Browse Topic: Sun and solar

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Electric mobility and materials circularity - a study of recycled PET textiles for automotive interiors2026-26-0237To be published on 01/16/2026
The adoption of sustainability in electric mobility has made it crucial to investigate environmentally friendly materials. Polymer materials used in automotive application plays very important role in material circularity contributing significant value addition to the overall carbon footprint index. This study discloses the development of recycled polyester textiles from PET bottle waste, use for automotive interior parts and carbon footprint impact. The use of recycled textiles is directly helping the organization in scope 3 emissions to get the lower carbon footprint value by eliminating the use of fossil fuel resources in making the PET textiles. In this study, the development road map methodology adopted, and validation cycle of recycled polyester textiles (PET) were explained broadly with results of different constructions, color and finishes against automotive critical requirements such as sun load UV resistance, abrasion durability, color migrations, soiling resistance
Palaniappan, Elavarasan, Varatharajan, Senthilkumaran, Balaji, K V, Dodiya, Rohanbhai
3D-Printed Reactor Core Makes Solar Fuel Production More EfficientTBMG-5219312/01/2024
In recent years, engineers at ETH Zurich have developed the technology to produce liquid fuels from sunlight and air. In 2019, they demonstrated the entire thermochemical process chain under real conditions for the first time, in the middle of Zurich, on the roof of ETH Machine Laboratory. These synthetic solar fuels are carbon neutral because they release only as much CO2 during their combustion as was drawn from the air for their production. Two ETH spin-offs, Climeworks and Synhelion, are further developing and commercializing the technologies.
SAE TOMORROW TODAY BRIEFS: EV Batteries That Run on Sunshine--Or in the Cold1346006/12/2024
It's no secret that installing EV charging stations can be time-consuming. But what if you could use the power of the sun? Beam Global is doing just that -- not only on land, but in the water and sky as well. Beam's research and work in thermal management enables EV batteries to charge in a hot or cold environments. Using clean energy solutions like solar power, Beam deploys EV charging infrastructure in minutes not months -- with no permitting, no construction, and no electrical work. Listen in as Roberto Baldwin, Sustainability Editor, SAE Sustainable Mobility Solutions, sits down with Said Al-Hallaj, Chief Battery Scientist, Beam Global, to discuss the rapidly deployed and scalable EV charging solutions, the challenges of electrification in the air and water, and the importance of thermal management. For more information on the evolution of sustainability, head on over to sustainablecareers.sae.org. There you can read about how GM is pushing back on media coverage that growth in the
Hineman, Marcie
A Novel Approach to Make an Efficient Thermal Management of a Solar Electric Four-Wheeler Through Model-Based System Simulation2024-26-013001/16/2024
The objective of this paper is to determine and design an optimized thermal management system for a solar electric four-wheeler while considering system influence. The major systems that will be analyzed and optimized include the HVAC, solar system, and battery. The HVAC system imposes a challenge to the designers to fulfill the passenger's comfort and to operate it efficiently under a wide range of external loads from solar radiation, ambient temperature & humidity, human metabolic activity, and also other loads like the propulsion system temperature on the cabin. From the literature, it is found that the air conditioning system reduces on average 14% of the total battery capacity whereas the heating system reduces it by 18%, which makes the HVAC system design a crucial aspect to consider for the system influence. The battery car voltage changes significantly to meet the power demand and because of this, the battery system produces a large amount of heat while discharging which will
Karthikeyan, Vikram Raj, Gumma, Muralidhar
Simulating V2G Concept for optimized EV fleet charging in India2024-26-010101/16/2024
The transport sector is bound to play a huge role in the imminent transition to green energy. India has pledged to reach net-zero emissions by 2070 at COP26 and is committed to have 30% EV sales by 2030. The Indian government has been facilitating fleet electrification through initiatives like FAME–II. India’s EV market is expected to grow at an annual rate of 90% between 2022 and 2030. With this projection combined with climate targets, comes the anticipated exponential rise in renewable energy contribution to the national grid accompanied by a huge transport related demand for electricity. NITI Aayog – India’s public policy think tank along with Ministry of Power is already looking into expansion of EV charging infrastructure in India as part of smart grid implementation. Deployment of Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) technology as extension of smart charging initiative is imperative in smooth transition to renewable energy. The possibility of bi-directional energy flow between EV battery and
