UWE Bristol Engineering showcase 2015

Harry Lawrence Tekena
BEng Electronics Engineering
Project Supervisor
Mokhtar Nibouche
Optimisation Of Solar Panels
Introduction
Solar power is one of the few renewable, low-carbon resource energy system of power generation and the prospects of photovoltaic technology looks the most
promising amongst all the unconventional energy sources aforementioned and available today. Solar Energy has a very large, inexhaustible source of energy
(the sun), so the amount of energy that can be harvested can be said to be limitless thus it presents both the scalability and the technological maturity to meet
the ever-growing global demand for electricity (IDTechEx, 2015).
The Method of Solar Panel Tracking
The primary tracking method of the sun is the method
of photoelectric tracking. However, in this design, the sunlight angle data is
not tested from the real time data, but from the statistic data released by the
local government. On the one hand, in Nigeria, sunlight is sufficient and
seldom blocked by the cloud, so that the statistic data is fairly enough for this
design (Sunday, 2012). On the other hand, the Arduino microcontroller is
able to communicate with other software, and if it is required to work based
on real-time data, this design is flexible to expand for communication
between a real data providing system or software, which is more flexible and
will significantly reduce the calculation load so that will increase the
response speed with more precision. The procedure for solar panel tracking
design diagram and the programming methodology for the design is
illustrated below
Fig. 1 Design Procedure
Fig. 2 Programming Methodology
AUTOMATION HARDWARE PLATFORM
Represented below is the layout of the interfacing between the PLC
automation software and the hardware for the slew drive positioning and
tracking mobility mechanism. With reference to this layout, the current
azimuth and elevation angle positions of the solar concentrator can be
detected using a tilt sensor, angle sensors, shaft encoders, or Hall magnetic
pulse encoder (Gerro Prinsloo, 2014)
Fig 3 Control block commanding a solar concentrator through DC motor
driven slew drives (Siemens, 2011b)
Microcontrollers
The most important feature of microcontroller is the function, which is not a
chip to achieve some logic function, but an integrated computer system. It
has been widely used in many areas, such as intelligent instrument, real time
industrial control, communication equipment, navigation system and family
appliances. A general Arduino microcontroller shown in Fig.4.
Fig. 4 Arduino Microcontroller (AM, 2015)
Project summary
The aim of this project is top design and develops a
responsive and optimized solar panel based system
that follows the sun’s position to achieve maximum
efficiency all day/year long. This effectively means
that the solar panel is kept perpendicular to the sun
throughout the year to make it more efficient. The
basic concept is developing a tracking system which is
implemented by program that access and preload
metrological precise location data of the sun from the
internet by using Arduino MCU with an Arduino Wi-
Fi/Ethernet shield that drives the actuators to control
the tracker movement.
Project Objectives
The objectives of the project include the following:
• Implement and design dual axis solar tracking
system;
• Generate block diagram of the architecture of the
software platform;
• Design control algorithms for stepper motors,
controllers and gear box;
• Implement PSU: voltage regulator;
• Generate feedback control algorithm;
• Overall unit compact and portable.
Project Conclusion
• The basics approach of this project was developing
a responsive solar tracking system using intelligent
user interface for the tracking the sun The overall
aim of the project and the general outline was
clearly understood.
• The design is electrically efficient and the basic
hardware and mechanics have been implemented.
• The Pin specification and circuit schematic for the
motor drive have been carried out.
• The design allows two degree freedom of
movement (one for the Azimuth and the other for
the horizontal movement).