PROJECT
PROPOSAL
LabView based on Solar Tracking System
With Stepper Motor
STUDENT NAME:
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ID NO.:
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INSTITUTION:
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SECTION:
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SUPERVISOR:
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DATE: …………………………………………………………….
ABSTRACT
As we can see now, the
earth becomes hot effect of the global warming. Here we can take an advantage
from the effect of the global warming. We can use solar energy as an electrical
energy to operate an electrical appliance. The problem that we can see now is
most of the solar panel that had been use by a user just only in a static
direction. If the solar panel located at east and the sun is located at west,
the solar panel cannot be charging. So, the project that wants to develop here
is called “Labview Based Solar Tracking System with Stepper
Motor ”.
Solar tracking system is the project that used National Instrument (NI) LabVIEW
software as a brain to control the whole system. The LDR (Light Dependant
Resistor) had been used to sense the intensity of light at 30 degree each or 180
degree total and sent the data to the National Instrument (NI) LabVIEW. This National
Instrument (NI) LabVIEW will compare the data and rotate a stepper motor to the
right direction. The stepper motor will rotate the solar panel based on the
highest intensity of light.
INTRODUCTION
As we know, sun is a
one of the most important component in this world. Without sun, it is
impossible for a human or living creature to live in this world. Humans
nowadays feel uncomforted about the global warming situation. Even this kind of
situation bring a lot of negative perception, they should have to think it through
the positive way. One of the way to reduce the global warming is to reduce the
utilizing of electrical voltage and change to a natural voltage source like
wind, rain, tides, sunlight and geothermal heats. So, the engineers try to
create a new device that can convert the natural energy to an electrical energy
like solar panel for sunlight energy, wind turbines for wind energy, water
turbines. The problem that still exists now is the device that invests by an
engineer. For example, the solar panel that many of the users use is only in a
one way direction. If the sun located at the direction that is not
perpendicular to the solar panel, the power that can be generate is low compare
to the when the sun located exactly perpendicular to the solar panel. The sun
is rotate from east to west but the highest power that can be generate by the
solar panel is when location of sun is perpendicular to the solar panel. So the
power that can be use in the night day is quite short. So, the project that I
will do is called ‘Labview Based Solar Tracking System with Stepper
Motor ’.
This is because the sunlight can generate a clean and free power. This project
helps for power generation by setting the equipment to get maximum sunlight
automatically. This project will use a six sensor in a six direction to sense
the direction of maximum intensity of light. Each sensor will face 30°. So, the
total angle that this system can sense is 180°. This system will detect the
maximum intensity of light. When there is decrease in intensity of light, this
system will automatically change it direction using a motor to get a maximum
intensity of light. This system will use National Instrument (NI) LabVIEW
software as a brain to operate this system and a stepper motor to rotate the
solar panel. The angle/direction of solar panel will be shown in the monitor.
PROBLEM STATEMENT
As we can see, there
are many problems that occur in the previous type of solar tracking system. The
problem that we can see here is the solar panel that is use is only in one way
direction. Because of this problem, the power that can be generated is low. The
second problem is the price for the solar tracking system is very expensive for
the family that use more power than usual because they need to install more
than one solar panel to produce enough power. So, this project is to fix the
problem that occurs here. This solar tracking system can detect a 180 degree of
rotation. So, the solar panel that can be generating here is very high compare
to when the solar panel can only stay in one direction. So, the families don’t
have to install more than one solar panel to generate enough power. One solar
panel is enough to produce a lot of power.
LITERATURE REVIEW
Solar tracking system
project had been widely employed by the other giant company like BP Solar,
Yingli Green Energy, Kyocera, Q-Cells, Sanyo, Sharp Solar, Solar World, Sun
Power, and Suntech. Now, many people use solar energy or photovoltaic energy as
an alternative power because it’s free and renewable. As we can see now, the
payment charge for an electricity had been risen rapidly because the increasing
of gas price. Many researchers have tried to find the alternative energy to
replace the gas. One of the alternative energy that we can use is photovoltaic
energy. Photovoltaic energy is the most promising and popular form of solar
energy. In solar photovoltaic’s, sunlight is actually converted into electricity.
