Sun Azimuth Research Articles

Design and Implementation of a Dual-Axis Solar Tracking System with IoT-Enhanced Monitoring Using Arduino

The position of the sun varies over the day and with the seasons, making it difficult for conventional fixed solar panel systems to achieve optimum energy production. By reorienting the panels to face the sun, solar tracking systems solve this problem. This study suggests a dual-axis solar tracker system that continuously adjusts the panels to stay perpendicular to sunlight in order to maximize energy capture. The system uses sensors to monitor the sun's elevation and azimuth angles. Light sensors, motor controllers, microcontrollers, control algorithms, and an Internet of Things (IoT) monitoring system are some of the system's essential parts. The microprocessor determines the ideal angles for panel alignment based on the location of the sun as detected by the light sensors. The motor driver then adjusts the panels appropriately. The sun's position is accurately and smoothly tracked using dual-axis tracking systems, which employ sensors to detect solar position and actuators controlled by sophisticated algorithms to adjust the panels accordingly. Real-time parameter monitoring of the solar panel is done using an IoT-enabled webpage. The study's findings show that the dual-axis solar tracker system performs noticeably better in terms of energy capture efficiency than fixed installations, especially in areas with high solar incidence angles and fluctuating sunshine.

Efficiency Analysis of a Passive Daylighting System Based on Northern Malaysia’s Climate

Daylighting design strategy is important in order to have adequate lighting source in a room and necessary to decrease energy consumption for artificial lighting. Passive daylighting system utilizes daylight by collecting, reflecting and diffusing the natural light throughout a given area. The purpose for this study is to monitor, compare and analyse an optimum light pipe system design that can scatter daylight into a room based on three case studies. Lighting analysis was conducted using Autodesk 3ds Max Design software throughout the project based on the actual geographical parameters of Universiti Malaysia Perlis, Malaysia and also using the real sun azimuth on working hours. The results were compared according to the respective designs in order to observe the maximum internal illuminance and the average internal illuminance. The results show that the straight geometry with low aspect ratio produces the highest interior light intensity among other light pipe systems and the average internal illuminance values in the room was able to reach the minimum requirement of a small room which is 200 – 500 lux.

Changes in movement patterns in relation to sun conditions and spatial scales in wild western gorillas.

For most primates living in tropical forests, food resources occur in patchworks of different habitats that vary seasonally in quality and quantity. Efficient navigation (i.e., spatial memory-based orientation) towards profitable food patches should enhance their foraging success. The mechanisms underpinning primate navigating ability remain nonetheless mostly unknown. Using GPS long-term tracking (596days) of one group of wild western lowland gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla), we investigated their ability to navigate at long distances, and tested for how the sun was used to navigate at any scale by improving landmark visibility and/or by acting as a compass. Long episodic movements ending at a distant swamp, a unique place in the home range where gorillas could find mineral-rich aquatic plants, were straighter and faster than their everyday foraging movements relying on spatial memory. This suggests intentional targeting of the swamp based on long-distance navigation skills, which can thus be efficient over a couple of kilometres. Interestingly, for both long-distance movements towards the swamp and everyday foraging movements, gorillas moved straighter under sunlight conditions even under a dense vegetation cover. By contrast, movement straightness was not markedly different when the sun elevation was low (the sun azimuth then being potentially usable as a compass) or high (so providing no directional information) and the sky was clear or overcast. This suggests that gorillas navigate their home range by relying on visual place recognition but do not use the sun azimuth as a compass. Like humans, who rely heavily on vision to navigate, gorillas should benefit from better lighting to help them identify landmarks as they move through shady forests. This study uncovers a neglected aspect of primate navigation. Spatial memory and vision might have played an important role in the evolutionary success of diurnal primate lineages.

