Analysis of energy harvesting on 3-DOF mobile tetrahedron-based sun tracker

Abstract

Abstract The use of solar panels to be placed on mobile platforms is still not able to absorb maximum solar energy. Therefore, we need a sun tracker system that is able to respond to disturbances from above, such as the movement of clouds, and also disturbances from below, such as movements from mobile platforms. The proposed mobile tetrahedron-based sun tracker is capable of fast and continuous response to movement and movement from various directions, with an effective control algorithm that will be able to keep the solar panels always perpendicular to the sun’s rays. This mobile tetrahedron-based sun tracker is a 3-DOF parallel construction with a stepper motor as the actuator. This sun tracker is installed on a moving platform and is capable of tracking the sun in a 3-DOF parallel manner. Test results with PV polycrystalline silicon with normal operating specifications of 5V/2W, show an average voltage measurement of around 2.62V and an average current of around 190.613mA. The average power produced is around 0.798W, with peak power reached around 11:40-12:00, while the lowest power was recorded at 07:00-08:00 and 17:00-18:00. The research results also obtained that the total electrical energy collected for one full day using a sun tracker was 9.571Wh (higher 7.166% than fixed PV).