Solar
Tracking System
Dual
Axis Solar Tracking System, Servo Motor for rotate system follow sun, LDR
sensors to get signal from sun
Professor: Dr. Kwanghoon Kim, Kanha UON
Email: flyworld@gmail.com, uonkanha99@gmail.com
Department of Telecommunication and Electronic Engineering Royal University of Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Abstract – The purpose of this studying is to
build an algorithm to get high energy of solar follow sun. Using algorithm, we
can determine the value of each LDR sensor to control servos motor for moving
system.
Keywords: Arduino Uno, LDR sensors, Servo
Motor, Solar Panel, CN3791 MPPT Solar Charger.
I. Introduction
This report specified on solar follow
sun of system provided from LDR sensors and translate the result into the
motion of system to follow sun by using Servos Motor. The reason for learn this
project is to get high energy by use dual-axis tracking system. Tracking
mechanism ensures that the surface of the PV cell is always perpendicular to
the solar radiation allowing on optimum power extraction from the sun.
LDR
sensors as the input sensor that are get signals or information from the sun
from instruction Springer [1][2]
and then sent its light intensity to control servos motor from StackExchange [3]
that can rotate or moving toward the side of the higher light intensity of any LDR
sensor follow algorithm that instruction from Scientific Research Publishing [4].
For the hardware of system are from Thingivers [5].
II. Prepare the Components
A.
LDR Sensor or Photoresistors
In Fig.1 (a) use LDR sensor to get light intensity from sun. it is a
component that has a variable resistance that changes with the light intensity
that falls upon it. Getting light intensity of LDR sensor, ATmega328P
microcontroller which has 10 bits converted measured LDR sensor
output into analog value in range of 0-1023 [1].
Fig.1. a. LDR
sensor or Photoresistor b. Schematic of LDR sensor
As shown in Fig. 1 (b) to
measure value of LDR sensor that get light intensity from sun, we use
analogRead() such as analogRead() of RL (anlg RL). These digital values are
converted into voltages within in the range of 0-5V which depends on the value
of Vs.
In
Fig.2 it means, when Resistance value is large that light intensity is small
and via [2].
Fig.2.
Graph between intensity of light and resistance of LDR
B. Servo Motor
In Fig.3: we use servo motor to
control whole system of solar tracking system. To servo motor have motion, when
input signals of LDR sensor from sun sent to Arduino and it calculated and
transform to servo motor to move follow angle of calculating that servo motor
moving toward the side of LDR sensor that higher intensity.
Fig.3.
SG 90g Servo Motor
To
calculate angle of servo motor, we use map() function in Arduino IDE. Angle of
servo motor can move between range 0-180 degree. To use map(), we need to have a
value of LDR sensor to compare of range input of LDR sensor that came from read
analog pin range 0-1023, and range output of servo motor range 0-180 [3].
To calculate angle of
servo base on value of LDR sensor.
Angle = map (value_LDR_1,
0, 1023, 0, 180) (1)
Calculating
angle of Servo Motor:
- - If value_LDR_1 = 500
è
(500/1023) *180 = 87 degree
-
If value_LDR_1 = 700
è
(700/1023) *180 = 123 degree
And to know position of before servo, we
use servo.read().
After get angle of servo motor, we need
to create functions to control servo depend on angle that calculated to it
moving toward that angle.
C.
Arduino Uno
In Fig.4, Arduino Uno is
component that important for this project, it is microcontroller or brain of
system. We use it to control LDR sensors by connecting to analog pin and Servos
Motor connecting to PWM pin of Arduino Uno.
D. Solar Panel
In Fig.5 solar panel is actually a
collection of solar (or photovoltaic) cells, which can be used to generate
electricity through photovoltaic effect. And Solar panels are those devices which are
used to absorb the sun's rays and convert them into electricity or heat. It
has 2 wire which connect to CN3791 MPPT.
Fig.5.
Solar Panel 200x170 mm
E. CN3791 MPPT Solar
Charger
In Fig.6 CN3791 MPPT Charger is a
solar charger used for single cell lithium battery maximum power point tracking
(MPPT). We use it is to ensure that the light intensity changes and the
photovoltaic cells output maximum power to make full use of solar energy.
Generally, it is necessary to use a switch-mode DC-DC converter to realize the
MPPT function, keeping the output voltage and charging current product
maximized (output).
Fig.
6. CN3791 MPPT Solar Charger
As shown in Fig.6 of MPPT Solar Charger have 3 parts
for connecting to solar panel in to get energy from sunlight and have 3 parts for
connecting to batteries can take power to use.
F. Another Components
In
Fig.7 (a) use battery 9V to support Arduino Uno 5V. and In Fig.7 (b) need to
other batteries to store power energy from solar panel.
Fig.7.
a. 9V Battery Snap Connector & DC Jack
Fig.7.
b. Battery for Store Energy
Use USB wire to upload code to Arduino Uno.
