Hybrid Fuzzy Logic–Controlled Solar Tracking and Cooling System for Enhancing Photovoltaic Performance

Samwel Ng’ang’a Kariuki; Peter K. Kihato; Fred Mulei

Samwel Ng’ang’a Kariuki Department of Renewable Energy and Environmental Engineering, School of Energy and Built Environment Mount Kenya University, Kenya
Peter K. Kihato Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Kenya
Fred Mulei Department of Renewable Energy and Environmental Engineering, School of Energy and Built Environment Mount Kenya University, Kenya

Keywords: Dual-Axis Tracking; Fuzzy Logic Control; Photovoltaic Cooling; Renewable Energy; Optimization; Solar Photovoltaics

Abstract

Photovoltaic (PV) systems experience performance degradation due to fixed module orientation and elevated operating temperatures under real outdoor conditions. This study proposes and experimentally validates a hybrid photovoltaic system that integrates dual-axis solar tracking with an adaptive cooling subsystem controlled by a multi-fuzzy logic architecture. The system was modelled and simulated in MATLAB/Simulink and subsequently validated through a prototype tested under field conditions. The fuzzy logic tracker achieved a faster response time (approximately 0.3 s) and minimal overshoot compared to a conventional PID controller. The cooling subsystem maintained the module temperature near 35 °C, reducing thermally induced voltage losses. Experimental results demonstrated that the hybrid system delivered a net daily energy gain of approximately 38 Wh per 40 Wp module, representing an improvement of about 56% over a fixed, uncooled module. Auxiliary energy consumption from motors and cooling pump remained minimal relative to the additional harvested energy. The findings demonstrate that integrating adaptive tracking and temperature regulation significantly enhances PV performance in high-irradiance regions