SOLAR TRACKING

SYSTEM
A Project Report submitted
In ID1035 INDEPENDENT PROJECT

PROJECT CO-ORDINATER
Dr. Kiran K Khuchi

Indian Institute of Technology

Hyderabad

1. THE SOLAR OPTION

Solar energy is a very large, inexhaustible source of energy. The power
from the sun intercepted by the earth is approximately 1.8*1011MW,
which is many thousands of times larger than the present consumption
rate on the earth of all commercial energy sources.
Solar energy could supply all the present and future energy needs of the
world on a continuing basis. This makes it one of the most promising of
the unconventional energy sources.
Solar energy has two other factors in the favor.
Firstly, unlike fossil fuels and nuclear power, it is environmentally
clean source of energy.
Secondly, it is free and available in adequate quantities in almost
all parts of the world where people live. Also it has no heavy
mechanical section and is free from noise.

Problem with Solar

However, there are many problems
associated with its use, the main
problem is that it is dilute source of
energy. Even in the hottest regions
on the earth, the solar radiations flux
available rarely exceeds 1 KW/m,
which is a low value for technological
utilization.

Problem associated with the

use of solar energy is that its
availability varies widely with
time.
The
variation
in
availability
occurs
daily
because of the day night
cycle and also seasonally
because of the earths orbit
around the sun.

To rectify these above problems the solar panel should be such that it
always receives maximum intensity of light. For existing solar
panels, which are without any control systems typical level of efficiency
varies from 10% to 4% - a level that should improve measurably if the
present interest continues.

2. OBJECTIVE :
The aim of our projects is to utilize the maximum solar energy
through solar panel. For this a digital based automatic sun tracking
system is proposed. This project helps the solar power generating
equipment
to get the maximum sunlight automatically thereby
The aim of our project is to utilize the maximum solar energy through
increasing
of automatic
the system.
The
solar the
panel . efficiency
For this a Digital based
sun tracking system
is solar panel tracks the
helps automatically
the solar power generating equipment
to
sun fromproposed.
eastThis
toproject
west
for maximum
intensity of light.
To

get the maximum sunlight automatically thereby increasing the

efficiency of theTo
system.
The solara panel
the control
sun from east
to
fabricate
DC tracks
motor
interfaced
with
west automatically
for maximum
intensity ofinterfaced
light.
fabricate
a DCdriver
motor
control
with driver circuit.
circuit

To construct a model prototype solar cell movement system with a

mechanical assemble to move the panel from 180 E to W.
To design an electronic circuit to sense the intensity of light and to control
DC motor driver for the panel movement.
To construct an emergency light inverter circuit i.e. to operate tube light
with the help of charged battery from the solar panel

4.How the Track Rack follow the sun

1.Sunrise "Wake- Up
2. Mid-Morning
The Track Rack begins the
The Track Rack moved by the shifting
day facing west. As
weight of liquid flowing from one side
the morning sun rises in the
of the tracker to the other through a
east, it heats the unshaded
copper tube that connects the east and
west-side canister with both. west canisters .When one canister is exposed to the sun
direct and reflected rays (from the inter surface more than the other, its vapor pressure increases, forcing
of the "shadow plate") forcing liquid into the liquid to the cooler, shaded side.
shaded east-side cannister.
3. Mid-Afternoon
As the sun moves, the Track
Rack follows (at approximately
15o per hour, continually
seeking equilibrium as liquid
moves from one side of the
tracker to the other. .

4. Sunset
The Track Rack completes its daily
cycle facing west. It remains in this
position overnight until it is
"awakened" by the rising sun the
following morning.

LDR
SENSOR

LM324
OpAmp
IC

AT89C4051
Microcontroller

ULN2003

STEPPER
MOTOR

+5V

1K

6. Circuit

22K

+5V

10K

56K

LM
324

+5V

33P

10K

12MHz
33P

10K
22K
+5V

1K

AT89C2051

10K

1F

1
2
3
4

ULN
2003
1

7805
Voltage
Regulator

+12V

12V
Battery

8.Working with KEIL software

7.CIRCUIT DISCRIPTION
COMPONENT LIST
1. IC1

LM324

2. IC2

Microcontroller AT89C2051

3. Voltage Regulator

7805

4. IC3

ULN 2003

5. LDR1 & LDR2

Light Dependent Resistor

6. Oscillator

Crystal Oscillator 12MHz

7. Resistors

1K(2);10K(4);56K(1);

8. Capacitors

1F(1);33P(2)

COMPONENT LIST
9.

Variable Resistor

250K(2)

10. Battery

12V

11.

Stepper Motor

12. LED

2 Red

Thank You...
Submitted by
Piyush Sharma[EE12B1024]
Ajay Dhakar[CE12B1001]
Mohit Chaudhary[CE12B1014]
Vikas Kumar Yadav[CH12B1027]
Rajkumar Meena[ME12B1029]