AN ECONOMICAL AND RELATIVELY

EFFICIENT IMPLEMENTATION OF THE

REAL–TIME SOLAR TRACKING SYSTEM

Sabir Ali Kalhoro

Department of Electronics Engineering NED University of

Engineering and Technology, Karachi (Pakistan)

E–mail: sabir13es66@gmail.com

Sayed Hyder Abbas Musvi

Indus University. Karachi (Pakistan)

E–mail: dean@indus.edu.pk

Sikandar Ali

Indus University. Karachi (Pakistan)

E–mail: sikandar.shah@indus.edu.pk

Saadullah Rahoojo

Department of Geography, University of Sindh. Jamshoro (Pakistan)

E–mail: rahoojosaad@gmail.com

Asim Nawaz

Department of Geography University of Karachi. Karachi (Pakistan)

E–mail: asimpmd@gmail.com

Recepción: 05/03/2019 Aceptación: 27/03/2019 Publicación: 17/05/2019

Citación sugerida:

Kalhoro, S. A., Abbas Musvi, S. H., Ali, S., Rahoojo, S. y Nawaz, A. (2019). An

economical and relatively ecient implementation of the Real–Time Solar Tracking

System. 3C Tecnología. Glosas de innovación aplicadas a la pyme. Edición Especial, Mayo 2019, pp.

68–99. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.17993/3ctecno.2019.specialissue2.68–99

Suggested citation:

Kalhoro, S. A., Abbas Musvi, S. H., Ali, S., Rahoojo, S. & Nawaz, A. (2019). An

economical and relatively ecient implementation of the Real–Time Solar Tracking

System. 3C Tecnología. Glosas de innovación aplicadas a la pyme. Special Issue, May 2019, pp.

68–99. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.17993/3ctecno.2019.specialissue2.68–99

3C Tecnología. Glosas de innovación aplicadas a la pyme. ISSN: 2254–4143

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ABSTRACT

The bi–facial solar system which is available in the commercial markets having a

variety of advantages and eciency but they are too much costly. Therefore there

is a dire need to design a low price solar system that overcomes the increasing

energy demand. In this research, we have designed a system which reects the

bi–facial model with an economical prize for the developing nations. However,

the eciency of the proposed solar system was checked on a sunny day and

its observation was closely related to the real–time bi–facial solar system. The

prototype has been designed by combining the two equal watts solar penal having

anti–parallel alignment with each other. The rear penal of the design system

is supported by concentrator for strengthening the eciency of the scattered

irradiation. The scattered irradiation generates extra energy due to the design

structure of the proposed system. The voltage of the system is conjoint increases

slightly as the timely increasing irradiation strength. The power of the designed

system increases with the increasing voltage proportional relationship with the

current. The design system veries the voltage, current and power measurement

from all location of the calculation.

KEYWORDS

Renewable Energy, Solar System, Ecient Design System.

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1. INTRODUCTION

Nowadays deciency of energy issues has been increasing which causes social

and environmental problems, however, the developing countries urging the

researchers to seek out alternative resources which may balance the demand for

fossil fuel.

The alternative source like solar and wind are highly available to fulll the

increasing demand (Guerrero–Lemus, Vega, Kim, Kimm & Shephard, 2016).

While freely available solar irradiation is a reliable source of solar power

generation and solar energy will be generated easily by harnessing the facility of

the radiation, this energy source is clean and environmental friendly (Jia, Gawlik,

Plentz & Andrä, 2017; Luque, Torres & Escobar, 2018). The energy from the sun

intercepted by the earth is roughly 1.8x1011MW which is several thousand times

larger than the current consumption.

