SMART TEMPERATURE DEPENDENT COOLING SYSTEM FOR SOLAR PANEL

Abstract

Among various renewable energy sources, solar energy has seen rapid growth in both popularity and significance. Solar tracking systems are utilized to boost the efficiency of solar panels by maximizing their exposure to sunlight. This is done by aligning the solar panel to remain perpendicular to the sun’s rays, thereby improving energy output. This project focuses on designing and building a prototype for a solar tracking system with a single-axis rotation. The system is controlled using a Node MCU microcontroller, programmed to detect the sun's position and adjust the solar panel’s angle accordingly through a DC motor. This setup helps ensure the panel captures the maximum sunlight possible. DC motors were chosen for their simplicity, high torque, and ease of control. Though DC motors usually rotate in one direction, they can be programmed to reverse direction as needed for this application. The development of silicon solar cells achieving 20% efficiency began in 1985, and while advancements have been made, many solar panels still operate below 40% efficiency today. This project also integrates an automated cleaning system for the panels, offering an economical and scalable method for maintaining the cleanliness of photovoltaic panels. This smart cleaning mechanism reduces the costs associated with manual cleaning, improving the overall efficiency of solar energy systems.

Specification

Description:Field of Invention

The global demand for power poses a significant challenge, exacerbated by factors such as population growth, inefficiencies in existing systems, and inadequate power generation capacities. Solar energy, while promising, faces its own set of challenges, including decreased efficiency of solar modules caused by heat. The present invention aims to address precisely these issues and provide solutions to enhance the effectiveness of solar energy systems despite environmental constraints.
Background of the invention
Energy plays a pivotal role in human development, yet current energy production practices are steering humanity towards environmental harm. With the world economy advancing and energy needs soaring, demand for energy is skyrocketing. Recognizing the detrimental effects of depleting traditional energy sources and the potential benefits of embracing alternative energy sources, it falls upon us as responsible members of society to take action. Transitioning to renewable energy sources is imperative to meet global energy demands sustainably.
The existing system has some drawbacks
• Some Cooling methods are not suited
• Efficiency is insufficient
• Output power is lesser
• Some applications does not compensate the power demand
• Some existing system are more expensive

The pursuit of an efficient Solar Home/ Industrial System is a route to make use of the abundant solar energy bestowed upon us. Such systems account for dynamic advantages besides being a free and healthy option for energy generation. It gives the option to go Off-Grid, make use of underutilized land, cause lesser electricity transmission losses due to reduced or no distance between source and destination of use, and help to improve grid security. The role of engineers in society is to look for the best solutions against the pre-existing ones to better humanity. Careful and thorough examination and analysis of current systems provides the way to structure better solutions for beneficial operation. Present-Day systems are lesser energy efficient and more cumbersome in operation and non-flexible against fluctuating conditions. Electronic devices like Microcontrollers and Microprocessors in unification with Internet of Things (IoT) are an effective method to improve on these current shortcomings. Therefore, this paper presents an automated system completely dependent on temperature of the surroundings that uses the Arduino, Temperature Sensors and DC Fans to cool the Solar Panels.


