Title :
A microprocessor controlled automatic sun tracker
Author :
Koyuncu, B. ; Balasubramanian, K.
Author_Institution :
Dept. of Electr. & Electron. Eng., Cukurova Univ., Adana, Turkey
fDate :
11/1/1991 12:00:00 AM
Abstract :
A microprocessor-based automatic sun-tracking system is proposed. This unit controls the movement of a solar panel that rotates and follows the motion of the sun. There are two limit switches attached to the panel to mark its maximum angular positions in the east and west. The status of the limit switches is read by the microprocessor and indicates that the maximum angular position in either direction has been reached and the panel should not be driven any further. As the plane of the panel is always kept normal to the direction of the sun, maximum thermal energy is obtained from the solar panels
Keywords :
microcomputer applications; position control; power engineering computing; solar absorber-convertors; solar cell arrays; angular positions; limit switches; microprocessor controlled automatic sun tracker; movement control; solar panel; Automatic control; Capacitance; Clocks; FETs; Microprocessors; Pulse generation; Signal generators; Solar energy; Sun; Timing;
Journal_Title :
Consumer Electronics, IEEE Transactions on