Nutush Mohan : FET/EC(f)/029 Akshay Chaudhry : FET/EC(f)/008

SOLAR SUN SEEKER

The aim of our project is to overcome the problem associated with the use of solar energy. 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 increasing the efficiency of the system. The solar panel tracks the sun from east to west automatically for maximum intensity of light.

To construct a model prototype solar cell movement system with a mechanical assemble to move the panel from 1800 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. To fabricate a DC motor control card interfaced with driver circuit.

Energy plays a vital role in almost all the areas of human life. Energy is required to sustain and improve the standard of living. In the present machine age we just cannot imagine life without energy. Today, every country draws its energy needs from a variety of sources.
All energy sources are of consuming nature. For example, thermal power generating station consumes coal in huge quantities, or it may consume fuel at numerous liters. Hydraulic power station would not need raw material, but need water flow; it depends completely on water flow. So when there is no flow of water at required level this station is of no use.

The coal or fuel used in thermal power station creates environment pollution by leaving toxic gas output. Then all of these power stations need lot of mechanical sections like turbine and etc. to get power. Even windmills also need mechanical section to produce power. 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. Thus in principle, 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. In addition to its size, solar energy has two other factors in the favour.

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. 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. The second 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.

1) IC 2) DC Motor 3) Solar Cell 4) Power Supply 5) Inverter 6) Battery

SOLAR PANEL: A solar cell uses the photovoltaic effect to convert radiation from the sun into electrical energy. The photovoltaic effect arises when a junction between a metal and a semiconductor or two opposite polarity semiconductors is exposed to electromagnetic radiation, usually in the range near ultra violate to infrared. A forward voltage appears across the illuminated junction and power can be delivered from it to an external circuit. The p-n junction of whom the cell consists has a relatively large surface area and relatively high efficiency (10.... 15 per cent). Solar cells are fabricated mainly from silicon, gallium arsenide, seleniumcadmium sulphide, and thin-film cadmium sulphide.

As part of the radiation is reflected by the surface of the cell, an anti-reflect layer is incorporated to minimize reflection. The absorption coefficient is large for short wavelengths, and smaller for longer wavelengths. The efficiency of solar cells reduces by about one half per cent for each degree centigrade rise in their body temperature, so that most cells must be suitably cooled. Note, however, that this depends to a large extent on the material; gallium arsenide/gallium phosphide, for instance, has optimum efficiency at well over 100C . The spectral response curve of a silicon cell indicates a useful range of wavelengths between 0.5m and 1.0m, peaking at about 800m.

Keeping in time is very important for every human being, that is why many instruments are being used to make the work in discipline order and in time. The timer, as the term is used in digital electronics, is an electronic circuit that once triggered, produces an output pulse for a predetermined time or after a predetermined time and then resets when desired. A simple timer would involve momentarily pressing a button (reset switch) to on the device to count the delay time and a variable control to set the required time. After that time interval, the connected device either an alarm circuit or indicating device will on for that presented time.

If one needs few seconds for a particular experiment that he can use this small timer by adjusting the timer required. In photography, the development of film needs variety of time range, from few seconds to minutes.

This is an electronic switching circuit which will close the contacts of a relay after a certain period of time. This can be adjusted from few second to several minutes. When the circuit is activated, Cl Charges to about two thirds of its full potential and bleeds off through RI preset. When RI is low, the discharge occur at a fast rate. When the value of this resistance is high, to added resistance brings about a slow decay of energy. When the Cl is discharged to a certain point, a pulse occur at the output of Pin3. This allows current flow through the relay coil, closing its contacts and it works as switching for buzzer* or bulb, which is directly connected with 220V A/C, At the time of pulse occurs the relay, energise and result is an alarm Ground buzzer*.

It reset by press the push button. It will reset again & de-energise the relay reset the alarm for further time period adjusted by present RI. The time period given by RI is from 5 Sec. to 3 minute & 50 seconds approx. If one wants to increase to time limits replace IOOK preset to 1 Meg.2 or more for an hour or so.

SEMICONDUCTORS
1. IC-1.............................TIMER 2. LDR-3 RESISTORS 1. 2. R1..............................100KW VARIABLE RESISTANCE R2..............................100KW

CAPACITOR 1. C1..............................1000mf

MISCELLANEOUS 1. 6VDC BATTERY RELAY (6VDC, 100W)