Design and development of a low-cost solar tracker

Abstract

To become competitive, ultimately, photovoltaics should have its costs reduced and use photovoltaic systems of greater efficiency. The main steps in this direction are the use of new materials, the improvement in the manufacture of modules and the adoption of techniques of maximum power point tracking and of solar tracking. This article aims at presenting the project and development of an azimuth and elevation solar tracker, based on a new conception of the positioning sensor, composed of an array of four photoresistors. The two direct current motors that operate in the vertical and horizontal axes are controlled by a proportional-integral microcontroller. The conditions of the project were low cost, small energy consumption and versatility. The microcontroller can also incorporate a maximum power point tracking algorithm. The performance of solar tracker prototype in the initial phase of field tests can be considered appropriate.

Keywords:

• Energy
• control
• photovoltaic energy
• solar tracker
• solar sensor

Additional information

Notes on contributors

S C Ribeiro

Sandro Carneiro Ribeiro received his BS degree in electrical engineering from the São Bosco Educational Association, Brazil, in 2010 and his MS degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Taubate, Brazil, in 2012. He was with the Companhia Siderúrgica National, Brazil, and with the Caminhões Volkswagen, Brazil. He is currently with the Department of Project Engineering at the Michelin Company, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, preparing to apply for admission into a PhD program. His research interests are mechatronics, telecommunications, automation and energy.

P P L do Prado

Pedro Paulo Leite do Prado graduated with honours as a Brazilian Army officer at the Military Academy of Agulhas Negras, Brazil, in 1969. He received his BS and MS degrees in 1977 and 1986, respectively, from the Military Institute of Engineering, Brazil, and his PhD degree in 1991, from the University of Florida, Gainesville, USA, all in electrical engineering. From 1995 until today he has been a full professor at University of Taubaté, Brazil. He has been involved with research in the areas of speech and video signal processing, telecommunications and electronics. His current research interests are in control, automation and renewable energies. He is a member of Etta Kappa Nu Association and IEEE and an ad-hoc consultant of the São Paulo State Foundation for Research Support , Brazil, and of several companies.

J B Gonçalves

João Bosco Gonçalves received his BS degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Taubate, Brazil, in 1992. In 1995, he obtained the title of Master of Science in mechanical engineering from the Technological Institute of Aeronautics, Brazil, and, in 2005, the title of PhD in mechanical engineering from the State University of Campinas, Brazil. He is currently an assistant professor and graduate coordinator at the University of Taubaté. His research interests are in the areas of modelling, identification of dynamical systems, control systems design and computational intelligence applied to robotics.

Á M de Souza Soares

Álvaro Manoel de Souza Soares received his BS degree in mechanical engineering from the Catholic University of Petrópolis, Brazil, in 1983, his MS degree in engineering and space technology from the National Institute for Space Research, Brazil, in 1986 and his PhD degree in mechanical and aeronautical engineering from the Technological Institute of Aeronautics, Brazil, in 1997. He is currently an assistant professor at the São Paulo State University, Brazil, and an assistant professor at the University of Taubaté, Brazil. He has a background in mechanical engineering with emphasis in mechatronics and works in the following areas: robotics, image processing, control, industrial automation and physical systems modelling.