Abstract:

This paper describes a simple photo-voltaic (PV) tracking system which has been designed and manufactured using a mobile stand as a base. In the design of a sun-tracking system, the movement of two photo-voltaic modules was controlled by programmable interrupt controller to follow the sun’s radiation using a microcontroller unit (PIC). The photo-voltaic (PV) tracking system has a charge control unit which consists of a DC-DC (12 V-5 V) converter, DC-AC (12 V-220 V) inverter and two batteries. The modules are able to provide a maximum power of ~ 240 W, which feeds the converter, inverter and actuators. PV modules supply energy to sensors of meteorology systems and illumination of measurement area. The total area of the two modules is 1,527696 m². The system can track solar motion with an error of ± 5º. A micro control unit is employed to control and monitor the mechanical movement of the PV modules and to collect data related to the sun’s radiation. It was found that the daily output power of the PV was increased by more than 28% in comparison with that of a fixed module.

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