An accurate and efficient solar tracking system using image processing and LDR sensor
The use of renewable energy resources is increasing for the purpose of producing electricity in modern world due to lack of non-renewable sources. As solar panels are becoming more popular day by day, it is a crying need to maximize the solar panel efficiency. The efficiency of solar panels can be increased to a great extent if the solar panels continuously rotate in the direction of sun. Microcontroller and an arrangement of LDR sensors can be used for the purpose of tracking the sun. But the system is less efficient because of the low sensitivity and disturbance of light dependent resistors. In this paper, a methodology of an automatic solar tracker is proposed by means of both sensors and image processing simultaneously. The mechanism of solar tracking was implemented by the use of an image processing software which combines the effect of sensors and processed image of sun and controls the solar panel accordingly. The methodology is a combination of hardware and software which can be used to control hundreds of solar panels in a solar power plant with more accuracy. It can be concluded that the proposed system is more accurate and efficient than the conventional solar tracking systems which can optimize the power requirement.
Arduino based Dual Axis Smart Solar Tracker
Solar energy is rapidly advancing as an important means of renewable energy resource. It is radiant light and heat from the Sun that is harnessed using a range of ever-evolving technologies such as solar heating, photovoltaic, solar thermal energy, solar architecture, molten salt power plants and artificial photosynthesis. Trackers direct solar panels or modules toward the sun. These devices change their orientation throughout the day to follow the sun's path to maximize energy capture. The use of solar trackers can increase electricity production by around a third, and some claim by as much as 40% in some regions, compared with modules at a fixed angle. In any solar application, the conversion efficiency is improved when the modules are continually adjusted to the optimum angle as the sun traverses the sky. This paper presents the designing of a solar tracking system which is based on Arduino UNO and which provides movement of solar panel in the direction of maximum sun light incident. As a result of which we get more efficient system which is compact, low cost as well as easy to use.
Influence of filler addition, storage medium and evaluation time on biaxial flexure strength and modulus of adhesive systems
Abstract Objective. This study evaluated the effects of filler addition, storage medium and time on biaxial flexural strength and flexural modulus of six adhesive systems. Materials and methods. The adhesives were either unfilled resins: Single Bond, Prime&Bond 2.1 and One-Step; or filled resins: Single Bond Plus, Prime&Bond NT and One-Step Plus. Resin discs of each product (0.5 mm thick × 6.0 mm diameter) were prepared using silicon molds (n = 10). The discs were stored dry, in water, mineral oil or ethanol for 1 week or 3 months before biaxial flexural testing. Data were statistically analyzed by 3-way ANOVA and Tukey's post-hoc test (α = 0.05). The specimens were tested in a universal testing machine at 1.27 mm/min until failure occurred. Results. In general, the storage in ethanol led to significantly lower flexural strength and flexural modulus values than the other storage conditions for all adhesives in both storage periods. Filler addition increased flexural strength and flexural modulus for Prime&Bond NT, when it was stored dry or in water for 1 week. For Single Bond Plus, the filler addition resulted in higher flexural modulus, when it was stored for 1 week in oil and in ethanol. No significant differences in flexural modulus were observed between One-Step and One-Step Plus in any storage medium. Conclusions. Results suggested that filler addition does not necessarily have to increase the flexural strength and flexural modulus. Ethanol and oil storages tended to yield opposite effects.