By integrating it with the IoT Cloud, the fans can be controlled from afar in any situation as per choice. In totality, the operation is automated, rendering it a "smart system." In order to analyse . the drop in panel operating temperature, cooling techniques that used sensible and latent heat storage and dissipation or heat convection techniques employing different mediums were tested . These methods can be categorized as either active methods-where additional energy is utilized to circulate the cooling fluid, or passive methods-where no additional energy is used. Active cooling requires the use of a coolant, such as air or water, which often necessitates the use of a fan or pump. P.V. cells can be cooled naturally through passive cooling. Much study was done on the use of liquid coolant, air, and other liquids, usually water or glycols, to control and maintain the working temperature. A key economic consideration is whether enhanced power output from active cooling will balance out power consumption
US10905035B2
A crossflow heat-exchanger has first and second sets of fluid-flow channels arranged such that each set crosses the other to afford heat-exchange between cooling air in the first set and hot air in the second set, without the cooling air and the hot air contacting one another. A first series of fans causes flow of the external cooling air through the rows. A second series of fans causes flow of the internal hot air through the columns. External and internal fan controllers control the speed of each fan independently such that external cooling air flows through different rows at different rates and internal hot air flows through different columns at different rates.
US11252849B2
An electronic display has housing with different regions and a display panel with a display surface. A cooling module flows internal coolant through the cooling module and the regions. The cooling module has a crossflow heat-exchanger and side walls. The regions and cooling module have an coolant inlet and outlet. The coolant inlets of the regions communicate with the coolant outlet of the cooling module. The coolant outlets of the regions communicate with the coolant inlet of the cooling module. The regions have their own circulating loop of coolant, with flow of coolant being deflected from the outlet of the cooling module towards the coolant inlets of the regions, and flow of coolant from the coolant outlets of the regions being deflected towards the coolant inlet of the cooling module. The coolant flows in parallel over both front and back of the display panel.
US11016547B2:
An electronic display has a display panel with a display surface visible through housing. A processor controls functions of the display and operating conditions within the housing. Input sensors are disposed within the housing and sense operating conditions within the housing. Output components respond to control signals. Modules have a unique address identifier and a connection to one of the input sensors and output components. A CAN bus communicates between the modules and electronic processor. Processing of signals received from the input sensors and control signals is distributed amongst microcontrollers on the modules. The processor uses a unique address identifier to receive a temperature reading from a module connected to a temperature sensor; process the temperature reading to determine one or more new fan speed setting; and send data via the bus to a module to a fan speed to the new setting.
US11071231B2
An electronic apparatus has a heat-exchanger within a housing exchanges heat between internal and external fluids without direct contact between the fluids. The internal fluid circulates within the housing and the external fluid is received external from the housing and output external from the housing 120. The housing includes is a heater; impellers; a controller for controlling the heater and the flow of fluids through the heat-exchanger; and temperature and humidity sensors. The controller receives temperature and humidity data from the sensors; processes the data to indicate a current dew point within the housing; and compares the current dew point with a current location temperature at or adjacent the heat-exchanger. If the current location temperature is at or below the current dew point, the controller raises the temperature at least one location on the heat-exchanger and/or activates the heat source to raise the temperature.

US10746480B2
A system and method for storing energy from an electrical grid utilizes a system heat pump at premises for transferring energy from the grid to a thermal storage reservoir and a premises heat pump that can use the stored energy to provide, for example, heat to the premises. The system heat pump and premises heat pump desirably operate independently of one another so that energy can be transferred to the thermal storage reservoir regardless of whether energy is being withdrawn by the premises heat pump. Plural energy storage systems utilizing respective system and premises heat pumps and thermal storage reservoirs can form a part of the utility customer system with the system heat pumps being operable to shape the load on the electrical grid. A system heat pump can be operated to minimize a customer's bill, or the utility's cost and alternatively to achieve other purposes, depending upon the mode of operation of the system.
US8814691B2
This disclosure concerns an interactive, head-mounted eyepiece with an integrated processor for handling content for display and an integrated image source for introducing the content to an optical assembly through which the user views a surrounding environment and the displayed content. A wireless communications facility assesses a database of second user profiles, and the user contacts an online gaming site using the eyepiece to initiate or join a game of the online gaming site with a second user, each user viewing game content with through their head-mounted eyepiece.
OBJECTIVE OF INVENTION
• The aim of the project is to make an automated cooling system for solar panel to increase the efficiency.
• The temperature-based cooling arrangement is provided for the Solar Panels
• The goal is to lower the operating temperature of PV modules, to increase PV output efficiency due to operation at lower temperatures
• This system will shorten the payback period of the investment and increase the longevity of the Solar Panels.
• This system is smart as it operates automatically, managing all year weather variations.

STATEMENT OF INVENTION:
[1] The invention relevant to power generation due to power demand
[2] The aim of this project is to increase the efficiency of the solar module
[3] This invention is used to provide cooling for solar panel and decrease the temperature lf the solar module.


BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
• As conclude, this project explored the impact of cooling mechanism for the overall performance of PV panel. In general, the increasing in operating temperature of PV panel caused by heat energy generated through PV panel.
• The increasing in temperature will lead to the decrement power output of the PV panels.
• Therefore, the cooling mechanism has been installed at the PV panel in order to solve this existing problem.
• By referring from the result produced, the PV panel without cooling mechanism experiences in high operating temperature.
• However, the existing cooling mechanism will reduce the PV panel temperature then increased its power output.
• The increasing number of DC fans leads to the decrease more PV panel temperature.
• Unfortunately, increasing in a number of DC fans will consume more energy from a PV panel.
• There is the optimum number of DC fan required for PV panel used.
• The selection of the number DC fan mainly depends on the several factors such as atmospheric condition, speed and airflow DC fan used and size of the PV panel.
• Furthermore, the existing cooling mechanism identified to be the energy-saving system with the PIC18F4550 micro controller acts as controller operation of the selection DC fan.
• It is because the electrical energy used from PV panel can be minimized with only operated during hot climate weather.
• Thus, the DC fan will not operate for 24 hours per day.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF COMPONENTS:
ARDUINO UNO:

