Open Access

Development of a Hybrid Active-Passive Solar Tracker Using GPS Tracking and Image Processing

Ishaan Singh Chauhan, Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology (BHU), Varanasi, U. P, India. Praveen Kumara, Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology (BHU), Varanasi, U. P, India. Shams Ahmad, Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology (BHU), Varanasi, U. P, India. Devendra Mohan devendra.civ@iitbhu.ac.in
Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology (BHU), Varanasi, U. P, India.

---

---

Abstract

In the presented work, the authors propose an innovative hybrid system of an active-passive solar tracker using GPS tracking by employing SG2 algorithm, which is a fast implementation of the popular Solar Position Algorithm (SPA), combined with active tracking using image processing algorithms and a commercial webcam as the sensing element. The analysis of acquired images with a web camera allows accurate extraction of information about the position of the sun with respect to both elevation and azimuth. The main advantage of this system is its high flexibility to work in extreme conditions when the position of the sun is not very clear due to weather conditions such as cloud cover. The system has the ability to track the sun in both real-time, independent of the spatio-temporal coordinates of the location, and passively, dependent on the spatio-temporal coordinates of the location. The information extracted from the cam-GPS system is used to control the two servo motors, one each for the azimuth and altitude axis of the dual mechanism of the solar tracker, to realize the optimal alignment of the payloads attached with the solar tracker, with the objective of increasing the power generation.

Full Text

Reference

---

Armstrong, S., & Hurley, W. G. A new methodology to optimise solar energy extraction under cloudy conditions, Renewable Energy, 35(4), 780–787(2010).

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2009.10.018

Arturo, M. M. and Alejandro, G. P., High – Precision Solar Tracking System, Proceedings of the world congress on Engineering-Volume II(2010).

Ayoub, H., Improving the energy capture of solar collectors, For cloudy regions by using controlled tracking system (2012).

Bahgat, A. B. G., Helwa, N. H., Ahmad, G. E. and Shenawy, E. T. El., Maximum power point tracking controller for PV systems using neural networks, Renewable Energy, 30, 1257–1268(2005)

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2004.09.011

Blanc, P. and Wald, L., The SG2 algorithm for a fast and accurate computation of the position of the Sun for multi-decadal time period, Solar Energy, 88(10), 3072–3083(2012).

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2012.07.018

Calabrò, E., Determining optimum tilt angles of photovoltaic panels at typical north-tropical latitudes, Journal of Renewable and Sustainable Energy, 1(3), 33104(2009).

https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3148272

Davies, P. A., Sun-tracking mechanism using equatorial and ecliptic axes, Solar Energy, 50(6), 487–489(1993).

https://doi.org/10.1016/0038-092X(93)90110-A

Emilio, M., Kuhn, J. R., Bush, R. I., & Scholl, I. F. Measuring the solar radius from space during the 2003 and 2006 mercury transits, Solar and stellar astrophysics, 135, 02–09(2012).

https://doi.org/10.1088/0004-637X/750/2/135

Hession, P. J. and Bonwick, W. J., Experience with a sun tracker system, Solar Energy, 32(1), 03–11(1984).

https://doi.org/10.1016/0038-092X(84)90042-2

Hinshaw, G., Weiland, J. L., Hill, R. S., Odegard, N., Larson, D., Bennett, C. L., Dunkley, J., Gold, B., Greason, M. R., Jarosik, N., Komatsu, E., Nolta, M. R., Page, L., Spergel, D. N., Wollack, E., Halpern, M., Kogut, A., Limon, M., Meyer, S. S., Tucker, G. S. and Wright, E. L., Five-year Wilkinson microwave anisotropy probe ∗ observations : data processing , sky maps , and basic results, The Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series, 180(2), 225–245(2009).

https://doi.org/10.1088/0067-0049/180/2/225

Huang, B. J., Ding, W. L. and Huang, Y. C., Long-term field test of solar PV power generation using one-axis 3-position sun tracker, Solar Energy, 85(9), 1935–1944(2011).

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2011.05.001

Kadmiri, Z. El, Kadmiri, O. El, Masmoudi, L. and Bargach, M. N., A Novel Solar Tracker Based on Omnidirectional Computer Vision, Journal of Solar energy, 2015, 149852(2015).

https://doi.org/10.1155/2015/149852

Lee, C., Huang, H. and Yeh, H., The Development of sun-tracking system using image processing, Sensors, 13(5), 5448–5459(2013).

https://doi.org/10.3390/s130505448

Lynch, W. A. and Salameh, Z. M., Simple electro-optically controlled dual-axis sun tracker, Solar Energy, 45(2), 65–69(1990).

https://doi.org/10.1016/0038-092X(90)90029-C

Masters, G. M., Renewable and efficient electric power systems. John Wiley & Sons (2013).

Mousazadeh, H., Keyhani, A., Javadi, A., Mobli, H., Abrinia, K. andSharifi, A., A review of principle and sun-tracking methods for maximizing solar systems output, Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 13, 1800–1818(2009).

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2009.01.022

Oh, S. J., Burhan, M., Ng, K. C., Kim, Y. and Chun, W., Development and performance analysis of a two-axis solar tracker for concentrated photovoltaics, International Journal of Energy Research, 39(7), 965–976(2015).

https://doi.org/10.1002/er.3306

Reda, I. and Andreas, A., Solar Position Algorithm for Solar Radiation Applications, Solar Energy, 76(5), 577-589(2008).

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2003.12.003

Roth, P., Georgiev, A. and Boudinov, H., Design and construction of a system for sun-tracking, Renewable Energy, 29(3), 393–402(2004).

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0960-1481(03)00196-4