PLC based Solar Panel Tracking System with Automatic Tilting Arrangement and Tilt Angle Optimization

Abstract: Improving the conversion efficiency of solar panel has become a challenging area of study for researchers. Solar trackers are an alternative to reach this goal, by tracking the position of the sun changes, the productivity of the panel increases. The variation of the tilt angle changes solar radiation that reaches to the surface of the collector. Hence tilt angle is the important factor that affects the performance of a solar collector. This paper presents a new design of a Three-axis solar tracking system which will be based on Programmable Logic Controller (PLC). The automatic tracking system of solar radiation will be done on the basis of tilt angle. In the optimization procedure the objective procedure function is evaluated by using the model of available solar radiation, tracking system consumption and efficiency of solar cell. So with the implementation of the optimization of the tilt angle of solar panel will maximize the power generation.

Keywords: Solar panel, Three-axis tracker, optimization method, PLC.