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Proceedings of the
International Conference on Mechanical Engineering and Renewable Energy 2019
(ICMERE2019) 11 – 13 December, 2019, Chittagong, Bangladesh
ICMERE2019-PI-000
© ICMERE2019
1. INTRODUCTION
Energy acts as a major factor for the progression of a
nation. In global society, huge energy is consumed,
extracted, converted and distributed daily. The necessity
for energy is increasing with the rising scarcity of
conventional energy. The sources of conventional energy
are limited and emission of greenhouse gases results in
global warming. There is a rising demand for energy
from renewable energy sources like wind, tidal waves,
hydrothermal, biomass and solar to provide the
production of sustainable power and a pollution free
world in future. Uses of non-conventional energy sources
and dependency on solar energy are increasing day by
day.
The modern concept of using solar power is originally
came from the usage of looking glasses to generate fire
by concentrating the sunlight to the body to be burned [1].
The reflective characteristics of bronze shields were used
by Archimedes for focusing sunrays and setting fire to
wooden ships from the Roman Empire. The usefulness of
the sun was recognized by the people around the world
for the purposes of heating houses or setting fire to rival
ships [2].
Photovoltaic (PV) cells are used to generate electricity
by capturing the sunrays. DC electricity can be generated
by it without environmental impact and emission. PV
cells use solar photovoltaic arrays to convert sunlight into
electricity. PV system consists of solar collector, micro
controller, battery, PV array, DC converter. This is always
affected by the change of temperature, relative humidity,
the intensity of sun radiation and shadow. These factors
reduce the maximum production of power produced by
solar cells [3].
Solar tracker is replacing PV cells to extract maximum
solar energy. Solar trackers are the technology to increase
the solar panel efficiency by placing the panels
perpendicular with the sun. Solar trackers are driven by
actuators or motors and keep the surface of solar panel
perpendicular to the sun path and also LDR sensors are
uses [4]. Solar tracker was first introduced by Steve
Hines solar to enhance the efficiency of any solar system.
[5]. It traces the sun position efficiently and keeps the
solar PV module at such an angle for producing large
amount of power.
Researchers have found that the maximum power
absorption happen when the solar panel is aligned with
the sun. Solar trackers can be single and dual axis
depending on design requirement. The huge amount of
solar radiation is used to generate electricity for the
applications such as lightening, water pumping, and
telecommunication [6].
Sanzidur Rahman et al. [7] designed a dual axis solar
tracker to track the sun actively and could be varied its
position to increase the output power. Use of two geared
stepper motors besides other basic components made the
model to be able to keep the panel perpendicular to the
sunrays. The tracker was capable of 52.78% power gains
in comparison with a fixed mount panel.
A comparative discussion between single and dual
axis solar tracker with fixed mount solar panel revealed
that the efficiencies of single and dual axis tracker were
higher to the fixed solar panel. Although the design
complexity of the hardware was higher in the dual tracker
than other two but it was able to track in cloudy days also.
The efficiency of single axis tracker from the experiment
was 25% more than the fixed solar panel [8].
Experimental results showed that the overall
efficiency of the dual axis tracker was improved by
43.65% neglecting the DC motor power consumption
when solar panel is positioned perpendicularly to the
sunlight [9].
By using a thermal camera, the distribution of
COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF DUAL AND SINGLE AXIS SOLAR TRACKER
Sumaiya Maheen Binte Hoque, Bably Das, Md. Abu Hasan Al Askary
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology, Bangladesh
mahinsumaiya@gmail.com*, bably@cuet.ac.bd, as.hasan45@gmail.com
Abstract-Solar energy is becoming a very important means of renewable energy resource. The primary
forms of solar energy are heat and light. Sunlight and heat are transformed and absorbed by the
environment in a multitude of ways. The aim of this paper is to present two solar energy collection
technologies. To present these two solar distributed generation systems, a dual and a single axis solar
tracker are designed, fabricated and tested. Their power outputs and efficiencies are compared to each
other. The trackers track the sun and change their positions for maximize the power outputs. The power
output and efficiency are respectively 1.3832 W and 69.85% for dual axis solar tracker and 0.88589 W and
44.74% for single axis solar tracker.
Keywords: Single axis solar tracker, Dual axis solar tracker, Power output, Efficiency
© ICMERE2019
temperature had been analyzed on a flat and sphere
shaped plate absorber exposing to sunlight without cover.
