Abstract
This paper will review the two kinds of solar trackers available that is single-axis tracker and dual-axis tracker, and comparisons will be done between these two types of solar trackers; construction of these two solar trackers will be discussed; different types of drives preferred for solar trackers, their shortcomings and improvements upon them. The efficiency of photovoltaic modules used to harness solar energy depends on various factors such as intensity of sun radiation, temperature of PV modules, spectrum of sun radiation, and dimension (size) of PV modules. One of the most crucial of these factors is the amount of sunlight being captured by the PV array. In other words, to increase the efficiency, we need to ensure that PV cells absorb abundant sunlight. This can be done by aligning the PV module in the direction of maximum intensity of sunlight. This alignment of PV module is done by employing a solar tracker. Parameters required to locate the sun such as azimuth angle, zenith angle will be studied.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Jovanovic, V.M., Ayala,O., Seek, M., Marsillac, S.: Single axis solar tracker actuator location analysis. SoutheastCon 2016, Norfolk, Virginia, pp. 1–5 (2016)
Khare Saxena, A., Saxena, S., Sudhakar, K.: Solar energy policy of India: an overview. In: CSEE J. Power Energy Syst. (2020)
Masih, A., Odinaev, I.: Performance comparison of dual axis solar tracker with static solar system in Ural region of Russia. In: Ural Symposium on Biomedical Engineering, Radio electronics and Information Technology (USBEREIT), Yekaterinburg, Russia, pp. 375–378 (2019)
Kumar, S., Kumar Pal, A., Singh, P., Mittal, S., Kumar, Y.: Solar probe based autonomous solar tracker system—a review. In: International Conference on Advance Computing and Innovative Technologies in Engineering (ICACITE), Greater Noida, India, pp. 589–594 (2021)
Mehdi, G., Ali, N., Hussain, S., Zaidi, A.A., Hussain Shah, A., Azeem, M.M.: Design and fabrication of automatic single axis solar tracker for solar panel. In: 2nd International Conference on Computing, Mathematics and Engineering Technologies (iCoMET), Sukkur, Pakistan, pp. 1–4 (2019)
Allamehzadeh, H.: Solar energy overview and maximizing power output of a solar array using sun trackers. In: IEEE Conference on Technologies for Sustainability (SusTech), Phoenix, USA, pp. 14–19 (2016)
Argatu, F., Tarcau, F., Argatu, V., Grigorescu, S., Enache, B., Constantinescu, L.: Building and designing a dual axis solar tracker for educational purposes. In: 11th International Conference on Electronics, Computers and Artificial Intelligence (ECAI), Pitesti, Romania, pp. 1–4 (2019)
Kulkarni, A., Kshirsagar, T., Laturia, A., Ghare, P.H.: An intelligent solar tracker for photovoltaic panels. Texas Instruments India Educators’ Conference, Bangalore, India, pp. 390–393 (2013)
Moradi, H., Abtahi, A., Messenger, R.: Annual performance comparison between tracking and fixed photovoltaic arrays. IEEE 43rd Photovoltaic Specialists Conference (PVSC), pp. 3179–3183. Portland, USA (2016)
Whavale, S., Dhavalikar, M.: A review of adaptive solar tracking for performance enhancement of solar power plant. In: International Conference on Smart City and Emerging Technology, Mumbai, India, pp. 1–8 (2018)
Zhengxi, L., et al.: The control method and design of photovoltaic tracking system. In: Sixth International Conference on Intelligent Systems Design and Engineering Applications (ISDEA), Guiyang, China, pp. 838–841 (2015)
Rani, P., Singh, O., Pandey, S.: An analysis on Arduino based single axis solar tracker. In: 5th IEEE Uttar Pradesh Section International Conference on Electrical, Electronics and Computer Engineering, Gorakhpur, India, pp. 1–5 (2018)
Gutiérrez, S.: Prototype for an off-grid photovoltaic system with low cost solar tracking. In: IEEE Mexican Humanitarian Technology Conference (MHTC), Puebla, Mexico, pp. 7–11 (2017)
Pratama, A.Y., Fauzy, A., Effendi, H.: Performance enhancement of solar panel using dual axis solar tracker. In: International Conference on Electrical Engineering and Informatics (ICEEI), Bandung, Indonesia, pp. 444–447 (2019)
Wang, H., Li, Z., Luo, J., Xie, S., Li, H.: Design and implementation of a dual-axis sun-tracking system based on microcontroller. In: International Conference on Information Technology and Applications, Chengdu, China, pp. 384–387 (2013)
Rosma, I.H., Asmawi, J., Darmawan, S., Anand, B., Ali, N.D., Anto, B.: The implementation and analysis of dual axis sun tracker system to increase energy gain of solar photovoltaic. In: 2018 2nd International Conference on Electrical Engineering and Informatics (ICon EEI), Batam, Indonesia, pp. 187–190 (2018)
Sahu, P., Maurya, N.S., Sahu, S.: Automatic sun tracking for the enhancement of efficiency of solar energy system. International Conference and Utility Exhibition on Green Energy for Sustainable Development (ICUE), pp. 1–4. Phuket, Thailand (2018)
Neacă, M.I.:Solar tracking system for several groups of solar panels. In: 2021 International Conference on Applied and Theoretical Electricity (ICATE), pp. 1-4 (2021)