Influence of DEM resolution on topographic correction models using spot satellite image

Topographic correction models (TCMs) are valid on satellite image data preprocessing steps. Theillumination angle may be sensitive to different terrain slope and aspect conditions base on sun-terrain-sensorgeometry. Although the topographic correction is influenced by the sun azimuth and zenith angle, the correction resultcan be equally in the same image status. By contrast, the terrain factors change with different digital elevation model(DEM) resolution in the topographic correction equations and cause a significant effect. Slope is sensitive in ruggedterrain, and aspect is impressionable at flat surface at a coarse DEM resolution data. As the DEM resolution lead adistinct result on TCMs, this research is aimed to examine the impact of DEM resolution on the accuracy of terrainrepresentation and of the gradient determined. In this study, five TCMs, including cosine correction, C correction, SCS correction, SCS+C correction and Minnaert correction models are compared by different resolutions using SPOTimage data. The 5 meter DEM obtained from Ministry of the interior will be resampled to 10 to 500 meters to testthose topographic models sustainability on Lienhuachih Research Center. The accuracy of five topographic correctionmodels base on different DEM resolution will be evaluated by root-mean-square error (RMSE).

Satellite Image Processing by Python and R Using Landsat 9 OLI/TIRS and SRTM DEM Data on Côte d’Ivoire, West Africa

In this paper, we propose an advanced scripting approach using Python and R for satellite image processing and modelling terrain in Côte d'Ivoire, West Africa. Data include Landsat 9 OLI/TIRS C2 L1 and the SRTM digital elevation model (DEM). The EarthPy library of Python and 'raster' and 'terra' packages of R are used as tools for data processing. The methodology includes computing vegetation indices to derive information on vegetation coverage and terrain modelling. Four vegetation indices were computed and visualised using R: the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Enhanced Vegetation Index 2 (EVI2), Soil-Adjusted Vegetation Index (SAVI) and Atmospherically Resistant Vegetation Index 2 (ARVI2). The SAVI index is demonstrated to be more suitable and better adjusted to the vegetation analysis, which is beneficial for agricultural monitoring in Côte d'Ivoire. The terrain analysis is performed using Python and includes slope, aspect, hillshade and relief modelling with changed parameters for the sun azimuth and angle. The vegetation pattern in Côte d'Ivoire is heterogeneous, which reflects the complexity of the terrain structure. Therefore, the terrain and vegetation data modelling is aimed at the analysis of the relationship between the regional topography and environmental setting in the study area. The upscaled mapping is performed as regional environmental analysis of the Yamoussoukro surroundings and local topographic modelling of the Kossou Lake. The algorithms of the data processing include image resampling, band composition, statistical analysis and map algebra used for calculation of the vegetation indices in Côte d'Ivoire. This study demonstrates the effective application of the advanced programming algorithms in Python and R for satellite image processing.

Modeling Horizontal Single Axis Solar Tracker Upon Sun-Earth Geometric Relationships

Many investments and commitments have recently been set to use renewable energy source, overcome energy crisis and align with climate target. Solar power development and deployment make investment in power generation sustainability. The goal of this study is harvesting energy by rotating solar panel toward the sun direction. Astronomical formula is derivate to calculate the sun altitude and azimuth depending on given latitude, longitude coordination. The photovoltaic (PV) panels rotate horizontally and track the sun direction in 9 positions regarding to their actual time and calculated azimuth angle. Partial shaded effectiveness that produces between the adjacent panels due to PV panel’s inclination is calculate accordingly. The total increment of power production from fix to tracked panel structure is 17.3% per day. The extra power generation is distributed over the period between solar noon times.

Design of double axis solar automatic light tracing device based on cloud platform

Solar energy is a widely distributed and inexhaustible "green" renewable new energy, which is one of the best solutions to the energy crisis in the world. However, the conversion efficiency of photovoltaic cells in large-scale solar applications is not high, and the cost is very high. Therefore, in order to increase the power generation capacity and efficiency of solar power generation, automatic tracking power generation devices should be used to replace fixed solar photovoltaic panels and other solar equipment. This design proposes a two axis solar tracking system based on the Internet of Things cloud platform. This system uses the sun viewing motion tracking method to drive photovoltaic panels in horizontal and vertical directions to track the sun. The preset tracking angle of the system is based on the sun azimuth angle and altitude angle operation rules calculated and collected by the sun angle calculation software, and combined with weather data to find the best angle for real-time tracking. This design will elaborate the design process from the aspects of system overall scheme design, hardware circuit design and host computer software development.

