Dhanabel R etal. Intemational Jounal of Engineering and Technology (WET) Comparison of Efficiencies of Solar Tracker systems with static panel Single- Axis Tracking System and Dual-Axis Tracking System with Fixed Mount Dhanabal R!, Bharathi V?, RenjithaR? , Poni A', Deepthi S° Mageshicannan P* Professor, VLSI Division, SENSE, VIT UNIVERSITY, Vellore-632014,TN India. ‘oahanabal€vite in, AGGR college of engineering, Tamilnadu, India 2oharathiveerappangSyahoo.co.in, 4 Blectronics and Communications Engineering, SENSE, VIT UNIVERSITY, Vellore-632014,7N Inia, >ranjithasekar@ymail com, ‘pont 92@yehoo com, ‘deepthil693@gmail com ‘SRM University Chennai, Tamilnadu iia. Abstract—Electrcity plays a key role now in our daily lives but the energy somes to electiic power has been used in abundance and so researchers were compelled to find an eltemate sowce of power leading to the discovery of solar enexgy. Solar energy is inexhaustible and eco-fuiendlly and can be converted into electicity ‘using photovoltaic panels. These panels can be used in a fixed form or used in a solar racking system for single axis as well as for dual axis. Ina fixed form ther efficiency is low since the panels wil be tilted in a peticular angle whereas ina tacking system the panel is made to move either in single axis or dual axis. In a single axis system the panel is moved in an east to west diection with respect to the sun and it has better efficiency than. yanels in fixed form. But me dual axis system the panel is made fo rotate in all four dections in accoidance with the sun. And dual axis has proved to have more efficiency than both fixed panels and single axis system. Index Terms—Dual-axis solar tracker, Efficiency, Fixed mount solar system, Single-axis solar tracker, Solar energy. INTRODUCTION Today the world is unimaginable without electicity such isthe impact of electric power. It isthe key to many technologies that had been developed over the years. In the process of couverting solar energy to electicity we ‘use photovoltaic panels which consist of silicon made solar cells. Photovoltaic effect is the concept used in the panels where light energy due to the sun’s radiation is converted into electric power. The conversion of solar enexgy into electric power also depends on the angle at which the pane i fixed or mace to rotate. Theye aze two types of panel usage: 1) In fixed form and 2) In solar trackers. When a panel is fixed they are tilted in ground or ona zoof at an angle appropnate for sun’s radiation In solar rackexs the panel is made to votate inthe dizections vith respect to sun. We have experimentally verified that the efficiency and the output power of dual axis system ate higher when compared to fixed panel and single axis solar hacker system, SINGLE AXISTRACKER A Single axis tacking system is a method where the solar panel tracks the sun fiom east to west using a single pivot Point to rotate. Under this system there are thuee types: Honzontal single axis tacking system, Vertical single axis tracking system and Tilted single axis tracking system. In the Horizontal system the axis of rotation is horizontal with respect tothe ground, and the face of the module is oriented parallel tothe axis of rotation. In the Vertical system the axis of rotation is vertical with respect to the ground and the face of the module is oriented at an angle with respect to the axis of rotation, In the Tilted hacking system the axes of rotation is ISSN - 0975-4024 Vol 5 No? Apr-May 2013 1925Dhanabel R etal. Intemational Jounal of Engineering and Technology (WET) ‘between horizontal endl vertical axes and this also has the face of the module oriented parle to the axis of rolation, simlarfo the Honzontal hacking system. ‘The single axis necking system consist of two LDR's paced on either side of the panel. Depending on the intensity