SINGLE AXIS SOLAR TRACKING SYSTEM

A Mini project report submitted for the partial fulfilment for the requirements of the
bachelor of technology by

Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, Kakinada

In the Discipline of

Electrical & Electronics Engineering

Submitted by
Y. PRIYANKA (18341A0283)
G. CHANDU SRIKAR (19345A0215)
CH. CHINNA RAO (19345A0221)
V. BHASKAR RAO (18341A0280)
G. VIJAYA (19345A0224)
Under the esteemed guidance of
Dr. P. RAMANA
Professor
Department of Electrical & Electronics Engineering
GMR INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
An Autonomous Institute, Affiliated to JNTUK, Kakinada, NAAC “A”
Graded, NBA Accredited, ISO 9001:2008 Certified Institution

G.M.R. Nagar, Rajam-532 127, A.P

August-2021
 CERTIFICATE

This is to certify that the mini project report entitled “SINGLE AXIS SOLAR TRACKING
SYSTEM” submitted by Y. PRIYANKA (18341A0283), G. CHANDU SRIKAR
(19345A0215), CH.CHINNA RAO (19345A0221), V. BHASKAR RAO (18341A0280), G.
VIJAYA (19345A0224), has been carried out in partial fulfilment for the award of B. Tech in
the discipline of “Electrical & Electronics Engineering” of GMR Institute of Technology, An
Autonomous Institute Affiliated to Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, Kakinada is a
record of bonafide work carried out under my guidance and supervision.

The results embodied in this report have not been submitted to any other University or Institute
for the award of any degree or diploma.

Signature of the guide Signature of the HOD

Dr. P. RAMANA Dr. P. BHARANI CHANDRA KUMAR

Professor Professor & HOD

Dept. of EEE Dept. of EEE

GMRIT, Rajam GMRIT, Rajam

 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

It gives us an immense pleasure to express deep sense of gratitude to our guide Dr. P.
Ramana, Professor, Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering for whole hearted
and invaluable guidance throughout the report. Without his sustained and sincere effort, this
report would not have taken this shape. He encouraged and helped us to overcome various
difficulties that we have faced at various stages of our report.

We would like to sincerely thank Mr. N. S. S. Rama Krishna, Assistant Professor, Term
Paper Coordinator, Electrical and Electronics Engineering, for providing all the necessary
facilities that led to the successful completion of our report.

We would like to sincerely thank Dr. P. Bharani Chandra Kumar, Professor & HoD,
Electrical and Electronics Engineering, for providing all the necessary facilities that led to the
successful completion of our report.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank our beloved Principal Dr.C.L.V.R.S.V.
Prasad, GMRIT, Rajam for providing a great support to us in completing our project and for
giving us the opportunity of doing the mini project report.

We would like to thank all the faculty members of the Department of Electrical and Electronics
Engineering for their direct or indirect support for helping us incompletion of this report.

Finally, we would like to thank all our friends and family members for their continuous help
and encouragement.

Y. PRIYANKA (18341A0283)
G. CHANDU SRIKAR (19345A0215)
CH. CHINNA RAO (19345A0221)
V. BHASKAR RAO (18341A0280)
G. VIJAYA (19345A0224)
 ABSTRACT

As the energy demand and the environmental problems increase, the natural energy sources
have become very important as an alternative to the conventional energy sources. The
renewable energy sector is fast gaining ground as a new growth area for numerous countries
with the vast potential it presents environmentally and economically. Solar energy plays an
important role as a primary source of energy, especially for rural area. This project aims at the
development of process to track the sun and attain maximum efficiency using Arduino Uno for
real time monitoring.
The project is divided into two stages, which are hardware and software development.
In hardware development, two light dependent resistors (LDR) have been used for capturing
maximum light source. 10 rpm dc gear motor has been used to move the solar panel at
maximum light source location sensing by LDR.
In software development the microcontroller named ‘Arduino UNO’ is utilized to give the
signal to the motor that will move the solar panel along with the sun to gain maximum sunlight
angle.

