Sun position and the optimum inclination of a solar panel to the sun vary over time throughout the day. A simple but accurate solar\nposition measurement system is essential for maximizing the output power from a solar panel in order to increase the panel\nefficiency while minimizing the system cost. Solar position can be measured either by a sensor (active/passive) or through the\nsun position monitoring algorithm. Sensor-based sun position measuring systems fail to measure the solar position in a cloudy\nor intermittent day, and they require precise installation and periodic calibrations. In contrast, the sun position algorithms use\nmathematical formula or astronomical data to obtain the station of the sun at a particular geographical location and time. A\nstandalone low-cost but high-precision dual-axis closed-loop sun-tracking system using the sun position algorithm was\nimplemented in an 8-bit microcontroller platform. The Astronomical Almanacâ??s (AA) algorithm was used for its simplicity,\nreliability, and fast computation capability of the solar position. Results revealed that incorporation of the sun position\nalgorithm into a solar tracking system helps in outperforming the fixed system and optical tracking system by 13.9% and 2.1%,\nrespectively. In summary, even for a small-scale solar tracking system, the algorithm-based closed-loop dual-axis tracking\nsystem can increase overall system efficiency.
Loading....