The solar PV modules are generally employed in dusty environments which is the

case in tropical countries like India. The dust gets accumulated on the front surface of the
module and blocks the incident light from the sun. It reduces the power generation capacity
of the module. The power output reduces as much as by 50% if the module is not cleaned for
a month. In order to regularly clean the dust, a sun tracking- cum- cleaning system has been
designed, which not only tracks the sun but also cleans the modules automatically. This
automated system is implemented using microcontroller which controls the stepper motor
coupled solar panel. This mechanism does not require any sensor or synchronization for
tracking the sun. In this mechanism, the solar panels make a rotation of 360o in a day, which
results in sliding of cleaning brushes twice over the PV modules. In terms of daily energy
generation, the presented tracking- scheme provides about 30% more energy output as
compared to the flat PV module (module kept stationary on ground) and about 15% more
energy output as compared to PV module with single axis tracking. The implementation and
working of 360o sun tracking system with automatic cleaning is described in this paper.

1. SOLAR PANEL:

Solar panels are devices that convert light into electricity. They are called
"solar" panels because most of the time, the most powerful source of light
available is the Sun, called Sol by astronomers. Some scientists call
them photovoltaic which means, basically, "light-electricity."

Solar panel refers either to a photovoltaic module, a solar thermal energy panel,
or to a set of solar photovoltaic (PV) modules electrically connected and
mounted on a supporting structure. A PV module is a packaged, connected
assembly of solar cells. Solar panels can be used as a component of a
larger photovoltaic system to generate and supply electricity in commercial and
residential applications. Each module is rated by its DC output power under
standard test conditions (STC), and typically ranges from 100 to 320 watts.

SPECIFICATIONS OF SOLAR PANEL

High powered 5W multi crystalline solar panel

12v
Max Voltage 17.1V
Max Amperage 0.29A
14.2 in x 8.5 in x .7 in
10 year limited warranty 90% of power, 80% of power output

Working of Solar Power System

Solar energy is one of the major renewable energy resources that can be used for
different applications, such as solar power generation, solar water heaters, solar
calculators, solar chargers, solar lamps, and so on. There are various advantages
of solar energy usage in electric power generation including low pollution, cost-
effective power generation (neglecting installation cost), maintenance free
power system, etc. Solar power system consists of three major blocks namely
solar panels, solar photovoltaic cells, and batteries for storing energy. The
electrical energy (DC power) generated using solar panels can be stored in
batteries or can be used for supplying DC loads or can be used for inverter to
feed AC loads.

Solar Panels Working Principle

A solar panel is made up of solar cells or solar photovoltaic cells, and is used for
converting solar energy into electrical energy. The solar panels utilize Ohmic
material for interconnections and external terminals. Thus, the electrons
produced in the N-type material are passed to the battery through electrode and
wire. From the battery, electrons reach p-type material, where these electrons
and holes are combined. Hence, the solar panel connected to the battery behaves
like another battery, and hence, is comparable to the two serially connected
batteries.

The solar panel output is electric power and is measured in terms of Watts or
Kilo watts. These solar panels are designed with different output ratings like 5
watts, 10 watts, 20 watts, 100 watts etc. So, based on the requirement of output
power, we can choose appropriate solar panel.

But, in fact, the solar panels output is affected by number of factors like climate,
panel orientation to the sun, sun light intensity, the presence of sunlight
duration, and so on. During normal sunlight a 12 volt 15 watts solar panel
produces around 1 Ampere current. Generally, solar panels maintained properly
will work for 25 years. It is essential for designing the solar panel arrangement
on the roof top for efficient usage and typically solar panels are arranged such
that they face the East at an angle of 45 degree.
There are advanced technologies for improving the output of solar panels by
using sun-tracking solar panel arrangement, that rotates the solar panel so as to
get more light from the sun. The quality of wire must be good and have
sufficient gauge for handling the current to ensure proper battery charging. If
length of the wire increases, then the charging current reduces. So, the solar
panels are arranged at a height of 10-20 feet from the ground level. It is
recommended to properly clean the surface of the solar panels for removing
dust, moisture and also to reconnect the terminals.

