Name: TIAGO VENTURINI DA SILVA
Type: MSc dissertation
Publication date: 12/07/2017
Advisor:
Name |
Role |
|---|---|
| JOSÉ RAFAEL CÁPUA PROVETI | Advisor * |
Examining board:
| Name |
Role |
|---|---|
| FLAVIO BARCELOS BRAZ DA SILVA | External Examiner * |
| JOSÉ RAFAEL CÁPUA PROVETI | Advisor * |
| MARIELCE DE CASSIA RIBEIRO TOSTA | External Examiner * |
| WANDERLEY CARDOSO CELESTE | Internal Examiner * |
Summary: Most photovoltaic systems connected to the grid have the characteristic of having fixed support structure. But there are already mobile structures capable of increasing the energy production of the system following the Sun. If the structure of the module were mobile and suffered variations following the movement of the sun, so that the rays incident on it were perpendicular to most of the day, there would be greater production of electric energy due to the maximization of solar incidence. Therefore, this project work consisted in constructing a prototype with 2 drive axles (north-south and east-west). This movement will be possible with the aid of 2 DC motors 12 V with reduction box that will be controlled by an Arduino Mega 2560 according to the luminosity rate received by the LDRs sensors. The prototype was built with polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipes to make the project feasible economically. In this way, the structure became light and cooperated in the movement of the two motors that are independent of human interference, allowing to move during the day and return to its original position automatically when there is no light to capture in the beginning of the night. Thus, the prototype built with the solar tracker was 31.45% more efficient than the fixed system. Soon after, the economical feasibility analysis of two grid-connected photovoltaic systems (SFCR), one with solar tracker and another fixed, both with the same dimensions of 1.56 kWp, was projected. Despite the gain of the mobile system, it was verified that the investment is impracticable considering the costs of preventive maintenance in the engine and gears, as well as replacement of parts over 25 years. The net present value is positive and the internal rate of return greater than the minimum rate of attractiveness, since the recovery time of the investment for the mobile system reaches 24 years, 8 months and 11 days, while the fixed system presents the time of return of 15 years and 4 months.
