Browse Topic: Solar energy

Items (386)

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

Optimization of Charging Infrastructure for Fleet Customers

2024-26-009201/16/2024

In a rush to move towards a sustainable future, the number of electric vehicles has risen significantly in recent years. With this, the need for power to charge those vehicles has also increased. In any electric vehicle fleet location, there could be a large number of vehicles with different arrival and departure times and energy requirements, which might vary every day. Depending on the geographical location, the available solar energy might differ. The electricity costs might change on an hourly basis. This in total can affect the charging costs. In addition, a non-optimal sizing of the energy components could result in an under-sized system, where the energy demands are not met, or it could result in an over-sized system, where the owner has to invest more than required. Based on all the information related to vehicle charging load, electricity charges, energy intensity profile of renewable energy generation like solar and wind, an optimal size of components, operational cost, and

Munirajappa, Chandrashekara, Shrivastava, Himanshu, Prasad P, Shilpa

Performance Analysis of High gain DC-DC Converter for Solar PV Applications

2022-28-049511/18/2022

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

Reliable Power for Long-Term Lunar Surface Operations

TBMG-4698111/07/2022

null, null

Energy Scavenging from Passengers for Powering Low-energy Electronics in Aircrafts

2022-26-125505/26/2022

With the ever increasing demand for aerial modes of transportation and reduction of different harmful emissions from these modes of transportation has led to demand for more electric modes of powering these aerial vehicles. In addition to that, the aerospace industry is also looking to make the aircrafts more smart and more connected. This involves increased use of more sensors, ICs and many more micro-electronic components. Even though they look small and consume less electricity, the electric battery which is supposed to be used for aircraft propulsion will require to power up these smaller components as well, which will continue to be a concern as the aircrafts begin using more and more of these components. Hence, a solution is needed to reduce the dependency of micro-electronic components or any other aircraft components used within the aircraft on the electric battery to be used for aircraft propulsion. The concept of Energy Harvesting or Energy Scavenging refers to the capturing

Bajpai, Apoorva

“Development of Autonomous Solar powered RC Aircraft”

2022-26-124605/26/2022

In the present-day world due to causing harm to environment and drastic depression in the availability of the non-renewable sources of energy (I.e., petrol, Diesel, Natural gas etc). It’s crucial for us to find alternative energy sources to suit our needs. One of the types of sources which is least used despite its abundance is solar energy. The reasons like “high cost” and “lack of technology” were substantiated in the past to prove its inefficiency. But, recent development in technology and studies have shown the ways of tapping the solar energy and converting it (E.g., electricity, heat etc.) and utilizing it in various applications. Apparently, there is minimal use of solar energy in aviation and RC aircraft fields. The aviation field uses high amount of white petroleum (highly polluting after combustion) and Batteries which are both harmful and expensive. This can pave way to the advent of solar energy which if properly utilized can act as a game changer by increasing the

S, Rakshith

Battery Drain Detection and Prevention Mechanism

2022-01-086303/29/2022

The purpose of this model is to prevent the draining of car batteries when not used for several weeks. This model comprises of a voltage monitoring sensor, cut off sensor and solar powered car battery charger. The function of the Voltage sensor is to Constantly Measure and monitor the Battery Voltage. The measured value is then sent to cut off sensor as an input. Based on the battery voltage level input from the voltage monitoring sensor, the cut off sensor takes the necessary action. When the voltage of the battery is above the threshold value, the cut off sensor does not take any action. If the voltage of the battery is low, then the cut off sensor cuts off the power supply from the battery and triggers the solar powered car battery charger to charge the battery. Once the battery is completely charged the charging process is stopped to prevent the damage of the battery. This cycle is repeated to maintain the battery voltage and prevent it from draining completely.

SATYANARAYANAN, Ashwath Narayanan S

SOLAR POWERED INCABIN EVAPORATIVE COOLING SYSTEM

2021-28-014409/15/2021

During summer season, Cabin Temperature of car soaked under the Sun, may rise upto 70 Deg C approx. This makes steering and seats inside the car very hot. At High temperatures hazardous gases are also accumulated inside the cabin. To overcome these problems, the passengers switch ON AC immediately after entering the car, which leads high consumption of fuel. Also doors and windows are to be kept open for some time to throw hot gases out. Also have to wait for getting cooling effect. To eliminate these problems a SOLAR POWERED INCABIN EVAPORATIVE COOLING SYSTEM can be installed in the car. This system uses a solar panel to capture the sunlight and convert the Solar energy into the Electrical energy which is used to recharge the 12V battery, which then gives necessary power for the cooling module which consist of water cooler with fan motor. The cool air is blown inside the car which reduces the temperature in the car cabin. The system is controlled by using a switch device. The

SINGHAL, SUNNY

Stable, Efficient, Anode-Free Sodium Battery

TBMG-3960508/01/2021

The challenges of energy storage — which require the capacity to bank an intermittent and seasonally variable supply of solar energy — have kept the technology from being economically competitive. Researchers have used low-cost materials to create rechargeable batteries that will make energy storage more affordable. These materials could also provide a safer and more environmentally friendly alternative to lithium-ion batteries that currently dominate the market but are slow to charge and have a knack for catching fire.