Fotovoltaiklerin ve Güneş Kollektörlerinin Özel Aletler ve Yöntem ile Konumlandırılması ve Gölge Faktörünün Jeodezik Yöntemle Araştırılması

In order to be able to be injured from the PV panel at an inclined angle with a horizontal plane at a certain incline, they must be turned approximately to the south. But, it is difficult to obtain maximum efficiency from November to March when the sun's rays are more oblique than in the summer. In order to benefit from the sun in the given months, the solar PV panel must be positioned between the maximum and minimum values of the sun azimuth angle. In addition, shadow analysis should also be done in the panel setup. In this work, how to position the PV panel from 150g to 250g in solar azimuth angle to achieve maximum benefit, it was researched how to do shadow analysis in order to prevent the fragmented lake situation, the related numerical application was made, the findings obtained were indicated and the suggestions were presented.

The comparison of dual axis photovoltaic tracking system using artificial intelligence techniques

<span>In this paper, the efficiency of photovoltaic panels is improved by adding a sun tracking system. The solar tracking system is used for tracking the sun so that photovoltaic always faces the sun. This system uses a dual axis consisting of horizontal rotation axis and a vertical rotation axis. The horizontal rotational axis motion is to follow the azimuth angle of the sun from north to south. Then, to follow the sun's azimuth angle from east to west is the vertical axis motion. Both types of movements are controlled using a PID controller that is optimized with an artificial intelligence approach, namely particle swarm optimization (PID-PSO), firefly algorithm (PID-FA), imperialist competitive algorithm (PID-ICA), bat algorithm (PID-BA), and ant colony optimization (PID-ACO). Experiments of various approaches were carried out and the corresponding performance compared. The experimental results show that PID-BA performs best in terms of settling time and overshoot. The results also allow the comparison of different PID controller and the calculation of the fastest completion time.</span>

HYBRID SYSTEM OF DUAL AXIS PHOTOVOLTAIC TRACKING SYSTEM USING PID-CES-ACO

In this paper, the efficiency of photovoltaic panels is improved by adding two solar tracking systems. The solar tracking system is used to track the sun so that the photovoltaic always faces the sun. This system uses a dual axis consisting of a horizontal rotation axis and a vertical rotation axis. The motion of the horizontal axis of rotation follows the sun's azimuth angle from north to south. The motion of the vertical axis of rotation following the sun's azimuth angle from east to west is the vertical axis motion. Both types of movement are controlled using PID and Fuzzy controllers which are optimized with an artificial intelligence approach, namely Ant Colony Optimization (ACO). Experiments with PID control approach and CES control were optimized using the ACO method (Hybrid PID-CES-ACO method). In this research, PID-CES-ACO was the best model, obtained on the horizontal axis of overshot 1328 pu, the smallest undershot was 0.116, and the fastest settling time was 0.183 s, on the vertical axis the smallest overshot was 1.246 pu, the smallest undershot was 0.044, the fastest settling time was 0.163 s

Temporal patterns in offshore bird abundance during the breeding season at the Dutch North Sea coast

The expanding development of offshore wind farms brings a growing concern about the human impact on seabirds. To assess this impact a better understanding of offshore bird abundance is needed. The aim of this study was to investigate offshore bird abundance in the breeding season and model the effect of temporally predictable environmental variables. We used a bird radar, situated at the edge of a wind farm (52.427827° N, 4.185345° E), to record hourly aerial bird abundance at the North Sea near the Dutch coast between May 1st and July 15th in 2019 and 2020, of which 1879 h (51.5%) were analysed. The effect of sun azimuth, week in the breeding season, and astronomic tide was evaluated using generalized additive modelling. Sun azimuth and week in the breeding season had a modest and statistically significant (p < 0.001) effect on bird abundance, while astronomic tide did not. Hourly predicted abundance peaked after sunrise and before sunset, and abundance increased throughout the breeding season until the end of June, after which it decreased slightly. Though these effects were significant, a large portion of variance in hourly abundance remained unexplained. The high variability in bird abundance at scales ranging from hours up to weeks emphasizes the need for long-term and continuous data which radar technology can provide.