Solar Photovoltaic Cells Working

We must also know the working of the solar cells to understand how the solar
panels convert solar energy into electrical energy. Solar cells or solar
photovoltaic cells are the devices that are used for converting solar energy into
electrical energy by utilizing the photovoltaic effect. These cells are used in
many real-time applications such as railway signaling systems, street lighting
systems, domestic lighting systems, and remote telecommunication systems.

Solar photovoltaic cell consists of a P-type of silicon layer that is placed in

contact with an N-type silicon layer. The electrons diffuse from the N-type
material to the P-type material. The holes in the P-type material accept the
electrons but there are more electrons in the N-type material. So, with the
influence of the solar energy, these electrons in the N-type material moves from
N-type to P-type.
Solar Photovoltaic Cell

Thus, these electrons and holes combine in the P-N junction. Due, to this
combination a charge on either side of the P-N junction is created and this
charge creates an electric field. This formation of electric field results in
developing a diode like system that promotes the charge flow. This is called as
drift current and the diffusion of electrons and holes is balanced by drift current.
This drift current occurs in an area where mobile charge carriers are lacking and
is called as the depletion zone or space charge region. Thus, during night time
or in the darkness, these solar photovoltaic cells behave like reverse bias diodes.

Generally solar panel open circuit voltage (voltage when battery is not
connected) is higher than solar panel rated voltage. For example, consider a 12
volt solar panel giving an output voltage of around 20 volts in bright sun light-
but, whenever a battery is connected to the solar panel, then the voltage drops to
14-15 volts. Solar cells are made of most frequently used semiconductor
materials such as silicon.

Solar photovoltaic (SPV) effect is a process to convert solar energy into DC

electricity using an array of solar panels. This, DC electricity can be stored in
batteries shown in the figure or can be used to feed DC loads directly or can be
used to feed AC loads using an inverter that turns DC electricity into 120-volt
AC electricity.

5.1 Solar energy calculations

It is important to define a coordinate system that can be used consistently to be able to keep
track of the position of the solar panel relative the sun and the urban surrounding.

Figure 11. Definition of angles between the sun and a solar panel. indicates azimuth angles (0 is north
and 90, east); sun is the altitude angle of the sun and panel the tilt angle of the panel, both relative
horizon; i is the angle of incidence between the direct irradiance and the solar panel's normal and zenith is
the zenith angle (i.e. 90- sun).

Figure 11 defines all the important angles for the sun and a solar panel. panel and sun notes
the azimuth angle of the panel and the sun respectively, both are defined as 0 to north and
90 to the east; panel and sun notes the angle relative ground for the panel and the sun
respectively; i is the angle of incidence between the sun's direct irradiance and the normal
of the solar panel and last is the zenith angle, zenith, which indicates the angle between zenith
and the sun. The equation to calculate the angle of incidence.
Constants used in the calculations of the E-BSS.
Constant Value Unit
Mass of rider 75 kg
Mass of bike 25 kg
Cd (air-drag coefficient) 1 -
Cr (rolling resistance coefficient) 0.0071 -
2
A (frontal area) 0.5 m
h (elevation above sea) 15 m
Electric to human power 1:1
Motor efficiency 80 %
E-bike electronic efficiency 94 %
Battery voltage 36 V
Battery capacity 10 Ah
Charger power (about 2 A) 70 W
Charger efficiency 90 %
Average trip distance 5 km

. Solar Cells/ Panels

As the title suggests the bicycle is operated by solar energy. The lead acid
battery is charged with solar energy with the help of a solar cell. Solar cells
convert the energy of sunlight directly into electricity through the use of the
photovoltaic effect. The photovoltaic effect involves the creation of a voltage
into an electro-magnetic radiation. The photoelectric and photovoltaic effects
are related to sunlight, but are different in that electrons are ejected from a
materials surface upon exposure to radiation of sufficient energy in
photoelectric, and generated electrons are transferred to different bands of
valence to conduction within the material, resulting in the build-up of voltage
between two electrodes in photovoltaic.

Solar cells are electrically connected and fabricated as a module with a sheet of
glass on top to allow light to pass and protect the semiconductor from the
weather. To obtain a desired peak DC voltage we will add solar cells in series,
and to obtain a desired peak current, the solar cells are put in parallel position.