Performance Analysis of Solar Tracking Systems by Five-Position Angles with a Single Axis and Dual Axis
Nuttee Thungsuk, Thaweesak Tanaram, Arckarakit Chaithanakulwat, Teerawut Savangboon, Apidat Songruk, Narong Mungkung, Theerapong Maneepen, Somchai Arunrungrusmi, Wittawat Poonthong, Nat Kasayapanand, Siriwhut Nilwhut, Hiroyuki Kinoshita, Toshifumi Yuji
Abstract
This research presents an analysis of the five-position angle in both single-axis (one-axis tracking) and dual-axis (two-axis tracking) solar tracking systems. The study compares these tracking systems, where four solar panels move simultaneously, with a fixed solar panel system. The findings revealed that the five-position angle Sun-tracking technique resulted in lower energy consumption by the tracking mechanism than in the case of an all-time solar tracking system. The key component of the implemented system is a light-dependent resistor (LDR) sensor for controlling the motion of the motor for five positions on the vertical axis and horizontal axis, processed by a microcontroller to ensure the necessary solar tracking always moves in a perpendicular direction. According to the results, the voltage, current, and power increased with both one-axis and two-axis tracking compared to those of the fixed solar panel system under the same conditions. However, when evaluating the total energy with numerical integration methods, one-axis and two-axis provided 183.12 Wh and 199.79 Wh, respectively. Consequently, the energy production of the one-axis tracking system and the one-axis tracking system was found to be 16.71% and 24.97%, respectively, when compared to the fixed-axis system. Thus, the five-position angles of the sun-tracking technique resulted in lower energy consumption than is the case of an all-time solar tracking system.