Quantifying the causes and consequences of variation in satellite‐derived population indices: a case study of emperor penguins

AbstractVery high‐resolution satellite (VHR) imagery is a promising tool for estimating the abundance of wildlife populations, especially in remote regions where traditional surveys are limited by logistical challenges. Emperor penguins Aptenodytes forsteri were the first species to have a circumpolar population estimate derived via VHR imagery. Here we address an untested assumption from Fretwell et al. (2012) that a single image of an emperor penguin colony is a reasonable representation of the colony for the year the image was taken. We evaluated satellite‐related and environmental variables that might influence the calculated area of penguin pixels to reduce uncertainties in satellite‐based estimates of emperor penguin populations in the future. We focused our analysis on multiple VHR images from three representative colonies: Atka Bay, Stancomb‐Wills (Weddell Sea sector) and Coulman Island (Ross Sea sector) between September and December during 2011. We replicated methods in Fretwell et al. (2012), which included using supervised classification tools in ArcGIS 10.7 software to calculate area occupied by penguins (hereafter referred to as ‘population indices’) in each image. We found that population indices varied from 2 to nearly 6‐fold, suggesting that penguin pixel areas calculated from a single image may not provide a complete understanding of colony size for that year. Thus, we further highlight the important roles of: (i) sun azimuth and elevation through image resolution and (ii) penguin patchiness (aggregated vs. distributed) on the calculated areas. We found an effect of wind and temperature on penguin patchiness. Despite intra‐seasonal variability in population indices, simulations indicate that reliable, robust population trends are possible by including satellite‐related and environmental covariates and aggregating indices across time and space. Our work provides additional parameters that should be included in future models of population size for emperor penguins.

Hybrid System of Dual Axis Photovoltaic Tracking System Using ANFIS-ACO

In this paper, the efficiency of the photovoltaic panels is improved by adding two solar tracking systems. The solar tracking system is used to track the sun so that the photovoltaic always faces the sun. This system uses a dual axis consisting of a horizontal rotation axis and a vertical rotation axis. The motion of the horizontal axis of rotation follows the sun's azimuth angle from north to south. Then to follow the sun's azimuth angle from east to west is the vertical axis motion. Both types of movements are controlled using PID and Fuzzy controllers, which are optimized with an artificial intelligence approach, namely Ant Colony Optimization (ACO). Experiments with PID control, Fuzzy control, and ANFIS control approaches optimized by the ACO method (ANFIS-ACO Hybrid method). The experimental results show that ANFIS-ACO has the best performance in terms of settling time and overshoot.

PENGUKURAN ARAH KIBLAT TEMPAT IBADAH DENGAN APLIKASI ARAH KIBLAT DAN AZIMUT MATAHARI

This study examines the comparison of the Qibla direction using the Qibla direction application with the Sun Azimuth method. The problem is that there are many methods that can be used in measuring the Qibla direction especially in today's technological era. One such method is the Android-based Muslim Pro application. From these problems the question arises, namely how to position the Qibla direction using the Qibla direction application and the Sun Azimuth method, then what are the advantages and disadvantages of the Sun Azimuth method with the Muslim Pro Qibla direction application in determining the Qibla direction. This research is a field research. Data obtained through Ephemeris data, interviews and measurements using both methods. After the data collected, it is processed by means of Persistent observation, Triangulation, using reference materials. Then the data is analyzed in a cooperative way, namely comparing the measurement results of the Muslim Pro Qibla direction application with the measurement results of the Sun Azimuth method. This study found that there are differences in measurement results between the Sun Azimuth methods in the application of the Muslim Pro Qibla direction.