The most drawbacks with solar power are its dilute nature. Even within the

hottest regions on the planet, the irradiation ux available nearly is inadequate for

technological utilization. This drawback may be corrected by many techniques

which ensure the greatest intensity of sun rays striking the surface of the panel

from sunrise to sunset (Kim, Kim & Hwang, 2018; Duan, Zhao, He & Tang,

2018). This drawback can be overcome by the advanced design system, which is

a bifacial solar system, it may generate electricity from either front or rear face, it

will consider as the advanced photovoltaic system. This system is the noticeably

exaggerated physical phenomenon of advance conversion system (Lamers, et al.,

2018). We tend to gift here such type of model which associates in the alternating

deposition technique such as bi–facial solar cells (Liu, Zhao, Duana, He, Zheng

& Tang, 2018). Such type of photovoltaic unit maximizes the output power by

utilizing both sides of the PV cell to capture the maximum irradiation. The bi–

facial solar device yields and maximizes the eciency of available system and this

strategy provides new opportunities for fabricating high performance (Lo, Lim &

Rahman, 2015; Sun, Khan, Deline & Alam, 2018). Bi–facial solar system which

harvests the incident light irradiation from the front face and collects scattering

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light irradiation with the help of concentrator to facilitate the rear surface for the

maximum utilization of light irradiation, therefore, system gain the best power

outputs.

The rear face uses to increase the eciency of the solar system as well as support

the name bi–facial. The traditional aluminum metal is used to collect the scattered

irradiation to get advantage from the useless irradiation and provide support to

the rear pedal. The rear penal adds its power to increase the eciency of the

overall solar system. The scattered irradiation plays a signicant rule for the rear

side of the solar penal. The rear penal gets the advantage from the scattered

irradiation to extract the maximum power from the bi–facial solar system (Pan,

Cardoso, & Reis, 2018). This system has a relatively little bit less photoelectrical

conversion potency of the rear penal as compare to the front penal. The proposed

system provides a signicantly attainable application in the existing solar system.

Generally, the designed system organized in well–observed alignments, thus

partial sunlight is mirrored by the concentrator and throw toward the rear penal,

so that requires energy might convert into thermal energy with the high eciency

by using the advanced bi–facial solar system (Zhu, Wang, Wang, Sun, He & Tang,

2017).

The concentration of scattered irradiation in rear surface increases the overall

eciency of the designed system. All solar panels are in a much–maligned

arrangement in a real application of electrical phenomenon power stations. The

high–eciency solar system expected to gain the scatter irradiation with the

help of concentrator (Rodriguez, et al., 2018). The metallic portion encompasses

a well–made reection to the incident irradiation resulting in comparatively

eective implementation of the system eciency. A major motivation for the

proposed system with a concentrator that is a program by the microcontroller

known as Raspberry Pi for tracking the system to yield the additional energy.

The mono facial panels are not so much reliable due to the light sensitivity as

compare to the bifacial solar system. Most of the panel is using single access

tracking system but we are motivated to design the bi–facial solar tracking system

having two sides for the power extraction sides X at the front and Y for the

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rear penal to collect the scattered irradiation (Wang & Lu, 2013; Patil & Asokan,

2016). The potential of this improved module power output and energy yield

was repeatedly commendable from all measurements through installations in

numerous orientations. However, uncertainties regarding the particular output

of this projected system still deter attainable investors. Even within the solar

community, the important quantitative prot thanks to the bifacial system to suited

technical ideas square measure still below discussion. The bi–facial solar system

will dramatically improve the condition of generation compared to the existing

solar system, so this type of advance model will gain a lot of attention in the future.

This advanced solar model has been investigated intensively and characterized

largely in the eld with completely high gain. The proposed systems will provide

the lump sum output power gain of the front and rear penal measurement. Such

measurements were very reliable, so typically the dierent installation angles and

backgrounds were terribly support to the eective measurement (Khalil, Asif,

Anwar, Haq & Illahi, 2017). Basically, the performance of this bidirectional

solar system originates from the strength and angle of each location, and the

scattered irradiation from the background at the rear penal. The precise nature

of the bidirectional solar system would be more characterize at the well–dened

research laboratory. Signicantly the irradiation intensity level and the angle

dependence area unit are highly important. The strength and angle dependences

are individually investigated; no systematical collaborative investigations are

performed on bidirectional solar system module.

In the old era mono–facial, solar cells were used without any tracking system.