Sandhu, Rouble, Cao, Xinyuan, Faßbender, Max, Schade, Thomas, Emran, Ashraf, Andert, Jakob, Xia, Feihong, Sharma, Vijay
Performance Analysis of High gain DC-DC Converter for Solar PV Applications2022-28-049511/18/2022
The conventional energy resources continue to experience a depleting trend particularly with the growing energy demand to support the ongoing automation phase in the industries. Besides the other challenges include environmental issues in the form of global warming and increasing concerns of pollution to the atmosphere. It invites attention to exploring the use of renewable sources and among the many options Solar PV systems draw a greater attention. However, the non-linear nature of the I-V characteristic of the solar cell allows the delivery of the maximum power only at a specific point called Maximum Power Point, which depends on the solar irradiance, cell temperature and load conditions. The immediate requirement relates to improving the efficiency of the Solar PV system and therefore the focus orients to introduce a high gain DC-DC converter interface between the Solar PV and the load, with a purpose to envisage the transfer of power at a high efficiency. The methodology resorts
V, BHUVANESHWARI, Rajendran, R., M, SUBASHINI
SAE TOMORROW TODAY: Soaking Up the Sun: America's First Solar-Powered Town1315607/29/2021
Welcome to Babcock Ranch: the hometown of the future. Powered entirely by 700,000 solar panels across 840 acres of land in sunny Florida, Babcock Ranch is an innovative town that combines everything Americana with the technologies of tomorrow: electric-powered ice cream trucks, city-wide WiFi, expansive public green spaces, and the comfort of being part of a community. Syd Kitson, Chairman and CEO of Kitson & Partners - the founders of Babcock Ranch - joined us to share how he turned his vision for the future into reality - while making it economically viable along the way.
Hineman, Marcie
Detection & Tracking of Multi-Scenic Lane Based on Segnet-LSTM Semantic Split Network2021-01-008304/06/2021
Lane detection is an important component in automatic pilot system and advanced driving assistance system (ADAS). The stability and precision of lane detection will directly determine precision of control and lane plan of vehicles. Traditional mechanical vision lane detection approaches in complicated environment have the deficiencies of low precision and feature semantic description disabilities. But the lane detection depending on deep learning, e.g. SCNN network, LaneNet network, ENet-SAD network have imbalance problems of splitting precision and storage usage. This paper proposes an approach of high-efficiency deep learning Segnet-LSTM semantic segmentation network. This network structure is composed with encoding network and corresponding decoding networks. First, convolution and maximum pooling. The proposal extracts texture details of five images and stores searching position of maximum pooling. Meanwhile, it will implement interpolate processing to the lost points. Then, by up
Ye, Meng, Tan, Gangfeng, Tang, Jingning, Feng, Jiaming, Huang, Xin, Sun, Wenchao
An Online Coverage Path Planning Method for Sweeper Trucks in Dynamic Environments2021-01-009504/06/2021
In this paper, a novel online coverage path planning (CPP) method for autonomous sweeper trucks in closed areas is proposed. This method can efficiently generate executable paths for sweeper trucks that cover all feasible uncleaned areas without getting tracked in dead-end, i.e., no backward behaviors required and avoid dynamic obstacles. To reach that end, a modified biological inspired neuron network method considering vehicle constrains is developed, where the dynamic of each neuron is determined by the shunting function. The path will be iteratively generated based on local neuron dynamics. In order to avoid dead-end, a detour algorithm combing with back iteration is introduced to search the nearest uncleaned area that can be reached within vehicle constrains. The proposed method is empirically approved to be computationally efficient and adaptive to maps with arbitrary shapes. The feasibility of generated paths is validated in simulations, where the pure pursuit method is applied
Zhang, Weiyang, Sun, Yong, Yu, Wenbo, XU, MENG
INRS Researchers Design the World’s Fastest UV CameraTBMG-3863103/01/2021
Imagine being able to snap a picture of extremely fast events on the order of a picosecond. Compressed ultrafast photography (CUP) captures the entire process in real time and unparalleled resolution with just one click. The spatial and temporal information is first compressed into an image and then, using a reconstruction algorithm, it is converted into a video.