ofthe sun zays one ofthe two LDR’s willbe shadowed ana the other will be lluminated{t] The LDR with the maximum infensity of the sun's radiation sens stonger signal tothe contoler which mntum sends signal tothe motor to sotete the panel in the eivection in which the sun's intensity is maxiznum. ‘ig 1 Sings Take] Weel h eT -{ eee ste Controller NTs Toru (ae) Pare s Solar panel plein motor igre 3. Bloc Ding for Single Ais Tracker A. Efficiency Of Single-Axis Tracking System over Fixed Mount ‘The readings for both the static panel and single-axis tracker are taken for a single day fiom moming $ am to evening 6 pm for every one how. The following readings are tabulated and a graph was generated using MATLAB as follows ISSN - 0975-4024 Vol 5 No? Apr-May 2013 1926Dhanabel R etal. Intemational Jounal of Engineering and Technology (WET) TABLEL (COMPARISON OF FIXED NOUNT WITH SINGLE AXIS TRACKER SYSTEM. [Boer ite Pal ar Tracking (Single Axi) Vaal OAM [TPO | Os0s | WIS | 1 [OOAM [OSS] TIT | woe | OSes TIS TOOOAM [OSS] TI [107s [O87] 139 SH TIOOAM [O87 TS 17s | WES [IS PT TOP] BS WT |] 30 Te OWEN [IOS | 336 [35% | TOT 3H SS DAWEH [IOS] IST] SIS | oT] 30s ST TEDOPH OST] ITT [358 | 03s] 395 POS DAWEN [OSS] ISO] AS | ORO | Te TT DSOOPH [OSS] DIF [ITE | O55] 3s PAT DSOOPH OST | TS [TSE 0875] TST | 18D BreageFover [ISIS aos [Average Pover Tage 8) ‘The efficiency ofthe single axis racking system aver that of the static panel is calculated to be 32.17%. B. Disadvantage ‘The main disadvantage of the single axis tracker is that it can only track the daily movement ofthe sun and not the yearly movement. The efficiency of the single axis tacking system is also reduced curing cloudy days since itean only tack the east-west movement ofthe sun, DUAL AXIS SOLAR TRACKING SYSTEM Dual exis tracking system uses the solar panel to tack the sun from east to west and north to south using two pivot points fo rotate. The dual axis tracking system uses four LDR’s, two motors and a contioller. The four LDR’s are placed at fou different dxections. One set of sensozs ancl one motor is used to tlt the tracker in sun's cast ~ west diection and the other set of sensors and the other motor which is fixed atthe bottom of the tracker ISSN - 0975-4024 Vol 5 No? Apr-May 2013 1927Dhanabel R etal. Intemational Jounal of Engineering and Technology (WET) ‘is used to tilt the tracker inthe sun's north-south direction [1]. The contoller detects the signal fiom the LDR’s and commands the motor to rotate the panel in respective diection. SECONDARY AXIS woRTH SOUTH "ROTATION Promany sx ALLOWS EASTIWEST ROTATION igae 4 Dual Acs der) river oirsue Rat winding a mal fariwer cirouit ‘ hit winging? if? et y re . mavertt i | driver cireuit Sas [Courter rata ut ° ss fariwer ciroui Timer f 7 haze mincing c a 4 |__} ¢ 6 . 2 F T T 8 7 mvert2| 4 ~ ‘omonra| igre 5. Block Ding for Dal Acs Tracker [1] ISSN - 0975-4024 Vol 5 No? Apr-May 2013 1928Dhanabel R etal. Intemational Jounal of Engineering and Technology (WET) C. Experimental Setup D. Efficiency of Dual-Axis Tracking System over Fixed Mount ‘The readings forboth the static panel and dual-exis tracker are taken for from moming $ am to evening 6 pan for everyone how. The following readings are tabulated and a graph was generated using MATLAB as follows atio Panel olay Tracking Dual Axis) BA BNV BA RA EOVAM [54 Poo f504 FOI pos poss POUAM PSS [17 p94 Foss BOD BIAS OOUAM SSIS HOTS fa? BOO BIS TOOAM [57 (SY (765 fOSt BIS 3ST OPM (OS PIT PST foeo FIO BIST OOP OS P36 peas HOST BIS Hes OPM [OS POT BIS fOTS Bal BESS SOUP OT PT pe2s Oa p29 Ba AOE PSS P50 pS FOSS B30 BAST [OSOOPMM PSS id [776 (O36 BIT Ia SOUP ST as WISE FOI PS? poOT Sverage Power SIS 1S ISSN - 0975-4024 Vol 5 No? Apr-May 2013 192935 30 25 20 15 10 Efficiency of Dual-Axis Tracking 5} ISSN - 0975-4024 Dhanabel R ete! Intemational Jounal of