Improvement Of Dual Axis Tracker Using Arduino Uno Engineering Essay

Improvement Of Dual axis Tracker Using Arduino Uno Engineering canvassSolar ability generation had been apply as a re rawable vigor since years ago.This type of nada is very clean, environment eithery friendly and reliability as secondary choice for source energy.This paper present the design and improvement of dual bloc tracker using Arduino Uno kit.Futhermore,the main objective is the dual axis tracker carcass which will actuate solar module will keep aligned with the sunlight in order to maximize in harvesting solar power.In this ejection,its divided by ii categorieshardware and software package.In hardware part,4 light dependent resistor(LDR) has been apply to trace the coordinate of sunlight by detecting light direct of sunlight.For rotation part, two standard servo push has been selected.In software part,the code is constructed in C programming and inserted in Arduino Uno.This range is designed for low power and portable application.Therefore, its suitable for rural area usage.Moreover,the efficiency of output power which store by sunlight are increased.Keywords Dual Axis,LDR, servo Motor,ArduinoI. INTRODUCTIONRenewable energy is energy which comes from natural source such as sunlight, wind rain ,tides ,wave and etc. Renewable energy provide 19% of electricity generation worldwide.Malaysia,with population of about 28 million, is one of fastest-growing economies in Asia. During the last decade, Malaysia has seen almost 20% increase in energy generating capacity from 13,000MW in 2000 to 15,500MW in 2009.Under the 8th Malaysia intent (2001-2005),the government of Malaysia changed the Four Fuel Policy(establish on oil, gas, coal and hydropower) to the Five-Fuel Policy with the addition of renewable energy as fifth source of fuel. Malaysia is well endowed with abundant non-renewable and renewable source of energy, especially biomass and solar.In the last ten year,many residentals around the world used electric solar system as a wedge he el power at their houses.this is because solar energy is an unlimited energy resource,set to become increasingly important in longer term, for providing electricity and heat energy to user1.Solar energy is the energy derived from the sun through the form of solar radiation.The sun is most is most inexhaustible,renewable source energy known to man.The is no price and also no air pollution created by solar energy ,environmentally friendly and solar energy are interminable supplies3.It is related with aspects as deforestation control,protection of ozone layer,reduction of CO2 spark and others4.The main objective of this paper is to develop solar tracker.The solar tracker can be used for several application such as solar cells,solar day-lighting system and solar thermal arrays1.Nowadays,the highest efficiency of solar board is 19%.So,the efficiency can be enhance by using solar tracker.Albeit,the price of different solar tracker are still expensive because solar tracker is still new and only a few countries use it as South Korean and USA1.Futhermore,this project is designed for rural area which far from main supply and absolutely low damage.Previous researchers 1,3 and 6 used LDR as sensor respectively.Other that,1 ,6used dc push and 3 used servo ram as the mover of their solar tracker.II. DEVELOPMENT OF SOLAR TRACKERFinding energy source to satisfy the worlds growing demand is one of ordering foremost challenges for next half century.The challenge in converting sunlight into electricity via photovoltaic solar cell is dramatically reducing $/Watt of delivered solar electricity.In this context the solar tracker are such devices for efficiency improvement.Solar tracker is the devices which designed automated for detect the sunlight movement from east to west.However,this automated system will stay its functional even if weather is cloudy and there is no sun visible totrack,thus spending stored energy without any gain6.Nowadays,many researcher from various e ducation institution likely contribute in this topic. Based on experimental and actual result,the solar tracking can enhance by 30 to 60 percent compared to smooth solar array.Other that, power generated annually increase up to 40 percent.There are numbers types of solar tracker depends on cost,performance and technology3.This paper continues development on two axis tracking