London Met CS6P05 Final Year Project: Solar Tracking System Analysis

This final year project explores the design and implementation of a solar tracking system. The project aims to maximize solar energy capture by automatically orienting a photovoltaic panel towards the sun. It includes an introduction to the problem of energy scarcity and the benefits of renewable energy sources like solar power. The project details the aims, objectives, expected outcomes, methodology, and resource requirements, including hardware (Arduino, stepper motor, LCD display, solar panel) and software (Arduino IDE). The methodology involves using a microcontroller to compare light intensity and control the stepper motor for panel movement. The project also addresses potential risks and contingency plans, along with a work breakdown structure, milestones, and a conclusion highlighting the advantages of the solar tracking system. The document includes references and a table of contents for easy navigation.

Module Code & Module Title
CS6P05 Final Year Project Networking
Assessment Weightage & Type
5% Individual
Year and Semester
2018-19 Autumn
Student Name: Mukti Prasad Shrestha
London Met ID: 17031155
College ID: NP01NT4A170141
Assignment Due Date:
Assignment Submission Date: 20
September 2019
Internal Supervisor: Mr Ravi Chandra gurung
External supervisor : Prabesh Hada
Word Count (Where Required): 2000
I confirm that I understand my coursework needs to be submitted online via Google Classroom
under the relevant module page before the deadline in order for my assignment to be
accepted and marked. I am fully aware that late submissions will be treated as non-
submission and a marks of zero will be awarded.

Table of Contents
1. Introduction: ................................................................................................................. 3
1.1 Problem scenario ....................................................................................................... 3
1.2 project as a solution ................................................................................................... 3
2. Aims and Objectives: .................................................................................................... 4
2.1 Aims: .......................................................................................................................... 4
2.2 objective: .................................................................................................................... 4
3. Expected Outcomes and Deliverables: ......................................................................... 4
4. Project risks, threats and contingency plans: ............................................................... 5
5. Methodology: ................................................................................................................. 5
6. Resource Requirements: ............................................................................................... 6
6.1 Hardware requirement .............................................................................................. 6
6.2 Software interface requirement: ............................................................................... 6
7. Work breakdown structure: ......................................................................................... 7
8. Milestone ........................................................................................................................ 7
9. Conclusion: .................................................................................................................... 8
10. Bibliography & References: .......................................................................................... 8

1. Introduction:
In this modern world, Electricity is also added to the most basic needs in everyone’s life. The graph
of energy consumption is getting increased day by day where as the energy resources are
diminishing parallel. In order to balance the scarcity for electricity, various sources are used to
generate electricity. For the generation of electricity, there are two ways: one is by conventional
method and other one is nonconventional method. Some of the energy carriers like fossil fuels and
nuclear fuels are also used, but they are not renewable resources (i.e., they are not ‘refilled’ by
nature) and it is said to be non-conventional. In its broadest sense, sustainable power 538
Subhasri.G, Dr.Jeyalakshmi.C source can be achieved by using the solar power as source. Solar
energy has the wide availability throughout the world. Even The sun has produced energy for
billions of years. The sun’s rays may cat as an important source for the generation of electricity by
converting it into a electric power. Such application is called as solar therma energy, which is
conventional.
1.1 Problem scenario
According to the International Energy Agency’s (IEA) World Energy Outlook (2013),
more than 1.2 million people worldwide did not have access to electricity in 2011.
Electricity alone may not be able to create all the conditions for economic growth, but it is
obviously essential for basic human needs and economic activity (IEA, 2013).
The problem that the world facing now is the fossil energy exhausted. This is because the demand
for electrical energy nowadays is very high due to the increasingly rapid development. So the non-
renewable energy like fuel and coal will run out if this energy continuous using by users. Because
of these matters, the world wide scientist now is busy searching for renewable energy like solar,
hydro and wind. This energy are the best solution for the problem that world facing nowadays. Solar
energy is the energy that is obtained from the sun. This energy helps and supports all life and Earth.
Heat and light from the sun, along with solar based resources such as wind and wave power,
hydroelectricity and biomass, account for most the available flow of renewable energy. Rural
communities are suffering from colossal market failures as the national grids fall short of their
demand for electricity. As of 2017, over 1 billion people worldwide lack household electric power
- 14% of the global population. (Torero, 2010-2019).
1.2 project as a solution
The main purpose of the solar tracking system is to generate more electricity than their stationary
counterparts due to an increased direct exposure to solar ray. Solar power is becoming popular, as
a friendly environment renewable energy sources that produces no pollution, requires minimal
maintenance and free energy from the sun. This solar tracking system use for the basic purpose such
as domestic purpose and so on. This project is cost benefit and easy to buy the solar tracking device.
This project helps to continually orient the photovoltaic panel toward the sun and can help maximize
your investment in PV system. This project help to reducing emissions and can contribute against
global warming. In rural area there is lack of electric, This Solar tracking is help to give the light
and this is low in cost. It enhance the clean and emission free power production. This project need
less time for installing and operate automatically. This solar tracking project help to consume the
electric which is coming directly from the sun and use for the lighting and other household purpose.

