UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY (YANDANAR PON CYBER CITY)
FACULTY OF ELECTRONIC ENGINEERING
DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION OF SOLAR TRACKER
11.9.2023
Supervised by Presented by
Daw Hnin Hnin Khaing 2EcE-Group (A)
Daw Hnin Nandar Myo
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Solar Tracker
Presented by
Pyae Sone Moe Myint
Paing Thu Aung
Yoon Thiri Nay Win
Myo Thinzar Bo
May Thet Khaing
2 Kay Zin Soe Moe
OUTLINE OF PRESENTATION
➢ Abstract
➢ Introduction
➢ Aim and objective
➢ What is solar tracker?
➢ Block diagram and operation summary
➢ System requirements
➢ Hardware components
➢ Flowchart
➢ Hardware installation
➢ Test and result
➢ Advantages and disadvantages
➢ Applications
➢ Future plan 3
ABSTRACT
▪ Solar tracker systems are devices designed to orient solar panels
or photovoltaic arrays towards the sun's position in the sky.
▪ This project is discussed all about the design and construction
mechanism of the prototype for the solar tracking system having
a dual-axis.
▪ This brief abstract provides a concise introduction to the
significance, types, and advantages of solar trackers in enhancing
solar energy generation.
▪ As the solar energy depends on the light intensity, the solar
tracker generates more electricity than the fixed solar tracking
system
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INTRODUCTION
▪ Renewable energy solutions are becoming popular.
▪ Solar energy has become a very attractive energy source.
▪ Maximizing output from solar system increases efficiency.
▪ Presently solar panels are of fixed type which lower the efficiency.
▪ Maintaining vertical direction between light and panel maximizes efficiency.
▪ Solar panels are used to convert the light energy into the electrical energy.
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AIM AND OBJECTIVE
❖ Aim
▪ To design solar tracker to follow the sun's path throughout the day
❖ Objective
▪ To understand the working principle of Arduino Nano
▪ To write Arduino IDE for solar tracking system
▪ To study about LDR sensor and servo motor
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WHAT IS SOLAR TRACKER?
▪ a device used for orienting a solar
photovoltaic panel or lens towards the
sun
▪ used the solar or light sensors
connected with the machines( eg .
LDR, solar panel , charge controller)
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Single Axis Tracker
▪ rotate simultaneously in
horizontal and vertical
directions
▪ able to point at the sun at all
times
Dual Axis Tracker 8
NEED AND PURPOSE OF SOLAR TRACKER
▪ Maximizing energy output
▪ Increasing self-sufficiency
▪ Reducing the number of solar panels
▪ Able to grab the energy through out the day
▪ The need for solar trackers arises from
various factors and requirements in
solar power generation
▪ And hence to develop a microcontroller
based dual axis solar tracker
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BLOCK DIAGRAM
5V
Arduino Nano
A0
A1
A2
D9&D10 A3
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OPERATION SUMMARY
▪ 12V battery and buck converter are used for power supply.(step
down 12V to 6V with 4A stable output current).
▪ Arduino nano is used as main microcontroller of the system.
▪ 4LDR sensors and 10k resistors are used.
▪ Each LDR is connected in series with a 10k resistor.
▪ When the light falls upon the LDR, resistor voltage will be higher.
▪ The data from LDR and resistor pairs are sent to Arduino nano.
▪ Arduino nano compared the data and the output is sent to servo
motor to rotate.
▪ Finally, power output from solar panel is supplied to battery .
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HARDWARE
SYSTEM
REQUIREMENTS
SOFTWARE
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HARDWARE COMPONENTS
Arduino Nano
Servo motors(MG996R)
LDR sensors
Solar panel
XL4015 buck converter
Batteries(18650 6800mAh)
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Arduino Nano
▪ a small, compatible, flexible
microcontroller
▪ contains 14 digital pins,8 analog pins,
2 reset pins and 6 power pins
▪ works as a controlling unit
Servo Motor
▪ has three wires(2 wires -power supply to the motor
and 1 wire- to send PWM signals to the motor)
▪ Are using two servo motors-one for horizontal
movement and another for vertical movement
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LDR sensors
▪ light controlled variable resistor
▪ can be applied in light-sensitive detector circuits
▪ output voltage is proportional to light incident on
LDR
Solar panel
▪ A device that converts sunlight into electricity
▪ Use renewable and clean source of energy
▪ Two such panels are connected in series to get a
stable output voltage
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Buck converter
▪ a DC-DC converter which steps down
voltage from its input to its output
▪ contain at least two semiconductors ( a
diode and a transistor)
SOFTWARE
▪ Arduino IDE
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Begin
Set servo motors at 90 degree
Compare the values from top
and bot LDRs
Yes No
bot-top>0
Move the motor Yes No
toward South bot-top<0
Move the motor Stop motor
toward North
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Compare the values from left
and right LDRs
Yes No
left-right>0
Move the motor Yes No
Left-right<0
toward West
Move the motor Stop motor
toward East
End
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HARDWARE INSTALLATION
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TEST AND RESULT
Initial state of the system
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TEST AND RESULT
Moving downwards when the
light falls bottom LDR
Moving upwards when the
light falls top LDR
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TEST AND RESULT
Moving downwards when the
light falls right LDR
Moving downwards when the
light falls left LDR
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ADVANTAGES OF SOLAR TRACKERS
▪ The solar energy can be reused and it will never
run out on earth
▪ Help in maximizing the solar energy absorption
by continuously tracking the sun
▪ Create no pollution and it is eco-friendly
▪ No man controller is needed.
▪ Can be put in any place that receives sunlight
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DISADVANTAGES OF SOLAR TRACKERS
▪ Solar electricity is not available at night .
▪ Strong dependence on weather conditions.
▪ Require more maintenance
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APPLICATION AREAS
▪ Used in residential solar installations
▪ Used in commercial solar installations
▪ Used as solar farms
▪ Used in agriculture to power water pumps
and irrigation systems
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FUTURE PLANS
▪ Add more complex algorithms to track more
precisely
▪ Equip weather sensor to respond changing
weather
▪ Develop app to control solar tracking, receive
real time update on energy generation
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Thank You
Any Questions
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