Dual axis solar tracking system

ABSTRACT


INTRODUCTION
The development of solar tracking technology over time has been supported by a number of people and organisations, which is how the dual-axis solar tracking system was created.John Perlin created one of the first solar tracking devices in the 1970s that used a single-axis tracking mechanism to track the sun as it moved across the sky [1].However, this design had limitations as it only tracked the sun's movement in one direction and was not optimized for capturing maximum solar energy.
In the 1980s, researchers at Sandia National Laboratories in the United States developed a more advanced solar tracking system that utilized a dual-axis mechanism.This device could track the sun's movement both horizontally and vertically, making it possible to position solar panels in the best possible way to gather the most solar energy possible throughout the day [2]- [4].Since then, there have been numerous advancementsand innovations indual-axis solar tracking technology, with various designs and implementations being utilized in solar energy systems around the world.Dual-axis solar tracking systems are widely recognised as one of the most efficient and effective techniques to boost solar energy capture and raise the overall efficiency of solar power systems today [5]- [7].
A particular style of solar panel installation called a single-axis solar tracking system enables the solar panels to rotate around a single axis, usually one that runs north-south.The rotating axis can be level or inclined at an angle to correspond to the latitude of the installation location [8]- [10].Single-axis tracking  ISSN: 2252-8792 Int J Appl Power Eng, Vol. 12, No. 4, December 2023: 391-398 392 systems can only boost the overall energy production of a solar energy system by up to 25%, depending on the location, the weather, and other factors.However, single-axis systems have limits and might not be the best for capturing solar energy in times of diffuse sunlight or overcast weather because they can only track the sun's movement in one direction [11]- [13].Dual-axis solar tracking systems are designed to circumvent these limitations by enabling more precise alignment with the sun's movement in both the horizontal and vertical axes [14]- [17].
The monocrystalline dual-axis solar tracking system with a weather sensor is the main focus of this research.Temperature, rain, and humidity are monitored by sensors; the results of these sensors can be displayed on an liquid crystal display (LCD) [18]- [20].It uses an Arduino to control the spinning of DC motors by detecting the strongest light using light-detecting resistors (LDRs) to detect it.The solar panel is turned by DC motors.To assess the state of the weather, sensors are utilised.Energy has been needed and utilised by man for his existence and well-being at an increasing rate during the last million years [21], [22].Solar energy has the potential to be an environmentally friendly energy source that is dependable.This makes this tactic more favourable and efficient for obtaining the maximum energy [23]- [25].

THE SUGGESTED METHOD
The block diagram of a dual-axis solar tracking system that uses weather monitoring is shown in Figure 1.The arrangement is made up of three parts: a light-detection device, a monitoring unit, and a movement-controlling unit.By allowing PV panels to rotate along two separate axes, the suggested tracking system follows sunlight more efficiently.Four light-dependent resistor (LDR) sensors, two stepper motors, and a PIC microcontroller make up the tracker.The tracker is tilted in the sun's east-west direction by a pair of sensors and one motor, and in the sun's north-south direction by a second pair of sensors and a motor linked to the tracker's bottom.

Detecting light unit
A light-dependent resistor (LDR), often known as a photoresistor, is a passive electrical component that reacts to light by altering its resistance (see Figure 2).It is constructed of a semiconductor material with a high resistance in darkness and a low resistance in light, such as cadmium sulphide or cadmium selenide [4].When light is detected, LDR sensors provide a signal to the microcontroller.The values of LDR resistance range from many megaohms in total darkness to only a few hundred ohms in bright light.Because of this variance in resistance, these resistors are frequently employed in a wide range of applications.The LDR sensitivity is also impacted by the incident light's wavelength.This resistor works according to the photo conductivity hypothesis.

Monitoring unit
According to Figure 3, the Arduino board serves as the apparatus primary monitoring device.LDR is attached to Arduino's first four pins, A0-A4.Arduino receives data from the LDR and, using that data, instructs servomotors to rotate either horizontally or vertically [4].

Movement controlling unit
Two DC motors make up the movement control unit.The DC motor may be powered by an input of roughly 4.5 volts and receives a 5-volt output from the Arduino.The vertical rotation is controlled by one motor, while the horizontal rotation is controlled by the other.To save power usage, just one motor is active at once [2], [3].

