Dual Axis Solar Tracking System

DUAL AXIS SOLAR TRACKING SYSTEM
Abstract:
Solar panel has been used increasingly in recent years to convert solar energy to
electrical energy. The solar panel can be used either as a stand-alone system or as a large solar
system that is connected to the electricity grids. The earth receives 84 Terawatts of power and
our world consumes about 12 Terawatts of power per day. We are trying to consume more
energy from the sun using solar panel. In order to maximize the conversion from solar to
electrical energy, the solar panels have to be positioned perpendicular to the sun. Thus the
tracking of the suns location and positioning of the solar panel are important. The goal of this
project is to design an automatic tracking system, which can locate position of the sun. The
tracking system will move the solar panel so that it is positioned perpendicular to the sun for
maximum energy conversion at all time. Photoresistors will be used as sensors in this system.
The system will consist of light sensing system, microcontroller, gear motor system, and a
solar panel. Our system will output up to 40% more energy than solar panels without tracking
systems.
Generally, solar panels are stationary and do not follow the movement of the
sun. Here is a solar tracker system that tracks the suns movement across the sky
and tries to maintain the solar panel perpendicular to the suns rays, ensuring that
the maximum amount of sunlight is incident on the panel throughout the day. The
solar tracker starts following the sun right from dawn, throughout the day till
evening, and starts all over again from the dawn next day.
Fig. 1: Circuit of solar tracking system

Fig. 1 shows the circuit of the solar tracking system. The solar tracker comprises
comparator IC LM339, H-bridge motor driver IC L293D (IC2) and a few discrete
components. Light-dependent resistors LDR1 through LDR4 are used as sensors to
detect the panels position relative to the sun. These provide the signal to motor
driver IC2 to move the solar panel in the suns direction. LDR1 and LDR2 are
fixed at the edges of the solar panel along the X axis, and connected to
comparators A1 and A2, respectively. Presets VR1 and VR2 are set to get low
comparator output at pins 2 and 1 of comparators A1 and A2, respectively, so as to
stop motor M1 when the suns rays are perpendicular to the solar panel.
When LDR2 receives more light than LDR1, it offers lower resistance than LDR1,
providing a high input to comparators A1 and A2 at pins 4 and 7, respectively. As a
result, output pin 1 of comparator A2 goes high to rotate motor M1 in one direction
(say,
anti-clockwise)
and
turn
the
solar
panel.
When LDR1 receives more light than LDR2, it offers lower resistance than LDR2,
giving a low input to comparators A1 and A2 at pins 4 and 7, respectively. As the
voltage at pin 5 of comparator A1 is now higher than the voltage at its pin 4, its
output pin 2 goes high. As a result, motor M1 rotates in the opposite direction (say,
clock-wise) and the solar panel turns.
Fig. 2 Proposed assembly for the solar tracking system

Similarly, LDR3 and LDR4 track the sun along Y axis. Fig. 2 shows the proposed
assembly for the solar tracking system.
ABOUT INTEGRATED CIRCUITS:
LM339 is a comparator IC with four inbuilt comparators. A
comparator is a simple circuit that moves signals between the
analog and digital worlds. It compares two input voltage levels

and gives digital output to indicate the larger one. The two input
pins are termed as inverting (V-) and non-inverting (V+). The
output pin goes high when voltage at V+ is greater than that at
V-, and vice versa. In common applications, one of the pins is
provided with a reference voltage and the other one receives
analog input from a sensor or any external device. If inverting pin
(V-) is set as reference, then V+ must exceed this reference to
result in high output. For inverted logic, the reference is set at V+
pin.
Pin Diagram:
Pin Description:
Pin No
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
Function
Output of 2nd comparator
Output of 1st comparator
Supply voltage; 5V (+36 or 18V)
Inverting input of 1st comparator
Non-inverting input of 1st comparator
Inverting input of 1st comparator
Non-inverting input of 2nd comparator
Inverting input of 3rd comparator
Non-inverting input of 3rd comparator
Inverting input of 4th comparator
Non-inverting input of 4th comparator
Ground (0V)
Output of 4th comparator
Output of 3rd comparator
Name
Output 2
Output 1
Vcc
Input 1Input 1+
Input 2Input 2+
Input 3Input 3+
Input 4Input 4+
Ground
Output 4
Output 3
L293D is a dual H-bridge motor driver integrated circuit (IC). Motor drivers act as
current amplifiers since they take a low-current control signal and provide a
higher-current signal. This higher current signal is used to drive the motors.
L293D contains two inbuilt H-bridge driver circuits. In its common mode of
operation, two DC motors can be driven simultaneously, both in forward and
reverse direction. The motor operations of two motors can be controlled by input
logic at pins 2 & 7 and 10 & 15. Input logic 00 or 11 will stop the corresponding
motor. Logic 01 and 10 will rotate it in clockwise and anticlockwise directions,
respectively.
Enable pins 1 and 9 (corresponding to the two motors) must be high for motors to
start operating. When an enable input is high, the associated driver gets enabled. As
a result, the outputs become active and work in phase with their inputs. Similarly,
when the enable input is low, that driver is disabled, and their outputs are off and in
the high-impedance state.
Pin Diagram:
Pin Description:
Pin No
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
EXPERIMENTAL SETUP:
Function
Enable pin for Motor 1; active high
Input 1 for Motor 1
Output 1 for Motor 1
Ground (0V)
Ground (0V)
Input 2 for Motor 1
Supply voltage for Motors; 9-12V (
Enable pin for Motor 2; active high
Input 1 for Motor 1
Ground (0V)
Ground (0V)
Input2 for Motor 1
Supply voltage; 5V (up to 36V)
RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS:

From the design of experimental set up with ICs based solar
tracking system using stepper motor. If we compare with fixed
solar panel system we found that efficiency of IC based solar
tracking system is improved by 30- 45% and it was found that all
parts of experimental set up are giving good results. Moreover
this tracking system tracks the sun continuous manner. And this
system is more effective and efficient in long run. The solar
tracking system can be still enhanced additional features like rain
protection and wind protection which can be done as future work.

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DUAL AXIS SOLAR TRACKING SYSTEM

Fig. 1: Circuit of solar tracking system

Fig. 2 Proposed assembly for the solar tracking system

analog and digital worlds. It compares two input voltage levels

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS:

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