AUTOMATIC SOLAR TRACKER

INTRODUCTION TO ENGINEERING

PROJECT REPORT

Submitted by

Chelikani Sri Ranganadh

20UTIT0012

VEL TECH RANGARAJAN DR.SAGUNTHALA R&D

INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
MAY 2023

VEL TECH RANGARAJAN DR.SAGUNTHALA R&D

INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
CHENNAI 600 062
 BONAFIDE CERTIFICATE

Certified that this project “Automatic solar tracker” is the bonafide work
of Chelikani Sri Ranganadh (20UTIT0012) who carried out project work
under my supervision.

SIGNATURE

SIGNATURE.

HOD PROJECT COORDINATOR

Dr.sasikar. phd
Department of Electrical And Electronics
Engineering VeltechUniversity

The Examination is held on __________________________

EXAMINER 1 EXAMINER 2
 ABSTRACT

As the energy demand and environmental problems increases the natural energy
source become very important as an alternative to conventional energy sources The
renewable energy sector is fast gaining around a new growth for numerous countries
with the vast potential environmentally and economically. Solar energy plays an
important role as primary source of energy. This project aims to the development
of process to track the sun and attain the maximum efficiency by using 555IC and
LDR sensor for real time monitoring. The light dependent resistor has been used for
capturing maximum light source. Gear motor has been used to move solar panel at
maximum light source location sensing by LDR .The performance of this system has
been tested with static solar panel. This project describes the design of low cost solar
tracking system. In this project a single axis solar tracking system has been
developed by which more energy from the sun has been harnessed. In this project
555IC has been used as main controlling unit. To detect the position of the sun. Two
LDRs have been used and to rotate the orientation of the solar PV panel and a gear
motor has been used mechanically coupled with the PV panel. The whole system has
been assembled together and it’s performance has been tested. This tracker changes
the direction of the solar panel based on the direction of the sun facing to the panel
successfully. Single axis solar tracker tracks the sun on daily basis and makes the
solar panel more efficient
 TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHAPTER NO. TITLE PAGE NO.

ABSTRACT 3

LIST OF FIGURES 5

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS 6

1 INTRODUCTION 7

2 EXISTING SYSTEM 8
3 PROPOSED SYSTEM 11

4 BLOCK DIAGRAM 12 5

MATERIALS AND METHODS 13

6 WORKING 18

7 HARDWARE DISCUSSION 19

8 CONSTRUCTION 20

9 CALCULATION 21

10 TESTING AND RESULT 23

11 ADVANTAGES AND LIMITATIONS 24

12 CONCLUSION 25

13 REFERENCE 26
 LIST OF FIGURES

FIGURE NO. TITLE PAGE NO.

1.1 Solar panel orientation 8

1.2 Solar panel tilt 9

1.3 Solar panel 13

1.4 LDR 13

1.5 Voltage regulator 14

1.6 Capacitor 14

1.7 Resistor 15

1.8 L293DIC 15

1.9 555IC 16

2.0 DC Gear motor 16

2.1 Battery 17

2.2 Final image of the project 19

2.3 Design of Window 28

2.4 Working model of Window 28

2.5 Design of portable mobile charger. 30

2.6 Working model portable mobile charger 30

2.7 Design of gear train 32

2.8 Working model of gear train 32

 LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS

SYMBOLS ABBREVIATIONS

LDR Light dependent resistor

PV Photovoltaic

DC Direct current

IC Integrated circuit
 CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION

As the energy demand and environmental problems increases the natural energy
source become very important as an alternative to conventional energy sources The
renewable energy sector is fast gaining around a new growth for numerous countries
with the vast potential environmentally and economically. Solar energy plays an
important role as primary source of energy. This project is aims to the development
of process to track the sun and attain maximum efficiency by using 555IC and LDR
sensor for real time monitoring. The light dependent resistor has been used for
capturing maximum light source. Gear motor has been used to move solar panel at
maximum light source location sensing by LDR .The performance of this system has
been tested with static solar panel. This project describes the design of low cost solar
tracking system. In this project a single axis solar tracking system has been
developed by which more energy from the sun has been harnessed. In this project
555IC has been used as main controlling unit. To detect the position of the sun. Two
LDRs have been used and to rotate the orientation of the solar PV panel a gear motor
has been used mechanically coupled with the PV panel. The whole system has been
assembled together and it’s performance has been tested. This tracker changes the
direction of the solar panel based on the direction of the sun facing to the panel
successfully. Single axis solar tracker tracks the sun on daily basis and makes the
solar panel more efficient
 CHAPTER II
EXISTING SYSTEM

SOLAR PANEL ORIENTATION:

It refers to Azimuth setting. Most of the energy coming from the

sun arrives in straight line. A solar panel will capture more energy if it is facing
directly at the sun perpendicular to the straight lines between the position of panels
installation the sun. Then We need to have the solar panel turned towards the terristal
equator so that during the day orientation allow the panel to catch the greatest
possible amount of Solar radiation

Fig1.1

SOLAR PANEL TILT:

 It refers to Zenith or elevation setting. For a fixed Solar
installation, it prefers that the PV panels are installed with a centralized tilt angle
representing the vernal equinox.