Inexpensive Method Decontaminates Personal Protective EquipmentTBMG-3836201/01/2021
Supply-chain problems stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic caused limited supplies of filtering facepiece respirators such as N95 masks. Yet strategies to decontaminate personal protective equipment (PPE) remain unresolved in many hospitals with limited resources, both in the United States and abroad.
Side-Mounted Solar Modules Enhance Energy SustainabilityTBMG-3832901/01/2021
If builders could incorporate solar harvesting into the siding of a building, the amount of energy from the grid that a structure would need may significantly decrease. Researchers have demonstrated the potential of wedge-shaped luminescent solar concentrators (LSCs) that can easily be hung on the side of a building.
Sunlight Converts Emissions into Useful MaterialsTBMG-3800511/01/2020
The rapidly growing concentration of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the Earth’s atmosphere is one of the most urgent issues humanity must address to avoid a climate catastrophe. Thanks to greenhouse gases like CO2, the heat from the Sun is remaining trapped in the atmosphere, warming the planet. Researchers developed a method to break CO2 apart and convert the greenhouse gas into useful materials like fuels or consumer products ranging from pharmaceuticals to polymers.
Solar-Powered StructuresTBMG-3760409/01/2020
Pvilion Brooklyn, NY 718-852-2528
In-situ studies on the effect of solar control glazings on in-cabin thermal environment for hot and humid climatic zones2020-01-125704/14/2020
Thermal comfort in a passenger cabin is the basic necessity of an occupant especially in hot and humid climatic conditions. It is known that the reflective glazing solutions provide better thermal comfort inside the cabin due to significant reflection of IR part of solar radiation. However, in hot and humid climatic zones like India, significant reduction in heat load can also be achieved through cost effective solar control absorbing glazings. Thus, the present work aims to study the effect of solar control absorbing glazings on cabin inside temperatures and its impact on thermal comfort of the occupants in tropical climates. A combination of glazing sets with a range of solar energy transmission and absorption values are considered for the study. Indoor soak and cool tests are performed on a sedan model with multiple sets of solar control absorbing glass combinations. A constant ambient temperature of 38˚C and solar radiation of 1000W/m2 are maintained throughout the tests. Wind
Tamalapakula, Jyothi Latha
Durability Study of Automotive Additive Manufactured Specimens2020-01-095704/14/2020
The long-term weathering behavior of three different 3D printable, non-stabilized, UV cure resin formulations (A and B with thiol-ene base, and C with acrylate chemistry) was studied using tensile testing, nano-indentation, and photoacoustic infrared (FTIR-PAS) spectroscopy. To this end, type I tensile bars were printed from each resin system using a 3D printer, and were post UV-cured under a broad spectrum source. Systems A and C showed a similar trend after weathering. They first experienced an increase in modulus and tensile strength, due to additional crosslinking of the residual unreacted species. This increase in mechanical properties was followed by a drop in modulus, tensile strength, and percent elongation, due to the over-crosslinking and consequent embrittlement. System B, however, showed remarkable retention of the mechanical properties before/after weathering. Nano-indentation results were in good agreement with the tensile properties, showing a similar trend in hardness
Zareanshahraki, Forough, Davenport, Amelia, Cramer, Neil, Seubert, Christopher, Lee, Ellen, Cassoli, Matthew
PLCs Directly Access Internet InformationTBMG-3639204/01/2020
Programmable logic controllers (PLCs) are a workhorse of industrial automation for monitoring and controlling equipment and they typically are standalone or networked locally on a site. Some have gained extensive networking and communication abilities and newer PLCs can programmatically obtain Internet-sourced information like weather conditions or energy prices that can be used to optimize operations.
Ultraviolet Rays Quickly Bash Bacteria on Mobile DevicesTBMG-3534310/01/2019
Ultraviolet light has been used for more than 30 years as a source of disinfectant. A newly introduced product uses the technology to eliminate bacteria on cell phones, tablets and other mobile devices in 20 seconds, and is used worldwide in healthcare facilities, biotech manufacturing plants, and even food processing facilities.
