Hubballi :
Students of electrical and electronics of SDM College of Engineering and Technology have developed a solar tracker solar panel that rotates in the direction of the sun and taps maximum energy.
While conventional solar panels fixed to face at one direction and hence capture limited energy, rotating panels can absorb energy all through the day as they move from east to west in the direction of the sun. Speaking to TOI, team member Vallabh Kulkarni said, “We noted that conventional panels do not absorb energy fully. If the panel is facing towards the east, it harvests minimum energy when the sun moves towards the west after 12 noon. This made us think of coming out with a rotating panel.”
The project, named as Harnessing Maximum Energy from Solar Panel took five months for completion. Another teammate Nikita Pinto said that they approached their faculty members and browsed internet for supporting information. “We found that there are hardly any attempts in adopting micro controller in the panel in the country whereas demand for solar energy is increasing by the day. Then we started working on the project,” she added.
Arun Chachadi noted that the new model would produce 25-30% more energy as compared to the conventional model.
Another team member Sushma G S said that they bought a micro-controller from the market and programmed it by using the flow code software, which is freely available on internet. “We used components like solar panel of 3 watt capacity, DC geared motor, LCD display and micro-controller. We spent Rs 2,100 for this project and a prototype is ready in our college,” she added.
Prof Mrutyunjay R Kappali, guided the team. Prof SB Vanakudri, principal, SDM College of Engineering and Technology, Dharwad, said the principle of the rotating panel is based on sunflower, the flower which tracks sun up to 180 degree.
“We will send a proposal to the Union government to consider the model in research and development works in its institutions. If Karnataka State Council of Science and Technology sanctions some aid, we will improve this model in coming years.”
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Hubballi / by Sangamesh Menasinakai, TNN / May 22nd, 2015