These systems were useful but with respect to time technology continuously

changing by the research and technology by Scientist and demand by the

consumers. They used mono–facial solar cells in combination with single access

tracking system to increase the eciency of the solar tracking system (Khan, et

al., 2017). The rule of a bidirectional module is similar to it of a mono–facial

one. In a mono–facial module, light radiation enters through the front side that

absorbed by the solar PV and reborn into electrons that give electrical power. In

this bidirectional module, an equivalent front side light irradiation assortment

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method happens and, additionally, light radiation is absorbed from the backside

of the module (Rajshree, Jaiswal, Chaudhary & Jayswal, 2016). This rear penal

gets the solar irradiation source from the reected collection of the irradiations

by the concentrator from the ground or a neighboring row of PV modules. The

extra light radiation generates a lot of electrons within the cells that primarily

will increase the module eciency. The voltage of the cell conjointly will increase

slightly as the timely increasing irradiation strength so the power is increased

because of the increasing voltage proportional relationship with the current.

The most typical, bidirectional modules conguration is economical and

viable reliable for the local as well as commercial usage. Bi–facial PV systems

are highly compatible with already existing PV systems and generally achieve a

markedly higher energy yield than mono–facial systems (Brady, Wang, Steenho

& Brolo, 2019). At the same time, bifacial systems are competitive because the

manufacturing costs for the solar cells are slightly lower and the modern cell types

are inherently bifacial and do not involve additional costs. Certied production

technologies for the large–scale manufacture of bifacial cells and modules are

already available on the market. The bifacial systems can be planned in exactly

the same way as mono–facial systems, with a few factors demanding the extra

attention, for example, the properties of the reective ground. This attention will,

however, be rewarded with a higher energy yield. Bifacial modules are opening

up new application possibilities, often arising from the dual use of the installation

area. All in all, bifacial modules can be employed to good advantage for most

applications in terms of energy yield (Ooshaksaraei, Sopian, Zulkii, Alghoul &

Zaidi, 2013). The single access tracking system is to work only one direction with

the help of dierent microcontrollers. The proposed bifacial modules produce

solar power from both sides front and rear side. Whereas the traditional panels

are only designed to convert solar irradiance from one side of the module into dc

power, the bifacial modules are manufactured with clear plates on both the front

and back side of the solar cells. They are designed to convert solar irradiance

from both sides into dc power (Solarworld, in google). Similar to mono–facial

modules, bifacial modules come in a variety of types including framed and

frameless. The reason for this growth in engagement with bifacial technology is

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the capacity to extract maximum power by utilizing the scattered irradiation. It

has been calculated from the experiment that this model is able to increase the

power output compared to the available solar conguration (Sengupta, 2016).

The bi–facial with the tracking system has been made an eort to track the motion

of the sun for collecting maximum energy. The power generation with the help of

a bi–facial solar tracking system is much more as compared to the single axis solar

tracking system. In two several places, the require generation of the electricity is

through the pricy fossil fuels. The user subjected to implies the restriction and

pollutant environment that accompanies by fossil fuels (Renewables 2017 Global

Status Report, 2017). The value intensive system should be placed in the way to

protect the infrastructure and environment pollution. This implies the renewable

energy to fulll the growing demand. Today demand requires an easy plug and

play electricity setup which provides an abundant solution in the way of power

generation and consumption. This system involves in the autonomous frequent

maintenance which will allow the alternative energy generation in an exceeding

system which will be carried out in the form of the solar system (Livingston,

Sivaram, Freeman & Fiege, 2018).

2. MODEL AND METHODS

The bi–facial solar system model provides an eective measurement of power. The

solar radiation such as global, diuse and direct irradiation is fallen on the design

solar system. These models are representing the principal climate phenomena

to attain solar electricity. We analyze the output power of the proposed design

system which is highly depending upon the Global Horizontal Irradiation (GHI)

as well as Global Tilted Irradiation (GTI). The power of the system depends

upon solar irradiation received by the surface of photovoltaic modules and the

GHI is the sums of the direct and diuse solar radiation [kWh/m2]. The GHI is

considered as a climate reference as it is an important parameter to check for the

solar PV installation.

