Adaptive Algorithm for Solar Tracking in Photovoltaic Power Plants

Lucas  Feksa Ramos; Luciane  N. Canha; Emanuel Antunes  Vieira; Mauren  P. C. Silva; Carlos  A. T. Carvalho Jr.

doi:10.48011/asba.v2i1.1550

Lucas Feksa Ramos Electrical Engineering Department, Federal University of Rondônia
Luciane N. Canha Center of Excellence in Energy and Power Systems (CEESP), Federal University of Santa Maria (UFSM)
Emanuel Antunes Vieira Center of Excellence in Energy and Power Systems (CEESP), Federal University of Santa Maria (UFSM)
Mauren P. C. Silva Electrical Engineering Department, Federal University of Rondônia
Carlos A. T. Carvalho Jr. Electrical Engineering Department, Federal University of Rondônia

DOI: https://doi.org/10.48011/asba.v2i1.1550

Keywords: Adaptive algorithm, Solar tracking, Prediction, Photovoltaic systems

Abstract

The diversity of the energy matrix in the world is one of the challenges demanding for new researches with alternative energy sources to bring exibility and sustainability in their use. According with this panorama, the generation of electric energy with solar photovoltaic systems emerges as an important goal, and its technology is constantly advancing as an immediate solution for this quest of diversity. This paper presents a predictive control for a solar tracking algorithm to be used in single or double axis photovoltaic systems. The main characteristic and contribution of this algorithm represents a functional technological innovation because it does not use any sensors to determine the position of the Sun with respect to the panel. Such algorithm avoids unnecessary movements in cases of shadows on the panels caused by clouds, or some animal that could interfere on systems using the conventional sensors. The proposed solar time algorithm was tested and compared with eld values, predicting the correct Sun position with accuracy of less than 1o. The qualitative and quantitative results presented here evidenced the real gain of the proposed algorithm-based system without any sensors to increase the generation gain of photovoltaic power plants.