Products of Tomorrow: October 2019TBMG-3528610/01/2019
This column presents technologies that have applications in commercial areas, possibly creating the products of tomorrow. To learn more about each technology, see the contact information provided for that innovation.
Rose-Inspired Device Collects and Purifies WaterTBMG-3527610/01/2019
A new device, inspired by a rose, inexpensively collects and purifies water. The device is a new approach to solar steaming for water production — a technique that uses energy from sunlight to separate salt and other impurities from water through evaporation.
Method Uses Ultraviolet Light to Control Fluid Flow and Organize ParticlesTBMG-3490708/01/2019
A new method uses ultraviolet light to control the flow of fluids by encouraging particles — from plastic microbeads, to bacterial spores, to pollutants — to gather and organize at a specific location within a liquid and, if desired, move to new locations.
Graphene Lid Extends Photoemission Electron Microscopy to LiquidsTBMG-3475307/01/2019
By capping liquids with graphene (an ultrathin sheet of pure carbon), researchers can easily image and analyze liquid interfaces and the surface of nanometer-scale objects immersed in liquids. In the imaging technique known as photoemission electron microscopy (PEEM), ultraviolet light or X-rays bombard a sample, stimulating the material to release electrons from a region at or just beneath its surface. Electric fields act as lenses, focusing the emitted electrons to create an image.
Revolutionary Camera Allows Scientists to Predict Evolution of Ancient StarsTBMG-3477507/01/2019
Scientists at the University of Sheffield have been working with HiPERCAM, a high-speed, multicolor camera, which is capable of taking more than 1,000 images per second, allowing experts to measure both the mass and the radius of a cool subdwarf star for the first time.
Creation of an Icephobic Coating using Graphite Powder and PTFE Nanoparticles2019-01-197906/10/2019
Ice accretion can cause numerous inefficiencies, structural stresses, and failures in applications ranging from building design to power generation and aerospace applications. Currently, some of the leading de-icing technologies, such as the ICE-WIPS system, utilize a heating element coupled with a superhydrophobic surface. The high power consumption inherent in these systems can make them expensive and impractical, especially when coupled with power generating systems. Reduced power consumption in these de-icing technologies can be achieved through increased absorption of solar radiation in the visible range while maintaining hydrophobic performance of a coating. In this work, a Polytetrafluorethylene (PTFE) and graphite-based superhydrophobic surface is proposed, which maintains similar hydrophobic performance to standard superhydrophobic surfaces. The novel coating demonstrates contact angles of upwards of 130o and sliding angles of less than 4o, while increasing solar radiation
Gonzales, Joseph, Sakaue, Hirotaka
New Wristband Provides Personalized and Real-Time Tracking of UV ExposureTBMG-3388903/01/2019
A paper-based sensor, which can be worn as a wristband, features happy and sad emoticon faces drawn in an invisible UV-sensitive ink. They successively light up as you reach 25%, 50%, 75%, and finally 100% of your daily recommended UV exposure. The research team also created six versions of the color-changing wristbands, each of which is personalized for a specific skin tone — an important characteristic given that darker people need more sun exposure to produce vitamin D, which is essential for healthy bones, teeth, and muscles.
Small-Body Dynamics Toolkit Version 5.0TBMG-3393103/01/2019
The Small-Body Dynamics Toolkit (SBDT) v5.0 is a collection of primitive-body-specific trajectory design and analysis tools written in MATLAB®. The SBDT gives the user the capabilities to propagate, analyze, and visualize spacecraft trajectories and the dynamical environment near realistic asteroid, comet, or small planetary-moon models. The various component functions provided can be put together through user-created scripts, functions, or tools to perform a wide variety of trajectory analyses, including close-proximity encounter design, Monte Carlo studies, stability analysis, geometric analyses, and fuel budget calculations.
Walking Robot Moves Without GPSTBMG-3387002/27/2019
Ants are able to use polarized light and ultraviolet radiation to locate themselves in space. AntBot mimics this ability to explore its environment randomly and go home automatically, without GPS or mapping.
