Development and Testing of a Single-Axis Photovoltaic Sun Tracker through the Internet of Things
Solar tracking systems enable increased efficiency of a photovoltaic system through a continuous adjustment of its position with respect to the sun, thus increasing the generation of electrical energy. The integration of photovoltaic solar tracking systems in buildings and houses enables the energy...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2020-05-01
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| Series: | Energies |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/13/10/2547 |
| _version_ | 1797567745978531840 |
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| author | Sebastian Gutierrez Pedro M. Rodrigo Jeronimo Alvarez Arturo Acero Alejandro Montoya |
| author_facet | Sebastian Gutierrez Pedro M. Rodrigo Jeronimo Alvarez Arturo Acero Alejandro Montoya |
| author_sort | Sebastian Gutierrez |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Solar tracking systems enable increased efficiency of a photovoltaic system through a continuous adjustment of its position with respect to the sun, thus increasing the generation of electrical energy. The integration of photovoltaic solar tracking systems in buildings and houses enables the energy needs of users in a broader way to be covered. This integration is facilitated through the existence of technologies such as access to the Internet through Wi-Fi, which allows developing systems to be encompassed within the domain of the “Internet of Things” (IoT). In this study, a first-of-its-kind “open-loop” solar tracker was designed and developed, which executes the tracking algorithm in the Firebase web service and allows the exchange of data with said service through a NodeMCU development board, which has an integrated Wi-Fi module. After an experimental campaign in Aguascalientes, central Mexico, gains in terms of collected energy on average were measured at 29.9% in May compared to an optimally tilted fixed photovoltaic system. This study opens the possibility of integrating power generation systems into the IoT domain, which, among other things, allows for constant monitoring of the behavior of the system. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T19:45:54Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-9520bc35d43549a7bcea52ada7823003 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1996-1073 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T19:45:54Z |
| publishDate | 2020-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Energies |
| spelling | doaj.art-9520bc35d43549a7bcea52ada78230032023-11-20T00:47:53ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732020-05-011310254710.3390/en13102547Development and Testing of a Single-Axis Photovoltaic Sun Tracker through the Internet of ThingsSebastian Gutierrez0Pedro M. Rodrigo1Jeronimo Alvarez2Arturo Acero3Alejandro Montoya4Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad Panamericana, Josemaría Escrivá de Balaguer 101, Aguascalientes 20290, MexicoCentre for Advanced Studies on Energy and Environment (CEAEMA), University of Jaén, 23071 Jaén, SpainFacultad de Ingeniería, Universidad Panamericana, Josemaría Escrivá de Balaguer 101, Aguascalientes 20290, MexicoFacultad de Ingeniería, Universidad Panamericana, Josemaría Escrivá de Balaguer 101, Aguascalientes 20290, MexicoFacultad de Ingeniería, Universidad Panamericana, Josemaría Escrivá de Balaguer 101, Aguascalientes 20290, MexicoSolar tracking systems enable increased efficiency of a photovoltaic system through a continuous adjustment of its position with respect to the sun, thus increasing the generation of electrical energy. The integration of photovoltaic solar tracking systems in buildings and houses enables the energy needs of users in a broader way to be covered. This integration is facilitated through the existence of technologies such as access to the Internet through Wi-Fi, which allows developing systems to be encompassed within the domain of the “Internet of Things” (IoT). In this study, a first-of-its-kind “open-loop” solar tracker was designed and developed, which executes the tracking algorithm in the Firebase web service and allows the exchange of data with said service through a NodeMCU development board, which has an integrated Wi-Fi module. After an experimental campaign in Aguascalientes, central Mexico, gains in terms of collected energy on average were measured at 29.9% in May compared to an optimally tilted fixed photovoltaic system. This study opens the possibility of integrating power generation systems into the IoT domain, which, among other things, allows for constant monitoring of the behavior of the system.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/13/10/2547building integrationInternet of ThingsMexicophotovoltaicssingle-axissun tracker |
| spellingShingle | Sebastian Gutierrez Pedro M. Rodrigo Jeronimo Alvarez Arturo Acero Alejandro Montoya Development and Testing of a Single-Axis Photovoltaic Sun Tracker through the Internet of Things Energies building integration Internet of Things Mexico photovoltaics single-axis sun tracker |
| title | Development and Testing of a Single-Axis Photovoltaic Sun Tracker through the Internet of Things |
| title_full | Development and Testing of a Single-Axis Photovoltaic Sun Tracker through the Internet of Things |
| title_fullStr | Development and Testing of a Single-Axis Photovoltaic Sun Tracker through the Internet of Things |
| title_full_unstemmed | Development and Testing of a Single-Axis Photovoltaic Sun Tracker through the Internet of Things |
| title_short | Development and Testing of a Single-Axis Photovoltaic Sun Tracker through the Internet of Things |
| title_sort | development and testing of a single axis photovoltaic sun tracker through the internet of things |
| topic | building integration Internet of Things Mexico photovoltaics single-axis sun tracker |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/13/10/2547 |
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