The solar panel orientation and tilt of fixed solar PV panel it can be
optimized for a particular month or season during a year

Fig1.2
 CHAPTER III
PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION

Solar panels are installed in the direction of maximum radiation of sunlight but the
problem arises due to revolution of earth source i.e, the sun is moving so the
absorption and conversion may not be optimal. So We cannot harness the maximum
radiation of the sun all the Sun all the times as the position of maximum radiation
comes only once in 24hrs . So We cannot utilizing the maximum energy of sun to
your turn needs due to lack of new techniques
 CHAPTER IV PROPOSED SYSTEM

AUTOMATIC SOLAR TRACKER

The Automatic solar system as a prototype to solve the problem

mentioned above. It is completed automatic and keeps the panel in front of the sun
until that is visible. The unique feature to this system is that instead earth as a
reference and sun as a guiding surface. It’s activities sensors constantly monitor the
sunlight and rotate the panel towards the direction where the intensity of sunlight is
maximum. Therefore it’s the effectiveness of output power which collected by the
sunlight is increased and we can utilize the maximum energy of sunlight
 CHAPTER V
BLOCK DIAGRAM / DESIGN

SOLAR PLATE BATTERY

CHARGER BATTERY
VI

POSITIONING
CONTROL UNIT
SENSOR

MOTOR
 MATERIALS

SOLAR PANEL:

Solar panels are device that convert light energy into electrical energy some
times it is also called photovoltaic cells which means light electricity

Fig1.3

LIGHT DEPENDENT RESISTOR(LDR):

A photo resistor is a light controlled variable resistor .The resistance of
resistor decreases with increasing incident light intensity

Fig1.4

VOLTAGE REGULATORY:
A Voltage regulator IC maintains the output voltage at a constant
value a member of 78xx series of fixed linear voltage regulators used to maintain
such fluctuations
 Fig1.5

CAPACITOR: A capacitor can Store electrical energy when it is

connected to it’s charging circuit . They are commonly used in electronic
devices to maintain power supply

Fig1.6

RESISTOR:
It is an electrical device may be a passive two terminal electrical part that
implements as a circuit component
 Fig1.7

L293D IC:
L293D is a typical motor drive IC which allow DC motor to drive on either
location.L2393D is a 16 pin IC which can control a set of two DC motors
simultaneously in any direction

Fig1.8

555IC:
The 555ic is an integrated circuit chip used in variety of timer pulse generation
and oscillator applications and as a flip-flop element.

Fig1.9

DC GEAR MOTOR:
Gear motor is an all in one combination of motor and gear box the addition of
a gear head to a motor reduces the speed while increasing the torque output
 Fig2.0

BATTERY:
An electric battery is a device consisting of one or more electrochemical cells
with external connections provided to power electrical devices

Fig2.1
 CHAPTER VII
WORKING

=>Solar tracker works by 556IC which compares the light intensity. Illuminated on
the LDR’S

=>The logic that works on LDR to detect the signal is based on resistance capacitor
timing circuit

=>Once the signal is fed into the input for RB2 and RB3 it compares the two inputs
and the difference is detected

=>It send an output signal from Port RB0 and RB1 to let motor move clockwise
direction and counter clockwise direction respectively

=>The signal that is sent from RB0 AND RB1 in logic level at 1 and 0, logic 1 is
high and 0 is for low level

=>When the logic level is high is sent to base of the transistor. It energizes and makes
a closed circuit

=>Thus the current flows through the motor, Only two transistors can be switched
on and off at a time

=>The Solar panel that attached to the motor will be reacted according to the
direction of motor
 CHAPTER VIII
HARDWARE DISCUSSION

Fig 2.2 CONSTRUCTION

Two CDS cells are connected to port RB2 and RB3 of the
microcontroller The two photocells are positioned on a small straight piece of wood
or plastic. Another piece is mounted perpendicular to the straight piece, thereby
dividing both the sensors. If both the photocells are equally illuminated by the sun,
their resistance level will be same. As long as the resistance is same, an error margin
of ±10 points, the microcontroller will analyze this data and thus will not generate
any signal to actuate the motor. If one of the sensor comes under a shadow, then the
microcontroller will detect this change and thus it will actuate the motor to move the
sensor module to a position where the equal light has being illuminated on both of
them. The microcontroller can obtain its resistance data from the two LDRs and to
move in which direction depending on which LDR is under shadow. The concept of
the design is dependent on the LDR that is under shadow.
 CHAPTER IX
CALCULATION

Calculation for efficiency.