Thus, on designing this project our ultimate aim to move solar panel based on sun position to
get maximum amount of power output.
 TABLE OF CONTENT
Topics pages
CHAPTER1 INTRODUCTION TO SOLAR TRACKING SYSTEM 1

1.1 INTRODUCTION 1
1.2 NECESSITY 1

CHAPTER2 DESCRIPTION ABOUT COMPONENTS 2

2.1 COMPONENTS REQUIRED 2

2.2 HARDWARE REQUIREMENT 2
2.3 COMPONENTS DESCRIPTION 2-8
2.4 SOFTWARE REQUIREMENT 9
CHAPTER3 WORKING OF SOLAR TRACKER 10

3.1 BLOCK DIAGRAM 10

3.2 CIRCUIT DIAGRAM 11
3.3 WORKING 12
3.4 DESIGN OF S.A.S.T.S 13
3.5 PROGRAM CODE 14
3.6 FLOW CHART 15
CHAPTER4 FUTURE HOPE AND CONCLUSION 16-17

CHAPTER5 REFERENCES 18
 CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION TO SOLAR TRACKING SYSTEM

1.1 INTRODUCTION
Solar energy is one of the fastest growing industries in the world; today more than 65 GW
energy is produced by solar power. Since solar energy is renewable, it is a good power source,
especially for developing countries. In this project, we are going to show you how to make a
single axis solar tracking system using Arduino UNO. The solar panel tracker is designed to
follow the sun movement so that maximum light intensity hits on the solar panel, thus
increasing the power efficiency. Use of a solar tracker circuit in the field of energy production
will increase its efficiency by almost 25%. This system can also be successfully implemented
in other solar energy-based projects water heaters and steam turbines. There are basically two
types of Arduino sun trackers. One of them is the single axis solar tracker and the other is dual
axis. Single axis solar tracking system moves the solar panel from east to west in a day to point
in the direction of the sun. Dual axis solar trackers use the motor to move the solar panel in all
because this movement covers only 20 degrees in half year and in remaining half year it moves
from north to south and we can set this, manually in a week. Since the East-West tracking is
more important, I will be explaining more of the single axis solar tracking.

1.2 NECESSITY
A solar tracking system maximizes your solar system’s electricity production by moving your
panels to follow the sun throughout the day, which optimizes the angle at which your panels
receive solar radiation. Solar trackers are typically used for ground-mounted solar panels and
large, free-standing solar installations like solar trees. They are typically not used in most
residential solar projects, but have a place in the utility-scale and commercial/industrial solar
market. When solar panels are exposed to sunlight, the angle at which the sun’s rays meet the
surface of the solar panel (known as the “angle of incidence”) determines how well the panel
can convert the incoming light into electricity. The narrower the angle of incidence, the more
energy a photovoltaic panel can produce. Solar trackers help to minimize this angle by working
to orient panels so that light strikes them perpendicular to their surface.
 CHAPTER 2
DESCRIPTION ABOUT COMPONENTS
2.1 COMPONENT REQUIREMENT

In this project we used two types of tools:

1. Hardware
2. Software
2.2 HARDWARE REQUIREMENT

1) Arduino uno
2) 10 rpm dc gear motor
3) L293d motor drive
4) 4-volt small solar plate
5) IR sensors
6) LDR sensors
7) Motor clips
8) 9-volt battery
9) Battery caps
10) Steel rod

2.3 COMPONENTS DESCRIPTION

1) Arduino UNO(ATmega328)

The Arduino Uno is an open-source microcontroller board based on the Microchip

ATmega328P microcontroller and developed by Arduino.cc.[2][3] The board is equipped with
sets of digital and analog input/output (I/O) pins that may be interfaced to various expansion
boards (shields) and other circuits.[1] The board has 14 digital I/O pins (six capable of PWM
output), 6 analog I/O pins, and is programmable with the Arduino IDE (Integrated
Development Environment), via a type B USB cable.[4] It can be powered by the USB cable or
by an external 9-volt battery, though it accepts voltages between 7 and 20 volt.
Technical Specifications:

 Microcontroller: Microchip ATmega328P

 Operating Voltage: 5 Volts
 Input Voltage: 7 to 20 Volts
 Digital I/O Pins: 14 (of which 6 can provide PWM output)
 PWM Pins: 6 (Pin # 3, 5, 6, 9, 10 and 11)
 UART: 1
 I2C: 1
 SPI: 1
 Analog Input Pins: 6
 DC Current per I/O Pin: 20 mA
 DC Current for 3.3V Pin: 50 mA
 Flash Memory: 32 KB of which 0.5 KB used by bootloader
 SRAM: 2 KB
 EEPROM: 1 KB
 Clock Speed: 16 MHz
 Length: 68.6 mm
 Width: 53.4 mm
 Weight: 25 g
 ICSP Header: Yes
 Power Sources: DC Power Jack & USB Port
 Figure (2.1): Arduino pin diagram

General pin functions:

