Automated solar tracking system for pv module

This paper proposes a novel approach to track the solar position and hence, a suitable position for adjusting the orientation of a Photo-voltaic array so as to attain more energy than an array in fixed position. The approach implements Kalman Filter algorithm to track maximum power-point (MPPT), motor position and piston position. The finite state machine includes five states and is Mealy machine. Using the proposed technique, MPPT can be tracked to an efficiency of 97% within a time as low as 4.5ms. The position of PV array is tracked with an error of ±2%. Experiments have been carried out in partially shaded and falling irradiance level conditions, and it was found that the proposed method is simple as well as cost effective in comparison to systems using GPS to track the position.