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The elevation angle measured relative to the sea level (ELE), also determines the

optimum choice of a site and performance for the solar energy system. Elevation

Angle can be measured by applying Eq. 1

Eq. 1

The zenith angle is the angle between the sun and the vertical. Thus making the

zenith angle = 90° – elevation as under Eq. 2.

Eq. 2

DNI (Direct Normal Irradiation): Solar radiation component that directly reaches

the surface kWh per m square. It is signicant for the proposed system as Eq. 3.

Eq. 3

DIF (Diuse Horizontal Irradiation): Solar radiation component that is scattered

by the atmosphere in kWh/m2 Eq. 4.

Eq. 4

GHI (Global Horizontal Irradiation): The GHI is the Sum of direct and diuse

solar radiation, kWh/m2. It is considered as a climate reference as it is an

important parameter to check for the solar PV installation which can be seen in

Eq. 5.

Eq. 5

Atmospheric temperature, known as the air temperature is another most

important variable determining the ecient performance of solar power systems.

The air temperature degrees or degrees determines the temperature of PV cells

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and modules and has a direct impact on PV energy conversion eciency and

resulting energy losses. Air temperature also some other weather parameters

are the main part of each solar project assessment as they regulate the eective

conditions and operation eciency of the solar power plant (Please refer Eq. 6).

Eq. 6

The solar module is the most widely applied and also the most versatile technology

for the power generation. The solar electricity simulation algorithm, incorporated

in the atlas always provides an approximate estimate of the potential photovoltaic

energy, which can be produced at any location covered by the interactive map, as

shown in Eq. 7.

Eq. 7

Air temperature determines the temperature of PV cells and modules and has

a direct impact on PV energy conversion eciency and resulting energy losses.

The operating conditions and operation eciency of the solar power plant can be

related to the air temperature model is given to nd out the eecting temperature

on the system as Eq. 8.

Eq. 8

The solar radiation model, air temperature model and PV power simulation

model. These models provide location–specic solar radiation and temperature

data. In order to calculate an on–demand utility by assessing the possible PV

system type and conguration, the PV power simulation models are employed.

The air temperature model and another PV power simulation model are given

to nd out the eecting temperature on the system as below Equations Eq. 9–11.

Eq. 9

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Eq. 10

Eq. 11

The long–term yearly solar resource estimates by satellite–based models can be

characterized by calculating the bias (systematic deviation) at the validation sites,

where high-quality solar measurement are available. Also the World Bank choose

the same as Eq.1-11 for solar potential calculation in the in the solar atlas so here

these Eq.1-11 reect the same model in this design system.

The polynomial function expresses the estimated best t of the designed solar

model at the available irradiation for the eciency dierence measurement of

front and rear penal of the proposed solar system on any day of the month line

by general polynomial function model, represented as Eq. 12.

Eq. 12

The voltage measurement of the proposed design solar system for the front and

rear penal is tted for the eciency dierence checking as shown in Figure 7. We

have selected the dates from 08 to 10 of the Feb 2019 by using the polynomial

regression of 6 degrees as, The quality of the best t for the design system with

the measured voltage data is determined by the value of R2 being close by 1. In

the case of voltage data the R² = 0.993 for the front penal and R² = 0.9754 for

the rear panel. With the application, the polynomial of six degrees seems to be

the best t on the available data. The best t in the case of front penal as shown

in the Eq. 13.

y = –0.0002x6 + 0.0102x5 – 0.1795x4 + 1.6129x3 – 7.9224x2 + 21.999x – 15.328

Eq. 13

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And in the case of rear penal shown in the Eq. 14.

y = 0.0003x6 – 0.0135x5 + 0.2317x4 – 1.9128x3 + 7.4858x2 – 9.0814x + 3.4818

Eq. 14

The measurement of current for front and rear solar penal is tted for the

eciency dierence checking of the designed solar system as shown in Figure 10.

