ISTAR- Intelligent Solar Tracker with a Compressorless Refrigerator

Introduction

 

Solar energy is an indigenous, inexhaustible and clean source of energy that can be tapped in numerous ways to be used to satisfy present energy needs. With about 300 clear sunny days in year, India has a huge potential to reap maximum benefits out of this abundant resource. As per studies, nearly 75% of the energy is lost in the morning and evening hours with fixed mounted solar PV cells, due to the daily east to west transition of Sun. Furthermore, about 8.3% of energy is lost with a single axis tracker, since it is incapable of tracking the seasonal movement of the sun. The main objectives of the project are

 

1. Design and fabrication of an intelligent self-sustainable dual axis solar tracking unit to tap maximum solar energy, thereby improving the efficiency of the solar photovoltaic system. A solar tracker that accounts for both the daily and seasonal motions is known as a dual-axis tracker. The microcontroller-based solar panel tracking system is proposed in this project work. It is azimuth-altitude dual axis tracker (AADAT)

2. To develop an eco-friendly compressor-less refrigerator based on Peltier effect as an application of solar photovoltaic using dual axis solar tracking system.

 

Front View of Project	Project on Display

 

Achievements

 

A prototype dual-axis solar tracking system based on a microcontroller is designed and developed. This autotracking system is controlled with two 12V, 17W DC gear box motors. The four light sensors (photodiodes) are used to track the sun and to start the operation. The orientation system calculations are based on astronomical data. The system is designed to control the Altitude angle in the vertical plane as well as the Azimuth angle in the horizontal plane of the photovoltaic panel workspace. The open circuit voltage and power outputs of solar photovoltaic (PV) system were measured for fixed tilt type position and dual-axis solar tracker for different timings of the day. The results show that performance of solar PV with dual axis system is better. The proposed design is expected to enhance output of solar photovoltaic system by 15-20% by keeping the panel’s face perpendicular to the sun. The system is assumed to be valid for any region with small modifications. The output of solar PV system is utilized in developing compressorless refrigerator. It is a thermoelectric refrigerator based on peltier effect. The advantages of thermo-electric refrigeration are (i) simple, (ii) noiseless, (iii) compact & light weight, (iv) eco-friendly since no refrigerants are used,(v) more reliable than systems with moving parts, and (vi) easy control by varying current.

Every specific application where a thermoelectric cooler module or refrigerator is required is characterized by a set of operation parameters, which dictate the necessity and accurate selection of the optional thermoelectric cooler type among a wide range of single and multi-stage thermoelectric cooler modules.

 

These parameters are:

ΔT– Operating temperature difference
Qc – Operating cooling capacity
I – Applied or available current
V – Terminal voltage
A prototype thermoelectric refrigerator is developed. The project can used an off-grid portable cooler or warming chamber especially for carrying medicines, foods etc. It can be used as a standalone power system in remote areas.

 

• For further information please contact

 

Chitkara Institute of Engineering and Technology (C.I.E.T.)
Chitkara University, Chandigarh

Patiala National Highway-64

Jhansla, Rajpura, Punjab
Email : anu.singla@chitkara.edu.in