| dc.description.abstract | The growing demand for clean energy has driven advances in solar power. While solar systems
are common, they can be inefficient in remote areas due to inconsistent sunlight and alignment
issues. This project introduces a hybrid solar-thermal power generation system that combines
photovoltaic (PV) and thermal energy technologies with Internet of Things (IoT) features for
better monitoring and control. The system uses a solar panel to convert sunlight into DC
electricity, regulated by a charge controller and stored in a battery. A buck converter adjusts
the voltage to power sensors and microcontrollers. To capture more solar energy, a dual Light
Dependent Resistor (LDR)-based sun tracking system, controlled by an Arduino Nano and
MG995 servo motor, keeps the panel oriented toward the sun. A parabolic reflector focuses
solar energy onto a steam generation chamber, where water, pumped through copper pipes, is
heated to produce steam. The water flow is managed by an automated system using a BC547
transistor and an ESP-32 microcontroller. The steam drives a micro-turbine to generate
additional electrical power, which is monitored and stored by the ESP-32. Temperature sensors
collect thermal data, and an inverter converts the stored 12V DC power to 220V AC for
household use. The system is connected to the Blynk IoT platform for remote monitoring and
control of power generation and load management via smartphone. The system’s performance
results show a thermal efficiency of 40%, electrical efficiency of 3.33% per hour, and an overall
efficiency of 23.42%, combining both thermal and electrical performance. This hybrid system
offers an efficient, sustainable solution for decentralized energy, especially in remote or off
grid areas. The IoT integration with real-time sun tracking enhances energy capture and
conversion, making it a significant improvement in solar-thermal hybrid energy systems. | en_US |