We have selected the dates from 08 to 10 of the Feb 2019 with the polynomial

regression of 6 degrees as, The quality of the best t with the irradiation data

is determined by the value of R2 being close by 1. In this case R² = 0.9595 for

the front penal and R² = 0.9509 for the rear penal. With the application of the

polynomial to 6th degree seems to be the best t on the available data. The best

t in the case of front penal as shown in the Eq.15.

y = 6E–05x6 – 0.0029x5 + 0.0508x4 – 0.4443x3 + 1.9444x2 – 3.3536x + 1.8066

Eq. 15

And in the case of rear penal as shown in the Eq. 16.

y = 7E–05x6 – 0.003x5 + 0.0513x4 – 0.4341x3 + 1.849x2 – 3.1683x + 1.7129

Eq. 16

The power measurement of front and rear solar penal is tted for the eciency

dierence checking as shown in Figure 13. We have selected the dates from 08

to 10 of the Feb 2019 with the polynomial regression of 6th degree as, The

quality of the best t for the designed bi–facial solar system with the irradiation

is determined by the value of R2 being close by 1. In this case R² = 0.9677

for the front penal and R² = 0.9676 for the rear penal. With the application

of the polynomial 6th degree seems to be the best t on the available power

measurement data. The best t in the case of front penal as shown in the Eq. 17.

y = 0.0007x6 – 0.0323x5 + 0.5627x4 – 5.0022x3 + 23.254x2 – 43.174x + 24.743

Eq. 17

And for the case of rear penal as shown in the Eq. 18.

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y = 0.0007x6 – 0.0276x5 + 0.4603x4 – 3.9598x3 + 18.306x2 – 34.732x + 20.41

Eq. 18

3. SYSTEM DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION

The proposed design solar system have Light dependent resistors (LDR) that use

the light sensing element. We are using two 12 volts to a gear dc motor. The dc volt

geared the motor so it is used for east–west tracking and other geared dc motor

with a threaded rod for the linear up–down motion for north–south movement.

The LDR’s are sensing the light intensity as shown in Figure 2. The tracking of

sun movement, in that way we can get optimum power of the solar system. The

main object of the design system is to gain maximum power from the sun. The

design system supports the tracking strategy as the annual motion of sun at 23.5o

degree in east–west direction is occurred. In this project, the relay module is used

for converting binary data to electrical output. The design system is controlled by

the microcontroller known as raspberry pi. The raspberry pi is the main control

unit of the design system. The raspberry pi microcontroller gets a signal from the

sensor that decides the direction of the movement of the motors in the required

axis. The python is used to program the raspberry pi for the tracking and control

purpose. The Python is associated with the interpreter, interactive programming

language. It incorporates modules, exceptions, dynamic writing, and terribly high

level of dynamic knowledge.

3.1. BLOCK DIAGRAM

The basic blocks diagram consisting of Solar PV Panel, light dependent resistor

(LDR), raspberry pi, relay module, analog to digital converter (ADC), power

supply, and battery. The panel gets the irradiation and converts it into electricity

or electrical signal. This generated electricity hold in the battery for upcoming

use. The power will be ow from solar panels to store in the battery. The battery

will be charged fully and get alarms for disconnection within the event of a fault.

The microcontroller is placed in between the solar penal and battery for the

tracking and the system control. The microcontroller has been used to generate

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the control commands from the LDR sensor. The microcontroller oers the

motion to the motor to rotate the parabolic dish. The design system accuracy

depends upon sensor and its accuracy is important for the successful performance

of the algorithm. The last block is load, we are able to use any kind of dc load

here as we have not inserted electrical converter block within the design system.

The ac appliances on solar panels we need to feature electrical converter block

in on top of the diagram in order that it can convert dc power provided by the

solar battery into ac.

Figure 1. Flow Diagram of the Design Solar System.

3.2. EXPERIMENTATION

The potency of a mono–facial solar module is expected to decrease considerably

as compared to the availability of the irradiation thanks to the bi–facial solar