Solar hydrogen system
Shea Griffin, Hattie Brous, Tyler Johnson, Kevin BASSETt
Hydrogen cells
Hydrogen is high in energy and does very little damage to the environment, which is why utilization of the element for energy is rising in popularity. When combined with oxygen, the hydrogen produces electricity, hydrogen, and water. The first fuel cell was developed in 1839 by Sir William Grove. Since then, Francis Bacon, NASA, and many other people and organizations made changes to the cell to increase voltage, eliminate the need for precious metals, and other improvements. There are several types of Hydrogen Fuel Cells and they all grow more and more popular every day.
Solar panels
Solar panels are an emerging way to obtain energy from sunlight. Solar panels are rising in popularity because it’s less costly and harmful to the environment than fossil fuel, the primary source of energy in the world. When you place a solar panel somewhere that it will be exposed to the sun, the solar cells, or photovoltaic (PV) cells act as photosensitive diodes and convert solar energy from sunlight into usable electrical energy and supplies it to a machine, house, community, etc. One disadvantage of solar panels is low efficiency. The average solar panel has about 14% efficiency, while the average supply of fossil fuel has an efficiency of about 36%.
Series & parallel circuits
The flow of electricity involves circuits. Circuits are divided into two main categories; series and parallel. Series circuits are circuits that consist of one constant path for electric flow. Parallel circuits are separated into multiple paths of flow. Although series circuits are far simpler, current in a parallel circuit doesn’t face as much resistance because of its multiple paths of flow. If there is a break in the current of a series circuit, the entire circuit will go out, but this is not always true with parallel circuits because the resistances are divided, also making parallel circuits more reliable.
reflection
Overall, I think that the project was a success. We faced and overcame several problems when completing the project. There were several absences within our group on days we had to work on the project, so it was difficult to work efficiently and keep everyone caught up. Our biggest obstacle was that our original idea failed, so we had to start from scratch with little time left to finish the car. I think that we worked excellently as a team to devise and construct a working solar car, especially considering that we weren’t all together for most of the time we had to build the car. If there’s one thing that I learned from this project, it’s to be considerate when brainstorming. Having to start over and build a new car could have easily been prevented if we had just stopped and realized that a small gear would be very inefficient in driving the wheels and that the motor would be better off directly turning the wheels. This project has also expanded my knowledge of solar and electrical energy.
Activity 1.3.1
1. Read the Fuel Cell User Guide.
2. Follow the directions in the Fuel Cell User Guide under the section Preparing the Fuel Cell for Use.
3. Shine a bright light source on the solar panel, always keeping at least 8 inches of separation between the two to avoid melting the solar module plastic.
Set your multimeter to measure voltage and connect the multimeter test leads to the solar panel terminals. Move the solar panel or light source to determine the location that produces the highest voltage value. You may want to mark the positions with some tape. Record the open-circuit voltage. Note the current is zero, since a voltmeter has nearly infinite resistance.
VOC = Open-Circuit Voltage: 1.56 Power = VOC x 0 A = 0 W
4. With the test leads disconnected, set your multimeter to measure current. Return the solar module to the same exact position that produced the highest voltage value and measure the current. Record this short-circuit current. Note that the voltage is zero, since an ammeter has nearly zero resistance.
ISC = Short-Circuit Current 112mA Power = 0 V x ISC = 0 W
5. Calculate the amount of power that would be produced by the solar module if it could simultaneously produce the voltage and current you measured in the previous two steps.
For this illumination level, the solar module will deliver, at most, about 70% of this theoretical maximum, and will do so at a resistance between zero and infinite resistance.
Maximum Theoretical Power = VOC x ISC = .1W
6. Attach the solar panel to the solar hydrogen automobile. Using a standoff or another suitable method, prop up one end of the chassis so that the motor-driven wheel is not in contact with the ground. Connect the motor leads to the solar module using the breadboard to make the connections. Position the light source to produce maximum voltage leaving a minimum distance of 8 inches between solar module and the lamp. Is there enough power to turn the motor? If so, is there enough power to turn the motor with the wheels on the ground? sí
7. Set your multimeter to measure voltage. Connect the multimeter test leads to the solar module terminals. Record the load voltage value.(Drive gear should be engaged)
V = Load Voltage __________
8. Disconnect the test leads and set your multimeter to measure current. Connect the multimeter in series with the solar module. Record the load current.
