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Automatic Sun Tracking
Automatic Sun Tracking
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3. WORKING OF ASTS 3.1.2 Night Time Fault Detector (NTFD)
In routine work of the system if a general fault2 occurs
3.1 Basic Principle during nighttime then the next morning it would not work.
The basic functional blocks of this system are six sensors1, So at the next sunrise, this sensor detects whether the solar
and their operation depends upon the intensity of light panel is ready for tracking or not. As shown in figure-4, the
falling on solar panel. All sensors (each with different NTFD is mounted in east of the solar panel so in normal
functionality) send their output to microcontroller AT89c52. conditions it does not work because it gets lesser intense
Then the microcontroller executes predefined task in its light (predefined) as compared to the middle sensors i.e.
software. These sensors are being used with following STS-1 and STS-2, but as the fault arises, it starts working.
names and functionality:
3.1.3 Day Time Fault Detector (DTFD)
3.1.1 Sun Tracking Sensors (STS)
Except some special conditions e.g. cloudy weather etc, the
These two sensors are mounted in “V” shape (figure-2) ASTS is supposed to track the sun the whole day. If the
exactly in the middle of the solar panel (figure-4). The panel stops rotation then DTFD detects this type of fault.
automatic sun tracking is accomplished according to The mounting strategy of this sensor is same as that of
following 3-step diagram. NTFD except that it is mounted in the west.
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4. CONTROL STRATEGY OF ASTS
For a successful operation, the ASTS has two types of
START
control approach:
• Automatic Control Display
“Sleep Mod”
• Manual Control and stop operation
• Controls the warning indicators e.g. buzzer, LED’s etc. and turn on warning
1: ASTS incorporates two microcontrollers i.e. Master Controller and Slave Controller
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4.2.2 Computer Based Control Unit FUTURE ENHANCEMENTS
This is completely software based control, written in VB Many modifications especially in hardware of ASTS are
6.0. It incorporates a GUI (figure-6) and a Database, linked planned:
with Microsoft Access. Using this software the computer
serially communicates (RS232) with the ASTS. The Slave • The computer and System Control Unit would have
microcontroller (89c51) of the system makes this a wireless communication with the mechanical
communication successful. Due to some fault if the solar structure of solar panel.
panel stops rotating, then with the help of this software a • More sensitive sensors would be used.
user can: • To make emergency control better more powerful
• rotate the solar panel manually. microcontrollers e.g. PIC 16F877A would be used.
• stop all operations of ASTS (in emergency case) • To reprogram the PIC microcontroller a wireless
The database of this system can be used to keep records, boot loader would be used.
which can be retrieved even after a long time. While saving
the new data, the database automatically takes the date and FINANCIAL COST
time from the computer and keeps them saved along with
the data, entered by the human being. The cost of the end product (ASTS) may vary from
The advantages of computer-based control include: country to country but in Pakistan, it costs almost US$-
• Facility of Database. 170, excluding the price of compiler and programmer of
• At a time this software can handle three ASTS microcontroller.
systems.
• It has an attracting GUI. DEVELOPMENT TOOLS
1. Software
5. CONCLUSION • KEIL C Compiler (for 8051 microcontroller family).
Although ASTS is a prototype towards a real system, but • VB 6.0
still its software and hardware can be used to drive a real • Microsoft Access
and very huge solar panel. A small portable battery can drive
its control circuitry. Therefore by just replacing the sensing 2. Hardware
instrument, its algorithm and control system can be used in • SUPERPRO L+ Universal Microcontroller
RADAR and moveable Dish Antennas. Programmer
REFERENCES
1. http://wire0.ises.org/wire/exchanges/Projects.nsf!Open
Database
2. http://www.solarserver.de/solarmagazin/anlageapril200
0-e.html
3. http://www.quasarelectronics.com/microcontroller_proj
ects.htm
4. www.8052.com
5. The 8051 microcontroller
BY Schot Machenzie
6. 8051 Microcontroller and embedded systems
By Dr. Rajiv Kapadia
7. Teach Yourself Visual Basic
By John Socha
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