INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF Technology (IJEET), ISSN 0976 6545(Print), International Journal of Electrical Engineering andELECTRICAL ENGINEERING & ISSN

N 0976 6553(Online) Volume 3, Issue 3, October December (2012), IAEME TECHNOLOGY (IJEET)
ISSN 0976 6545(Print) ISSN 0976 6553(Online) Volume 3, Issue 3, October - December (2012), pp. 08-20 IAEME: www.iaeme.com/ijeet.asp Journal Impact Factor (2012): 3.2031 (Calculated by GISI) www.jifactor.com

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DESIGN, DEVELOPMENT AND HARDWARE REALIZATION OF X-BEE BASED SINGLE AXIS SOLAR TRACKING SYSTEM

Neeraj Tiwari1, D. Bhagwan Das2, Prabal Pratap Singh3 1,2 Dayalbagh Educational Institute (Deemed University), Agra Email: neerajtiwari.1407@gmail.com, neeraj1407@rediffmail.com

ABSTRACT The objective of this paper to optimize the solar energy receivers. In this paper, a low cost sun tracking system is designed using simple gear system and control circuitry, the electronic circuit diagram with detailed description and performance of the tracking system are presented. Emphasize increased energy produced compare to the fixed system, in the control circuitry we are using X-bee device, the tracking mechanism has proved to be sufficiently accurate for the present solar energy application. The position of sun is successfully detected with an accuracy of 0.60. Index Terms- Dc-motor drives, Electronic controlled tracking system, X-bee, Solar tracking system, Photovoltaic. I. INTRODUCTION HE Sun sends an almost unimaginable amount of energy towards Planet Earth around T10 17 Watt. The Suns power density (i.e. the power per unit area normal to its rays) just above the Earth s atmosphere is known as the solar constant and equals 1366 W/m2.It is reduced by approximately 0.30 times solar constant as it passes through atmosphere and at earth surface its value is 1000 W/m2 at sea level on a clear day. In cloudy sky, there could be a small component of direct radiation and a substantial component of diffuse radiation [1-4].Yet the Sun is an

International Journal of Electrical Engineering and Technology (IJEET), ISSN 0976 6545(Print), ISSN 0976 6553(Online) Volume 3, Issue 3, October December (2012), IAEME

amazing benefactor. To extract useable electricity from the sun was made possible by the discovery of the photoelectric mechanism via a semiconductor device which converts photon energy into electrical energy. In order to optimize the solar energy and to produce maximum power output, Solar tracker is invented because solar panel disables to move toward the sunlight when the sun moves from east to west. Hession and Bonwick [5] have presented a detailed description of an electromechanical sun tracker system they was using phototransistors. Ayala, J. Kenneth [6] presented, Microprocessors and microcontrollers are widely used in embedded system products. In order to produce maximum power output, solar tracker is design with 12 Volt DC motor so that solar panel can track the position of sun and it works with sensors and control circuitry. Solar tracker has many types but we use active trackers. In this paper work, X-bee based dual axis solar tracking system is designed and developed for maximize the solar energy because compared to a fixed mount, a single axis tracker increases annual output by approximately 30%, and a dual axis tracker an additional 6%. There are two types of dual axis trackers, polar and altitude-azimuth. [7]. the accuracy of this tracking system is much greater than the suggested accuracy. II. SUN TRAJECTORY CALCULATION: LITERATURE REVIEW The position of sun in the sky varies both with the elevation and the time of the day as the sun moves from east to west. Therefore solar tracker system can increase solar power over any fixed solar system. To produce maximum output power requires a great accuracy, one must first be able to predict the location of the sun relative to a tracking system [8]. We are using vector approach for necessary equation.

Ah =15(ts 12) in deg rees.

Where: Ah - Angular distance between the meridian of the Observer and the meridian whose plane contains the sun (-180,180 degrees).

td - Difference between mean solar time and solar time. td =0.258cos 7.416sin 3.648cos2 9.228sin2 in min utes Where: the angle is defined as the
function of day nd .

