International Journal of Research in Advent Technology, Vol.2, No.
4, April 2014
E-ISSN: 2321-9637
Solar Based Automatic Irrigation System
Binoy Seal, Omkar Shirke, Siddhesh Shewale, Abhilash Sirsikar,[Link] Hankare
K.J. Somaiya Institute of Engineering & IT, Sion, Mumbai
Department of Electronics and Telecommunication
Mumbai University
Mumbai, India
Email id: [Link]@[Link], [Link]@[Link]
Abstract: This paper deals with the design of solar tracking system to harness maximum solar energy that is converted into
electrical energy which in turn is used to power the irrigation system. The designed single axis solar tracker device, on the basis
of LDR sensor values, orients the PV panel in accordance with the position of the sun. The irrigation pump can be controlled in
two modes namely
1. Automatic mode [Link] mode
In Automatic mode the water pump is switched on and off automatically based on moisture sensor value.
In GSM mode the farmer at his own discretion can send a message to ON and OFF the water pump without actually going to the
field.
Index Terms— PV panel, irrigation system, LDR sensor, moisture sensor.
1. INTRODUCTION
The increasing demand for energy, the continuous reduction
in existing sources of fossil fuels and the growing concern
regarding environment pollution, have pushed mankind to
explore new non-conventional, renewable energy resources
such as solar energy, wind energy, etc for the production of
electrical energy. Since India receives sunlight all 12 moths
of a year. Hence utilizing it in the different fields is a wise
idea.
India is an agricultural country. India ranks second
worldwide in farm output. At present, farmer manually
irrigates land at regular interval. This process sometimes
consumes more water or sometimes the water reaches late
due to which the crops get dried. Solar powered automatic
irrigation system not only overcomes this problem but also
provide clean source of energy.
2. IMPLEMENTATION
2.1 Block Diagram
Fig 1. Block diag of present system
The proposed system is single axis solar tracker used for
irrigation system along with GSM. The LDR placed on solar
panel (12V, 5W) helps to track maximum intensity of (1) Solar panel: A solar panel is a set of solar
sunlight and thus generate more electricity. The electricity photovoltaic modules electrically connected and
produced is stored in battery (12V) which is further used to mounted on a supporting structure. A photovoltaic
power the irrigation system. The analog values from LDR module is a packaged, connected assembly of solar
cells. The solar panel can be used as a component
and moisture sensor are given to ADC0808 for its digital
of a larger photovoltaic system to generate and
conversion. The digital values are taken as input by
supply electricity in commercial and residential
microcontroller 89s51 which is interfaced along with 12V applications. In the system we use 12V,5W solar
DC pump, LCD and GSM module. With the use of GSM, panel.
farmer can switch on and off the pump at his own discretion
just by sending a message.
(2) Microcontroller89s51:The AT89S51 is a low-
power, high-performance CMOS 8-bit
186
International Journal of Research in Advent Technology, Vol.2, No.4, April 2014
E-ISSN: 2321-9637
microcontroller with 4K bytes of In-System
Programmable Flash memory. .The AT89S51
provides the following standard features:
(i) 4K bytes of Flash
(ii) 128 bytes of RAM,
(iii) 32 I/O lines, 2.2 Prototype Design
(iv) Watchdog timer,
(v) two16-bits timer/counters,
(vi) two-level interrupt architecture
(vii) a full duplex serial port
(viii) on-chip oscillator and clock circuitry
(3) ADC 0808: The ADC 0808 data acquisition
component is a monolithic CMOS device with an 8-
bit analog to- digital converter, 8-channel
multiplexer microprocessor compatible control
logic. The 8bit A/D converter uses successive
approximation as the conversion technique. The
converter features a high impedance chopper
stabilized comparator, a 256R voltage divider with
analog switch tree and a successive approximation
register. The 8- channel multiplexer can directly
access any of 8-single-ended analog signals.
(4) GSM module: It is a specialized type of modem
which accepts a SIM card, and operates over a
subscription to a mobile operator, just like a mobile Fig 2. Principle of Solar Tracker
phone. GSM networks operate in a number of
different carrier frequency range, with most 2G
GSM networks operating in the 900 MHz or
1800 MHz bands. A GSM modem exposes an
interface to send and receive messages over the
modem interface. The mobile operator charges for
this message sending and receiving as if it was
performed directly on a mobile phone. To perform
these tasks, a GSM modem must support an
“extended AT command set” for sending/receiving
SMS messages.
(5) LCD: It is a flat panel display, electronic visual
display, or video display that uses the light
modulating properties of liquid crystals..In our
system we use 16X2 LCD.
