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Fuel Communications
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Fuel Communications
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Fuel Communications
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A dual solar tracking system based on a light to frequency converter using a microcontroller

Authors: Mostefa Ghassoul;

A dual solar tracking system based on a light to frequency converter using a microcontroller

Abstract

Previous studies have shown that sun tracking systems using single axis or dual axes tracking harvested more energy than fixed panels. Most of those studies were based on the light dependent resistors (LDR) with two or four LDRs depending whether single axis or dual axes is used. There are few concerns regarding those schemes. Because the LDRs are mounted on the same panel, they are continuously tracking the sun. As a result, their auxiliaries are drawing high currents; which means unnecessary consuming energy because of the continuous low speed rotation with many starts-stops; on top of this the heating problem due to high current consumption. Using LDRs only detects voltages not power whereas solar energy depends mainly on current where current is directly proportional to irradiation. As a result, and based on previous study, only about 85% of net energy is saved. They also suffer from the problem that each panel has got its own tracking. This study addresses those issues. The system is based on a PILOT-PANEL scheme, each equipped with a light to frequency converters (LTF). The advantage of LTF is that its output frequency is proportional to the irradiation which means proportional to power. The PILOT is small rod with its top in the W shape, where the first LTF is mounted on middle peak of the shape. The rod is driven by a micro-motor. The second LTF is mounted on the PANEL. The PILOT continuously tracks the sun. Every time the PILOT moves to a new position, a microcontroller reads both LTF's frequencies and compares them. If the difference is less than a pre-set value, the PANEL stays in the current position and the PILOT continues its tracking course. If the difference is bigger than the offset, the PANEL aligns itself with the PILOT. This process repeats itself during the course of the day. At the same time, another offline altitude angle tracking system comes into play. Because the range of the altitude angle in Bahrain is in the region of 35° between summer and winter, the microcontroller is programmed to move between four and eight time a year in steps of about 9°The technique has shown the extraction of 98.36% of continuous tracking with minimum energy consumption. This is certainly better than previous studies where the harvested energy is in the region of 85%. If continuous tracking represents 100%, at 1000 Hz (1.1 µW/cm2) offset, the extracted energy (as a percentage) was calculated to be 98.36%, at 4000 Hz (4.4 µW/cm2) offset, the energy was 95.41% and at 8000 Hz (8.8 µW/cm2) offset, the extracted energy was 79.9% and for fixed panel, it would be about 60%.

Related Organizations
Keywords

Pilot, Tracking system, Fuel, LTF, Solar energy, TP315-360, LDR, Panel

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