Printing Technology Uses Sound Waves to Control Size of Liquid DropletsTBMG-3370202/01/2019
Liquid droplets are used in many applications, from printing ink on paper to creating microcapsules for drug delivery. Inkjet printing is the most common technique used to pattern liquid droplets, but it's only suitable for liquids that are roughly ten times more viscous than water. Many fluids of interest to researchers are far more viscous; for example, biopolymer and cell-laden solutions that are vital for biopharmaceuticals and bioprinting are at least 100 times more viscous than water. Some sugar-based biopolymers could be as viscous as honey, which is 25,000 times more viscous than water. The viscosity of these fluids also changes dramatically with temperature and composition, making it more difficult to optimize printing parameters to control droplet sizes.
5 Ws of My Skin Track UVTBMG-3367802/01/2019
The device can optimize treatment of neonatal jaundice, skin diseases, and seasonal affective disorder (SAD) and reduce risk of sunburn and skin cancer.
Materials Move in Response to LightTBMG-3359001/01/2019
In biology, there are many examples where light induces movement or change — think of flowers and leaves turning toward sunlight. Magnetic elastomeric composites were developed that move in different ways when exposed to light, raising the possibility that these materials could enable a wide range of products that perform simple to complex movements, from tiny engines and valves, to solar arrays that bend toward the sunlight. These simple movements could be combined into more complex motion like crawling, walking, or swimming, and can be triggered and controlled wirelessly using light.
Space Debris Orbit and Attitude Prediction for Enhanced and Efficient Space Situational AwarenessTBMG-3302510/01/2018
This research deals with the problem of modelling the orbit and attitude motion of uncontrolled manmade objects in orbit about the Earth, which tumble due to the natural influences of the near-Earth space environment. A mathematical, physics-based and computational approach is taken to model the forces and torques that drive the orbit and attitude evolution of such objects. The main influence modelled is solar radiation pressure (SRP), which is the interaction of solar electromagnetic radiation with the surface of an object, leading to both forces and torques that influence the orbital and attitude motion. Other influences, such as the gravitational field of the Earth, are also modelled.
Cobalt Oxygen-Evolving Catalysts for Clean Solar FuelTBMG-2871204/01/2018
By splitting a water molecule into two atoms of hydrogen and one of oxygen, scientists can use the Sun’s energy to make a clean fuel. Splitting a water molecule requires a metal catalyst to get the reaction started. Recently, much scientific attention has focused on cobalt, a relatively abundant and inexpensive catalyst that — in the right circumstances — can serve as an escort to an electronic connection between hydrogens and oxygens.
Sensor Networks — The Platform for a Connected FarmTBMG-2852603/01/2018
Farming has not been untouched by the IoT revolution. The relationships among field conditions, crops, and strategies for planting, irrigating, and harvesting are complex, yet vital for the success of the enterprise. Agricultural machines such as tractors, combines, mowers, and balers are key to smooth operations. Intelligent, addressable sensors on the machines and in the fields, enable farm managers to keep track of operations that are not only widely dispersed but also in motion.
Wearable Solar Thermoelectric GeneratorTBMG-2830102/01/2018
Energy harvesting is a diverse field encompassing many technologies that involve a process that captures small amounts of energy that would otherwise be lost as heat, light, sound, vibration, or movement. A thermoelectric generator (TEG) is a device that converts waste heat energy — such as solar energy, geothermal energy, and body heat — into additional electrical power.
Custom Data Logger for Real-Time Remote Field Data Collections17AERP10_1010/01/2017
Compact, energy efficient instruments have the same functionality as a personal computer. Army Engineer Research and Development Center, Vicksburg, Mississippi The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), CHL, FRF, had a need for a remote real-time data collection system to control instruments and log and communicate data from five observing stations in the Currituck Sound Estuary, NC1. These stations, referred to as the Currituck Sound Array (CSA), collect a suite of meteorological and oceanographic data including wind, air temperature, humidity, incoming solar radiation (above and below water), waves, currents, water level, salinity, and water temperature, as well as turbidity and many other water quality parameters. This array of instruments has a variety of control commands, sample routines, and output data formats. Additionally, the CSA was designed to act as a natural laboratory for estuarine research and as an instrument and model test bed. These capabilities required a reliable
Custom Data Logger for Real-Time Remote Field Data CollectionsTBMG-2765310/01/2017
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), CHL, FRF, had a need for a remote real-time data collection system to control instruments and log and communicate data from five observing stations in the Currituck Sound Estuary, NC1. These stations, referred to as the Currituck Sound Array (CSA), collect a suite of meteorological and oceano-graphic data including wind, air temperature, humidity, incoming solar radiation (above and below water), waves, currents, water level, salinity, and water temperature, as well as turbidity and many other water quality parameters. This array of instruments has a variety of control commands, sample routines, and output data formats. Additionally, the CSA was designed to act as a natural laboratory for estuarine research and as an instrument and model test bed. These capabilities required a reliable and flexible system that would allow easy modification of sampling schemes, the ability to log as many as 15 instruments with a single logger, and allow the
A Distributed Simulation of a Martian Fuel Production Facility2017-01-202209/19/2017
The future of human exploration in the solar system is contingent on the ability to exploit resources in-situ to produce mission consumables. Specifically, it has become clear that the success of a manned mission to Mars will likely depend on fuel components created on the Martian surface. While several architectures for an unmanned fuel production surface facility on Mars exist in theory, a simulation of the performance and operation of these architectures has not been created. In this paper, the framework describing a simulation of one such architecture is defined. Within this architecture, each component of the base is implemented as a state machine, with the ability to communicate with other base elements as well as a supervisor. An environment supervisor is also created which governs low level aspects of the simulation such as movement and resource distribution, in addition to higher-level aspects such as location selection with respect to operations specific behavior. This
Loundy, Katherine, Schaefer, Louis, Foran, Andrew, Ninah, Catherine, Bandong, Khristopher, Brown, Robert, Heston, Hunter, Steed, John-Paul, Young, William, Heinrich, Mark, Rabelo, Luis
Tradeoff Study of High Altitude Solar Reflector Concepts2017-01-214309/19/2017
A direct solution to Global Warming would be to reflect a part of sunlight back into Space. A system tradeoff study is being developed with three of the concepts that are being evaluated as long-endurance high-altitude reflectors. The first concept is a high aspect ratio solar powered flying wing towing reflector sheets. This concept is named “Flying Carpet”. Second is a centrifugally stretched high altitude solar reflector (CSHASR). The CSHASR has 4 rotors made of reflector sheets with a hub stretching to 60 percent of the radius, held together by an ultralight quad-rotor structure. Each rotor is powered by a solar-electric motor. A variation on this concept, forced by nighttime descent rate concerns, is powered by tip-mounted solar panels and propellers with some battery storage augmenting rotational inertia as well as energy storage. The third concept is an Aerostatically Balanced Reflector (ABR) sheet, held up by hydrogen balloons. A set of co-axial counter-rotating rotors provides
Komerath, Narayanan, Shukla, Dhwanil, Hariharan, Shravan, Patel, Sahaj, Hiremath, Nandeesh
The Flying Carpet: Aerodynamic High-Altitude Solar Reflector Design Study2017-01-202609/19/2017
Our concept studies indicate that a set of reflectors floated in the upper atmosphere can efficiently reduce radiant forcing into the atmosphere. The cost of reducing the radiant forcing sufficiently to reverse the current rate of Global Warming, is well within reach of global financial resources. This paper summarizes the overall concept and focuses on one of the reflector concepts, the Flying Carpet. The basic element of this reflector array is a rigidized reflector sheet towed behind and above a solar-powered, distributed electric-propelled flying wing. The vehicle rises above 30,480 m (100,000 ft) in the daytime by solar power. At night, the very low wing loading of the sheets enables the system to stay well above the controlled airspace ceiling of 18,288 m (60,000 ft). The concept study results are summarized before going into technical issues in implementation. Flag instability is studied in initial wind tunnel experiments. This has forced evolution of the concept to one similar
Komerath, Narayanan, Hariharan, Shravan, Shukla, Dhwanil, Patel, Sahaj, Rajendran, Vishnu, Hale, Emily
Using Sunlight to Activate the Flow of Electrical Current in a New MaterialTBMG-2753609/01/2017
Mined to make the first compass needles, the mineral magnetite is also made by migratory birds and other animals to allow them to sense north and south, and thus navigate in cloudy or dark atmospheric conditions or under water. Researchers have compositionally modified magnetite to capture visible sunlight and convert this light energy into electrical current. This current may be useful to drive the decomposition of water into hydrogen and oxygen. The team generated this material by replacing one third of the iron atoms with chromium atoms.
