Computer supported optimum control of a sun collector system

COMPUTER SUPPORTED OPTİMUM CONTROL OF A SUN COLLECTOR SYSTEM (M. Sc. Thesis) Okan BİNGÖL GAZİ UNIVERSITY INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY November 1998 ABSTRACT In this study, the purpose is to design and realize a solar-tracking system which is controlled by a computer. There are four sensors to obtain the information of the position of the solar radiation. This information is assessed by a computer and issued a command to provide new position for the solar-tracking system. In the solar-tracking system, the position of the sun is determined by four sensors placed into four tubes which are located facing each other with 90 degrees angle in solar- tracking mechanism. The analog information which are provided from two apposite sensors, converted to digital microcontroller then delivered to computer. The computer determines the location of the radiation by analysing this digital information. Then the computer controls the horizontal position of the plane collector according to ground by using first step motor. The other sensors command the second step motor to control the vertical position of the plane collector. Eventually the surface of the plane collector is always kept in a perpendicular state to solar radiation. Even if this solar-tracking system is placed far a way from a computer, we can observe all the information obtained by using a simulation program that includes the values of sensors, angle in degrees of the collector and the motion of the system. If there is no information transferred, the computer sends the warning message as 'system is out of order'. Science code : 62. 601. 01 Key Words : Sun tracking, sun collectors Page number : 82 Adviser : Doç. Dr. Erkan İMAL