2. Aims and Objectives:
2.1 Aims:
The aim of the present work is to utilize the maximum solar energy through the solar panel. For this
a digital based automatic sun/light tracking is purposed and this project helps the solar power
generating equipment to get the maximum sunlight automatically thereby increasing the efficiency
of the system. The solar panel tracks the sun from east to west automatically for maximum intensity
of light.
2.2 objective:
 To develop a tracking system that constantly tracking the sun during daytime.
 To display the output voltage of solar panel on LCD.
 To design a system that can detect and compare the intensity of light.
 To develop a tracking system that control and monitor the movement of solar panel based on
the intensity of light.
3. Expected Outcomes and Deliverables:
IOT (Internet of things) is a system of interrelated by providing unique identifiers (UIDs)
and possess the capacity of transferring the data over a network without human and
computer interaction. It encourages the communication between devices having feature
automation control and monitor making daily task easy and efficient. Solar tracking system
is simple but most important project in every home, street and country to manage the light
in effective and scientific way. Smart way solar tracking the sun and consume the electricity
and use it in development of the nation help to growth of economic. Thus this project
outcome prompt the entire problem related to the loading shedding.
In rural area many people face difficulty due to electricity, they still live without electricity.
Bad effect of without using the electricity in the house such as positioning animal may enter
in the house and they may take life. So that why, this project help all the people by using
the solar tracking system and consume electricity and use for the household purpose and
many more for other work. it is cost effective and easy to install and automatic operate.
Solar tracking system is the best use for everyone, we did not need to pay for electricity
charge and it automatically help in every field like industry management and soon.
This project can be implement in place where there is lack of electric and where electricity
can’t reach. Its help in street light with the help of solar tracking.

4. Project risks, threats and contingency plans:
While implementing this project, at the initial stage system requires more as per as the demand
which result is high initial cost. Risk affecting the viability of the project developer, for example,
risks related to key personnel, financial solidity and technical ability to execute on plans. Risks that
may be encountered throughout the development of the PV project: changes in costs, design issues,
permit issues, etc.
Every person who live in the earth should be aware about the importance of the solar energy
which convert the electricity. Government should give the opportunity for those who is
skill based in this type of work and provide the solar panel in each house where electricity
can’t reach.
5. Methodology:
Through the use of the power supply, the mechanization of the solar tracking system is achieved.
Solar panel continuously receives the solar radiation to convert solar energy to electrical
energy. The output voltage of solar panel due to intensity of light from sun is transmitted
to analog input of Arduino (Microcontroller). Arduino (Microcontroller) is activated by
supplying 5v power supply. Then it compares the continuous analog input voltages sent
from solar panel to decide in which direction the solar panel needs to rotate. Then it
generates the pulse width modulation (PWM) to rotate the stepper motor in according to he
intensity of light. Driver is here used to drive the stepper motor. Now solar panel coupled
with stepper motor rotate in the direction where there is maximum intensity of sun light.
As the intensity of sun light increases the output voltage from solar panel also increases
and the output voltage from solar panel is displayed in LCD.
Arduino
UNO
Microcontrol
ler
Power supply LCD
Solar Panel
Driver
Stepper motor
Voltage

