Design and Fabricate Dual-Axis Tracking System for Concentrated Photovoltaic Panel

Lim, Kee Xian (2025) Design and Fabricate Dual-Axis Tracking System for Concentrated Photovoltaic Panel. Final Year Project (Bachelor), Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology.

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Abstract

This project presents the design, fabrication, and performance evaluation of a dual-axis solar tracking system for a Concentrator Photovoltaic (CPV) application. The system utilises a 30 cm x 30 cm Fresnel lens to focus sunlight onto a high-efficiency multijunction CPV receiver. A custom-built aluminium frame, actuated by two high-torque servo motors, enables real-time sun tracking across both horizontal and vertical axes. Tracking is controlled using a cross-shaped array of light-dependent resistors (LDRs) connected to an Arduino Mega 2560, which autonomously aligns the lens to maintain optimal solar incidence. To validate system performance, electrical parameters including open-circuit voltage (Voc), short-circuit current (Isc), and power output were measured and logged at 10-minute intervals using integrated voltage and current sensors, an LCD display, and an SD card module. Direct normal irradiance (DNI) was measured manually using a solar power meter, allowing calculation of both electrical and real-world system efficiency. The CPV tracker achieved electrical efficiency values between 28% and 31%, with a peak system efficiency of 14.7% based on the total structure footprint. Performance under real sunlight conditions was verified through visual focal spot observations and comparative testing against a fixed flat PV panel, where the tracking system demonstrated consistently higher output. The results validate the effectiveness of the proposed dual-axis tracking design in enhancing CPV energy conversion and lay the groundwork for future improvements in tracking precision, thermal regulation, and autonomous data acquisition.