Fuzzy based sensorless tracking controller on the dual-axis PV panel for optimizing the power production

Abstract

In general active sun trackers move because they respond to light sensors that measure the intensity of sunlight. However, sensor based trackers are usually more expensive than sensor less trackers. In addition, based on several studies, a comparison between sensor and sensorless based tracker only reports lower tracking error and higher power generation for sensor based than sensorless tracker but does not include an analysis of energy use on the sensor. Therefore, this study aims to design a sensorless closed loop tracking system for solar panels with two degrees of freedom. The tracking controller in this study is based on the Fuzzy Logic Controller (FLC) method. In this study, a dual-axis PV can increase power output by 20.2% compared to a fixed PV (0 ° axis position). This is because, in comparison to a fixed PV, dual axis PV adjusts the solar panel perpendicular to the sun's position to optimize electrical conversion.