Performance of Dual Axis Solar Tracking System Using Fuzzy Logic Control: A Case Study in Pinarhisar, Turkey

Year 2017, Volume: 2 Issue: 1, 130 - 136, 25.02.2017

Hayrettin Toylan

Abstract

Generating electrical via solar energy is
one of the most popular renewable energy source. Modular structured solar
panels that work according to photovoltaic principles convert solar radiation
into electrical energy. There are some ways of increasing the power produced by
the photovoltaic panels. One of the most effective ways is to minimize the
angel of rays from sun to panel surface by taking the right position according
to the angle of the sun. This paper proposes an intelligent control method for
solar tracking. This method uses a fuzzy logic controller applied to the DC motors in solar tracking system (STS). STS is
designed and developed as dual axis. Fuzzy logic algorithm used in STS was
applied separately in order to control DC motors which determine the azimuth
and zenith angels of the system. Position error which is obtained by the help
of encoders tied to the motors and error variation were taken as input of fuzzy
logic algorithm, applied voltage to the motor was taken as output of fuzzy
logic algorithm. Finally, results of the photovoltaic panel
on the STS controlled by fuzzy logic are compared to those obtained by the
photovoltaic panel system without STS according to instantaneous power
performance throughout the day in Pinarhisar, Turkey. Experimental results show
that the STS which uses fuzzy logic controller increases the efficiency of
energy production from PV.

Keywords

Renewable energy, Solar tracking system, Fuzzy logic, Photovoltaic panel

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