A good interrelationship between taken value of
absorbing surfaces temperatures and incident sun light
values could be found with a sun tracking and a fixed
pyranometer. The overall daily average temperature on
the flat plate absorber was higher than the spherical one
showing that the average hourly incident radiation on a
tracking surface is 820 W/m2, with about 29% higher
than on the fixed plate collector with 584 W/m2 [10].
Ankit Gupta et al. modeled and compared maximum
power point tracking (MPPT) methods using three types
of signal generation system like conventional, artificial
intelligence and hybrid methods in MATLAB/Simulink
environment. The observed results showed that the best
dynamic response could be achieved by ANFIS method
comparing to other MPPT methods [11].
Hussain S. Akbar et al. [12] showed that the dual axis
tracker design and implementation that traced the sun by
using an AVR microcontroller in both azimuth and
altitude axes. The proposed system contained AT mega
328 controller, DC motors, light sensors and relays. The
power output of the PV panel was decreased by the
temperature effect of the solar panel covering with
colored cellophanes.
This paper is presenting both of the single axis and
dual axis solar tracker model to track the sunlight
providing the efficient way to enhance the power output
and efficiency.
2. METHODOLOGY
A total workflow diagram for the experiment is shown
by fig. 1 for a dual axis solar tracker and by fig. 2 for
single axis tracker. The basic difference with single axis
tracker is in placing servomotor under the base in case of
dual axis tracker.
Fig. 1: Flow diagram for dual axis solar tracker
Fig. 2: Flow diagram for single axis solar tracker
3. DESIGN OF THE MODEL
Isometric views for both of the single and dual axis
trackers model are shown in fig. 3.
(a)
(b)
Fig. 3: Isometric view of model for (a) single axis solar
tracker, (b) dual axis solar tracker
4. CIRCUIT DESIGN
Circuit designs for both of the design are shown in
fig.4 and fig.5
© ICMERE2019
Fig. 4: Circuit design for single axis solar tracker
Fig. 5: Circuit design for dual axis solar tracker
2. EXPERIMENTAL SETUP
One servo motor is used for the rotation of the solar
panel and the other servo motor is used to rotate the base.
This base can be moved 360 degree. An extra servo motor
is used in the base in dual axis tracker. Four LDR are used
for developing dual axis tracker while in single axis
tracker two LDR are used to detect the sun position.
When light intensity increases, LDR resistance decreases.
Two sensor senses the position of the sun in vertical axis
and the other two sensors in the horizontal axis in case of
dual axis tracker. The information from LDR is then
passed to the light comparison unit. Microcontroller is
the control unit of this tracking system. The output of
light comparison unit from the microcontroller input
determines the motors’ movement in horizontal and
vertical axes.
The structure of dual axis solar tracker consists of two
servo motors, a PV panel with stands and a body to hold
the panel in place. The structure of single axis solar
tracker consists of one servo motor, a PV panel with
stands and a body to hold the panel in place.
Arduino UNO is used for single axis tracker. The
Arduino setup for single tracker shown in Fig. 6 is a
simple setup. It gets inputs from two LDRs.
Fig. 6: Arduino setup for single axis solar tracker
Arduino setup for dual axis tracker shown in Fig. 7 is
comparatively complex than single axis tracker. In this
tracker, Arduino Nano is used which gets inputs from
four LDRs.
Fig. 7: Arduino setup for dual axis solar tracker
The complete mechanical structures of the designs of
dual and single axis solar tracker are shown in Fig. 8.
Solar panel, LDRs, Arduino UNO, Arduino Nano, servo
motors, motor driver, power resistor, LCD display are
used to fabricate this model.
Fig. 8: The overall structure of dual and single axis solar
tracker
© ICMERE2019
5. PERFORMANCE TEST
The tracking mechanism is set in the east and west
direction and north and south direction for dual axis
tracker and in one axis for single axis solar tracker to face
the sun. The panels are adjusted to a point where the solar
panel is aligned with the sun. The outputs of the PV
panels are recorded by multimeter for recording voltage
and current. The PV panels are tracked automatically and
data is recorded for both trackers in the same time. The
test data are shown in table 1 collected for a time period
of 6 hours with the interval of 30 mins.
