Modeling and Analysis of a Dynamic Smart Solar Panel System for Harvesting Solar Energy in Remote Areas

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

This paper presents the preliminary results of modeling and analysis of a dynamic smart solar panel system for harvesting solar energy in remote areas. A physical model of the dynamic smart solar panel system was developed actuated by two servomotors. As a result, it was a 2DOF system prototype. The first servomotor was used with an aim of adjusting the inclination angle of the solar panel system toward the position of sunlight, and the second servomotor was used with an aim of adjusting the orientation of the solar panel system about the orientation of the sun in real time so maximum sunlight could hit the solar panels during its operations. Considering the dynamic nature of the system, we proposed a dynamic model of the system for the rotation of the second servomotor (i.e., the rotation of the entire solar system actuated by the servomotor) with respect to the sun. We then simulated the dynamic model in MATLAB and obtained dynamic characteristics of the system in terms of step response, impulse response, ramp response, Bode response, Root Locus response, and Nyquist response. We analyzed the dynamic characteristics of the system based on those responses and tried to propose a set of system parameters to optimize the design of the prototype that could demonstrate the best possible dynamic characteristics of the system to cope with changes in the operating conditions of the dynamic system in uncertain remote environments. The results obtained through the simulation studies demonstrated satisfactory stability, accuracy, and fastness of the system responses under dynamic conditions. Though the results obtained in the simulation were specific to the small system we prototyped, the approach we presented here can be extremely useful to optimize the design of large, smart, and dynamic solar panel systems for harvesting solar energy for remote applications such as powering irrigation systems and greenhouses for agriculture and farming, powering autonomous devices for search and rescue operations and disaster management, powering equipment for military operations, etc.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationProceedings of 9th International Congress on Information and Communication Technology - ICICT 2024
EditorsXin-She Yang, Simon Sherratt, Nilanjan Dey, Amit Joshi
PublisherSpringer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH
Pages581-591
Number of pages11
ISBN (Print)9789819732982
DOIs
StatePublished - 2024
Event9th International Congress on Information and Communication Technology, ICICT 2024 - London, United Kingdom
Duration: Feb 19 2024Feb 22 2024

Publication series

NameLecture Notes in Networks and Systems
Volume1002 LNNS
ISSN (Print)2367-3370
ISSN (Electronic)2367-3389

Conference

Conference9th International Congress on Information and Communication Technology, ICICT 2024
Country/TerritoryUnited Kingdom
CityLondon
Period2/19/242/22/24

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Control and Systems Engineering
  • Signal Processing
  • Computer Networks and Communications

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