Ekstraksi Informasi dari DEM untuk Pemetaan Struktur Geologi Studi Kasus di Daerah Kokap, Kulon Progo

Digital elevation model (DEM) data can be used as an input for interpreting geological structures, especially faults. This study aims to determine of extracting geological information from SRTM DEM for geological structure interpretation. Information such as shaded relief, lineament, slope, aspect, drainage network and curvature were used as input for the interpretation using the morphological approach which includes processes, materials, and structures. The vertical exaggeration and sun azimuth and altitude for relief illumination can be varied to obtain different images with different enhanced features. Lineaments can be automatically extracted from the shaded relief. The results showed that the combination of shaded relief, lineament, slope, aspect, drainage network and curvature can be a powerful tool for geological structure interpretation. In general, DEM data analysis can only determine indications of fault location, whereas the types and directions of faults cannot be interpreted.

UJI AKURASI ARAH KIBLAT MEMANFAATKAN KORELASI ANTARA AZIMUTH MATAHARI DENGAN AZIMUTH GERAK VIGNA RADIATA

The main problem in this study is how to test the accuracy of Qibla direction utilizing the correlation between the solar azimuth and the azimuth of the vigna radiata. The subject matter is further divided into 1) What is the relationship between the direction produced by motion in the vigna radiata plant and the solar azimuth? 2) How accurate is the Qibla direction measurement using the correlation between solar azimuth and green bean azimuth ?. The hypothesis of this study is that there is a relationship between the direction of motion of green beans on the sun's azimuth that can be tested for the accuracy of the Qibla direction.The theoretical basis used in this research is spherical trigonometry with the method of measuring the Qibla direction utilizing the sun's azimuth and the theory of motion in plants.This type of research is experimental research - quantitative field research. The approach in this study uses a shar'i, scientific and mathematical approach. The population that researchers took for this study were 30 green bean plants with saturated samples. Data collection methods used in this study are the method of observation and documentation. The researcher conducted the analysis using the comparative analysis method with the verification work process.The results obtained in this study are that there is a match between the azimuth of the mungbean and the sun azimuth at a certain time interval, which is around 11 noon for the first sample and around 3 pm for the second sample. After being tested between the two azimuths there was a maximum inclination of 6 ° and 7 ° with an average inclination of 1.19 ° and 1.47 °. If the plant azimuth is used directly to measure the Qibla direction without correlation to the sun's azimuth it will produce a value of a large enough slope of 127 ° 23'54.61 "in sample 1 and 107 ° 8'54.61" in sample 2.

Solar orientation in Sphaeroma serratum from Ghar El Melh lagoon (Northern Tunisia)

Preliminary studies carried out on a population of Sphaeroma serratum have shown that this isopod uses the mechanism of sun compass to orient in the water. However, it appears that several environmental factors can influence this mechanism. The aim of this study was to check the sun compass in a population collected in the Ghar El Melh lagoon. Orientation experiments were realized in spring 2019: control experiments were carried out in the field, at the edge of the lagoon of Ghar El Melh lagoon (GMLE) and in an open space at the Faculty of Science of Tunis (FST). The experiments were carried out during three periods of the day: around 9:00, 12:00, and 15:00 using a circular arena filled with water, with (L) and without (S) the possibility of landscape view. Data analyses were performed using statistical tests of circular distribution data. To analyze the intervening factors in the solar orientation behavior of S. serratum a multiple regression analysis adapted to circular data (SPLM - spherically projected linear models) was used. Orientation angles were used as response variables, while factors as: landscape view (L or S), locality of the experiment (GMLE or FST), solar azimuth (azim), sky cloud degree (0–8), sun (visible, covered, shape, not visible) and time of the experiment, were used as influencing variables. The results showed that also the Ghar El Melh S. serratum use the sun azimuth to orient in the water. It resulted that the locality of the experiment significantly influenced their orientation, while the time of experiment had a minor effect.

