SOLAR TRACKING SYSTEM

A Project Report submitted In ID1035 INDEPENDENT PROJECT

PROJECT CO-ORDINATER Dr. Kiran K Khuchi

Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad

1. THE SOLAR OPTION

Solar energy is a very large, inexhaustible source of energy. The power from the sun intercepted by the earth is approximately 1.8*1011MW, which is many thousands of times larger than the present consumption rate on the earth of all commercial energy sources. Solar energy could supply all the present and future energy needs of the world on a continuing basis. This makes it one of the most promising of the unconventional energy sources. Solar energy has two other factors in the favor.

Firstly, unlike fossil fuels and nuclear power, it is environmentally clean source of energy. Secondly, it is free and available in adequate quantities in almost all parts of the world where people live. Also it has no heavy mechanical section and is free from noise.

Problem with Solar

However, there are many problems associated with its use, the main problem is that it is dilute source of energy. Even in the hottest regions on the earth, the solar radiations flux available rarely exceeds 1 KW/m, which is a low value for technological utilization. Problem associated with the use of solar energy is that its availability varies widely with time. The variation in availability occurs daily because of the day night cycle and also seasonally because of the earths orbit around the sun.

To rectify these above problems the solar panel should be such that it always receives maximum intensity of light. For existing solar panels, which are without any control systems typical level of efficiency varies from 10% to 4% - a level that should improve measurably if the present interest continues.

2. OBJECTIVE :
The aim of our projects is to utilize the maximum solar energy through solar panel. For this a digital based automatic sun tracking system is proposed. This project helps the solar power generating equipment to get the maximum sunlight automatically thereby The aim of our project is to utilize the maximum solar energy through increasing of automatic the system. The solar the panel . efficiency For this a Digital based sun tracking system is solar panel tracks the proposed. helps automatically the solar power generating equipment to sun from eastThis toproject west for maximum intensity of light.
To
get the maximum sunlight automatically thereby increasing the To fabricate a panel DC tracks motor interfaced with efficiency of the system. The solar thecontrol sun from east to west automatically for maximum intensity of light. fabricate a DC driver motor control interfaced with driver circuit. circuit

To construct a model prototype solar cell movement system with a mechanical assemble to move the panel from 180 E to W. To design an electronic circuit to sense the intensity of light and to control DC motor driver for the panel movement. To construct an emergency light inverter circuit i.e. to operate tube light with the help of charged battery from the solar panel

4.How the Track Rack follow the sun

1.Sunrise "Wake- Up 2. Mid-Morning The Track Rack begins the The Track Rack moved by the shifting day facing west. As the weight of liquid flowing from one side morning sun rises in the of the tracker to the other through a east, it heats the unshaded copper tube that connects the east and west-side canister with both. west canisters .When one canister is exposed to the sun direct and reflected rays (from the inter surface more than the other, its vapor pressure increases, forcing of the "shadow plate") forcing liquid into the liquid to the cooler, shaded side. shaded east-side cannister.

3. Mid-Afternoon As the sun moves, the Track Rack follows (at approximately 15o per hour, continually seeking equilibrium as liquid moves from one side of the tracker to the other. .

4. Sunset The Track Rack completes its daily cycle facing west. It remains in this position overnight until it is "awakened" by the rising sun the following morning.

LDR SENSOR

LM324 OpAmp IC

AT89C4051 Microcontroller

ULN2003

STEPPER MOTOR

+5V

1K
22K

6. Circuit
+5V 1F

10K

10K

+5V

LM 324

56K
33P

12MHz

10K

33P

10K

1K
22K

+5V

AT89C2051

1 2 3 4

ULN 2003 1 7805

Voltage Regulator

+12V

12V Battery

8.Working with KEIL software

7.CIRCUIT DISCRIPTION
COMPONENT LIST
1. IC1 2. IC2 3. Voltage Regulator 4. IC3 LM324 Microcontroller AT89C2051 7805 ULN 2003

5. LDR1 & LDR2

6. Oscillator 7. Resistors 8. Capacitors

Light Dependent Resistor

Crystal Oscillator 12MHz 1K(2);10K(4);56K(1); 1F(1);33P(2)

COMPONENT LIST
9. Variable Resistor 250K(2) 12V 1 2 Red 10. Battery 11. Stepper Motor

12. LED

Thank You...
Submitted by
Piyush Sharma[EE12B1024] Ajay Dhakar[CE12B1001] Mohit Chaudhary[CE12B1014] Vikas Kumar Yadav[CH12B1027] Rajkumar Meena[ME12B1029]