Solar tracking is the easiest tactic to escalate overall efficiency of a solar power
system for domestic or commercial users. We have calculated the efficiency as
follows:
Efficiency= (A/B)*100

A= (Maximum current at variable angle-current at fixed angle zero degree)

B=(Current at fixed angle zero degree)

 CHAPTER X
TESTING AND RESULT

In order to limit the effect of external disturbances as much as possible, a full day of
light was simulated in a dark room. A strong light source was moved along a fixed
track with the solar panel in the tracks center. One simulation was 30sec long and 5
simulations were done for the solar panel were stationary light source’s motion.
Comparing the result of these two cases gives an indication of how much more
energy the system picks up when the solar panels are directed towards the sun.

In order to measure how much energy was generated by the solar panels, the
panels were connected to a resistor with know as resistance and voltage was
measured over this resistor with one second intervals. Since both the voltage and
resistance where know. The power over the resistor could be calculated as a function
of time. The generated energy E could be calculated with

E = integration 0 to T p(t) dt,

Where p is the power and T is Seconds, this is equivalent to the area under the
power curve
 RESULT:

The solar panel mechanism managed to follow light sources ranging

from flash lights . To the sun with good precision The amount of energy generated
when the solar panels were stationary was approximately 0.081 J on average, while
the solar tracking solar panels generated approximately 0.12 J. That means that the
amount of energy generated increased by 48 %.
 CHAPTER XI
ADVANTAGES / DISADVANTAGES
ADVANTAGES:
 You can get more energy from a smaller system

 Installation is easy and operates automatically

 It can enhances the clean and emission free power production

 Increase the electricity production more than 30%

 One time investment, which provides a higher efficiency on dependency over

other sources

DISADVANTAGES:
 Solar trackers are slightly more expensive than stationary one

 Moving parts and gears which will require regular maintenance

 CHAPTER XII
CONCLUSION

=> It has been proved through previous research that solar tracking system with
single-axis freedom can increase energy output by approximately 20%

=> The work in this paper is to develop and implement a solar tracking system with
both degree of freedom and the detection of the sunlight using sensors.

=>Suitable components and gear dc motors are used for the prototype model, which
exhibit a clear, stable and precise movement to face the sun.

=>The system is able to track and follow the sunlight intensity in order to collect
the maximum Solar power

=>Suitable components and gear dc motor are used for making this prototype

=>The constructed system model can be applied in residential and in agriculture

purpose for alternative energy generation
 CHAPTERXIII
REFERENCES

NAME OF
SL.NO. TITLE AUTHOR YEAR
JOURNAL/PUBLICATION
1 Solar tracking Renewable energy world David June
the sun magazine Appleyard 1,2004
2 Advances in
Solar heating
and cooling C chang 2016
Wood head publishing
3 Design and
implementation International journal of current Vinod 24th
of Automatic engineering and technology Kumar August
solar radiation 2016
tracker

MODEL 1
CARPENTRY : WOODEN WINDOW

AIM :
To prepare a wooden window using plywood
APPARATUS :
1.wodden sheet

2.Hingers

3.nuts and bolts

4.ruler for measurement

5.wood cutting machine

6.Fevicol

PROCEDURE :

=> the wooden plank and marked the suitable dimensions of window

=>Cut the markings carefully using wooden cutting machine

=> For making doors of window used hinges and fixed them leaving equal spaces
from edge

=>The length and breadth of the wooden window are 300mm and 160mm
respectively

DIAGRAM :

DESIGN: WORKING MODEL:

 Fig2.3 Fig2.4

RESULT :
I completed the window successfully and I learned how to cut wood
properly and how to give good finishing to the wood

MODEL 2
ELECTRONICS: PORTABLE MOBILE CHARGER

AIM :
To prepare portable mobile charger using battery and IC
APPARATUS :
1.Dot Board

2.7805IC

3.330 ohm resistor

4.P-N Diode

5.Battery clip

6.9V battery and LED

PROCEDURE :

=>Arrange the components in the dot board

=>Make the soldering to the components according to the circuit diagram

=>Connect a switch to the circuit

=>Connect a battery and switch on the circuit the led will glow

DIAGRAM :
DESIGN: WORKING MODEL:
Fig2.5. Fig2.6

RESULT :
I completed portable mobile charger successfully and I learned how to soldier
the materials and function of an each component

MODEL 3
MACHINE SHOP: SIMPLE AND COMPOUND GEAR TRAIN

AIM :
To prepare a simple and compound gear train using cardboard
APPARATUS :
1.Card board
2.compass

3.scissor

4.scale and pencils

PROCEDURE :

=> a drawing compass draw to circles an inner circle and an outer circle

=> the shape of the circles using scissor

=> Draw a zig-zag between the two circles cut a square hole out of the center of the
larger gear to fit a drive shaft and then cut out the gear

=> process the another gear

DIAGRAM :
DESIGN:. WORKING MODEL

Fig2.7 Fig2.8

RESULT :
I completed gear train successfully and I learned what is the principle and
mechanism behind the rotation of gear