Flexible Organic Photovoltaics

TBMG-3960908/01/2021

Organic solar cells rely on carbon-based materials including polymers — as opposed to hard, inorganic materials like silicon — to capture sunlight and translate it into current. Organics are also thin, lightweight, semi-transparent, and inexpensive. While commercial silicon-based solar cells perform at about 22 percent efficiency, organics top out at around 15 percent.

SAE TOMORROW TODAY: Soaking Up the Sun: America's First Solar-Powered Town

1315607/29/2021

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

Generating Renewable Hydrogen Fuel from the Sea

TBMG-3835801/01/2021

Researchers have integrated water purification technology into a new proof-of-concept design for a sea water electrolyzer that uses an electric current to split apart the hydrogen and oxygen in water molecules. This new method for “sea water splitting” could make it easier to turn wind and solar energy into a storable and portable fuel.

Side-Mounted Solar Modules Enhance Energy Sustainability

TBMG-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.

Printable Light Sensors Can See Colors

TBMG-3797511/01/2020

Cameras, light barriers, and movement sensors all work with light sensors that are already found in many applications. In the future, these sensors might also play an important role in telecommunications, as they enable data transmission via light. Printable light sensors have been developed that can see colors.

Soft Magnetic Nanocomposite for High-Temperature Applications

TBMG-3798011/01/2020

Commercial soft magnetic cores used in power electronics are limited by core loss and decreased ferromagnetism at high temperatures. Extending functional performance to high temperatures enables increased power density in electric systems with fixed power output and elevated operating temperature.

Detector Senses X-Rays Over a Broad Energy Range

TBMG-3797311/01/2020

Getting an X-ray remains a little risky, as radiation exposure has been linked to an increased risk of cancer; however, researchers have discovered a new way to generate precise X-ray images with a lower amount of exposure.

Robotic Assembly of Photovoltaic Arrays

TBMG-3797811/01/2020

NASA researchers have developed a novel process for assembling thin-film solar cells into larger solar arrays. Current methods for solar array manufacturing depend on time-consuming, multi-step, manual assembly of solar cells into multi-cell arrays. This manual assembly will not be possible in a space environment.

Bending an Organic Semiconductor Boosts Electrical Flow

TBMG-3779610/01/2020

Slightly bending semiconductors made of organic materials can roughly double the speed of electricity flowing through them and could benefit next-generation electronics such as sensors and solar cells.

Perovskite Solar Cells Take the Heat

TBMG-3782610/01/2020

A problem with the current generation of silicon solar cells is their relatively low efficiency at converting solar energy into electricity. The best silicon solar cells in the lab are about 26% efficient while commercial cells are about 15%. That means bigger systems are necessary to produce a given amount of electricity and bigger systems mean higher costs.

Miniature Electronic Devices Work Under Extreme Pressure

TBMG-3764809/01/2020

Miniature devices have seamlessly found their way into pressure-sensing and energy-harvesting technologies because of their ability to be frequently stretched, compressed, or twisted. Despite their force-bearing abilities, it is still unclear if repeated physical stress can damage the working of these miniature devices, particularly if there is already a defect in their construction.

Self-Powered Alarm Fights Forest Fires, Monitors Environment

TBMG-3766409/01/2020

In a new study, a team of Michigan State University scientists designed and fabricated a remote forest fire detection and alarm system powered by nothing but the movement of the trees in the wind. The device, known as MC-TENG — short for multilayered cylindrical triboelectric nanogenerator — generates electrical power by harvesting energy from the sporadic movement of the tree branches from which it hangs.

Solar-Powered Structures

TBMG-3760409/01/2020

Pvilion Brooklyn, NY 718-852-2528

Smart Windows Self-Illuminate on Rainy Days

TBMG-3766009/01/2020

Smart windows that automatically change colors depending on the intensity of sunlight are gaining attention as they can reduce energy bills by blocking the sun's visible rays during summer. But what about windows that change colors depending on the humidity outside during the monsoon season or on hot days of summer? Recently, a Korean research team has developed the source technology for smart windows that change colors according to the amount of moisture, without needing electricity. The team successfully developed a variable color filter using a metal-hydrogel-metal resonator structure using chitosan-based hydrogel and combined it with solar cells to make a self-powering humidity sensor.