6. Resource Requirements:
6.1 Hardware requirement
 Arduino: an Arduino is an open hardware development board that can be used by tinkerers,
hobbyists, and makers to design and build devices that interact with the real world. (hat, 2019)
 Stepper Motor and l293d motor driver: A stepper motor is a brushless, synchronous electric
motor that converts digital pulses into mechanical shaft rotation and normal shaft motion
consists of discrete angular movements of essentially uniform magnitude when driven from
sequentially switched DC power supply. (oemega, 2013)
 LCD display unit: LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) is a type of flat panel display which uses
liquid crystals in its primary form of operation. LEDs have a large and varying set of use
cases for consumers and businesses, as they can be commonly found in smartphones,
televisions, computer monitors and instrument panels. (Margaret Rouse, 1999-2019)
 Solar panel: Solar panels are those devices which are used to absorb the sun's rays and convert
them into electricity or heat.
 Connecting wire – It is used to allow for travelling the electrical current from one to another
end when connected with power supply.
 If need Temperature: A Temperature Sensor is the instrumentation equipment which is used
to measure temperature or heat on the operating machine part.
 Miscellaneous: Wood to attach the PV as a solar panel, glue stick, wire, steel, voltage, adapter
(power supply)
 if need LDR and IR sensor will apply this in solar tracking system.
6.2 Software interface requirement:
 Arduino IDE:-
The Arduino IDE is a cross-platform Java application that serves as a code editor and compiler
and is also capable of transferring firmware serially to the board.

7. Work breakdown structure:
Table of the project work breakdown structure'sa ctivities with duration and description:
appropriate concrete activities with suitable duration and description.
Activity Duration
Interpret project topic Augst15 – Augst18 2019
Research and analysis Augst19 – Sept5 2019
Proposal (project) Sept5 – Oct1 2019
Resource collection Oct2 – Oct12 2019
Acquire required skill Oct13 – Oct29 2019
Designing system Oct30 – Nov12 2019
Development Nov13 – Dec25 2019
Training the system Dec26 – Jan19 (2019 – 2020)
Testing Jan20 – Jan30 2020
Project documentation Feb1 – Feb24 2020
Final testing Feb25 – Mar1 2020
Final testing Feb25 – Mar1 2020
Merits and demerits Mar9 – Mar20 2020
8. Milestone
The lists of milestones that are carried out during the final year project are as follow:
Task 1 — Interpret project topic
Task 2 — Research and analysis
Task 3 — Proposal for the project
Task 4 — Resources collection
Task 5 — Acquire required skill
Task 6 — Designing system
Task 7 — Development of the project
Task 8 — Training the system
Task 9 — Testing
Task 10 — Project documentation
Task 11 — Final testing
Task 12 — Critical evaluation and conclusion
Task 13 — merits and demerits

9. Conclusion:
Fixed facing of solar panel is widely used but the capability for high power consumption of several
load appliances are not efficient and stable. The conventional solar panels used during the course
day are not always maximized which is due to the static placement of the panel which limits their
area of exposure. In order to maximize power output from the solar panels, the panels has to be
aligned with the sun. Tracking is carried to maximize the capturing of solar energy by solar panel.
Hence tracking capabilities may help certain system due to the application usage of electricity.
10. Bibliography & References:
hat, R., 2019. opensource.com. [Online]
Available at: https://opensource.com/resources/what-arduino
Margaret Rouse, 1999-2019. whatis.com. [Online]
Available at: https://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/LCD-liquid-crystal-display
[Accessed 16 9 2019].
oemega, 2013. oemega. [Online]
Available at: https://www.omega.co.uk/prodinfo/stepper_motors.html
[Accessed 16 9 2019].
Torero, M., 2010-2019. carin.info internation edition. [Online]
Available at: https://www.cairn-int.info/article-E_EDD_293_0055--the-impact-of-
rural-electrification.htm
[Accessed 17 9 2019].