Sensorless dual axis solar tracker using improved sun position algorithm

This paper presents development of a prototype sensorless dual axis solar tracker for maximum extraction of solar energy. To prove the concept and evaluate the proposed algorithm, a low cost widely availabe materials were used which was programmed based on Arduino microcontroller. The porposed algorithm works based on two search methods namely the global search that approximates the best point location in a region, and local search that further determines the actual sun’s position. Experimental results showed that the proposed algorithm gives better performance compared to the existing sun position algorithm (SPA) - based method as well as the fixed panel system. In terms of total output power, the proposed algorithm gives 17.96% more efficient than the fixed system and 6.38% better than the SPA-based system. Furthermore, the percentage error of the experimental measured angle to the actual sun azimuth angle was relatively minimal (less than 3%) during clear day operation. The system was proven to be effective in tracking the sun for improved energy production of solar PV panels and the proposed algorithm also can be used for designing the tracker with larger size of solar PV systems.

A Spherical Temperature Sensor Array Design for Near-Surface Atmospheric Temperature Studies

AbstractThe observation accuracy of the surface air temperature less than 0.1 K is a requirement, stated by the meteorological and climatological community. However, the accuracy of a temperature sensor inside a shield is affected by a number of factors including solar radiation, wind speed, upwelling longwave radiation, air density, sun elevation angle, sun azimuth angle, underlying surface, precipitation, moisture, structure, and coating of the radiation shield. Due to these factors, the temperature error of the temperature sensor may be much larger than 1 K under adverse conditions. To improve the observation accuracy, this paper proposed a spherical temperature sensor array. A series of analytical calculations based on a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) method is performed to verify the design principle of this sensor array. The calculation results show that the temperature error ratio can be assumed as a constant. To verify the accuracy of this sensor array, simulations and observation experiments are conducted. The simulation results show that the mean difference between the temperature provided by this sensor array and the reference air temperature is 0.072 K. The field experiment results show that a root-mean-square error (RMSE) and a mean absolute error (MAE) between the temperature provided by this sensor array and the reference air temperature are 0.173 and 0.153 K, respectively.

Grapevine physiological response to row orientation-induced spatial radiation and microclimate changes

Terroir factors and vineyard practices largely determine canopy and root system functioning. In this study, changes in soil conditions, multi-level (vertical, horizontal) light interception (quantitative, photographic, schematic, 3D modelled), leaf water potential and photosynthetic activity were measured during the grape ripening period on NS, EW, NE-SW, and NW-SE orientated (Southern Hemisphere) vertically trellised Shiraz grapevine canopies. It was hypothesised that the spatial radiation interception angle and radiation distribution of differently orientated and vertically trained grapevine rows would affect soil conditions and vine physiological activity. Soil water content showed an increase and soil temperature a decreasing gradient with soil depth. In the afternoon, soil layers of EW orientated rows reached their highest temperature. This, along with measured photosynthetic active radiation received by canopies, complimented the diurnally-captured photographic, constructed and 3D modelled images (also schematically) of canopy and soil exposure patterns. The top, bottom and outside of NS canopies mainly received radiation from directly above, from the E and the W; during midday, high radiation was only received from above. The EW rows received the highest radiation component from above and from the N. The NE-SW rows received high levels of radiation from above, from the SE until 10:00, and from the NW from 13:00. A similar profile can be described for NW-SE rows, but with high radiation received from the NE up to 13:00 and from the SW from 16:00. Overall, lowest leaf water potential occurred for NE-SW canopies, followed by those orientated NW-SE, NS and EW. Photosynthetic activity reflected the positive radiation impact of the sun azimuth during the grape ripening period; best overall performance seemed to occur for E and N exposed canopy sides. This was largely driven by the responsiveness of the secondary leaves to radiation. Photosynthetic output decreased from apical to basal canopy zones with low, erratic values in the light-limited canopy centre. The NS and EW orientated canopies generally showed the highest average photosynthesis, while it was lower for the sides facing S, SE and SW. The results provide a better understanding of the physiological functioning of horizontal and vertical leaf layers in differently orientated grapevine canopies, as affected by climatic conditions. The study contributes to the longstanding challenges of capturing the complexity of parallel microclimatic and physiological output of grapevine canopies under open field conditions. The results can be directly applied to the selection of vineyard practices and seasonal management to ensure the attainment of yield, grape composition and wine quality objectives.