Use
breadboard is component support to connect between LDR sensors pin, servos
motor, and power supply.
Use jumper cable to connect hardware together.
III. Wiring Hardware
In Fig.8 (a) A 9v battery is used to
power the project and are connected to power jack port. The power is used to
support Arduino, Servos motor, and LDR sensors and resistances are 10k which
are operating 5v. Other hardware such as a USB cable are connected via the USB
port, and we use jumper cable to connect hardware together.
Fig.8. a. Diagram for Hardware
of control servo
Fig.8. b. Diagram for Hardware of storing energy
In Fig.8 (b) we use to CN3791 MPPT are connect
to solar panel and battery to store energy.
IV. Model Solar Tracking
The below
have under part and on part of Solar tracking system, we use for testing the
algorithm based on the model that have a lot of parts combined together such as
Tracker Base (position servo1 or base), Base Gear and Panel Mount
(position servo 2), Horz Servo Gear (connect to servo 1), Vertical
Servo Gear (connect to servo), Shaft 1 (for connect to between base
gear and panel mount, tracker base), and Shaft 2 (connecting of base
gear and panel mount, support solar panel) in Fig. 9 (a).
For
Support panel (Black) and Panel Bracket (Yellow) for support solar panel LDR
Divider (for mask sensor) which are 3D printed with ABS materials as Fig.9 (b) [5].
Fig.9. a. Composition of the
solar tracker (Position Servo)
Fig.9. b. Composition of the
solar tracker (Support Solar Panel)
IV. Determining the Path
The project software required signal
input calculation and processing them using algorithm of controlling servo
motor by came from light intensity of LDR sensor which write code within the
Arduino IDE.
Fig.10. Block diagram of
algorithm for solar tracking system
As
shown in Fig.10, the algorithm first, we need to calculate light intensity of
LDR sensors in 100 or other value loops because LDR sensor fast in get light
from the sun and then calculating average of each LDR sensor to get a data.
After that calculating on angle of any LDR sensor if it is more than another.
Finally, we control servos by dependent on angle of servos, it moves toward
side the higher than light intensity.
A. Different of each LDR
sensor in other distance
Fig.11. Table of
Light Intensity and Different of each LDR sensor
As shown in Fig.11 light intensity of
each LDR sensor are different because of distance of LDR sensor from source
light. And different of LDR sensors is also differ too.
Fig.
12. Graph of each LDR sensor
In Fig.12 shown that different of (LDR
1 and 2) and (LDR 3 and 4) are small and simular, different of LDR 1 and 4 is bigger
than differ of (LDR 1 and 2) or (LDR 3 and 4), and differ of (LDR 2 and 4) is
the biggest.
B.
Program Execution Flowchart [4]
Fig.13.
Algorithm for automation mode of the solar tracker
In
Fig.13 shown about algorithm of coding in Arduino IDE. Value which compared in
algorithm come from testing of each LDR sensor in different distance as Fig.11.
C. Result
Fig.
14. Picture of testing result As shown Fig. 14 is picture of testing hardware and algorithm this project.
v. conclusion
Both
single-axis and dual-axis are highly efficient in terms of the electrical
energy output when compared to the fixed mount system. The main contributions
of this work are two axis solar tracker prototype that uses four sensors to
predict the sun apparent position. The Arduino and Tinkercad Website help to
make the circuit not so difficult, which save a lot of time and energy. In this
system further research is needed to make the system more precise and complete.
All the objectives have been achieved
which are, firstly, to have or design a model of dual axis solar tracker by
using software. Secondly, to program the micro-controller on Arduino (ATmega
328 p) so that rotation of Servos motor can be controlled by microcontroller. Thirdly,
to investigate the voltage differences from the LDR sensor based on intensity
of light received by the sensor.
Future Work
In the
future I want to development software and hardware make it could be interesting
and good well, using real life devices which we can use it in real life.
Acknowledgment
After I do this project, I learned a lot from this
project about controlling Servo motor, using LDR sensor, Arduino Uno, Solidwork
software for draw 3D print, and using 3D printed machine and other knowledge
such as new feel of doing it, any experiences that I learned.
References
[1] V. Dadi, 2020, Optimization of
light-dependent resistor sensor for the application of solar energy tracking system,
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s42452-020-03293-x? error=cookies_not_supported&code=e20bda53-ddf4-4a4d-a089-563131c3fb59, August 11-2020.
[2] From eTechnophiles website, graph
between intensity of light and the resistance of LDR, Graph of LDR sensor.
[3] From Arduino Stack Exchange, 2018, How
to use map function, map() Function, December 18-2018.
[4] Mohd Alifi Jush, 2017, Development of Microcontroller-Based Solar Tracking
System Using LDR Sensor, paper,
November 07-2017.
[5] From
Thingverse, 2013, 3D printed of Dual-Axis Tracker System, 3D
printed, February 23-2013.
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