360(nd 1) in deg rees. 365 Time conversion:

Local clock time can be calculated as. t tl = ts d + Lc in hours. 60 Where: ts - solar time in minutes. 9

International Journal of Electrical Engineering and Technology (IJEET), ISSN 0976 6545(Print), ISSN 0976 6553(Online) Volume 3, Issue 3, October December (2012), IAEME

Lc - Longitude correction can be calculated as. (local longitude) zt Lc = in hours. 15

zt = s tan dard longitude . time zone meridain

Zenith SUN i k North

Sz

East
Sj

Sk

Fig.1. Sun position calculation The Declination Angle ( Ad ): This is the angle between line (joining the center of the earth and the sun) and the earths equatorial plane. Ad = sin 1[0.3979 cos {0.98563(nd 173)}] in deg rees. Where: nd -Number of days. Solar Altitude Angle ():
This is the angle between solar ray and observer plane as shown in Fig.1. sin = sin Ad .sin cos Ad .cos Ah .cos

= sin 1 (sin Ad .sin cos Ad .cos Ah .cos ).

Where: Ah - Hours Angle.

Ad - Declination Angle.
Zenith Angle (): Complement of the solar altitude angle () as shown in Fig.1. 10

International Journal of Electrical Engineering and Technology (IJEET), ISSN 0976 6545(Print), ISSN 0976 6553(Online) Volume 3, Issue 3, October December (2012), IAEME

= 90 .
Azimuth Angle (): From Fig.1.all the angles are in degrees Azimuth angle can be represented as.

cos .cos = sin Ad .cos cos Ad .cos Ah .sin . (sin Ad .cos cos Ad .cos Ah .sin ) cos (sin Ad .cos cos Ad .cos Ah .sin ) = cos1 cos cos =
III. MECHANICAL DESIGN A tracking system must be reliable and able to follow the sun with a certain degree of accuracy, the tracking systems can be divided into two broad categories, namely electrical/electronic systems [9] and mechanical systems [10]. Mechanical structure for solar tracking system is shown in Fig.2 and Fig.3. In our experimental setup we are using two 12 volt PMMC DC motor to rotate 510 watt for dual axis tracking.

Fig. 2.Experimental set up

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International Journal of Electrical Engineering and Technology (IJEET), ISSN 0976 6545(Print), ISSN 0976 6553(Online) Volume 3, Issue 3, October December (2012), IAEME

Fig. 3 Electronic circuit for single axis tracking

IV. SYSTEM DESIGN: SOLAR TRACKING We are using 12Volt two dc motors to rotate three 170watts panel each mounted on the mechanical structure from east to west. The mechanical structure of open loop solar tracking system is shown in fig.1 and 2. Here we are using Zig-bee base tracking system, it requires control circuitry used to rotate the two pmmc type 12V motor for dual axis tracking system. Earth rotate in elliptical orbit around the sun and also around in own axis known as polar axis, mathematically declination angle ( Z ) can be expressed as [10]. nd = day of the year.
360.(nd 180) Z = 23.450.sin 365

If Z is the zenith angle then: Z = . Where = latitude angle. Z = declination angle.

Fig.3 position of earth with respect to sun

Solar Event Date

Vernal equinox Summer solstice Autumnal equinox Winter solstice

Mar-21 June-21 Sep-23 Dec-21

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International Journal of Electrical Engineering and Technology (IJEET), ISSN 0976 6545(Print), ISSN 0976 6553(Online) Volume 3, Issue 3, October December (2012), IAEME

The azimuth angle is zero at solar noon and increases toward the east. The angle about the vertical axis is called the azimuthal angle and is 0 at due south and becomes positive as you start to point east. The angle about the horizontal axis is called the altitude and is 0 level to the horizon and becomes positive as you point towards the sky.

Fig. 4: Solar Trajectory

V. CALCULATION: SOLAR RADIATION

Solar radiation energy availability is vital for utilization of PV systems. The higher the availability of solar radiation energy, the smaller will be the size of the PV array that makes the cost of PV system cheaper. Solar energy is radiated uniformly in all the direction the spectrum of this radiation lies in the visible and infrared part of the EM (Electromagnetic) wave. The luminosity of the Sun is about 3.86 x 1026 watts. The distance of the sun from the earth is 150 million kilometer and the earth radius is 63000 kilometer approximately. The solar power we received at the earth surface is approximately 1370 watts per square meter is called solar constant. It is varies by +/- 3% because of the Earth's slightly elliptical orbit around the Sun as shown in fig.4. Therefore the extra-atmospheric radiation EAR varies according to the law:
EAR = Sc[1 + 0.33.cos (360.nd 365)]

Where Sc - solar constant, nd - represents the day of the year considered, counted from January 1.table2 shows the day to day conversion [11].