Electronics Cooling Using Additive Manufacturing

TBMG-3765409/01/2020

For decades, researchers have considered the potential for cooling hot electronic devices by blowing on them with high-speed air jets; however, air jet cooling systems are not widely used today. Two of the biggest obstacles that prevent the use of these systems is their complexity and weight. Air jet systems must be made of metal to be able to handle the pressure associated with air jets whose speed can exceed 200 miles per hour. And the air handling system can be complex, with many discrete components that manage the airflow and direct the air onto the hot spots where cooling is required.

Researchers Develop New X-Ray Detector

TBMG-3724707/01/2020

Scientists have identified a new class of x-ray detectors based on layered perovskites, a semiconducting material also used in some other types of applications such as solar cells and light-emitting diodes. The detector with the new material is 100 times more sensitive than conventional, silicon-based x-ray detectors.

Biohybrid Can Turn Carbon Dioxide into New Products

TBMG-3721607/01/2020

To colonize Mars, settlers will need to manufacture on-planet a huge range of organic compounds, from fuels to drugs, that are too expensive to ship from Earth. Researchers have been working on a hybrid system combining bacteria and nanowires that can capture the energy of sunlight to convert carbon dioxide and water into building blocks for organic molecules. Nanowires are thin silicon wires about one-hundredth the width of a human hair, used as electronic components and as sensors and solar cells.

SMART Solar Sail

TBMG-3720507/01/2020

The SMART (Super Miniaturized Autonomous Reconfigurable Technology) Solar Sail is a deployable, fully autonomous solar sail for use in very fine station-keeping of a spacecraft. The solar sail would be highly deformable from an initially highly compressed configuration, yet also capable of enabling very fine maneuvering of the spacecraft by means of small sail-surface deformations.

Quantifying Autonomous Soaring on a Surveillance and Communications Relay Mission

TBMG-3710306/01/2020

Missions for small unmanned aircraft (Group 1 and Group 2) include over-the-hill surveillance and providing airborne communications relay points. Greater endurance is almost universally desired by operators to increase the time spent on-station performing the mission and reduce the number and frequency of takeoffs and landings.

Quantifying Autonomous Soaring on a Surveillance and Communications Relay Mission

20AERP06_1006/01/2020

Research demonstrates that a surveillance mission is still achievable by unmanned vehicles while performing autonomous soaring. Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC Missions for small unmanned aircraft (Group 1 and Group 2) include over-the-hill surveillance and providing airborne communications relay points. Greater endurance is almost universally desired by operators to increase the time spent on-station performing the mission and reduce the number and frequency of takeoffs and landings. Autonomous soaring techniques were first proposed by Wharington and refined by Allen as a method to find convective thermal updrafts and gain altitude energy. While several autonomous soaring algorithms have been implemented on unmanned aircraft and demonstrated significant endurance gains, the technology of autonomous soaring has not yet bridged the gap from research to practical application for a mission.

Artificial Intelligence Finds and Labels 2D Materials Instantly

TBMG-3683105/01/2020

Researchers demonstrated an artificial intelligence system that can find and label 2D materials in microscope images in the blink of an eye. Two-dimensional materials offer a new platform for the creation of electronic devices such as transistors and light-emitting diodes. The family of crystals that can be made just one atom thick includes metals, semiconductors, and insulators.

Organic Material for Printed Electronics

TBMG-3684605/01/2020

In order to increase the conductivity of polymers — and in this way obtain higher efficiency in organic solar cells, light-emitting diodes, and other bioelectronic applications — researchers previously doped the material with various substances. Typically, this is done by either removing an electron or donating it to the semiconductor material with a dopant molecule, a strategy that increases the number of charges and thereby the conductivity of the material. The process is stable for a while but the material degenerates and the substances used as doping agents can eventually leach out.

Guiding and Harnessing Transition Waves in Multi-Stable Mechanical Structures

TBMG-3685605/01/2020

A deployable structure can transition from a compact state to an expanded one. Such structures usually require rather complicated locking mechanisms to hold them in place. Today’s deployable structures aren’t always reliable or autonomous. Harnessing the domino effect, researchers have designed deployable systems that expand quickly with a small push and are stable and locked into place after deployment.

Machine Learning Method for Battery Development

TBMG-3685405/01/2020

Battery performance can make or break the electric vehicle experience, from driving range to charging time to the lifetime of the car. For decades, advances in electric vehicle batteries have been limited by a major bottleneck: evaluation times. At every stage of the battery development process, new technologies must be tested for months or even years to determine how long they will last.

