Efficient Engineering Method to Maximize PV Output from Solar Panel

This project investigates efficient engineering methods to maximize photovoltaic (PV) output from solar panels. It begins with an introduction to the challenges of fossil fuel depletion and the importance of renewable energy sources, particularly solar power. The literature review explores solar tracking techniques, including single-axis and dual-axis trackers, and their impact on energy efficiency. The project discusses various solar tracking methods, such as those using light-dependent resistors and phototransistors, and presents a solar tracker prototype. It analyzes the advantages and disadvantages of passive and active trackers, considering factors like cost, complexity, and power output. The methodology section outlines the approach used in the research, and the preliminary results section presents experimental studies and findings. The conclusion summarizes the key insights and findings of the project, emphasizing the importance of solar tracking in increasing the efficiency and power output of solar panels. The project also highlights the potential for low-cost considerations in implementing solar energy solutions.

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AN EFFICIENT ENGINEERING METHOD TO MAXIMIZE PV OUTPUT FROM SOALR
PANEL

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Contents
AN EFFICIENT ENGINEERING METHOD TO MAXIMIZE PV OUTPUT FROM
SOALR PANEL...............................................................................................................................7
CHAPTER I: INTRODUCTION........................................................................................7
CHAPTER II: LITERATURE REVIEW.............................................................................8
SOLAR TRACKING.................................................................................................................10
SOLAR TRACKING METHODS............................................................................................11
SOLAR TRACKER PROTOTYPE..........................................................................................13
Passive Trackers.........................................................................................................14
Active Trackers..........................................................................................................15
Solar Tracking Viable Considerations.......................................................................20
Solar Tracking for Energy Efficiency........................................................................21
CORRELATIONS OF OPTIMUM TILTS ANGLE................................................................23
Solar Radiation Estimation on Tilted Surface...........................................................................25
Material and Methods - Electric Circuit....................................................................................29
PLC............................................................................................................................29
Signal Processing And Sensors Unit..........................................................................29
Microcontroller..........................................................................................................31
Monthly Comparison.................................................................................................................32
Key Point...................................................................................................................................33
Low-Cost Considerations..........................................................................................................34
CHAPTER III: METHODOLOGY...................................................................................35
CHAPTER IV: PRELIMINARY RESULTS.....................................................................37

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EXPERIMENTAL STUDIES AND RESULTS.......................................................................38
CONCLUSION..................................................................................................................40
REFERENCES..................................................................................................................41

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ABSTRACT
Solar energy is the easily available and catchable resource available at any point in the
world. So, exploitation of the solar energy is considered to be the best way to fulfill the day to
day electricity needs in the world. this renewable energy is easily available, however,
unfortunately, demands complex and expensive system to catch and convert it into the
conventional electrical energy used in the day to day need, though solar energy is available in the
nature, abundantly. Still, solar energy is considered as the best renewable energy, scalable and
sustainable energy that can meet the demands of the energy needs today and in the future. To
materialize this fact, a thorough research and development are demanded in basically, two
dimensions, first one to increase the efficiency of converting the solar energy to electrical energy
and second is to decrease the production cost, so that every home and family can afford to
implement and use it, as the best alternative to the conventional energy. This paper deals with the
best techniques and methods to increase the efficiency of the solar photovoltaic cells, through
producing highest possible output power.

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AN EFFICIENT ENGINEERING METHOD TO MAXIMIZE PV OUTPUT FROM SOALR
PANEL
CHAPTER I: INTRODUCTION
The fossil fuels dearth has rooted the most daunting challenges of exploring
and discovering the renewable and clean energy. Huge efforts are invested in
various conservation methods, like energy recycling, energy harvesting, towards
reduction in the usage of energy, in various commercial applications. Some of the
methods explored, for energy renewable sources usage, like hydro power, wind,
thermal power, solar power, tidal power, etc. Among them, solar power is
considered as one of the most possible and easier natural sources, because of the
low maintenance cost and ubiquitous characteristics of them(Sumathia, 2017).
As part of exploiting the sun and sunlight incident on the surface of the
earth, there are various techniques and methods developed and implemented so
that the energy obtained from the sunlight and solar power can be maximized to the
best extent. Among these techniques, solar tracking stands as one of the most
beneficial and viable one, to increase the solar power output, by following the
incidence angle close to zero with the sun. The solar tracking motion can be a
single axis tracker or dual axis tracker. The research continues to study the pros
and cons of these both techniques and the differences in the energy gain.
Solar tracking with the two optional techniques are explored in terms of
complexity, cost, and efficiency and majorly with the power output that can be
obtained by each of this techniques. Then the design aspects are decided based on
the viability and benefits of the respective techniques.