This is very different from a conventional understanding of solar power as only
a way of heating water. Photovoltaic, now the biggest usage of solar energy
around the world, is briefly explained below: Sunlight is made of photons,
small particles of energy. These photons are absorbed by and pass through the
material of a solar cell or solar photovoltaic panel. The photons 'agitate' the
electrons found in the material of the photovoltaic cell. As they begin to move
(or are dislodged), these are 'routed' into a current. This, technically, is
electricity - the movement of electrons along a path. Solar panels made of
silicon to convert sunlight into electricity. Solar photovoltaic are used in a
number of ways, primarily to power homes that are inter-tied or interconnected
with the grid. Wire conducts these electrons, either to batteries or to the
regular electrical system of the house, to be used by appliances and other
household electrical items. In many solar energy systems, the battery stores
energy for later use. This is especially true when the sun is shining strongly.
Applications of Photovoltaic
Power
Here are the examples of
application of photovoltaic power or solar power.
1 Photovoltaic
in transport
Photovoltaic
power has traditionally been used for auxiliary power in space. Photovoltaic
power is rarely used to provide motive power in transport applications, but is
being used increasingly to provide auxiliary power in boats and cars.
Photovoltaic
power in standalone devices
Photovoltaic
power has been used for many years to power calculators and novelty devices.
Improvements in integrated circuits and low power LCD displays make it possible
to power a calculator for several years between battery changes, making solar
calculators less common. In contrast, solar powered remote fixed devices have
seen increasing use recently, due to increasing cost of labour for connection
of mains electricity or a regular maintenance programmed. For examples are
parking meters, emergency telephones, and temporary traffic signs.
Advantages of solar
electricity
·
The 89 pet watts of sunlight
reaching the earth's surface is plentiful – almost 6,000 times more - compared
to the 15 terawatts of average power consumed by humans. Additionally, solar
electric generation has the highest power density (global mean of 170 W/m²)
among renewable energies.
·
Solar power is pollution
free during use. Production end wastes and emissions are manageable using
existing pollution controls. End-of-use recycling technologies are under
development.
·
Facilities can operate with
little maintenance or intervention after initial setup.
·
Solar electric generation is
economically superior where grid connection or fuel transport is difficult,
costly or impossible. Examples include satellites, island communities, remote
locations and ocean vessels.
·
When grid-connected, solar
electric generation can displace the highest cost electricity during times of
peak demand (in most climatic regions), can reduce grid loading, and can
eliminate the need for local battery power for use in times of darkness and
high local demand; such application is encouraged by net metering. Time-of-use net
metering can be highly favorable to small photovoltaic systems.
·
Grid-connected solar
electricity can be used locally thus reducing transmission/distribution losses
(transmission losses were approximately 7.2% in 1995).
·
Once the initial capital
cost of building a solar power plant has been spent operating costs are extremely
low compared to existing power technologies.
Disadvantages of solar
electricity
·
Solar electricity is almost always
more expensive than electricity generated by other sources.
·
Solar electricity is not
available at night and is less available in cloudy weather conditions. Therefore,
a storage or complementary power system is required.
·
Limited power density:
Average daily isolation in the contiguous U.S. is 3-7 kW·h/m² and on average
lower in Europe.
·
Solar cells produce DC which
must be converted to AC (using a grid tie inverter) when used in currently
existing distribution grids. This incurs an energy loss of 4-12%
METHODOLOGY
This chapter explains
detail about the methodology of the whole system and flow of step that used in
“Labview Based Solar Tracking System with Stepper
Motor”. This chapter also describes further more about
the planning of the whole project that is included about software and hardware
development.