Table 1: Performance Comparison of Solar Panels with
Dual Axis and Single Axis Tracking
6. RESULT AND DISCUSSION
Average power obtained from solar panel is 0.88589
W for single axis solar tracker and is 1.3832 W for dual
axis solar tracker. The efficiency is 69.85% for dual axis
tracker and 44.74% for single axis tracker. It is observed
that the dual axis tracking system provides more power
output and presents an efficient system to collect solar
energy which ensures more energy conversion than the
single axis solar tracking system.
The power outputs for dual axis tracker are higher
than the single axis tracker. Maximum power outputs for
both of trackers are obtained at 12.00pm. Power is
increasing from 9.00am to 12.00pm and is decreasing
from 12.00pm to 3pm.The peak value of power is
achieved at 12.00pm which is 1.96974 W for dual axis
tracker and 1.23375 W for single axis tracker. Dual axis
tracker produces more power as compared to the single
axis tracker.
Fig. 9: Performance of dual and single axis tracker
The tracking mechanisms of dual axis and single axis
solar tracker are capable of tracking the sun by
consuming low power to run the servo motors. Dual axis
solar tracker can track the sun according to its ray’s
incident on it. They can track sun in a region like ours
more easily. But the structure and electrical circuit of dual
axis solar tracker are little bit sensitive. That’s why they
could not withstand to strong wind. It is the main
disadvantage of this type of tracking system.
7. CONCLUSION
Initial cost of setups is higher since they would require
moving parts. They also require maintenance cost. For
the use in home, tracking is not a good solution for the
power supply but in large industrial power generation
systems they are very useful. For a poor country like us
where energy crisis will never ends, these tracking
systems may be an important aspect to make some more
power from the sun and reduce our countries power crisis.
Dual axis tracker is more efficient and gives more
power than single axis tracker. Single axis tracker is cost
effective. The complexity of hardware of dual axis
tracker is more than single axis tracker.
8. REFERENCES
[1] http://www.solar-energy-for-homes.com/solar-energ
y-history.html (DOA: 22 March, 2019)
[2] http://www.solarenergyedge.com/solar-energy-histo
ry/the-history-of-solar-energy/ (DOA: 22 March,
2019)
[3] Khaleel I Abass, Raid S Jawad, Aedah M J Mahdi,
‘Maximum power point tracking of photovoltaic
systems’, World Wide Journal of Multidisciplinary
Research and Development, 2018
[4] Manal H. Jassim, ‘Implementation of solar energy
tracking system’, Journal of Engineering and
Development, Vol. 18, No.4, July 2014
[5] https://www.hineslab.com/old/Solar_Tracker_Helio
html (DOA: 22 March, 2019)
[6] Nadia, A.-R., N.A.M. Isa, and M.K.M. Desa,
‘Advances in solar photovoltaic tracking systems: A
review’, Renewable and Sustainable Energy
Reviews, 2017
© ICMERE2019
[7] Sanzidur Rahman, Rashid Ahammed Ferdaus,
Mohammad Mannan Mashir, Asif Mohammad,
‘Design and implementation of dual axis solar
system’, American Academic &Scolary Journal, pp.
484-490
[8] Deepthi.S, Ponni.A, Ranjitha.R, R Dhanabal,
‘Comparison of efficiencies of single axis tracking
system and dual axis tracking system with fixed
mount’, International Journal of Engineering
Science & Innovative Technology, March 2013
[9] K. Maharaja, R. Joseph Xavier, L. Jenifer Amla,
P.Pradeep Balaji, ‘Intensity based dual axis solar
tracking system’, International Journal of Applied
Engineering Research, 2015
[10] Ferenc Gasper, Teodora Deac, Lucian V. Fechete
Tutunaru, Dan Moldovanu, ‘Experimental study on
the sun ability of a spherical solar collector’, Energy
Procedia 85 (2016), 220-227
[11] Ankit Gupta, Yogesh K. Chauhan, Rupendra Kumar
Pachauri, ‘A comparative investigation of maximum
power point tracking method for solar PV system’,
Solar Energy 136 (2016), 2493-2500
[12] Hussain S. Akbar, Abul Rahman I.Siddiq, Marwa W.
Aziz, ‘Microcontroller based dual axis sun tracking
system for maximum solar energy generation’,
American Journal of Energy Research, 2017
