XIII. Intermediate scale (solar power)

XIII. Intermediate scale (solar power)

Objectives

• Design a Spreadsheet Calculator to ease future solar work
• Design a modular, easy to install, solar mounting solution at Full Scale
• Integrate Solar into the Intermediate Scale System
• Design and Build a modular, easy to install and transport solar mounting solution at the Intermediate Scale
• Power the Intermediate Scale System for the MakerFaire showcase using an appropriately scaled array

Design Requirements and Specifications

• Modular, easy to assemble/take apart
• Design a frame that would eliminate tracking system on full scale model
• Able to power intermediate solar scale track
• Structurally sturdy + aesthetically pleasing
• Light enough that solar modules do not distort shape of guideway

State-of-the-art / Literature Review for the Subteam’ s Sphere of Work

• Three main solar panels are used throughout world

i. Monocrystalline silicon solar panels

1. Made with high purity silicon (solar cells packed/aligned extremely well.)
2. Helps convert energy into electricity better
3. Efficiency of 15-20 percent, long life span
4. Most expensive

ii. Polycrystalline silicon solar panels

1. Uses raw silicon
2. Easier to manufacture/cost less than monocrystalline
3. Efficiency of 13-16%

iii. Thin film solar panels

1. Made from depositing one or several layers of photovoltaic material onto a substrate
2. Efficiency of 7 - 13 percent
3. Degrade faster compared to polycrystalline and monocrystalline

• Miasole’s Thin film solar panel used for ful design (output 340W)
• New solar panel mounts were made (SoloPower solar panels were decided to be used)

Design Concepts

• Power calculator created to help determine required specifications (uses arithmetic/dimensional analysis)
• Final design was a planar design
• Mounted on track going east to west

Analysis and Concept Selections

• Estimated applied load: 200 lbs
• All power necessary was calculated
• Solar mount solution was used to provide power to the intermediate system
• Each panel in a module provided about 27 volts at 2 amps
• Overall system provided 80 volts at 10 amps
• 7 solar panels can be placed in series or in parallel or 6 in a combination of series and parallel

Budget analysis

• A total amount of $524.89 was used

Outcomes

• Excel based calculator completed to design systems for intermediate and full scale Spartan Superway
• A modular mounting design in full scale has been designed for future use

Discussion

• Power calculator is fairly simple and easy to use
• Full scale solar mounting designed for full specifications
• Intermediate solar solution implemented in time for makerfaire

Conclusion

• Very successful
• Intermediate design is accessible and ready for future teams to take advantage of

Suggestions for future work

• Make intermediate scale fully solarized
• Improve power calculator to include other subteams