An Automatic Dual Axis Sun Tracker and Temperature Monitoring System for Novel Solar Dish Concentrator

Abstract

Nonpolluting, renewable energy can be harnessed from the sun using solar thermal concentrator and photovoltaic systems. A novel asymmetric oblique compound conical solar concentrator was designed and constructed with automatic solar tracking system. The experimental study of the developed system was carried out to inspect the efficiency of the designed solar concentrator and automatic azimuth and altitude tracking. In this solar tracking, the RTC (Real Time clock) based active solar tracking method is used to track the sun in order to attain the maximum temperature. A simple microcontroller based control system is used to control this open loop solar tracking system, further the concentrated thermal power was measured using both the K-type temperature sensor and thermometer gun. The temperature obtained at the receiver of solar concentrator is sent to the measurement unit using GSM wireless module available at remote location. The monitoring unit receives the temperature values and recoded them regularly. Besides, the maximum average solar thermal power of the system was observed to be during 10.00 AM to 3.00 PM. This temperature is useful for various heating applications.