Purdue ECE49022 Team "Sundial" Senior Design

OVERVIEW

Have you ever wondered whether you could effectively and inexpensively create a large network of solar panels that actively tracks and maneuvers each panel to a position that will generate the maximum power possible?

The purpose of our sun tracking system keyed "Sundial" is to improve the energy captured by a solar panel by positioning the solar panel perpendicular to the sun’s rays. To achieve this, the system will have a “master” solar panel that uses its coordinate location and the time of day to predict the sun’s position in the sky. The master solar panel will then move across the sky periodically while collecting data on which position generates the most power. Through maximum power tracking analytics, the master will determine if a new position is generating more power than the previous one. If so, the master will broadcast a signal containing data about the new position to a “slave” solar panel. The slave will compare that data to its own power generation at its current location. If the power generated is greater at the new position, the slave will move to it. Otherwise, the slave solar panel will remain stationary.

REQUIREMENTS:

• The solar tracker system shall generate power.
• The solar tracker system shall update the solar panels’ positioning in a reasonably accurate time resolution.
• The solar tracker system shall be water resistant.
• The solar tracker system shall log the amount of power generated by each solar panel.
• The solar tracker system shall compute power system analytics.
• The solar tracker system shall present system information to the user.
• The solar tracker system shall allow the user to input latitude, longitude, date and time.
• The solar tracker system shall have a master system.
• The master system shall be the primary source of user input.
• The master system shall be the primary source of system output.
• The master system shall track the sun.
• The master system shall update it’s solar panel positioning to optimize power production.
• The solar tracker system shall have a slave system.
• The slave system shall receive solar panel positioning updates from the master system.
• The slave system shall receive solar panel power generation updates from the master system.
• The slave system shall update its solar panel positioning according to the solar panel positioning and power updates from the master system.

SYSTEMACTIVITYDIAGRAM:

SYSTEMBLOCK DIAGRAM: