Sustainable Energy: Spring 2013

SOLAR PROJECT:

Data Representation+Phys. Comp.

Erika Maher

WHY ICE?

DATA SET: ARctic Sea Ice Extent 1980-2012

D

Concept and INspiration:

Data Representational Lighting Installation with Solar Power

PROCESS:

1. Looked for working solar kit

- Thought I found the one working battery in the ER, but the panel gathered light for over 3 days and the battery never charged

2. Built circuit

- Decided to use different grades of resistors to control light brightness

3. Gathered fabrication materials

- All except electronic components and paint were used/junk items

4. Investigated energy alternative

- Experimented with using only the solar panel from the SunTransfer2 (solar lantern) kits and a Lowel Tota lamp.  Connected the 9V output solar panel directly to Arduino and was able to power circuit.

5. Renamed project:

- "Photovoltaic" in place of "Solar"

Challenges:

Monday                                                                                                                               Tuesday

Wednesday                                                                                                                 Thursday

Solution:

Turn electricity into light and turn it back into electricity!

Notes:

Project Sketch

Materials:

Arduino

Breadboard+Components

9V Output SunTransfer Solar Panel (2W crystalline silicon)

800W / 6.3 A Lowel Toto Lamp

Old Glass Jars

Six (6) 3.2V 20mA Bright White LEDs

Scrap wood, fabric, cardboard, foam board

Hot glue, staples

system input/consumption

Lowel light: requires 120 V/6.3A / outputs 830 W

       For 5 minutes operation: 240,000 J

Solar panel: outputs 9V, 2W

       For 5 minutes operation: 600 J

Arduino: requires 5 V and ~ 240 mA (40 mA/I-O pin x 6 pins)

       For 5 minutes operation: peak energy = 1.65 J

Conclusion: system loses a lot of energy through heat

measurements

Energy Converter:  4.75" x 5.5" pure silicon solar panel

Open Circuit Voltage

Brightest:  Bulb 1)   1.1V

                       Bulb 2)    0.5V

Medium:    Bulb 1)    1.8V

                       Bulb 2)    1.3V

Dimmest   Bulb  1)    1.9V

                       Bulb  2)    1.9V

Short Circuit Current

Brightest:  Bulb  1)    0.6 mA

                        Bulb  2)   1.3 mA

Medium:     Bulb  1)   .52 mA

                        Bulb  2)   .73 mA

Dimmest:   Bulb  1)    .11 mA

                        Bulb  2)    .10 mA