Publication: Development of computer interface to control the movement of two axis solar collector
Date
2002-03-01
Authors
Umar, Muhammad Rodzi
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Abstract
Most individuals involved in electronics will have;over time,a number of
unrelated tasks to perform.They may include controlling motors,measuring characteristics
of electronic components,sensing the outside world and adjusting controls or interfacing
with other electronic devices.Today,there are commercially available products you can
plug into or attach to your computer to do these tasks.We can interface using a parallel
port,serial port,interface card and Universal Serial Bus port ( USB ).
In this project,what we are going to see is a development of a computer interface
using a parallel port to control the movement of a two-axis solar collector.The two solar
collectors are the flat plate and the CPC.Gear box and stepper motor will be used to
control the movement in two-axis,x and z.In my research background,I will be doing the
compound parabolic collector or mainly known as CPC.A detailed thermal
performance,selective surface,optical performance,orientation and absorbed energy and
concentration ratio was carried out to predict the thermal performance.The analysis is
based on the established theory about CPC radiation absorption and heat loss from the
collector.Based from the analysis,a program using Labview software has been developed
to control the movement of the stepper motor.A circuit for stepper motor is also been
developed and it works with the software.The torque of stepper motor provided is small
and can not move the CPC but it can move by manual method.The maximum temperature
for this CPC is 700C . Hollow copper is used for absorption and alluminium plate is used
for reflection.Mild steel is suitable for the design structure because of high strength
steel.Perspects is choose for the design of gear box and box for the parabolic collector
because it is quite light and easy to make a shape.All the properties above are selected
based on the analysis.