1. Block Diagram
Monitoring Unit
For monitoring unit
this project uses the sensor Light Dependant Resistor (LDR). The Light
Dependant Resistor (LDR) will be use as a sensor to detect the intensity of
light. The Light Dependant Resistor (LDR) will send the data to the National
Instrument (NI) LabVIEW. The Light Dependant Resistor (LDR) circuit is taken
from internet. The Light Dependant Resistor (LDR) will be use because this
component is very cheap compare to photo sensor. Next, when the Light Dependant
Resistor (LDR) circuit is complete and can be used, we will construct the
stepper motor circuit. The stepper motor will use IC ULN2003AG to drive a
current to stepper motor. The high current is needed to drive the stepper
motor. Lastly, we will troubleshoot all the part of circuit to make sure no
problem will occur in the future.
Programming
For this project, the programming that use is National
Instrument (NI) LabVIEW software. LabVIEW is a graphical programming
environment used by millions of engineers and scientists to develop
sophisticated measurement, test, and control systems using intuitive graphical
icons and wires that resemble a flowchart. It offers unrivaled integration with
thousands of hardware devices and provides hundreds of built-in libraries for
advanced analysis and data visualization – all for creating virtual
instrumentation. The LabVIEW platform is scalable across multiple targets and
OSs, and, since its introduction in 1986, it has become an industry leader.
The software used to control and display the output. This will be connected
with the DAQ card to transfer the data to the Lab View. The software is used to
show data from the solar panel and to switch on the solar circuit. It also uses
to control the motor movement.
Emotion
Controller
For this project the
emotion controller that use is stepper motor. Stepper motors are special motors
that are used when motion and position have to be precisely controlled. The
stepper motor is closely related in design to three-phase AC synchronous motors
where an internal rotor containing permanent magnets or a large iron core with
salient poles is controlled by a set of external magnets that are switched
electronically. A stepper motor may also be thought of as a cross between a DC
electric motor and a solenoid. As each coil is energized in turn, the rotor aligns
itself with the magnetic field produced by the energized field winding. Unlike
a synchronous motor, in its application, the motor may not rotate continuously;
instead, it "steps" from one position to the next as field windings
are energized and reenergized in sequence. Depending on the sequence, the rotor
may turn forwards or backwards. The stepper motor will be controlled by National
Instrument (NI) LabVIEW after get signal from Light Dependant Resistor (LDR).
Panel
For this project, the panel use is
solar panel. Solar panels collect solar radiation from the sun and actively
convert that energy to electricity. Solar panels are comprised of several
individual solar cells. These solar cells function similarly to large
semiconductors and utilize a large-area p-n junction diode. When the solar
cells are exposed to sunlight, the p-n junction diodes convert the energy from
sunlight into usable electrical energy. The energy generated from photons
striking the surface of the solar panel allows electrons to be knocked out of
their orbits and released, and electric fields in the solar cells pull these
free electrons in a directional current, from which metal contacts in the solar
cell can generate electricity. The more solar cells in a solar panel and the
higher the quality of the solar cells, the more total electrical output the
solar panel can produce. The conversion of sunlight to usable electrical energy
has been dubbed the Photovoltaic Effect. The photovoltaic
effect arises from the properties of the p-n junction diode as such there are
no moving parts in a solar panel. The solar panel will be control the movement
by stepper motor to get sun ray.
Flow
Chart
The project starts when
the input Light
Dependant Resistor (LDR) will be use as a sensor to detect the intensity of
light. The Light Dependant Resistor (LDR) will send the data to National Instrument
(NI) LabVIEW. National Instrument (NI) LabVIEW read the data
and send the signal to the stepper motor to move the solar panel to get the intensity of light.
Objectives
The aims
of this project are to construct and test of the Labview Based Solar Tracking System with Stepper
Motor. The objectives for this project are:
1. To
design a project that can detect and compare the intensity of light.