Development Solar Charging System of Vehicle2017-01-159803/28/2017
Fuel consumption and CO2 emission regulations for vehicles, such as the Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Regulation, motivate renewable energy technologies in the automotive industry. Therefore, the automotive industry is focused on adopting solar charging systems. Some vehicles have adopted solar energy to power the ventilation system, but these vehicles do not use solar energy to power the drivetrain. One important issue facing the design of solar charging systems is the low power generated by solar panels. Compared to solar panels for residential use, solar panels for vehicles can’t generate as much power because of size and weight limitations. Also, the power generated by solar panels can be extremely affected depending on differences in solar radiation among the cells. Therefore, Toyota has developed a solar charging system that can use solar energy for driving the Prius PHV. This system can efficiently charge the hybrid battery with the low power generated by the solar panel. The
Go, Koichi, Hirano, Takahiro, Miyoshi, Tatsuya, Sato, Daisuke
The Development of Direct Drive Motors for Solar Cars2017-01-123203/28/2017
Solar car races are held worldwide, aiming to promote vehicles that help reduce environmental loads on the roads. In order to gain superiority in solar car racing, it is essential to develop a high efficiency brushless direct drive motor that optimizes the energy use to the fullest and allows high speed driving when needed. To achieve these goals, two development approaches of solar car motors are proposed: the high efficiency motor which improves electrical characteristics and significantly reduces energy loss; and the variable field magnet motor that offers instant speed boost for a temporary period of time for overtaking opponents. We have developed a high efficiency motor through the application of an amorphous core and laminated magnets. Instead of the standard method of the W-EDM (Wire-Electric Discharge Machining) for amorphous cores, we utilized water jet cutting, through which we succeeded in achieving insulation between laminated cores. In general, a sheet of magnet is used
Yamazakii, Tsubasa, Uchiyama, Hidekazu, Nakazawa, Kazuaki, Isomura, Tsubasa, Ogata, Hisashi
Apparatus and Method for a Light Direction SensorTBMG-2635702/01/2017
This invention, developed at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, was originally conceived as a high-accuracy, high-sensitivity, bi-axial Sun angle sensor, but has also been proposed for applications involving the general field of precisely measuring the direction in which light travels toward the sensor. It has applications in spacecraft navigation, formation flying in space, space beacons, and automotive collision avoidance.
Variable Permeability Magnetometer Systems and Methods for Aerospace ApplicationsTBMG-2634402/01/2017
NASA's Langley Research Center has developed a magnetometer that takes advantage of the unique variable permeability properties of Metglas 2714A magnetic material. By measuring directly the inductive reactance of a simple right circular cylindrical search coil through the application of current from a high-output-impedance current source driven with a 10-kHz sinusoidal voltage, a magnetic field sensor having a 700-Hz bandwidth, good linearity, and excellent noise performance with sensitivity at least as good as the 0.1 nTesla range was produced.
Mars Science Laboratory ChemCam Sun SafetyTBMG-2618601/01/2017
The Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) ChemCam instrument can be damaged when the Sun enters or passes through its field of view (FOV). There is no Sun cover, yet other instruments mounted with boresights pointing in the same direction must observe the Sun for scientific observations and for attitude determination. When in a Suntolerant focus range during rover motion and pointing for observations by other remote sensing instruments, the Sun must be allowed to pass through the ChemCam FOV, and when in a Sun-damage focus range for ChemCam observations, the Sun must never be allowed to enter the FOV, even after a rover system fault. Both of these scenarios depend upon knowledge of the attitude of the rover relative to the motion of the Sun. A Sun search that is guaranteed to be Sun-safe for the ChemCam, even when the location of the Sun is unknown, had to be developed.
