Development of Smart Solar Tracker-An Approach towards Self Governed Tracking Mechanism

This paper presents a novel smart dual axis solar tracker to optimize the energy consumption in tracking mechanism. In conventional approach high torque motors are employed to continuously hold and mobilize the solar PV panels, which lead to excess energy consumption by motors, resulting in less efficient tracking systems. This issue is addressed by optimizing the panel rotation and detachment of motor shaft after directing the panel to sun's direction. The tracker includes two parts; main SPV plant of 60 W and miniaturized tracker with 10 W panels. LDR Sensors are located on miniaturized panel to track the sun's direction and this tracking mechanism of miniature model is utterly dependent on direction of irradiance only. Further, DC motor coupled to main SPV panels will rotate as per the signals of the miniaturized model and thus miniaturized model acts as decision making unit. Comparative analysis of results revealed that, performance of the system has increased by 15-35% at varying irradiance values.