2. To
design a project that able to move a stepper motor based on the intensity of
Light and show the direction/angle of solar panel on Labview.
3.
To
track the sun so that the solar panel can produce maximum power output.
Benefits/
Contributions
Based on the objectives
above, this research study will propose methods to estimate solar tracking
system and applies them to the major solar tracking system configurations
currently available in the market. If modeled carefully, the research outcomes
will provide some original contributions in developing the solar tracking
system reliability estimation techniques and these findings will suggest useful
recommendations in establishing the area of improvement in the design of the
highest solar tracking system reliability. The main original contributions of
this research study can be stated briefly as follows:
1. The presence of this device is extremely
important because the sun’s position varies from time to time. And the position
of the sun will often vary with the season and the elevation and dependent as
well on the time of the day. And this is where the solar tracker comes in the
picture. This solar powered equipment will make the solar panel work better and
with efficiency since this will be pointed directly to the sun with the help of
the tracker.
2.
It can be
used most effectively in areas with low horizons and locations that are shade
free from dawn to dusk each day. Throughout the year the tracking array will be
able to utilize the wide open access to gain every available electron from the
sun. This way, energy production is at an optimum and energy output is
increased year round.
3.
Performing a cost-benefit analysis study
that determines the break-even point when comparing the annual total outage
cost in various industries or sectors against the annual solar tracking system ownership
cost.
The existence of solar
tracking system is very useful in situation when the demand of electricity is
higher. As to increase the electricity, the solar tracker plays the role in
producing more electricity. The solar tracking system tracks the sun and
concentrates the maximum sunlight to the photovoltaic module to generate
electricity. As the solar tracker is used, the electricity can be generating
more than the usual amount electricity generate in year if used only solar
panels. It can cover the electricity demand so that the users can live better
without electricity being cut off and it can cover critical situation when
there are technical problem with main electric generator. Overall, the solar
tracker is useful and has to be commercialized more for the better future.
Work Plan
Budget
Hardware
No
|
Component
|
Quantity
|
Cost(RM)
|
1
|
Solar panel
|
1
|
350.00
|
2
|
Stepper motor
|
1
|
30.00
|
Total
|
380.00
|
Software
No
|
Component
|
Quantity
|
Cost(RM)
|
1
|
DAQ card
|
1
|
-
|
2
|
Lab View software
|
1
|
-
|
Total
|
-
|
Motor controller
circuit
No
|
Component
|
Quantity
|
Cost(RM)
|
1
|
Voltage regulator (LM805)
|
1
|
1.50
|
2
|
Resistor
|
12
|
1.20
|
3
|
Motor Drive (L298)
|
1
|
5.00
|
Total
|
7.70
|
Total all costing is RM387.70. All the costing and budget above are
the estimation only and all the item and components are not finalize at all
because there is only estimation and
maybe involve with other component and other circuit or any upgrading to the
project.
Conclusion
In summary for this
research study, this project consists of taking a standard hardware and solar
panel that use in this project. The Solar Tracker was able to constantly follow
the sun movement. To conclude, the system design that use in the project can brings
a lot of function and other application. Still using the design, with a little
bit modification such as change the sensor to temperature sensor, the system
that tracks the heat can develop. Other application such as tracking signal
also can use and develop from this sample electronic design. The systems will
be useful to the user that have been used the solar energy to create
electricity in their daily life. This is because they will get more output
power and worthwhile if they upgrade to solar tracking system. The solar
trackers also useful to save the space because in old method it have to install
more solar panel to get more output power so it takes a lot of space. Just a
few solar panel is enough to get more output power if use the solar tracking system.
In other hand it will also save the cost to buy solar panel. Practically, the
main targets are the company that provides electricity to the end user. The
knowledge and skill from this project will give more experience for student in
engineering field.
References
1.
What are solar trackers?
2.
Advantage and Disadvantage Solar Tracking System?
3.
What is NI LabVIEW?
4. Function
Labview ?
1 comments:
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