Single Axis Solar Tracker using PIC Microcontroller and Multiple Stationary Positioning Light Dependent Resistors

Abstract

 The use of renewable energy for electricity generation has become increasingly demanding in remote locations and off-grid areas around the globe. Harnessing renewable energy such as the solar radiation from the sun to produce electrical energy enables the decrease in the cost of the energy demands and at the same time, contributes to sustainability and mitigates global warming and its effect. Since sunlight is natural and abundant, focussing on the development of managing the harvesting of this energy is quite imperative. In this paper, we shall present a design that integrates the use of a solar photovoltaic system along with a simple single-axis solar tracking system that aims at improving the energy absorption by the solar panel by aligning the panel perpendicular to the sunlight. The simple design consists of multiple stationary position light dependent resistors (SP_LDRs) used as sensors for sunlight detection and are assembled at fixed positions and a single rotational light dependent resistor (R_LDR) attached to the movable solar panel mechanism to match the sun's position with the stationary position LDRs. The objective scope is to reduce the angle of incidence between the ray of sunlight and the solar panel normal surface. The results show that the proposed single-axis solar tracker presented in this paper is economical and can increase the power output of the solar PV panel. The reduction in power consumption by the rotating motor mechanism is compared directly with the stationary position LDRs. The motor will rotate only a few angles each time once during the duration of the day. This mechanism will and therefore minimized the motor operation throughout the day; thus, less power is used. The model can be projected on a bigger scale and targets domestic electricity production in rural locations. The reduction of the angle of incidence can be reduce to minimum by increasing the number of stationary positions LDRs