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Design of a Solar Tracking System for Improving Solar Photovoltaic Efficiency
17th International Middle-East Power System Conference (MEPCON'15) Mansoura University, Egypt, December 15-17, 2015 (2015)
  • Dr. Adel A. Elbaset
Abstract
The aim of this work is to develop a microcontroll
er-based solar tracking system and assess the value of using
single and dual-axis solar trackers as means for improving the
performance of photovoltaic generation systems. Two
experimental test setups were designed, implemented and
used to collect the evaluation results at a site that is located
at 28° N latitude, 31° E longitude. One of the test setups
included a monocrystalline photovoltaic (PV) panel that is fixed
at a reference inclination angle of 28° with respect to the horizon,
and facing due south. Whereas, the other experimental setup
included an identical photovoltaic panel that is equipped with
a solar tracking system, which enables it to continuously
follow the sun trajectories. The solar tracking syst em has
been designed and developed using a set of light dependent
resistors (LDR) serving as solar radiation intensity sensors and
an Arduino microcontroller (RB-Ard-11) on which the tracking
algorithm was programmed. This study showed that the net
power produced by the photovoltaic panel increased by about
23.15% and 29% when equipped with single-axis and dual-axis
solar tracker, respectively, as compared to the reference case of a
fixed mount panel. An analytical model is used to characterize
PV cells. The used expressions, based on explicit methods, allow
the current and the voltage at key operational points, (i.e., in
particular at the maximum power point) to be calculated using
the single-diode model as a function of cell temperature,
irradiance and common manufacturers data.
Keywords
  • DC motor,
  • dual-axis solar tracker,
  • fixed mount solar system,
  • PV cell,
  • and single-axis solar tracker
Publication Date
Winter December 16, 2015
Citation Information
Dr. Adel A. Elbaset. "Design of a Solar Tracking System for Improving Solar Photovoltaic Efficiency" 17th International Middle-East Power System Conference (MEPCON'15) Mansoura University, Egypt, December 15-17, 2015 (2015)
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/dr_adel72/80/