A Real-Time Optimization Approach to the Efficiency of a Photovoltaic System by a Hybrid Tracking Technique using LabVIEW

Abstract

Among the lines of research on improving the efficiency of a photovoltaic panel, sun tracking techniques occupy a large part. In this article, an extension of Laboratory Virtual Instrument Engineering Workbench (LabVIEW); LabVIEW Interface For Arduino (LIFA) is used. It allows the driving of an Arduino board from LabVIEW, on which a collaboration technique between two categories of pursuit is developed: The first is sensory and the second is pre-programmed. This hybrid two-axis technique is characterized by impulse control strategist with pre-programmed control and dual sensory correction. The results reveal that the hybrid tracking system gave an additional energy gain of about 36% compared to a fixed photovoltaic panel system. Thus, it has practically a percentage increase of 2 and 2.3% respectively to the two techniques used.

A New Optimization Approach for a Solar Tracker Based on an Inertial Measurement Unit

“…There are many types of solar trackers of varying cost, sophistication, and performance [8,9]. The accuracy of the solar tracker depends on the application [10][11][12][13][14][15][16]. Usually, PV systems do not work properly without monitoring, therefore at least one-axis tracking is mandatory [17].…”