Design of Master Controller for Dual Axis Sun Tracking System Based on the Computation of Sun Position

Fariba Nasiri

Date of Award

12-2012

Degree Name

Master of Science in Engineering

Department

Electrical and Computer Engineering

First Advisor

Dr. Massood Z. Atashbar

Second Advisor

Dr. John Gesink

Third Advisor

Dr. Janos Grantner

Keywords

Dual, axis, sun, tracking, system

Access Setting

Masters Thesis-Open Access

Abstract

Generating electricity at low cost and no pollution is always demanding. Generating more electricity with a high performance dual axis sun tracking system, compared to a fixed or single axis, requires tracking the sun accurately. This developed tracking the sun is based on zenith and azimuth angles. The objective of this project is offering a solution to detect the sun position by master controller at any time independent of weather conditions to control the solar panel position toward the sun based on the sun chart without using any tracking sensors and increasing the generated power by using open loop dual axis sun tracking system with a wide range of rotation in both zenith and azimuth positions. To achieve this goal, this system uses a microcontroller programmed by C sharp with low power consumption. This master thesis focuses on developing the master microcontroller hardware and software architecture and design, and utilizing of the dual axis tracker sun path algorithm. The master controller calculates the required angles of the solar panel and controls the positioning of the actuators to achieve the desired position by communicating with the slave controllers.

This document is currently not available here.

Share

COinS