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International Journal of Electrical Engineering and Technology (IJEET), ISSN 0976 6545(Print), ISSN 0976 6553(Online) Volume 3, Issue 3, October December (2012), IAEME

Month January February March April May June July August September October November December

Day Number, nd d d+31 d+59 d+90 d+120 d+151 d+181 d+212 d+243 d+273 d+303 d+334

Notes * * Add 1 if leap year Add 1 if leap year Add 1 if leap year Add 1 if leap year Add 1 if leap year Add 1 if leap year Add 1 if leap year Add 1 if leap year Add 1 if leap year Add 1 if leap year Table 2

The radiation at the earth surface in clear sky condition RAT = RAdir + RAdiff + RArefl

Fig.5: Global Radiation on Inclined Plane

RAdir - Direct component of solar radiatio on a surface can be calculated.

EAR0 RAdir = .cos exp( / sin )

( if cos > 0 )

Where: EAR0 = extra atmospheric radiation if the origin of the rays had zenithal. It can be calculated for each day of the year by the formula: = endangered atmosphere coefficient. EAR0 =1150.65+ 72.43.cos(0.95.nd ) +34.25.sin(0.017.nd ) +1.5log(nd ) It is: 14

International Journal of Electrical Engineering and Technology (IJEET), ISSN 0976 6545(Print), ISSN 0976 6553(Online) Volume 3, Issue 3, October December (2012), IAEME

= 1

2 3 4 (6.74 + 0.026.nd 5.13144.nd + 2.24.106.nd + 2.80.109.nd )

The diffusion component on the same area:

EAR0 RAdiff = .F exp( / sin ) Where: = diffusion radiation factor. = 1 2 3 4 F = factor of view between the considered (16.9+0.0001.nd 8.65.104.nd +3.93.106.nd +4.005.109.nd ) surface and the sky: 1 + cos F= 2 Inclined surface receives less diffuse radiation from atmosphere, but receive an additional amount of reflected radiation due to the reflection from the ground. The Reflection factor is called albedo. It varies considerably depending on the nature of the soil, vegetation, etc. The component reflected may be determined as: EAR0 RArefl = .(C + sin ).nd .(1 F ) exp( / sin )
Where nd = is the reflection factor of the surrounding ground (albedo). The solar radiation incidence depends on two fundamental parameters: height of the sun and its position. Once solar elevation angle () and Azimuthal angle (Az) known then it is possible to calculate instantaneous position of sun and incidence angle (between the normal to the surface and the solar rays.) as shown in fig.4. VI. SPECIFICATION

DC-motor specification
DC motors (instead of AC motors) because they could be directly coupled with PV arrays and make a very simple system. Among different types of DC motors, a permanent magnet DC (PMDC) motor is preferred in PV systems for tracking system because it can provide higher starting torque, the DC voltage equation for the armature circuit is: V = I .Ra + K . Where: Ra is the armature resistance. Increasing Ra The back emf is E=K where: K is the constant, and is the angular speed of rotor in rad/sec. We are using 2-POLE permanent magnet Lap wound dc motor. DGM-3440-12Volt, 286 rpm,4 Amp.

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International Journal of Electrical Engineering and Technology (IJEET), ISSN 0976 6545(Print), ISSN 0976 6553(Online) Volume 3, Issue 3, October December (2012), IAEME

Table 1: Specifications of Solar Photovoltaic Modules

Configuration Single Glass Laminated Type With 72 Cells (12 6) In Series 1595 ( 3) 790 ( 2) 50 ( Overall Size 1) MM Weight 15 Kg. (Typical) Module Frame Anodized Aluminum Typical Electrical Characteristics of L24150 type module (170Wp) 42.0 V 4.86 A 35 V 170.0 W 3%

Open Circuit Voltage (Voc) Short Circuit Current (Isc) Operating Voltage Max Power Output