In-situ studies on the effect of solar control glazings on in-cabin thermal environment for hot and humid climatic zones

2020-01-125704/14/2020

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

Producing Cadmium Telluride Material for Solar Cells

TBMG-3639304/01/2020

Researchers developed a method for rapidly growing a large amount of high-purity cadmium telluride (CdTe) material — a more than kilogram-sized crystal in one day. The technique, which uses a high-pressure furnace to produce large amounts of the CdTe feedstock material, is 45% more cost-effective than the industry standard and is scalable, which could make CdTe solar technology less expensive than natural gas. The crystal material produced also has better electrical properties for solar cell production than what is currently available.

Spectral Transmission Test

J1796_202003 (Current)03/11/2020

The scope of this SAE performance standard is to define the test method by which the direct solar and visible transmittance of safety glazing materials for road vehicles shall be measured. Adherence to this performance standard will facilitate writing, use, and referencing of reports by government, industry, and other organizations.

Glazing Materials Standards Committee

Extended Endurance Unmanned Aerial Vehicle via Structural Electrical Power Storage and Energy Generation Devices

2020-01-004103/10/2020

As the application of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) have increased in the military, commercial and private sectors, special attention has been focused on improving upon high altitude long endurance (HALE) performance. Therefore, under a multi-year, multi-discipline senior project team comprised of Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Mechanical engineering, and Chemical Engineering undergraduate teams, investigative and experimental research has begun into the substitution of various aircraft structural components with power storage and power generation devices used also as structure to improve flight endurance and performance capabilities of solar powered UAVs. One viable solution may be found in the reduction of the amount of parasitic weight due to the required power systems on board these types of aircraft. These power systems are usually found in the form of energy storage devices such as lithium polymer batteries and energy generation devices such

Oetting, Geoffrey Smith

Thin Films of Barium Zirconium Sulfide Offer Exceptional Electronic Properties

TBMG-3618003/01/2020

Scientists have created thin films made from barium zirconium sulfide (BaZrS3) that combine exceptionally strong light absorption with good charge transport — two qualities that make them ideal for applications such as photovoltaics and light-emitting diodes (LEDs).

Researchers Develop Ultra-Thin, Ultra-Flexible Electronic Material

TBMG-3627503/01/2020

Researchers have developed an ultra-thin, ultra-flexible electronic material that could be printed and rolled out like newspaper. The material could be used for the touch-screens of the future. The touch-responsive technology is 100 times thinner than existing touchscreen materials and so pliable it can be rolled up like a tube.

Design Treatment for Advanced Metals Enables Easier Machining

TBMG-3580201/01/2020

Exotic and advanced metals are used in aircraft, orthopedic components, medical instruments, cars, solar panels, military equipment, and other applications. They are referred to as advanced or exotic because they are more difficult to find and more costly to use in manufacturing.

Molecular Engineering for Mechanically Resilient and Stretchable Electronic Polymers and Composites

19AERP12_1012/01/2019

Establishing the design criteria for elasticity and ductility in conjugated polymers and composites by analysis of the structural determinants of the mechanical properties. Air Force Research Laboratory, Arlington, Virginia The ability to predict the mechanical properties of organic semiconductors is of critical importance for roll-to-roll production and thermomechanical reliability of organic electronic devices. This research describes the use of coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations to predict the density, tensile modulus, Poisson ratio, and glass transition temperature for poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) and its blend with C60. In particular, it is shown that the resolution of the coarse-grained model has a strong effect on the predicted properties. It was found that a one-site model, in which each 3-hexylthiophene unit is represented by one coarse-grained bead, predicts significantly inaccurate values of density and tensile modulus. In contrast, a three-site model, with one

Molecular Engineering for Mechanically Resilient and Stretchable Electronic Polymers and Composites

TBMG-3566412/01/2019

The ability to predict the mechanical properties of organic semiconductors is of critical importance for roll-to-roll production and thermomechanical reliability of organic electronic devices. This research describes the use of coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations to predict the density, tensile modulus, Poisson ratio, and glass transition temperature for poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) and its blend with C60. In particular, it is shown that the resolution of the coarse-grained model has a strong effect on the predicted properties.

Facility Focus: NASA John H. Glenn Research Center

TBMG-3569812/01/2019

Originally established as the Aircraft Engine Research Laboratory (AERL) — part of the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) — in 1941, NASA's Lewis Research Center in Cleveland, OH became a national resource for innovations in aircraft engine technology that influenced commercial and military propulsion systems. Lewis Research Center became part of the new National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in 1958. In 1999, NASA Lewis was renamed the John H. Glenn Research Center at Lewis Field.

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