Development of Static Solar Panel Equipped by an Active Reflector Based on LDR Sensors
Widyaningrum Indrasari, Riser Fahdiran, Esmar Budi, Umiatin, Nur Salma Yusuf Hasanah

Physics Department, Faculty of Mathematics and Science, Universitas Negeri Jakarta
JL. Rawamangun Muka No.1 Jakarta, Indonesia

Abstract

Solar panels are a very effective source of renewable energy in Indonesia. To increase the output power of solar panels, especially on the static solar panels, a reflector is required as an additional device. This paper describes development of a static solar panel equipped with an active reflector. Five LDR sensors are mounted on the top of the reflector, to detect the highest solar intensity. Meanwhile, a DC motor as a reflector drive system is mounted on the bottom of the reflector. The slope angle of the solar panel is 45 and the reflector is 105 to the negative axis. The reflector will move in a semi-circular path, following the direction of the highest solar intensity detected by the LDR sensor. Three different reflectors used to optimize the output power, there are stainless steel, aluminum foil, and mirror. Solar panel with mirror reflector produces the largest output power compared to other reflectors. The output power of this device increases 1.6 times to the solar panels without reflector.

Keywords: static solar panel, active reflector, LDR sensor, reflector drive

Topic: Physics