VII. EXPERIMENTAL SETUP

The experiment has been performed at laboratory situated at Faculty of Engineering, Dayalbagh Educational Institute, Agra. There are two solar panel systems viz. fixed and tracking system, on which for load four DC bulbs are directly connected ( two bulbs are in series) having specification each 90 Watts, 12Volt are connected to each system for experiment . The specification of each panel system is given below:

Fixed system: Having three panels each of 170 watts. Mounted on fixed mechanical structure incline latitude at 290 south facing. Tracking System: Number of panels in this system is also three, each of 170 watts. Mounted on rotating structure. It is rotating with the help of two 12Volt DC motors.
Both system panels are manufactured by BHEL. The same specifications are taken for both systems i.e. fixed and tracking system, to compare the performance of both systems. The comparison is carried out during different weather conditions and for different seasons. The readings are calibrated through digital voltmeters and analog ammeters.

VIII. REAL TIME DATA ANALYSIS OF CONTROL CIRCUIT

Since the whole system is to be implemented for real life application, for economical purpose we designed a very low cost Zig-bee based solar tracking system and analyzed the performance of this during the sunny day.

IX. EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS These data was taken in the month of September-20, 2012. Table.6 represents the fixed system recorded database and Table.7 represents recorded database for tracking system.
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International Journal of Electrical Engineering and Technology (IJEET), ISSN 0976 6545(Print), ISSN 0976 6553(Online) Volume 3, Issue 3, October December (2012), IAEME

Table 2: Fixed system

Hour 7.00am 7.30am 7.45am 8.00am 8.15am 8.30am 8.40am 8.55am 9.05am 9.20am 9.36am 9.50am 10.05am 10.20am 10.40am 10.54am 11.10am 11.25am 11.45am 12.00am 12.15am 12.40pm 1.00pm 1.10pm 1:25pm 1:44pm 1:55pm 2.10pm 2.25pm 2.35pm 2.50pm 3.00pm 3.05pm 3.21pm 3.44pm 4.00pm 4.22pm 4.35pm 4.40pm Voltage (V) 0.816 1.180 1.168 2.200 3.485 4.750 7.35 9.18 10.41 12.51 14.48 16.21 18.35 19.28 21.70 22.45 23.22 23.45 23.87 23.86 23.91 23.04 23.91 23.90 23.81 22.90 22.83 21.51 20.70 21.22 18.70 17.90 15.65 14.98 10.22 9.70 6.90 5.64 5.05 Current(Amp) 1 2 2.5 3 4 5.5 6.5 7.0 7.52 8.40 9.10 9.6 10.4 10.6 11.4 11.6 11.9 12.0 12.0 12.0 12.1 12.1 12.1 12.1 12.0 12.0 11.9 11.7 11.5 11.4 10.9 10.5 10 9.6 7.5 7.5 6.5 6.1 6 Power(watt) 0.816 2.36 2.92 6.6 13.94 26.125 47.775 64.26 78.2832 105.084 131.768 155.616 190.84 204.368 247.38 260.42 276.318 281.4 286.44 286.32 289.311 278.784 289.311 289.19 285.72 274.8 271.677 251.667 238.05 241.908 203.83 187.95 156.5 143.808 76.65 72.75 44.85 34.404 30.3

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International Journal of Electrical Engineering and Technology (IJEET), ISSN 0976 6545(Print), ISSN 0976 6553(Online) Volume 3, Issue 3, October December (2012), IAEME