(6) Motors: This system uses the 12V DC permanent
magnet motor for the single axis movement of
solar panel. Fig 3. GSM Module
(7) Sensors: The LDR sensors are placed on the solar
panel which helps in tracking maximum intensity
of sunlight. Based on moisture sensor values the
water pump is switched on and off automatically.
187
International Journal of Research in Advent Technology, Vol.2, No.4, April 2014
E-ISSN: 2321-9637
b. Flow Chart For Irrigation System
START
CHECK MODE
SELECTION
POSITION
Fig 4. LCD Display
IS POSITION RHS
ON RHS OR
LHS
LHS
SELECT SELECT
AUTOMATIC MODE GSM MODE
Fig 5. Prototype Design CHECK A
MOISTURE
SENSOR VALUE
2.3 Flow Chart
a. Flow Chart For Solar Tracking
IS NO
MOISTURE
START
SENSOR
VALUE<75
COMPARE LIGHT
INTENSITIES FROM YES
TWO LDRS
PUMP ON PUMP OFF
NO IS DIFFERENCE
LDR1-LDR2>±10
SEND SEND
FEEDBACK FEEDBACK
PUMP ON PUMP OFF
YES
KEEP SOLAR
ROTATE PANEL IN
PANEL
MAXMIMUM LIGHT
POSITION
INTENSITY DIRECTION
INTACT
188
International Journal of Research in Advent Technology, Vol.2, No.4, April 2014
E-ISSN: 2321-9637
(3) the elimination of unnecessary movements, at too
A small intensities of the light signals or at too small
differences between the signals received from the
two LDR sensors.
READ THE
MESSAGE (4) The microcontroller makes system automatic and
saves man power and as well as power & wastage
of water.
5. CONCLUSION
IS RECEIVED
NO
MESSAGE HAS The present proposal is a model to harness maximum
PROGRAMMED available solar energy by tracking the sun and modernize the
PASSWORD agriculture industries at a mass scale with optimum
expenditure. The solar power irrigation system will help to
reduce the gap between required and consumed energy and
YES further conserves the resources thereby reducing the
wastage of resource. .This system can be improved by
CONSIDER TURN THE adding temperature sensors and dissolved solid sensors. To
AS PUMP ON OR OFF improve system internet can be used to control the
NO DATA BASED ON THE [Link] can be added to analyze the farm condition and
RECEIVED
sensors value graphically.
PASSWORD
REFERENCE
[1] Hemant Ingale and [Link], Automated Solar
Based Agriculture Pumping, vol. 2,Page no.
3. EXPERIMENTAL RESULT 407-410.
[2] Kassem A, Mosbeh Lebanon Hamad, MA
1) If the difference between the two LDR sensors Microcontroller-Based Solar Tracking System,
say S1 and S2 is greater than +10 (S1-S2>10) than Systems Conference(Syscon),2011 IEEE
solar panel will orient towards east direction and if
International Page no. 13-16.
is greater than -10(S1-S2>-10) solar panel will
orient in west direction. [3] Oka Bingo, Ahmed Altintas, Yousef Oner, A
2) In automatic mode, if moisture sensor value goes Microcontroller-Based Solar Tracking System and
below 75cbar than pump will be ON and once the It’s Implementation, Journal of Engineering
exceeds 75cbar pump will be OFF automatically. Science, Page no 243-248.
3) In GSM mode,after receiving message having [4] Syed Arsalan, Sun Tracking System with
programmed password, pump will be ON and Microcontroller [Link] Journal of
feedback ‘PUMP ON’ is sent on the mobile
Scientific & Engineering Research, Volume 4,Issue
number written in the program.
4) Similarly in GSM mode,after receiving message 6,June-2013,Page no. 2998-3001.
having programmed password, pump will be OFF [5] Uddin, J, Automated Irrigation System Using Solar
and feedback ‘PUMP OFF’ is sent on the mobile Power,Electrical and Computer (ICECE), 2012 7th
number written in the program. International Conference, Page no. 228-231.
[6] Yalla,S.P, Energy Management in an Automated
Solar Powered Irrigation System, Information
4. Advantage
Communication and Embedded Systems
Based on the obtained results we can conclude that the (ICICES),2013 International Conference,Page no.
proposed solution for a solar tracking system offers 1136-1140.
several advantages concerning the movement of the PV [7] Mostefa Ghassoul, International Journal of
panel: Emerging Technology and Advanced Engineering,
(1) a maximization of output energy produced by the Volume 3, Issue 5, Page no. 453-460
PV panel, through an optimal positioning executed
only for sufficient values of light signal intensity.
(2) a guarantee of the panel positioning starting from
any initial position of the PV panel.
189