 LED: There is a built-in LED driven by digital pin 13.
 VIN: The input to the Arduino/Genuino board may be through an USB or an External
supply to this pin
 5V: the board can be powered either from DC power jack, the USB connector, (or) the
Vin pin of board.
 3V3: A 3.3-volt supply generated by the on-board regulator. Maximum current draw is
50 mA.
 GND: Ground pins.
 IOREF: This pin on the Arduino/Genuino board provides the voltage reference with
which the microcontroller operates.
 Reset: Typically used to add a reset button to shields that block the one on the board.
Special pin functions:
 Serial / UART: pins 0 (RX) and 1 (TX). Used to receive (RX) and transmit (TX) TTL
serial data. These pins are connected to the corresponding pins of the ATmega8U2
USB-to-TTL serial chip.
 External interrupts: pins 2 and 3. These pins can be configured to trigger an interrupt on
a low value, a rising or falling edge, or a change in value.
 PWM (pulse-width modulation): pins 3, 5, 6, 9, 10, and 11. Can provide 8-bit PWM
output with the analog Write function.
 SPI (Serial Peripheral Interface): pins 10 (SS), 11 (MOSI), 12 (MISO), and 13 (SCK).
These pins support SPI communication using the SPI library.
 TWI (two-wire interface) / I²C: pin SDA (A4) and pin SCL (A5). Support TWI
communication using the Wire library.
 AREF (analog reference): Reference voltage for the analog input

2) L293D Motor Drive

L293D Motor Driver Module is a medium power motor driver perfect for driving DC Motors
and Stepper Motors. It uses the popular L293 motor driver IC. It can drive 4 DC motors on and
off or drive 2 DC motors with directional and speed control. The driver greatly simplifies and
increases the ease with which you may control motors, relays, etc. from micro-controllers. It
can drive motors up to 12V with a total DC current of up to 600mA.
You can connect the two channels in parallel to double the maximum current or in series to
double the maximum input voltage. This motor driver is perfect for robotics and mechatronics
projects for controlling motors from microcontrollers, switches, relays, etc. Perfect for driving
DC and Stepper motors for micro-mouse, line-following robots, robot arms, etc.

Figure (2.2): Pin diagram of motor driver

Figure (2.3): Motor Driver

3) IR Sensor

An infrared sensor is an electronic device, that emits in order to sense some aspects of the
surroundings. An IR sensor can measure the heat of an object as well as detects the motion.
These types of sensors measure only infrared radiation, rather than emitting it that is called a
passive IR sensor.

Figure (2.4): IR sensor

4) LDR Sensor

A Light Dependent Resistor (LDR) is also called a photoresistor or a cadmium sulfide (CDs)
cell. It is also called a photoconductor. It is basically a photocell that works on the principle of
photoconductivity. The passive component is basically a resistor whose resistance value
decreases when the intensity of light decreases. This optoelectronic device is mostly used in
light varying sensor circuit, and light and dark activated switching circuits. Some of its
applications include camera light meters, streetlights, clock radios, light beam alarms,
reflective smoke alarms, and outdoor clocks.

Figure (2.5): LDR sensor

5) 10 rpm dc gear motor
This DC Motor with Metal Gear Head is ideal for low RPM, High Torque application
like lifting an object through Hook and also useful for various robotics applications. This
Motor has following electrical and mechanical specifications.
Specifications:
Motor Type : DC with Gear Box, Metal Gears
Shaft Type : Circular 6mm Día with Internal Hole for coupling, 23 mm shaft Length
Maximum Torque: ~4 Kg-cm at 12V
RPM : 10 RPM at 12V
Weight : 150 gms
Max Load Current: ~ 450mA at 12V-10RPM

Figure (2.6): dc gear motor

6) Solar panel
Solar power is harnessed using Solar Photovoltaic (PV) technology that converts sunlight
(Solar radiation) into electricity by using semiconductors. When the sun hits the semiconductor
within the PV cell, electrons are freed and bus bars collect the running electrons which results
in electric current.
 Figure (2.7): solar panel

7) Jumper wires
Jumper wires are simply wires that have connector pins at each end, allowing them to be used
to connect two points to each other without soldering. Jumper wires are typically used with
breadboards and other prototyping tools in order to make it easy to change a circuit as needed.
Fairly simple. In fact, it doesn’t get much more basic than jumper wires.

