MVSR ENGINEERING COLLEGE

SUN TRACKING SOLAR SYSTEM

BY
D.INDU PRIYA(2451-15-735-323)
B.RAMYA(2451-15-735-322)
 DEFINITION OF PROBLEM
• Today’s time solar cells are becoming extremely
popular for utilizing solar energy to use in different
ways such as producing electricity , transportation ,
cooking etc.
• So many solar panels have been installed all over the
world and most of them are stable .They are installed
in the direction of maximum radiation of sunlight.
• Now the problem arises that the sun is moving .so we
cannot use maximum radiation of sun all the time. The
position of maximum radiation receiving position only
comes once in 24hrs.
 SOLUTION
• Solar tracker is the best solution for receiving
maximum radiation.
• By moving the solar panel according to the
movement of sun we can always receive the
maximum radiation.
 INTRODUCTION
• The earth receives 16x1018 units of energy
from the sun annually ,which is 20,000 times
the requirement of mankind on the earth.
• Solar panels are used to convert light energy
into electrical energy.
BLOCK DIAGRAM
 WORKING
• In this method two light dependent resistors are
used . LDRs are separated with the help o
sheet(metallic shield or wooden sheet).One on
the left hand side of the sheet and other on the
right hand side of the shield.
• Two LDRs measure intensity of light with the help
of microcontroller.
• Microcontroller reads value of both LDRs .In
other words microcontroller reads intensity of
light with the help of light sensors.
 Cont…
• If the intensity of light is same of both the LDRs ,
solar panels do not rotate and stepper motor
remain off.
• Solar panel also remain stable in night time when
there will be no light .In the morning , left light
sensor is turned on and start rotating solar panel
with the help of stepper motor.
• Rotation of motor depends on the intensity of the
light .Solar panel keeps rotating until intensity of
light on both the sensors become equal.
 Cont…
• When both the sensors have same intensity of
light, solar panels become stable . This process
repeat in opposite direction after 12am or
after afternoon.
• In the evening when light intensity of both
light sensors become equal ,solar panel again
becomes stable.
• This process remains continue during day
time.
CIRCUIT DIAGRAM
 COMPONENTS
• Microcontroller(PIC16F877A)
• Stepper motor
• ULN2003
• Solar panel
• Oscillator
• Resistors
• Capacitors
• LDRs
• 5 volt Power supply
 SOLAR PANEL
• Collection of photovoltaic cells.
• Photovoltaic cell is composed
of silicon.
• Used as a component of a larger photovoltaic
system to generate and supply electricity in
commercial and residential applications.
• The efficiency of a panel determines the area
od panel.
 STEPPER MOTOR
• Electromechanical device which converts
electrical pulses into discrete mechanical
movements. The speed of the motor shaft’s
rotation is directly related to the frequency of
the input pulses and the length of rotation is
directly related to the number of input pulses
applied.
 PIC16877A MICROCONTROLLER

 Operating voltage range(V) : 2 to 5.5

 Temperature range(C) : -40 to 125
 Number of pins : 40
 Data EEPROM bytes : 256
 Program Memory type : Flash
 SRAM bytes : 368
 LIGHT DEPENDENT RESISTOR
• A high resistance semiconductor whose
resistance decreases with increasing incident
light intensity.
• When light falls on such a
semiconductor , the valance
electrons receive the light energy
incident and jump to the conduction band.
• The conductivity of the device increases
decreasing its resistivity.
 ULN2003
 The ULN2003 comprises of 7-NPN Darlington
pairs as shown in the internal schematic
diagram and is typically used to switch
inductive loads(dissipates voltage spikes if any
using suppression diode) and to drive stepper
motors.
 APPLICATIONS
 Heating the water.
 Electric fence.
 Battery charger.
 Emergency battery backup.
 Solar cooker.
 ADVANTAGES
 Simple
 Low cost
 Eco-Friendly
 We can monitor directly using PC
 Tracking accuracy is more
 Reduce the usage of power from power grid
 DISADVANTAGES
 Solar electricity is not available at night and is
less available in cloudy weather conditions
.Therefore , a storage or complimentary power
system is required.
 Limited power density.
 Solar cells produce DC which must be
converted to AC when used in currently
existing distribution grids.
 CONCLUSION
 The invention of solar tracking system helps us
improve the performance of PV solar system in a
simple way.
 Used relative method of sunlight strength.
 Established a model of automatic tracking system
to keep vertical contact between solar panels and
sunlight.
 Improved the utilization rate of solar energy and
efficiency of photovoltaic power generation
system.
 REFERENCE
• http://www.alltronics.com/stepper_motor.ht
ml
• http://fsae.mae.cornell.edu/
• http://www.optimum-
tracker.com/solartrackers/
THANK YOU