Table 3: Tracking system

Hour 7.00am 7.30am 7.45am 8.00am 8.15am 8.30am 8.40am 8.55am 9.05am 9.20am 9.36am 9.50am 10.05am 10.20am 10.40am 10.54am 11.10am 11.25am 11.45am 12.00am 12.15am 12.40pm 1.00pm 1.10pm 1.25pm 1.44pm 1.55pm 2.10pm 2.25pm 2.35pm 2.50pm 3.00pm 3.05pm 3.21pm 3.44pm 4.00pm 4.22pm 4.35pm 4.40pm Voltage (V) 0.941 1.350 2.040 1.189 1.010 6.60 14.50 16.02 16.82 17.87 18.95 19.80 19.93 20.12 20.80 21.02 21.04 20.85 20.69 20.23 19.53 20.34 20.35 20.45 20.71 20.37 20.03 19.87 17.85 19.04 17.26 17.06 14.66 14.16 10.07 10.38 7.93 6.62 5.26 Current(Amp) 0.2 1 1 1 2 3 10.5 11 11.40 11.70 12.0 12.40 12.50 12.50 12.60 12.60 12.75 12.90 12.75 12.50 12.50 12.45 12.40 12.50 12.50 12.60 12.60 12.50 12.00 12.10 11.80 11.50 11.00 10.90 9.00 9.00 8 7.5 7 Power(watt) 0.1882 1.35 2.04 1.189 2.02 19.8 152.25 176.22 191.748 209.079 227.4 245.52 249.125 251.5 262.08 264.852 268.26 268.965 263.7975 252.875 244.125 253.233 252.216 255.625 258.875 256.662 252.378 248.375 214.2 230.384 203.668 196.19 161.26 154.344 90.63 93.42 63.44 49.65 36.82

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International Journal of Electrical Engineering and Technology (IJEET), ISSN 0976 6545(Print), ISSN 0976 6553(Online) Volume 3, Issue 3, October December (2012), IAEME

300 power representation (Fixed system) power representation (Tracking system)

250

200

P o w e r in w a t t s

150

100

50

10

11

12 Time (24- hours)

13

14

15

16

17

Figure 1 Graphical Representation of Power

14 Current (Fixed System) Current (Tracking System) 12

10

C u rre n t (A m p )

10

11

12 Time (24-hours)

13

14

15

16

17

Figure 2 Graphical Representation of Current X. CONCLUSION We are getting total power from a tracking system 6825.754 Watts and from a fixed system 6330.493 Watts. Here we can conclude that with the help of tracking system we can extract 495.302 watts more power than a fixed system .From above calculated data dual axis tracking system increases the efficiency of the system by 7.82%.

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International Journal of Electrical Engineering and Technology (IJEET), ISSN 0976 6545(Print), ISSN 0976 6553(Online) Volume 3, Issue 3, October December (2012), IAEME

REFERENCES [1] E.C. Kern Jr, E.M. Gulachenski, G. A. Kern, Cloud effects on distributed photovoltaic generation slow transient at the gardner, Massachusetts photovoltaic experiment, IEEE Transactions On Energy Conversion, Vol. 4, No. 2, June 1989. [2] J.H.R. Enslin, M.S.Wolf, D.B. Snyman and W. Swiegers, Integrated photovoltaic maximum power point tracking converter, IEEE Transaction On Industrial Electronics, Vol. 44, No. 6, December 1997. [3] [3] R. Mukaro, X.F. Carelse, A microcontroller-based data acquisition system for solar radiation and environmental monitoring, IEEE Transaction On Instrumentation And Measurement, Vol. 48, No. 6, December 1999. [4] E. Koutroulis, K. Kalaitzakis, N. C. Voulgaris, Development of a microcontroller-based, photovoltaic maximum power point tracking control system, IEEE Transactions On Power Electronics, Vol. 16, No. 1, January 2001. [5] Hession, P.J. and W.J. Bonwick, Experience with a Sun Tracker System, Solar Energy, Vol. 32, No. 1, pp. 3-11 (1984). [6] Ayala, J. Kenneth, The 8051 Microcontroller Architec-ture, Programming and Applications, 2nd Ed., Penram International Publishing Private Limited, India (1996). [7] Kupta, K.C.,P.K.Mirakhur, and A.P.Sathe,A Simple solar Tracking System, SUN Proc. Int. Solar Energy Soc. ,New Delhi , India. [8] B. S. William, G. Michael, Power from the Sun, June , 2006. [9] Zogbi, R. and B. Laplaze, Design and construction of sun tracker, Solar energy, Vol.33, pp. 369-372. (1984) [10] Kupta, K.C.,P.K.Mirakhur, and A.P.Sathe,A Simple solar Tracking System, SUN Proc. Int. Solar Energy Soc. ,New Delhi , India. K.S. Karimov, J.A. Chattha, M.M. Ahmed et al., Journal of References, Academy of Sciences of Tajikistan, Vol. XLV, No.9, 2002; pp. 75-83.

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