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CHAPTER II: LITERATURE REVIEW
The discovery of mechanism of photoelectric current has enabled the
technology to extract the electricity usable from the sun. It then enabled the solar
cell development subsequently, which is a semi conductive material capable of
converting direct current from the visible light. Generation of the DC voltage is
then made possible with arrays of solar cells, connecting electrically.
The technology of generation of alternative power source has been achieving
increased popularity, increasingly from the shortcomings of fossil fuel realization.
However, solar power is generated moderately, because of more expensive solar
cells, relatively and lower efficiency of conversion of them. Eventually, solar
alternative power generation has been researched heavily, to decrease cents per
kW/h and increased its usage compared to the other alternative power sources,
such as Hydro, Wind, Geothermal, etc.
The lower efficiency is because of the reduced storage losses, inverter losses
and light gathering losses. The emphasis here to increase the solar power is the
incidence of the source of light that provides the power, from the sun. So, angle of
incidence is directly proportional to the gathering of the light, from the surface of
the solar cell, and greater the power, when it is closer to perpendicular incidence.
When the surface of the solar panel is fixed, the incidence angle would be near 900,
in the evening and morning and then the cell’s ability to gather light would be zero
that results to zero output (Sumathia, 2017). And the incidence angel would be
zero, during the mid day and maximum output of power collected by the surface of
the cell, since light incidence is perpendicular, on the panel.

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So, the key to increase the efficiency and power output is to maintain the
incidence angle to 00, to the possible extent. It can be achieved by solar panel tilt,
to face the sun, consistently. This sensing and tracking or following the sun in real
time, is called solar tracking.
SOLAR TRACKING
Since solar power is available for about ten hours, everyday, it can be the
best utilized. So, there have been various techniques developed and implemented,
towards maximizing the solar power and energy obtained. Solar tracking is one of
such techniques. Solar tracking is done in one of two techniques called 1 axis
tracker and dual axis tracker.
Figure: Curves of Load Power for Fixed and Tracking Systems (Al-
Mohamed, 2004)

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The above figure shows increased load power for moved or tracking system
that ranges for more time period too.
Figure: Improvement of Power in Different Periods during Day (Al-
Mohamed, 2004)
The improvement of power in tracking system can be understood and
analyzed from the above figure.
SOLAR TRACKING METHODS
The simple method for solar tracking is to use a Light Dependent Resistor
that can detect the changes of light intensity, on the resistor’s surface. Two
phototransistors can also be used, as an optimal method for tracking process.

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Figure: Solar Tracking Method (Rizk & Chaiko, 2008)
During the morning period, tracker would be in the state of A, turning the
left phototransistor on and result in motor turn on. This process is continued till
tracker is moved to state B, returning the shadow from the plate. Later state C is
shortly reached, as the progress of the day and turns the right phototransistor on.
Turning of motor continues till reaching of the minimum level of detectable light.
The design has a challenge that the sensitivity range is narrow, because of
the phototransistors used and with bias conditions. So, better method can be
proposed with the set-up of a simple triangle, taking two solar cells and connecting
in opposite directions, as shown n the figure below.
Figure: Solar Reference Cells Set up (Rizk & Chaiko, 2008)
So, the set-up makes lighter to fall over one of its solar cells and increased
potential, resulting in difference of voltage between the two cells. The design
would result in signal to detect, at each cell, however, at mid-day the light fall is
less, because of varied incidence angle.

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SOLAR TRACKER PROTOTYPE
Finally, a motor circuit has to be mounted and coupled with the circuit and
the final circuit can be shown as the figure, below.
Figure: A solar Tracker Prototype (Rizk & Chaiko, 2008)
Then the experiment was tested by employing the fixed panel surface by
removing the tracking system and another, by employing the tracking system (Rizk
& Chaiko, 2008). The resulting readings have shown the changes in the output
powers obtained in these two conditions.

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Figure: Graph for Difference in Power Output (Rizk & Chaiko, 2008)
The results are obtained after a period of 12 hour, as follows.
Surface Output
Power
Average
Power
Average
Percentage
Fixed 9W 3.51W 39%
Tracking 9W 6.3W 71%
Table: Fixed and Tracking Systems
During the later and earlier periods of day, fixed panel power increase is up
to 400%, with an average of 30% increase of power, when the solar panel is
maintained in perpendicular position to the sun, to the possible extent. (Rizk &
Chaiko, 2008)
The method and mechanism of the solar tracker has its objective to follow
the direction of sun, so that maximum power can be extracted. The possible drive
types can be as the following.
Passive Trackers
The passive tracker follows the principle that solar heat is taken as an input
for an imbalance and it leads to the tracker movement, working on thermal
expansion and employing either shape memory alloys or low boiling point fluid of
compressed gas.
Passive trackers have a fewer applications, because the applications of CSP
(Concentrating Solar Power) demand higher precision, efficiency and higher
degree of complexity. But they have applications in the regular flat PV systems
(Sumathia, 2017).