Solar Tracking System

Adrian Nuñez and John Denver Rey

 exposed to the sunlight, the photons with energy greater

Abstract—The solar photovoltaic panels are used to generate than the band-gap energy of the semiconductor are
electrical energy from solar energy. The solar photovoltaic absorbed and create some electron-hole pairs
panels are low-efficiency devices; they convert small amount of
solar energy. In this paper, we seek to improve the photovoltaic proportional to the incident radiation. Under the
panels by the use of solar tracking systems which will keep the influence of the internal electric fields of the p-n
solar panel aligned with the sun in order to maximize solar junction, these carriers are swept apart and create a
power extraction. A comparative analysis was performed using photocurrent which is directly proportional to solar
three systems, i.e., Hybrid, Dual-Axis Tracking, Single-Axis and
stationary module. It is found that the dual-axis tracking system
insolation (Mohammad & Karim, 2012). These are
produced 17.87% gain of power output, compared with a single- made up of various semiconductors such as: Mono-
axis tracking system and the gain of output power with the crystalline silicon, polycrystalline silicon, & micro-
hybrid tracking system was much higher (52%) when compared crystalline silicon.
with a stationary system inclined at 23.5 degrees to the Additionally, the amount of output mainly depends
horizontal.
on the cosine angle of incidence which is known as the
angle between the sun ray and horizontal surface. The
Index Terms — Amorphous & Crystalline Solar Panel, Hybrid minimum incidence angle gives the maximum power
Single & Dual-Axis, Solar Tracker, Tracking System. output (Sunitha & Rajan, 2015). To maximize the
energy harnessing, on the PV cells, the surface of the
I. INTRODUCTION
PV panel must always be perpendicular to the sun
radiation, minimizing the incidence angle. Thus,
Solar energy is the cleanest and remarkably abundant pointing out the necessity of using solar tracking
in every part of the world. It can be harnessed through systems. The tracking mechanism is an
photovoltaic cells. A photovoltaic cell, commonly electromechanical system that ensures solar radiation is
called a solar cell or PV, is the technology used to always perpendicular to the surface of the photovoltaic
convert solar energy directly into electrical power cells (solar cells) which maximizes energy harnessing
(Ferdaus, Mohammed, Rahman, Salehin & Mannan, (Ferdaus, Mohammed, Rahman, Salehin & Mannan,
2014). It can generate direct current (DC) electricity 2014).
without environmental impact and emission by the way There are mainly two types of solar trackers on the
of the solar radiation. The DC power is converted to AC basis of their movement degrees of freedoms. These are
power with an inverter, to power local loads or fed back single axis solar tracker and dual axis solar tracker.
to the utility (Jassim & Waheed, 2014). However, the Again these two systems are further classified on the
efficiency of generating power through photovoltaic basis of their tracking technologies. Active, passive, and
cells is relatively low. There are three ways in which we chronological trackers are three of them (Ferdaus,
can increase the efficiency of solar conversion as Otto, Mohammed, Rahman, Salehin & Mannan, 2014).
Murad and Al-Zamil (2014) states, first is by using Single axis tracking system follows the sun’s daily
efficient materials, the second is to maximize the energy motion with respect to the horizontal plane following
conversion from the solar panel by developing a method the solar altitude angle usually tilted by 23.5°. Dual axis
whereby maximum power can be obtained from the tracking system follows the sun’s daily and annual
voltage and current multiplied together, and third way motion with respect to vertical and horizontal plane,
is by utilizing solar tracking systems to maximize the making it more efficient than the previous one. Lastly,
incident power on the solar panel. This template shows hybrid axis system uses three axes to point directly at
the performance of two different material solar panel, the sun, making the most efficient type of solar tracking
the amorphous and crystalline, in a solar tracking system by creating accurate alignment towards the sun.
system at a Stationary, Single axis, Dual axis, & Hybrid
axis to gain minimum losses to increase the efficiency
of the solar conversion. II. THE PROBLEM
A photovoltaic cell usually uses a p-n junction diode The main challenge is to maximize the capture of the
in a physical configuration to produce electricity. Being rays of the sun upon the solar panels, which in turn

