The project aims at designing an optimal power point tracking system for solar and wind based renewable power generations. The system is capable of maximum energy from solar panel and wind turbine. The project aims at developing a system which makes use of wind and solar energy for rural electrification. Wind and solar energy is treated as non renewable source of energy. Maximum Power Point Tracking, frequently referred to as MPPT, is an electronic system that operates the Photovoltaic (PV) modules in a manner that allows the modules to produce all the power they are capable of. MPPT is not a mechanical tracking system that “physically moves” the modules to make them point more directly at the sun. MPPT is a fully electronic system that varies the electrical operating point of the modules so that the modules are able to deliver maximum available power. Wind and solar energy have been used since the earliest civilization to grind grain, pump water from deep wells, and power sailboats. The main controlling device of the whole system is a Microcontroller. Solar panel, wind turbine, voltage sensor, LCD, and load are interfaced to Microcontroller. The Microcontroller initially measures the voltage from solar panel and wind turbine without load connected. Also, the Microcontroller measures the voltage from solar panel and wind turbine under load conditions. The microcontroller takes the decision of operating the load through PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) until the maximum voltage is obtained from solar panel and wind turbine without degrading the load performance. To perform this intelligent task, Microcontroller is loaded with an intelligent program written using embedded ‘C’ language.          

The main objectives of the project are:  

1. Bringing out maximum energy from solar panel without mechanical tracking.
2. Maximum energy from Wind turbine
3. PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) usage.

         

The major building blocks of this project are:  

1. Regulated power supply.
2. PIC Microcontroller.
3. Solar panel.
4. Wind turbine blades
5. DC motor as generator
6. Voltage sensor.
7. Crystal
8. Reset button.
9. LED Indicators.
10. LCD display with driver.

       

Software’s used:  

• PIC-C compiler for Embedded C programming.
• PIC kit 2 programmer for dumping code into Micro controller.
• Express SCH for Circuit design.

           

Regulated Power Supply:

                     

Block Diagram:

           

video: