets LIGHT SENSOR AND MOTOR DRIVER

LIGHT SENSOR Light sensors are among the most common

sensor type. The simplest optical sensor is a photoresistor which may be a cadmium sulfide (CdS) type or a gallium arsenide (GaAs)type .

Cds Photocell Circuit

The sun tracker uses a cadmium sulfide (CdS) photocell for light sensing. This is the least expensive and least complex type of light sensor . The CdS photocell is a passive component whose resistance is inversely proportional to the amount of light intensity directed toward it.

D.C. MOTORSA DC motor is designed to run on DC electric

power. the most common DC motor types are the brushed and brushless types, which use internal and external commutation respectively to reverse the current in the windings in synchronism with rotation.

Here DC motor is used to rotate the solar panel in direction of sun where the sun rays fall maximum

WORKING

• In this project we have used two LDR sensors.•These sensors give analog output.•The analog output is given to the micro controller.•The micro controller compares the analog voltage and then decides upon the motion of the motor.•If the light on a particular LDR is greater, then the micro controller gives the command to the motor driver to rotate the motor in a direction such that the both LDR receives equal light.

SOLAR PANNEL

SOLAR PANEL

A Solar panel (also solar module, photovoltaic module or photovoltaic panel) is a packaged, connected assembly of photovoltaic cells. The solar panel can be used as a component of a larger photovoltaic system to generate and supply electricity in commercial and residential applications. Each panel is rated by its DC output power under standard test conditions, and typically ranges from 100 to 450 watts. The efficiency of a panel determines the area of a panel given the same rated output - an 8% efficient 230 watt panel will have twice the area of a 16% efficient 230 watt panel.

ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEMA capacitor is employed to store the energy

generated by a solar panel(by converting solar energy into electrical energy).

Now this stored energy is can be utilize any where but in our project we have used to light a LED.

Design Anysis And Result

The portions consisted of light detection, motor driving ,software tracking, and software enhancements. Building and testing smaller sections of the system made the project more manageable and increased efficiency by decreasing debugging time.

APPLICATIONS

POWER PLANTS

STREET LIGHT

Home application

CONCLUSION AND SCOPE FOR FUTURE WORK

CONCLUSION. A solar tracker is designed employing the new

principle of using small solar cells to function as self-adjusting light sensors, providing a variable indication of their relative angle to the sun by detecting their voltage output. By using this method, the solar tracker was successful in maintaining a solar array at a sufficiently perpendicular angle to the sun. The power increase gained over a fixed horizontal array was in excess of 30%.

Future ScopeAlthough there are many reasons to believe that the future of solar energy is bright and coming soon, the answer really lies in the hands of the world's citizens. In a world largely governed by economics and politics, what ordinary citizens choose to buy and support will dictate the trends of the future. By installing solar panels, donating to research organizations involved in alternative energies, majoring in science or engineering, and voting for measures that give money to alternate energy development, anyone can influence the future of solar energy.

Any Questions