Unlocking Solar Potential: Boosting Efficiency with Solar Tracking Systems

Introduction:

Harnessing usable electricity from the sun has become possible through the discovery of the photoelectric mechanism and the subsequent development of solar cells. These semi-conductive materials convert visible light into direct current, enabling the generation of DC voltage through interconnected solar cells known as solar arrays. Solar arrays, or panels, are increasingly being used, especially in remote areas where installing electricity lines is not economically feasible. This alternative power source has gained popularity as the limitations of fossil fuels have become evident.

Renewable energy in the form of electricity has been utilized to varying degrees for several decades, with solar, wind, hydro, and geothermal sources being the most prominent. Hydro and wind power are currently the most widely used, while solar power has seen moderate global adoption due to the higher cost of solar cells and their lower conversion efficiency. However, ongoing research and advancements, such as titanium-oxide cells, have brought solar energy costs closer to other forms of electricity generation. Solar power systems aim to maximize energy recovery, including reducing losses in inverters, storage, and light gathering.

The efficiency of light gathering depends on the angle of incidence between the sunlight and the surface of the solar cell. The closer the angle is to perpendicular, the greater the power generation. If a solar panel is mounted on level ground, the angle of incidence varies throughout the day. In the morning and evening, when the angle is close to 90°, the power output is negligible. At midday, when the angle approaches 0°, power generation reaches its maximum. As the day progresses toward dusk, the increasing angle reduces power output again.

To maintain maximum power output from the solar panel, it is crucial to maintain an angle of incidence as close to 0° as possible. This can be achieved by tilting the solar panel to continuously face the sun, a process known as solar tracking. Real-time tracking is necessary to effectively follow the sun's position without relying on external data.

PROTOTYPE SOLAR TRACKER:

The development of a prototype solar tracker involved coupling the circuitry to a motor and mounting it onto a bracket. The final product included a Solarex 9W solar array made of polycrystalline silicon. Testing was conducted by comparing the performance of the solar panel on the tracker with its flat orientation. The output of the panel was connected to a load dissipating 9W, matching its rating. The tracking device was powered by a 12V battery connected in a charging arrangement with the solar panel.

The performance of the tracker was monitored by measuring the voltage across and the current through the load using multimeters. These measurements were recorded every half-hour on clear days with similar conditions, such as no cloud cover. The data collected was recorded in an Excel spreadsheet for analysis.

This prototype solar tracker serves as a potential solution for maximizing solar power output by continuously adjusting the angle of the solar panel to face the sun.

In conclusion, the implementation of a solar tracker based on the concept of using small solar cells as self-adjusting light sensors has proven to be effective. These sensors detect the voltage output and provide a variable indication of the relative angle of the solar array to the sun. The solar tracker successfully maintained the solar array at a near-perpendicular angle to the sun throughout the day. This resulted in a significant power increase of over 30% compared to a fixed horizontal array. The use of a solar tracker offers a practical solution for maximizing the energy generation potential of solar panels.