METHOD
The fixed solar panel of the dual axis solar tracking system rotates in response to the sensor's determination of the sun's position.Figure 1 shows how the Arduino's four analogue pins, A1, A2, A3, and A4, are connected to four resistors and four LDRs, respectively.Internal connections between these parts form a voltage divider arrangement.The Arduino's digital pins 9 and 10 provide pulse width modulation (PWM) inputs to the DC motor, as seen in Figure 3.The primary light sensors are LDRs [5], [8].Two solar panels that are mounted to the building support the servo motor.The microcontroller receives an upload from an Arduino programmer.As to how it operates: each LDR detects light coming from the top, bottom, left, and right directions in turn, counting the amount of light that enters the device as sunlight hits it.The analogue readings from the two top LDRs and the two bottom LDRs are compared to perform north-south tracking.The bottom set of LDRs' bottom light will then cause the vertical DC motor to rotate in that direction.The DC motor advances in that direction if the top LDRs detect lighter more light there.The analogue values from two left LDRs and two right LDRs are contrasted for angular deflection.If the right set of LDRs detects lighter than the right set, the horizontal DC motor will move in that direction [6], [11].Researchers could therefore test the device's performance by mounting it on a rooftop (see Figure 4).When DC is vertical, the motor will drive in that direction if the appropriate set of LDRs detects lighter than the appropriate set.− Bring the two solar panel wires for testing, then mark the locations of four LDRs on each of the panel's four corners.− Trim one of the LDR's two leads so that one lead is shorter and the other longer to demonstrate polarity and facilitate soldering.− Before the perforated metal strips (aluminum) are bent into the correct shapes as shown in Figure 5, the four LDRs should be put into the four designated positions on the printed circuit board (PCB).One of the bent metal strips should be glued to the back of the PCB [15].− As shown in the circuit, solder the LDRs' two leads together.Solder 10k resistors to the LDR's leads opposite ends.Wires are used to connect the four leads on the four LDRs.− Now, attach them to the LDRs using bus wires so that you may receive their output.Give each pin on the Arduino board its corresponding output.As depicted in Figure 5, insert it into the perforated metal strip.− Now attach connecting wires to resistors and to the circuit as specified.− To supply VCC and GND, run two additional wires through the perforated metal sheet.The resistors and the second wire should be connected to the LDR's opposite side, with one wire connecting to the other.− With wires connected to the resistors, short the LDR's leads.Now use glue and screws to attach a DC motor to the metal strip.Connect them to the corresponding pins on the Arduino board.− Take a second aluminum perforated metal strip that has been bent into the corresponding shape as illustrated in Figure 5. Now attach a second DC motor to this metal strip using glue and screws [14].− Initially, an i2c module is linked to the 16*2 LCD display.As indicated in Figure 5, the VCC pin is then linked to the Arduino's 5-volt power supply, and the I2C module's ground is connected to the Arduino's ground.The ground, VCC, and signal pins of the DHT11 sensor are connected to the Arduino.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
The Tables 1 and 2 provides the output values at various time internals from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM.Given that dual axis solar trackers are more effective than single axis solar trackers and that the output voltages of the two tracking systems are compared [12].The effectiveness of single-and dual-axis solar tracking devices is shown in Tables 1 and 2, respectively.The graphic representation of single-and dual-axis solar tracking systems is shown in Figures 6 and 7.The single axis solar tracking and dual axis solar tracking systems comparative table is shown in Table 3.The Table 3 displays the output values at various time periods.The output voltages of the two tracking methods are compared because dual axis solar trackers are more effective than single axis solar trackers.It is common knowledge that a single axis solar tracker system is unable to collect the whole range of solar energy.The solar energy that was expected to be captured by the single axis solar tracker could not be.One of the two axes of motion of the sun is only followed by single-axis solar tracker technology.As a result, we recommended setting up a dual axis solar tracking system atop each structure [17].Observation of weather sensor is shown in Table 4.
The average power produced by the solar panels is 2.144 W for single axis solar trackers and 3.085 W for dual axis solar trackers.For dual axis trackers, efficiency is 98.083%, whereas for single axis trackers, it is 77.045%.Dual axis sun tracking systems have been shown to gather solar energy more efficiently and with a stronger output than single axis systems.Dual axis trackers have higher power outputs than single axis trackers.Both trackers attain their maximum power outputs at one o'clock.When the temperature and humidity data are presented in the LCD, power is increasing from 9.00 AM TO 1.00 PM; while it is decreasing from PM to 6.00 PM, the temperature will decrease from 43 to 27 °C.With single axis trackers and dual axis trackers at 4.49 W and 4.5 W, respectively, the power peaks at noon.A dual axis tracker produces more electricity than a single axis tracker [16].

Figure 4 .
Figure 4. Prototype testing Figure 5. Hardware model of dual axis solar tracking

Figure 8
Figure8depicts a visual comparison of single and dual axis solar tracking systems.The dual axis sun tracker device has the ability to capture high voltage.When compared to other ways, graphic depiction unquestionably demonstrates the better solar energy conversion.There are other, more efficient ways to detect solar radiation, but they are all quite expensive.Examples include central receiver concentrators, parabolic trough concentrators, parabolic dish concentrators, and power towers.Due to their lower cost and higher efficiency, dual axis solar systems are now being used more frequently[12].

Figure 8 .
Figure 8.A visual comparison of single and two axis solar tracking devices is presented

Table 1 .
Performance of single-axis solar tracking systems

Table 2 .
Performance of dual axis solar tracking system ISSN: 2252-8792 Dual axis solar tracking system (Mugachintala Dilip Kumar)

Table 3 .
Performance evaluation of dual and single axis tracking systems