system consists lite Dependent Resistor(LDR),standard servo motor,solar module and Arduino programmer.III METHODOLOGYThis project is divided into two parts,hardware development and programming development.Figure 1 confront the block diagram of the project.CUsersAlberto_TaminoDesktopDrawing1.jpgFigure 1Block diagram of the project2 Project Design2.1 HardwareThe main components of hardware used in this project are Arduino Board,Light Dependent Resistor,Servo Motor,Solar Panel and solar tracker stand,variable resistor.2.1.1 Arduino BoardIn this project,Arduino was used as main controller.Arduino is an open-sour ce electronic prototyping platform based on flexible,easy to use software and hardware.Arduino can sense environment by receiving input from a variety of sensors and can effect it surrounding by unequivocal light,motor and other actuator.The microcontroller on the board is programmed using Arduino programming language and Arduino development environment.Arduino can be stand alone or they can communicate with software running on a computer.2.1.2 Light Dependent ResistorLight Dependent Resistor is semiconductor which sensitive with light.The main purpose is to change the brightness of light in different weather aim.Becauce of these reason,this paper choosed LDR which suitable to track the sunlight.2.1.3 Servo MotorServo motor is one type of various motor in electronic application.This type motor required supply 4.8V or 6V.This motor consists three wire namely signal,positive and ground wire.The motor consists several part,the motor and gearbox,a position sensor,an error amplifier an d motor driver and circuit to decode the requested position.Servo motor only rotate in 180 degree.http//t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbnANd9GcQmkuTWaXtVnqH1pvD1XfCAoz4L-eOvUpgzLpaZTOGhzP16cFzeFigure 2Servo Motor2.1.4 Solar PanelSolar panel is a device to feature sunlight and convert it into electricity.Nowadays,many type solar panel in the commercialize but the efficiency still low.Other that,the price still expensive.That reason makes this type renewable energy still second choice energy generation afterwards fuel generation.This paper used monocrystalline solar panel for solar tracker and static mode.CUsersCIPOXS1AppDataLocalTempWPDNSEABEA16F1-1E2E-5557-6656-659DC8B5A9B6191120121132.jpgFigure 3 2W Solar Panel2.1.5 Solar Tracker StandThis project designed the cheap and innovative stand.This stand also stable because the big base area makes the servo motor and solar operate as accustomed at the top.CUsersCipOx StarzDesktopsolar tracker(FYP 2)181120121127.jpgFigure 4 Prototype of Sola r StandMaterialUnitQuantitypremature ventricular contraction Tee inch3PVC Elbow inch4PVC Reducing Socket1 to inch1PVC Pipe2 meter2TOA SprayLight Green1Table 1Prototype Material2.1.6 Variable ResistorA variable resistor is a potentiometer with only two wires instead of three.The pots allows to control yhe potential across through the circuit.The long handle on the potentiometer/variable resistor can be turned right-handed or anti-clockwise,altering the value of resistance.The range of resistance varies,for example 0 to 1000 ohms.This paper used variable resistor for speed and tolerance for each motorvertical and horixontal axis.CUsersCipOx StarzDesktopdownload.jpgCUsersCipOx StarzDesktopdownload (1).jpgCUsersCipOx StarzDesktopimages.jpgCUsersCipOx StarzDesktop220px-Faders.jpgFigure 5 Several of Variable Resistors2.2 SoftwareThis paper using the C programming as programming language.The unsophisticated code constructed and inserted into Arduino Board.The Figure 6 show the flowchar t of the software procedure.CUsersAlberto_TaminoDesktopDrawing1.jpgFigure 6 Flowchart of software procedure.IV. RESULT AND DICUSSIONFrom the result,the precedent selected the suitable fix for solar panel placement.The best location where is not shade from building or trees shadow.The sun moves from east to west.Therefore,the author choosed for placing the solar tracker toward south east.So,the solar panel will get more sunlight in order to harvest output power.The best reading time is between 10am till 12.00pm.The data collected from 9am till 5.00pm for 5day.The highest ouput voltage for solar tracker is 3.7V and for the static is 3.4V.The data shown the reading are upward from 9.00am till 12.00pm and start downward from 1.00pm till 5.00pm.According from data,the