Method of Bonding Dissimilar MaterialsTBMG-2571011/01/2016
NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center has developed a new method for bonding dissimilar materials using an elastic adhesive to permit the bond to withstand variations in temperature and pressure. Specifically, NASA uses this method to provide a >98% specular finish on composite materials that is proven capable of withstanding ultraviolet solar radiation exposure in a vacuum and thermal cycling from –115 °C to +65 °C, as well as meeting outgassing requirement limits of 1%.
Space Blanket-Inspired Cases Protect Expensive DevicesTBMG-2466605/01/2016
In the 1960s, NASA was preparing for early forays into space, and worked to devise thin, reflective, metallic material to protect spacecraft from the dangers of solar radiation. This material — metallized polyethylene terephthalate (MPET) — is strong and not only reflects radiation, but also serves as powerful insulation to protect electronics from large swings in temperature.
SUV Solar Roof with Photo-Thermal Effect for Ventilation ORC System2016-01-024004/05/2016
The Organic Rankine Cycle System (ORC) is an effective means to use the solar energy. The system adopts the solar energy on the car roof as the heat source to make the ORC work and drive the thermoelectric air-conditioner. It can improve the entering comfort on the parking condition and the vehicle energy utilization efficiency. In this research, the system comprehensively applied the principle of sunshine concentration, heat collection and photo electricity. Then considering the working condition and performance features of ORC system, the car roof was designed to have a compact structure, through which the efficiency of the solar vehicle system could be improved. Firstly, the research analyzed the heat source temperature and the heat flux impact on the output power of the ORC system. After that, the performance of heat collection was identified according to the given thermoelectric air-condition’s power requirements. After building the model of three kinds of solar collectors
Zhan, Ruobing, Tan, Gangfeng, Yang, Bo, Zhang, Zhiwei, Wang, Tie, Liu, Cenyi, Wu, Xintong, Ren, Yanjun, Xu, Haobo
Thermal Design & Analysis of Space-Craft for Lunar Descent and Operations.2016-01-021204/05/2016
TeamIndus is the only Indian participant in the Google Lunar X Prize (GLXP). GLXP, also referred to as Moon 2.0, is an inducement prize space competition organized by the X Prize Foundation, and sponsored by Google. The mission objective is to soft land a rover on moon, travel 500 meters and transmit HD videos and images to Earth. Team Indus’s strategy is to design and realize a lunar lander that will deliver a rover on to the surface of the moon which will accomplish GLXP mission objectives. The mission configuration comprises of four phases- Earth orbits, moon orbits, descent and surface operations. The lander during its interplanetary journey from earth to moon is exposed to different thermal loads viz. solar load, earth IR and albedo, moon IR and albedo, cold space at 4K and eclipse periods. The lander is also exposed to high temperatures of thruster nozzle during orbital transfer maneuvers. This paper discusses the thermal control system (TCS) that has been evolved to protect the
Kaushal, Paras, Wani, Satishchandra C.
Solar Heat Load on the Vehicle Occupants2016-01-024604/05/2016
Vehicle occupants, unlike building occupants, are exposed to continuously varying, non-uniform solar heat load. Automotive manufacturers use photovoltaic cells based solar sensor to measure intensity and direction of the direct-beam solar radiation. Use of the time of the day and the position - latitude and longitude - of a vehicle is also common to calculate direction of the direct-beam solar radiation. Two angles - azimuth and elevation - are used to completely define the direction of solar radiation with respect to the vehicle coordinate system. Although the use of solar sensor is common in today’s vehicles, the solar heat load on the occupants, because of their exposure to the direct-beam solar radiation remains the area of in-car subjective evaluation and tuning. Since the solar rays travel in parallel paths, application of the ray tracing method to determine solar insolation of the vehicle occupants is possible. Calculating the solar exposure however requires the knowledge of
Kakade, Rupesh Sonu, Mer, Prashant
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