Figure (2.8): Jumper wires

2.4 SOFTWARE REQUIRED
Arduino software:
Arduino IDE is an open-source software that is mainly used for writing and compiling the code
into the Arduino Module. 2. It is an official Arduino software, making code compilation too
easy that even a common person with no prior technical knowledge can get their feet wet with
the learning process. 3. It is easily available for operating systems like MAC, Windows, Linux
and runs on the Java Platform that comes with inbuilt functions and commands that play a vital
role for debugging, editing and compiling the code in the environment.
 Figure (2.9): Arduino IDE software

CHAPTER-3

WORKING OF SOLAR TRACKER

3.1 BLOCK DIAGRAM

Figure (3.1): Block diagram

3.2 CIRCUIT DIAGRAM

Figure (3.2): Circuit diagram

3.3 WORKING

The overall circuit diagram is illustrated in Figure 7. There are three parts in the control
systems; LDR sensor, microcontroller and stepper motor. The LDR sense the sunlight and send
the data to the microcontroller. The microcontroller control TB-6600 motor drivers to drive the
stepper motor change direction depend upon the signal on LDR sensors. The solar panel tracks
the sunlight to have the maximum power. The charge controller is used to control the voltage
charging to the battery

Figure (3.3): Design methodology

3.4 DESIGN OF SINGLE AXIS SOLAR TRACKING SYATEM

Figure (3.4):Hardware model of proposed system

3.5 PROGRAM CODE

void setup() {

// initialize digital pin 4,5 as an output and 2,3 as input.

pinMode(2, INPUT);

pinMode(4, OUTPUT);

pinMode(3, INPUT);

pinMode(5, OUTPUT);

// the loop function runs over and over again forever void loop()

if( digitalRead(2)==HIGH)

digitalWrite(4, HIGH);

else if( digitalRead(3)==HIGH)

digitalWrite(5, HIGH);

else {

digitalWrite(4, LOW); digitalWrite(5, LOW);

}
3.6 FLOW CHART

START

READ LDR1 AND

LDR2 VALUES

IF
LDR1=LDR2 STOP MOTOR

ROTATE MOTOR IN
LDR1>LDR2 FORWARD
DIRECTION

ROTATE MOTER IN
LDR2>LDR1 REVERSE
DIRECTION

STOP
 CHAPTER 4
FUTURE HOPE AND CONCLUSION

ADVANTAGES
 Generally, a lower cost than dual-axis trackers
 Higher reliability than dual-axis trackers
 Higher lifespan than dual-axis trackers

DISADVANTAGES
 Lower energy output during sunny conditions when compared to dual axis trackers
 Fewer technological advancements

COST ANALYSIS
S.N NAME OF THE COMPONENT QUANTITY COST
O

1 Solar Panel 1 480

2 Arduino 1 450

3 Motor Driver 1 200

4 IR sensors 2 140

5 Steel Rod 1 20

6 10 Rpm Motor 1 240

7 Motor Clamps 2 100

8 9 volts Batteries 1 20

9 LDR Sensors 2 30

10 Connecting wires As Required 50

11 Double plaster 1 20

12 Battery caps 2 30
FUTURE SCOPE

 Improving the mechanical structure.

 Improving the load carrying capacity.
 Putting solar panel with total system.
 Adjusting the gear ratio to decrease energy loss.
 Stopping the motors while there no need of movement.
 Reducing the cost of mechanical structure.

CONCLUSION
Solar tracking systems are used to continually orient photovoltaic panels towards the sun and
can help maximize the investments in PV system. They are beneficial as the sun’s position in
the sky will change gradually over the course of a day and over the seasons throughout the
year. Advantages to using a tracker system like this will depend mainly on its placement in
determining how well it will increase the effectiveness of the panels. Energy production is at an
optimum and energy output is increased year-round. This is especially significant throughout
the summer months with its long days of sunlight available to capture and no energy will be
lost. For those with limited space this means that a smaller array only needs to be installed, a
huge advantage for those smaller sites with only a small area to place solar tracker.
 CHAPTER 5
REFERENCES

1. Hiren Patel and Vivek Agarwal, “Maximum Power Point Tracking Scheme for PV
Systems Operating Under Partially Shaded Conditions” IEEE Transactions on
Industrial Electronics-Volume 55 , 2008.
2. P. Turmezei: Chalcogenide Materials for Solar Energy Conversion, Acta Polytechnica
Hungarica, Vol. 1, No. 2, pp. 13-16, 2004
3. Nader Barsoum ,“Implementation of a Prototype for a Traditional Solar Tracking
System", Third UK Sim European Symposium on Computer Modeling and Simulation,
2009
4. S. Armstrong, W.G Hurley. 2009. “Investigating the Effectiveness of Maximum Power
Point Tracking for a Solar System”, The IEEE Conference on Power Electronics
Specialists.
5. Kumar Lokhande. 2014. "AUTOMATIC SOLAR TRACKING SYSTEM",
International Journal Of Core Engineering & Management (IJCEM).