author choosed two condition of solar panelStatic Solar Panel which face north east in 45 degree tilt.Solar Tracker which face east.From the data from construe 9,the largest output power is 587.6mW at 12.00pm for the tra cker mode and the the lowest is 4.1mW.Figure 7Output potential Versus Output CurrentFigure 8Output Voltage Versus TimeFigure 7Ouput Power Versus TimeThe sunlight irradiation depends on many factor.The weather in Malaysia is hot and humid throught the year.This factor makes Malaysia receive the rain most the year.Therefore,Malaysias atmosphere covered by variety of cloud. The author research how effect the variety of cloud to solar panel reading.The data from practice 10 shown the highest ouput power harvested when no cloud in the atmosphere.Other that,the lowest reading is when the sky covered by cumulonimbus cloud.This type of cloud are wide and associated with thunderstorm.Therefore,the sunlight irradiation not fully emitted to the solar panel.Figure 8Output Power Versus DayV. CONCLUSSIONIn conclusion,the objective of solar tracker has been archieved.Based on all result,the output voltage and output power are increased compared to the the static solar panel.The solar tracker is able to track the sun movement from west to east.The cost and reability of this tracker makes it suitable for the rural usage. This paper also conclude that the clouds also the main factor for harversting more power.The purpose on renewable energy from this paper gave new and innovative idea to continue the bright future in this field .VI. RECOMMENDATIONFor further research on this field,the data collection can be improved by long distance monitoring especially when user far from the site or when the rain.The high quality camera can be installed for capturing the type of cloud for futher research.Other that,this paper recommend that this innovative prototype can be enhance by increased it is scale.The solar panel can be replaced by larger scale in order to capturing more solar irradiation.Other that,the selection of solar panel should be also considered.Solar panel should high in efficiency for produce more output power which can used more low power appliances.For the location of so lar tracker,the best location is the higher(prenominal) place where is in the top building.Other that,the further user should considered the clouds.Before the installation,the user should research and identify the most area which not covered by cloud.Lastly,the user should be managed to restore the ouput power as secondary supply in an effort to preserve the invironment and ozone.Save our earth.ACKNOWLEDMENTThe author would like to acknowledge University Technology Mara (UiTM) for providing the component for this project.The author also tribute to Mdm. Aida Sulinda Kusim,all the lecturer,the staff and students of UiTM who have been involved in this project for the tremendous support and enormous guide.REFRENCES1 Asmarashid Ponniran,Ammar Hashim,Ariffuddin Joret. A Design of Low Power wholeness Axis Solar Tracking ashes Regardless of Motor Speed.Internal Journal Of Intergrated Engineering,Vol.3 No.2(2011) p 5-9.2 Ashok Kumar Saxena,V.Dutta. A Versatile Microprocessor Based Controll er For Solar Tracking.Proc.IEEE,1990,pp.1105-11093 Mohd Zulkifli,M.A.Zolkapli.M.Al-Junid,S.A.M. High-Efficency Dual Axis Solar Tracking Developtment Using Arduino.4 J.Beltran A.,J.L Gonzalez Rubio S.y C.D.Garcia-Beltran. Design,Manufacturing and Performance Test of a Solar Tracker Made By a Embedded Control.Fourth Congress of Electronic,Robotic and Automotive Mechanics5 Norhazwani Abd Malek,Hasril Hasini,Adlansyah Abd Rahman,Mohd Nasharuddin Mohd Jaafar. An alter Solar PV System for Malaysian Rural Electrification.Proceeding of 2010 IEEE Student Confrence on Research and Development(SCOREeD 2010).6 Prabodh Bajpai,Subhash Kumar.Design,Development and Performance Test of An Automatic Two Axis Solar Tracker System.Electrical Engineering Department,IIT Kharagpur,West Bengal,India7 Gamal M.Dousoky,Abou-Hashema M.EL-SAYED,Masahito Shoyama. maximising Energy-Efficency In Single Axis Solar Tracker Photovoltaic Panels.8th International Conference on Power Electronic-ECCE Asia -May 30 June ,2011,The Shila Jeju,Korea.8 Han Wan Siew, Solar tTrackerSIM University,20089 Jyotirmay Gadewadikar, Microprocessor Based Soalr tracking System Using Stepper Motor S.G.S Institute of Tech Science,Indore