Solar Tracking System
Nguyen, Nam (2016)
Nguyen, Nam
Metropolia Ammattikorkeakoulu
2016
All rights reserved
Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-201605239361
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-201605239361
Tiivistelmä
The goal of this thesis was to develop a laboratory prototype of a solar tracking system, which is able to enhance the performance of the photovoltaic modules in a solar energy system. The operating principle of the device is to keep the photovoltaic modules constantly aligned with the sunbeams, which maximises the exposure of solar panel to the Sun’s radiation. As a result, more output power can be produced by the solar panel.
The work of the project included hardware design and implementation, together with software programming for the microcontroller unit of the solar tracker. The system utilised an mbed LPC1768 microcontroller to control motion of two stepper motors, which rotate solar panel in two axes. The amount of rotation was determined by the microcontroller, based on inputs retrieved from four photo sensors located next to solar panel.
At the end of the project, a functional solar tracking system was designed and implemented. It was able to keep the solar panel aligned with the sun, or any light source repetitively. A quantitative measurement was also performed, which reported how well tracking system improved output power in comparison with fixed mount.
Despite being small-scale, the project is a successful attempt in catching up with recent technologies of solar energy. Design of the solar tracker from this project is also a reference and a starting point for the development of more advanced systems in the future.
The work of the project included hardware design and implementation, together with software programming for the microcontroller unit of the solar tracker. The system utilised an mbed LPC1768 microcontroller to control motion of two stepper motors, which rotate solar panel in two axes. The amount of rotation was determined by the microcontroller, based on inputs retrieved from four photo sensors located next to solar panel.
At the end of the project, a functional solar tracking system was designed and implemented. It was able to keep the solar panel aligned with the sun, or any light source repetitively. A quantitative measurement was also performed, which reported how well tracking system improved output power in comparison with fixed mount.
Despite being small-scale, the project is a successful attempt in catching up with recent technologies of solar energy. Design of the solar tracker from this project is also a reference and a starting point for the development of more advanced systems in the future.