Construction of Automatic Solar Tracking System

Abstract

Solar energy is one of the popular renewable energy nowadays. It is consider as total free and clean energy source since the sun is estimated still able to exist for more 5 years. In addition, some natural resources like fossil fuels is consider as short-term resources because it is estimated will finished in next 30 years. Based on this situation, renewable energy like solar energy is essential to human being after the natural resources is finish. The fact is, conventional solar panel power system is stationary, means the solar panel will not always facing to the direction of sun, this make the light intensity falling on the solar panel is not in maximum level so the solar panel will not always work in its maximum performance. This paper demonstrates a novel method which will automatically track the sun’s position and accordingly change the direction of the solar panel to get the maximum output from the solar cell with the help with LM339, sensor and DC motor. This method enable the solar panel work in maximum performance because the light intensity falling on the panel will be in maximum intensity level in all long day. A solar tracker is designed and experimentally tested. The information and design detail are shown in the report.