Design and Implementation of a Sun Tracker with a Dual-Axis Single Motor for an Optical Sensor-Based Photovoltaic System
The dual threats of energy depletion and global warming place the development of methods for harnessing renewable energy resources at the center of public interest. Solar energy is one of the most promising renewable energy resources. Sun trackers can substantially improve the electricity production...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2013-03-01
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| Series: | Sensors |
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| Online Access: | http://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/13/3/3157 |
| _version_ | 1818037084838952960 |
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| author | Chia-Liang Lu Jing-Min Wang |
| author_facet | Chia-Liang Lu Jing-Min Wang |
| author_sort | Chia-Liang Lu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The dual threats of energy depletion and global warming place the development of methods for harnessing renewable energy resources at the center of public interest. Solar energy is one of the most promising renewable energy resources. Sun trackers can substantially improve the electricity production of a photovoltaic (PV) system. This paper proposes a novel design of a dual-axis solar tracking PV system which utilizes the feedback control theory along with a four-quadrant light dependent resistor (LDR) sensor and simple electronic circuits to provide robust system performance. The proposed system uses a unique dual-axis AC motor and a stand-alone PV inverter to accomplish solar tracking. The control implementation is a technical innovation that is a simple and effective design. In addition, a scaled-down laboratory prototype is constructed to verify the feasibility of the scheme. The effectiveness of the Sun tracker is confirmed experimentally. To conclude, the results of this study may serve as valuable references for future solar energy applications. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-10T07:21:14Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-20f4c8989cd74777b13eeb8f3d47eb42 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1424-8220 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-10T07:21:14Z |
| publishDate | 2013-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Sensors |
| spelling | doaj.art-20f4c8989cd74777b13eeb8f3d47eb422022-12-22T01:57:49ZengMDPI AGSensors1424-82202013-03-011333157316810.3390/s130303157Design and Implementation of a Sun Tracker with a Dual-Axis Single Motor for an Optical Sensor-Based Photovoltaic SystemChia-Liang LuJing-Min WangThe dual threats of energy depletion and global warming place the development of methods for harnessing renewable energy resources at the center of public interest. Solar energy is one of the most promising renewable energy resources. Sun trackers can substantially improve the electricity production of a photovoltaic (PV) system. This paper proposes a novel design of a dual-axis solar tracking PV system which utilizes the feedback control theory along with a four-quadrant light dependent resistor (LDR) sensor and simple electronic circuits to provide robust system performance. The proposed system uses a unique dual-axis AC motor and a stand-alone PV inverter to accomplish solar tracking. The control implementation is a technical innovation that is a simple and effective design. In addition, a scaled-down laboratory prototype is constructed to verify the feasibility of the scheme. The effectiveness of the Sun tracker is confirmed experimentally. To conclude, the results of this study may serve as valuable references for future solar energy applications.http://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/13/3/3157dual-axis Sun trackerphotovoltaic panelfeedback control theorylight dependent resistorstand-alone PV inverterenergy gain |
| spellingShingle | Chia-Liang Lu Jing-Min Wang Design and Implementation of a Sun Tracker with a Dual-Axis Single Motor for an Optical Sensor-Based Photovoltaic System Sensors dual-axis Sun tracker photovoltaic panel feedback control theory light dependent resistor stand-alone PV inverter energy gain |
| title | Design and Implementation of a Sun Tracker with a Dual-Axis Single Motor for an Optical Sensor-Based Photovoltaic System |
| title_full | Design and Implementation of a Sun Tracker with a Dual-Axis Single Motor for an Optical Sensor-Based Photovoltaic System |
| title_fullStr | Design and Implementation of a Sun Tracker with a Dual-Axis Single Motor for an Optical Sensor-Based Photovoltaic System |
| title_full_unstemmed | Design and Implementation of a Sun Tracker with a Dual-Axis Single Motor for an Optical Sensor-Based Photovoltaic System |
| title_short | Design and Implementation of a Sun Tracker with a Dual-Axis Single Motor for an Optical Sensor-Based Photovoltaic System |
| title_sort | design and implementation of a sun tracker with a dual axis single motor for an optical sensor based photovoltaic system |
| topic | dual-axis Sun tracker photovoltaic panel feedback control theory light dependent resistor stand-alone PV inverter energy gain |
| url | http://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/13/3/3157 |
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