Abstract
This work focuses on the performance evaluation of a Standalone Solar Photovoltaic (PV) system for electricity generation in an estate requiring a daily power consumption of 50KW. This was achieved through a solar tracker software/hardware – embedded programme control system. A programmable microcontroller (PIC16F877A), light detection sensors (CDS NORP 12), motor driver IC (L293D), power relays (NTE-R22-5) and a dc gear motor with linear actuator (HARL-3618) were used. MikroC Pro compiler from Mikro Electroniker was used to programme the PIC16F877A. A fixed PV panel of same size was placed side by side and tested with the solar tracking system. The test results obtained showed that the solar tracking system produced 14.3W at 8:00am, increases to a maximum of 25.83W at 1:00pm and decreased to 16.28W at 6:00pm while the fixed PV panel produced 5W at 8:00am, increased to a maximum of 25.62W at 1:00pm and decreased to 10.6W at 6:00pm. These results gave the solar tracking system an efficiency increase of 33 percent over the fixed system. The designed system installed in residential homes has capacity to guarantee sustainable, durable and improved power supply.
Highlights
The Photovoltaic (PV) is a device that consists of semiconductor material which is able to directly convert the energy from sunlight into electricity
The findings showed that tracking systems which incorporated two axes, one vertical axis, one east- west axis and one north- south axis, and one north- south axis, resulted in the increment of the electrical output powers of the photovoltaic system by 43.87%, 37.53%, 34.43% and 15.69% respectively when compared to what obtained from a PV system with fixed surface inclined at 32 degrees to the north
The experimental results obtained have shown that the solar tracking system produced 33 percent daily output power than the fixed PV system
Summary
The Photovoltaic (PV) is a device that consists of semiconductor material which is able to directly convert the energy from sunlight into electricity. Standalone PV system is usually used in rural or remote areas of the society This system usually consists of some components: solar panel, batteries and controller/regulator. Reference [1] presented a sun tracking system incorporating a pyrheliometer for the measurement of direct solar radiation. The findings showed that tracking systems which incorporated two axes, one vertical axis, one east- west axis and one north- south axis, and one north- south axis, resulted in the increment of the electrical output powers of the photovoltaic system by 43.87%, 37.53%, 34.43% and 15.69% respectively when compared to what obtained from a PV system with fixed surface inclined at 32 degrees to the north. Reference [3] deployed a programmable logic controller (PLC) to effect the control of a photovoltaic module while tracking the sun’s radiation. The modeling and controller design tasks were accomplished using the first- order Sugeno fuzzy inference system
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