TY  - BOOK
AU  - Abdul Hadi bin Haji Mohaimin
ED  - Universiti Teknologi Brunei
TI  - Design, Simulation, Experimentation and Analysis of Fixed, Single and Dual-Axis Solar Tracking Systems
PY  - 2019///
CY  - Brunei Darussalam
PB  - Universiti Teknologi Brunei
KW  - Thesis
KW  - Universiti Teknologi Brunei
KW  - Solar trackers
KW  - Design and construction
KW  - Solar energy
KW  - Technological innovations
KW  - Renewable energy sources
KW  -  Brunei Darussalam
N1  - A thesis submitted to Universiti Teknologi Brunei for the partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master (MSc) in Electrical and Electronic Engineering; Abstract
In this era, renewable energies have become a good alternative against non-renewable energies. Solar energy is one alternative energy generation that has been utilized in Brunei due to abundance of sunlight. This paper analyzes the performance of solar panel output generation in Brunei climate conditions by comparing outputs when using tracking systems and one without tracking capabilities. The solar trackers were constructed each for fixed, single, and dual-axis solar panel and their software coding were programmed which included manual and automatic voltage, time, and temperature measurements with a 1.3% error. The experiment setups of the tracking systems were powered by 2 methods, self-sustaining and externally powered. In self-sustaining, the output increases by 12% and 10% for dual-axis and single-axis solar trackers respectively. Power consumption saw an increase of 31.7% and 82.5% for single-axis and dual-axis solar trackers respectively. For externally powered solar trackers, the outputs were an increase of 23% and 10% for dual-axis and single-axis respectively.
Fresnel lens causes higher sunlight intensity and temperature into a smaller surface area. Several experiments were tested by varying the distance of the Fresnel lens from the solar panel. The results saw output reductions between 5% and 8.7% due to high ambient temperature leading to lower conversion efficiency. The final analysis was made on 275W power rated solar trackers. The voltage output, temperature, and the light intensity were measured and recorded to determine their relationships. The output of a tracking solar panel is also compared with the fixed panel output and the results were a 1.5% increase in output, equivalent to a 3W increase per panel. Reasons for difference in results between actual and simulation were due to uncontrollable factors such as varying temperature of the environment and varying light intensity. Solar tracking power consumption was rated at 10Wh per day thus requiring the solar trackers to bear at least 4 solar panels to produce an additional 12W to outweigh the power consumption. It was also observed that high light intensity leads to high temperature and power output but high temperature cause a reduction in power output. In the end, solar tracking systems are better if the system can bear more solar panels; Thesis (Degree of Masters (MSc) in Electrical and Electronic Engineering); Includes bibliography references
ER  -