Design and implementation of a Sun tracker with a dual-axis single motor for an optical sensor-based photovoltaic system

• Published in: Sensors (Basel, Switzerland) Switzerland), 2013-03, Vol.13 (3), p.3157-3168
• Main Authors: Wang, Jing-Min, Lu, Chia-Liang
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Alternative energy sources; Control algorithms; Control theory; Controllers; Design engineering; dual-axis Sun tracker; Electric Power Supplies; Electricity; energy gain; Energy resources; feedback control theory; Humans; light dependent resistor; Photovoltaic cells; photovoltaic panel; Radiation; Renewable Energy; Renewable resources; Sensors; Solar cells; Solar Energy; stand-alone PV inverter; Sun; Tracking
• ISSN: 1424-8220; 1424-8220
• DOI: 10.3390/s130303157

The dual threats of energy depletion and global warming place the development of methods for harnessing renewable energy resources at the center of public interest. Solar energy is one of the most promising renewable energy resources. Sun trackers can substantially improve the electricity production of a photovoltaic (PV) system. This paper proposes a novel design of a dual-axis solar tracking PV system which utilizes the feedback control theory along with a four-quadrant light dependent resistor (LDR) sensor and simple electronic circuits to provide robust system performance. The proposed system uses a unique dual-axis AC motor and a stand-alone PV inverter to accomplish solar tracking. The control implementation is a technical innovation that is a simple and effective design. In addition, a scaled-down laboratory prototype is constructed to verify the feasibility of the scheme. The effectiveness of the Sun tracker is confirmed experimentally. To conclude, the results of this study may serve as valuable references for future solar energy applications.