Engineering and Technology (WET) CD Average Power Static Panel Solar Tracking (Dual Axis) tem over Static panel DGD VS SINGLE ANUS [1] Vol 5 No? Apr-May 2013 HOUR] POWERFOR | POWER FIXED FOR ‘MOUNT@mW) | SINGLE. AXISGnW) Er CIAO BO TD BTA Too | 44176 Tra} 1100 7OsI6 33777 TH 110 TOSI Fe EE 137160} To a5356 130.754 TO SH 1: Tao 867 TOs86 1700 70H 3310] 10 [46355 a5] TABLEL 1930140, 120 100 80 Output Power(W) 60 40 ISSN - 0975-4024 Dhanabel R etal. Intemational Jounal of Engineering and Technology (WET) +— Fixed single Tracker o 1 2 8 4 1% 6 7 18 Time ‘ig Stnulstin Res for Comparson of Fredmoct en Single Ais Tada Systm] TABLE? DED Vs DUAL-ANAS [2] HOUR] POWER FOR] POWER FOR FIXED | DUAL-AXIS(W) MOUNTCW) THO Te ed 1500 3587 ers] T2007 3876 32701 1000) F198 349515, 100) r 77 1300) STE Ise] 1300) “3136 SOS 1900) Sear 36ST 1300) 3 IST 1600) 1 S556] 1700) 3696 S238 1800) aE es 1300) Tre 32 Vol 5 No? Apr-May 2013 1931Dhanabel R etal. Intemational Jounal of Engineering and Technology (WET) 60; 55 50 45 40 35 30 Output Powert) 25 20 ask Y = Fixed Dual Tracker | 10 6 3 70 712 14 16 18 30 Time ‘ig Stuuntin Resufor Compas of Fced Mout ere Dun Acs Trader System [1] ‘The efficiency ofthe dual axis tacking system over that ofthe static pane! is calculated to be 81.6 Future Work ‘The efficiency of the dusl-axis racking system can be increased even more by placing a minor or concave lens on topof the panel. The use of lens or minor increases the trackers efficiency since lange amount of sunlight is concentrated on the panel and lange power is generated. It can also reduce the size of the solar cell required to generate Inge power It also has high optical efficiency. Conclusion ‘The proposed model of the dual axis solar tacker is capable of tracking the sun thnoughout the year. The dual axis backer provides higher output power when compared to single axis tacker and fixed panel. According to the measured readings the efficiency of the dual axis tacker is found to be 81.68% higher than that of fixed. panel whereas the efficiency ofthe single axis tracker i only 32.17% higher than that of fixed panel REFERENCES 1B} Deep, Pama A, Ranta 8 R Diwubel “Comparcon of icici of Single-A Tading, System and Dual As Trading Syston wth Fed Maat’. Iiemaional Journal of Engineering Science and bmovatne Technology (WEST) Voki 2, Ls 2 Narch2013, [p] Smash Falmen Rashid Ahmnmed Feds, Nehunmad Abds! Maun, Noe Ac Mchummed, "Design Iaplmetatin of « Dun Ace Soir Taking Sytem Ameri Acad Scholar Rezearch Sonal Yo No.1, Ten. 2013, [B] A Kissen, M Huned"A Misocermollr-Based Maks Ravten Solr Dacing Sym TEE 2001 BH] Aranion Bose, Sounie Sula. Sayan Dus, “Haliechy ~ « Low Cot High Mfviny Soke Tnndkng Syren Ushg AVR ‘ezocerole": eration Jor of Scntifc & Bngnecrag Research, Vobae 3, sue 10, October 2002 [5] Lorn Lon Oo, Neng Kay Hig" Mirocarroller Based Two- Aci Sor Tracing System Sond Aeration Coyferace (on Couper Resarch and Development 2010 EEE. AUTHOR PROFILES: RDHANABAL, Assistant professor (St) in SENSE, Vellore Institute of Technology,Vellore, received the BE. degree in Electronics and Commtnication Engineering fiom Bharathidesan Univeusity, Tiuchizappalli, Teml Nadu, India in 2001, and MTech degree in VLSI Design, fiom SASTRA University, Tanjore, Tamilnadu, India in 3002. His research interests exe i the ‘area of Low power VLSI design and Mixed Signal IC Design. ISSN - 0975-4024 Vol 5 No? Apr-May 2013 1932Dhanabel R etal. Intemational Jounal of Engineering and Technology (WET) ‘YV.BHARATHI Assistant professor_in CSE Department, GGR college of Engineering, Vellore, received the BE. degree in Computer Science and Engineering from Madias University, Chennai, Tamil Ned, India in 2004, end ME degree im Computer Science and Engineering fiom Anna University, Chennai, Teminad, India n 2009 ISSN - 0975-4024 Vol 5 No? Apr-May 2013 1933