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A simple and efficient sun tracking mechanism using programmable logic controller

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Abstract

To increase the unit area illumination of solar ray on PV panel, it is required to track the sun throughout the day. So to reach the goal various type of sun tracking mechanism is already developed but in this paper we designed two different types of sun tracking mechanism: single axis and dual axis tracking using programmable logic controller (PLC) as it has numbers of unique advantages like—it is faster, reliable, requires less maintenance and reprogrammable. A comparative study between those two systems is also presented in this paper. The whole system has been designed and tested using GE, FANUC PLC.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Westbengal University of Technology, Kolkata, India

    Akash Samanta

  2. Indian Institute of Social Welfare and Business Management, Kolkata, India

    Arindam Dutta

  3. School of Energy studies Jadavpur University, Kolkata, India

    Subhasis Neogi

Authors
  1. Akash Samanta
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  2. Arindam Dutta
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  3. Subhasis Neogi
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Samanta, A., Dutta, A. & Neogi, S. A simple and efficient sun tracking mechanism using programmable logic controller. Appl. Sol. Energy 48, 218–227 (2012). https://doi.org/10.3103/S0003701X12030140

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.3103/S0003701X12030140

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