• The microcontroller works like the brain of the system.
• It continually receives the ambient temperature data from the temperature sensors and based on the received data, it directs the fans to operate proportionally to the temperature, i.e. higher the temperature in the range of 25-50 °C, higher the fan speed.
• It serves to control the electric fan speed according to the code, allowing dynamic and almost immediate control.

LM35:
• The LM35 is a precision integrated-circuit which has output voltage linearly proportional to Celsius temperature and is rated to operate over a -55°C to 150°C range.
• It is a 3-terminal device that provides analog voltage converted to digital form for the Arduino to process.





• The LM35 sensor is more accurate than a thermistor and produces more voltage than a thermocouple, reducing the requirement for voltage to be induced.
DC FAN:
• The DC Fans are an integral part of the system.
• Based on the temperature data received from the Arduino, the system make the fans function such that higher the temperature, higher is the fan speed and hence, cooling provided. This is completely autonomous.
• The purpose of selecting DC Fan here is that it can offer a variety of speed control functions for a small additional cost, allowing the fan to fulfil the airflow objectives
LCD DISPLAY:
• The term LCD stands for liquid crystal display.
• It is one kind of electronic display module used in an extensive range of applications like various circuits & devices like mobile phones, calculators, computers, TV sets, etc.
• These displays are mainly preferred for multi-segment light-emitting diodes and seven segments.


DIODE:

• The 1N4007 is the most commonly used rectifier diode.
• It is commonly used in rectifier circuits, protection circuits and regulator circuits.
• The lead near to the silver line is the cathode and the other lead is anode, current is allowed to flow only form anode to cathode.
TRANSISTOR:
• The 2N2222 is a common NPN bipolar junction transistor (BJT) used for general purpose low-power amplifying or switching applications.
• It is designed for low to medium current, low power, medium voltage, and can operate at moderately high speeds.

RESISTOR:
• A resistor is an electrical component that limits or regulates the flow of electrical current in an electronic circuit

CAPACITOR:
• A capacitor is a device that stores electrical energy in an electric field. Electrolytic capacitors like this one are polarized, and are often used for decoupling purposes.
LED:
• LED stands for light emitting diode. LED lighting products produce light up to 90% more efficiently than incandescent light bulbs

BATTERY:
• As such, 12 volt batteries are commonly used in automobiles, fishing and boating applications, and recreational vehicle (RV) applications, providing power for various systems and devices.
• However, the type and size of the battery may be dependent upon the required usage.



, Claims:Claims:
1. This project aims to design and develop a solar tracking system with a single-axis rotation to enhance solar panel efficiency by optimizing their exposure to sunlight. Controlled by a Node MCU microcontroller, the system can detect the sun's position and adjust the solar panel's angle via a DC motor. The use of DC motors is justified by their simplicity, high torque, and ease of control, even allowing for directional changes as required.
2. In addition to tracking, the project addresses the issue of solar panel cleanliness by incorporating a smart, automated cleaning system. This feature offers a cost-effective and scalable alternative to manual cleaning, ensuring that the panels maintain peak efficiency by preventing dirt accumulation.
3. The system builds on the long history of silicon solar cells, first achieving 20% efficiency in 1985. Despite technological advancements, many panels today still operate below 40% efficiency, making innovations in both tracking and maintenance critical for maximizing energy output.
4. The method of claim, I may further comprise of the following safety systems
 Single-Axis Solar Tracking System
 Node MCU Microcontroller:
 DC Motor Control:
 Automated Cleaning System
5. As claimed in claim 1, the invention may comprise of a temperature sensor to detect Panel temperature
6. As claimed in claim 1, the dc fan is used to cool the solar panel
7. As claimed in claim 1, the motor drive is used to control the components of the system
8. As claimed in claim 1, the battery is used to store the energy from the system
9. As claimed in claim 1, LCD display is used to display the output
10. As claimed in claim 1, solar panels are used to generate the power
11. As claimed in claim 1, the ARDUINO UNO is used for functioning and controlling the whole proposed system.

Documents