Solar power enhancement using concentration method, tracking system and fuzzy based control system

Abstract

This research paper carries out a realistic experimental approach to enhance the solar output power to a significant level with the application of solar concentrator and tracking system and also proposes a fuzzy based control system for the utilization of the duration for which solar power is available. By using only a solar panel, the theoretical value is supposed to be around 40% more. The method is arranged using `Double Sun Technology' and `Solar Tracker'. In addition to `Double Sun Technology', four flat mirrors have been used to increase the output power. A remarkable enhancement in the output power is achieved with this method. Rather than using only a solar panel, the output power increases by 58.32% by using a photovoltaic (PV) panel with four flat mirrors with solar tracker system. The concentrators are designed to collect the incident light from the sun and concentrate them on the PV panel so that the solar irradiance is more. The experiment is conducted in four different setups. In the first setup, the output power is calculated without the use of Double Sun and solar tracker. In the second setup, power is measured with Double Sun but without solar tracker. Both Double Sun and solar tracker are used in the third setup. Then four flat mirrors and solar tracker are considered. Output power has been calculated using open circuit voltage and short circuit current. Finally, the proposed system improves the total output by maximum utilization of available photovoltaic energy and maximum utilization of the duration for which solar power is available based on fuzzy logic.