*A. Nuñez, is a Fourth Year student of the Department of Electrical J. D. Rey is a Fourth Year student of the Department of Electrical
Engineering, Polytechnic University of the Philippines Santa Mesa, Manila Engineering, Polytechnic University of the Philippines Santa Manila, Manila
Philippines 1016 (e-mail: Nunezadrian04@gmail.com). Philippines 1016 (e-mail: iamblue.dh@gmail.com).
 maximize the output of electricity. 1. Stationary Tracking System
The amount of power generated at Stationary position (23.5
III. ANALYSIS & DISCUSSIONS degrees to the horizontal) for both Amorphous & Crystalline
Solar panels is maximum at 12:00 noon & drops with respect
To design effectively, we visualized the general working
to time. (Fig.2). For Crystalline Solar panel, the maximum
principle of this solar tracker. Figure-1 shows the solar
power generated is 13.2W at 12:00PM where the power
tracker project flow chart which served as a design heuristic
generated for Amorphous Solar Panel is 11.9W at 13:00PM
tool that aided in the general design. The basic principle of
(Gupta, Sonkar, Bhalavi & Edla 2013).
the project is that, First, the sun emits the light and the sensors
will detect the intensity of light and send the data to the
microcontroller (Otto, Murad, & Zamil 2014). Next, the
microcontroller will compare the intensity of light based on
the data that had been collected from sensors and send a
signal to the driving motor. The driving motor will rotate the
solar panel to the right direction based on the data that send
by the microcontroller. The solar panel will charge the
battery, so the system is self- powered system.

2. Single Axis Tracking System.

In single axis tracker, the panel is rotated in one direction
which is in the horizontal axis to track the sun & to absorbs
maximum sun rays hitting the surface of the panel. The
maximum amount of power generated by the Crystalline
Solar Panel is 16.20W & 15.1W for Amorphous Solar Panel.
(Fig.3)

The data shown in Table-1(a&b) shows the difference of

power output based on the comparison of the four systems,
stationary (23.5 degrees to the horizontal), single axis
tracker, dual axis tracker and Hybrid Tracker for Amorphous
& Crystalline Solar Panel. The period of time was chosen
between 10:00 to 16:00.

The performance evaluation of this Solar Panels at different

positions are discussed below:
3. Dual Axis Tracking System. In the performed comparative analysis using the four systems,
In this system, two of its axis is moving with respect to the i.e., stationary, single-axis, dual-axis and hybrid solar tracker,
suns maximum sun rays. One is horizontal axis & second is the result showed that the average power output was
in the vertical axis (Gupta, Sonkar, Bhalavi & Edla 2013). obviously greater in favor of the hybrid solar tracker than that
The maximum power generated in Dual Axis tracking of the other systems (Gupta, Sonkar, Bhalavi & Edla 2013).
system for Crystalline and Amorphous Solar Panel is 17.6 From the graph we can see gaining power from three different
and 16.1W respectively. The maximum power is generated types of tracker. From all of these data, the average power
between 12:00-13:00 when the maximum level of sunrays is output generated for crystalline solar panel of stationary,
highest as shown in the curve. (Fig.4) single-axis, dual-axis and hybrid solar tracker throughout the
day is 11.61W, 13.9W, 14.73W & 15.39W respectively.
Similarly, for amorphous solar panel of stationary, single-
axis, dual-axis and hybrid solar tracker throughout the day is
8.7W, 11.99W, 12.43W & 13.04W respectively. Power was
acquired more from Hybrid tracker than both Single axis
tracker and Dual axis tracker. It can be concluded that Hybrid
tracker can give better performance than any kind of tracker.

IV. CONCLUSION
Photovoltaic cells harness energy by producing
photocurrent under the influence of internal electric fields. It
has two major types: Single-crystalline and amorphous. To
additionally increase the efficiency of solar conversion, a
comparative analysis was performed using four systems, i.e.,
hybrid tracking, dual-axis, single-axis, and stationary. The
results showed that the use of the dual-axis tracking system
4. Hybrid Tracking System. produced 17.87% gain of power output, compared with a
Hybrid trackers move on three axes to point directly at the single-axis tracking system. The gain of output power with
sun. It has two racks, one moves north & south; another the hybrid tracking system was much higher (52%) when
moves east & west side to have the maximum intensity of compared with stationary system inclined at 23.5 ° to the
solar radiation over the year from sun rise to sun set. It horizontal.
produces maximum power output of 18.5W for Crystalline
solar panel and 16.4W by Amorphous solar panel which is
REFERENCES
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