Mourad, A.-H.I., Shareef, H., Ameen, N., Alhammadi, A.H., Iratni, M., Alkaabi, A.S.: A state-of-the-art review: solar trackers. Adv. Sci. Eng. Technol. Int. Conf. (ASET) 2022, 1–5 (2022)
Sawant, A.,, Bondre, D., Joshi, A., Tambavekar, P., Deshmukh, A.: Design and analysis of automated dual axis solar tracker based on light sensors. In: 2nd International Conference on I-SMAC (IoT in Social, Mobile, Analytics and Cloud) (I-SMAC)I-SMAC (IoT in Social, Mobile, Analytics and Cloud) (I-SMAC), 2018 2nd International Conference on, Palladam, India, pp. 454–459 (2018)
Nwanyanwu, C.J., Dioha, M.O., Sholanke, O.S.: Design, construction and test of a solar tracking system using photo sensor. In: Int. J. Eng. Res. Technol. (IJERT) (2017)
El Hammoumi, A., Motahhir, S., El Ghzizal, A., Chalh, A., Derouich, A.: A simple and low-cost active dual-axis solar tracker. Research article (2018)
Rosma, I.H., Putra, I.M., Sukma, D.Y., Safrianti, E., Zakri, A.A., Abdulkarim, A.: Analysis of single axis sun tracker system to increase solar photovoltaic energy production in the tropics. In: 2nd International Conference on Electrical Engineering and Informatics (ICon EEI), Batam, Indonesia, pp. 183–186 (2018)
Huynh, D.C., Nguyen, T.M., Dunnigan, M.W., Mueller, M.A.: Comparison between open- and closed-loop trackers of a solar photovoltaic system. In: IEEE Conference on Clean Energy and Technology (CEAT), Langkawi, Malaysia, pp. 128–133 (2013)
Hawibowo, S., Ala, I., Citra Lestari, R.B., Saputri, F.R.: Stepper motor driven solar tracker system for solar panel. In: 4th International Conference on Science and Technology (ICST), Yogyakarta, Indonesia, pp. 1–4 (2018)
Masih, A., Safaraliev, M., Mukhmudov, K., Odinaev, I., Ghoziev, B., Toshtemurov, A.: Application of dual axis solar tracking system in Qurghonteppa, Tajikistan. In: IEEE 7th International Conference on Smart Energy Grid Engineering (SEGE), Oshawa, Canada, pp. 250–254 (2019)
Makhija, S., Khatwani, A., Khan, M.F., Goel, V., Roja, M.M.: Design and implementation of an automated dual-axis solar tracker with data-logging. In: International Conference on Inventive Systems and Control (ICISC), Coimbatore, India, pp. 1–4 (2017)
Budiyanto, A., Fardani, M.I.M.: Prototyping of 2 axes solar tracker system for solar panel power optimization. In: International Symposium on Electronics and Smart Devices (ISESD), Bandung, Indonesia, pp. 1–4 (2018)
Eke, R., Sentürk, A.: Performance comparison of a double-axis sun tracking versus fixed PV system. Research Paper (2012)
Beily, M.D.E., Sinaga, R., Syarif, Z., Pae, M.G., Rochani, R.: Design and construction of a low cost of solar tracker two degree of freedom (DOF) based on Arduino. In: International Conference on Applied Science and Technology (iCAST), Padang, Indonesia, pp. 384–388 (2020)
Afrin, F., Titirsha, T., Sanjidah, S., Siddique, A.R.M., Rabbani, A.: Installing dual axis solar tracker on rooftop to meet the soaring demand of energy for developing countries. Annual IEEE India Conference (INDICON), pp. 1–5. Mumbai, India (2013)
Azizi, K., Ghaffari, A.: Design and manufacturing of a high-precision sun tracking system based on image processing. Int. J. Photoenergy (2013)
Plachta, K.: Autonomous tracking controller for photovoltaic systems using global positioning system. In: IEEE International Conference on Environment and Electrical Engineering and 2018 IEEE Industrial and Commercial Power Systems Europe (EEEIC/I&CPS Europe), Palermo, Italy, pp. 1–5 (2018)
Mustafa, G.E.G., Sidahmed, B.A.M., Nawari, M.O.: The improvement of LDR based solar tracker’s action using machine learning. In: IEEE Conference on Energy Conversion (CENCON), Yogyakarta, Indonesia, pp. 230–235 (2019)
del Rosario, J.R.B., Dadios, E.: Development of a fuzzy logic-based PV solar tracking system simulated using QT fuzzy engine. In: International Conference on Humanoid, Nanotechnology, Information Technology, Communication and Control, Environment and Management (HNICEM), Palawan, Philippines, pp. 1–8 (2014)
Rana, M.S., Prodhan, R.S., Hasan, M.N.: Self powered automatic dual axis tracking and positioning system design. In: IEEE Region 10 Symposium (TENSYMP), pp. 166–169 (2020)
Mitra, D., Das, D., Brahma, D., Maiti, D., Mondal, T.: Sun Tracking solar panel without microcontroller. International Conference on Opto-Electronics and Applied Optics (Optronix) 2019, 1–3 (2019)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2023 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.
About this paper
Cite this paper
Dixit, A., Gawre, S.K., Kumar, S. (2023). A Review of Sensor-Based Solar Trackers. In: Gupta, O.H., Singh, S.N., Malik, O.P. (eds) Recent advances in Power Systems. Lecture Notes in Electrical Engineering, vol 960. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-6605-7_14
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-6605-7_14
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Singapore
Print ISBN: 978-981-19-6604-0
Online ISBN: 978-981-19-6605-7
eBook Packages: EnergyEnergy (R0)