I = Load Current = __________
9. Calculate the power delivered by the solar module when it is loaded by the motor with the wheels off the ground.
P = Load Power = I V = __________ for solar module.
10. Energize the fuel cell by using one of the power sources according to the directions in the Fuel Cell User Guide under the section Powering the Fuel Cell (Electrolysis).
Fuel cells can be damaged by high current. If using a DC power supply with the Heliocentris fuel cell, do not use more than 500 mA. Do not use a battery to energize the fuel cell.
11. After the fuel cell is energized, attach the fuel cell to the motor using the breadboard to make the connections. Is there enough power to turn the motor? If so, is there enough power to turn the motor with the wheels on the ground? ______
12. With the test leads disconnected, set the multimeter to measure voltage. Connect the multimeter test leads to the fuel cell terminals. Record the voltage value.
V = Load Voltage __________
13. With the test leads disconnected, set the multimeter to measure 10 A current, using the 10 A meter receptacle. Connect the test leads in series with the fuel cell.
Caution! Never measure current from the fuel cell without a resistor, motor, or other load in series with the ammeter. Doing so can permanently damage the fuel cell.
Record the current value. Load Current = __________
14. Calculate the power delivered by the fuel cell. P = Load Power = I V = __________ for fuel cell.
15. Remove the fuel cell and solar module and attach the two AAA battery holders to your vehicle using zip ties. Using the breadboard, connect the batteries in series with each other and with the motor. (See next step for wiring hints.) Is there enough power to turn the motor? If so, is there enough power to turn the motor with the wheels on the ground? ______
16. With the test leads disconnected, set the multimeter to measure voltage. Connect the multimeter test leads to the motor terminals. Record the voltage value.
V = Load Voltage __________
17. With the test leads disconnected, set the multimeter to measure 10 A current, using the 10 A meter receptacle. Connect the test leads in series with the motor terminals. Record the current value.
Load Current = __________
18. Calculate the power delivered by the batteries in series. P = Load Power = I V = __________ for batteries in series
19. Using the breadboard, connect the batteries in parallel with each other and with the motor. Is there enough power to turn the motor? If so, is there enough power to turn the motor with the wheels on the ground? ______
20. With the test leads disconnected, set the multimeter to measure voltage. Connect the multimeter test leads to the motor terminals. Record the voltage value.
V = Load Voltage __________
21. With the test leads disconnected, set the multimeter to measure 10 A current, using the 10 A meter receptacle. Connect the test leads in series with the motor terminals. Record the current value.
Load Current = __________
22. Calculate the power delivered by the batteries in parallel.
P = Load Power = I V = __________ for batteries in parallel
2. Follow the directions in the Fuel Cell User Guide under the section Preparing the Fuel Cell for Use.
3. Shine a bright light source on the solar panel, always keeping at least 8 inches of separation between the two to avoid melting the solar module plastic.
Set your multimeter to measure voltage and connect the multimeter test leads to the solar panel terminals. Move the solar panel or light source to determine the location that produces the highest voltage value. You may want to mark the positions with some tape. Record the open-circuit voltage. Note the current is zero, since a voltmeter has nearly infinite resistance.
VOC = Open-Circuit Voltage: 1.56 Power = VOC x 0 A = 0 W
4. With the test leads disconnected, set your multimeter to measure current. Return the solar module to the same exact position that produced the highest voltage value and measure the current. Record this short-circuit current. Note that the voltage is zero, since an ammeter has nearly zero resistance.
ISC = Short-Circuit Current 112mA Power = 0 V x ISC = 0 W
5. Calculate the amount of power that would be produced by the solar module if it could simultaneously produce the voltage and current you measured in the previous two steps.
For this illumination level, the solar module will deliver, at most, about 70% of this theoretical maximum, and will do so at a resistance between zero and infinite resistance.
Maximum Theoretical Power = VOC x ISC = .1W
6. Attach the solar panel to the solar hydrogen automobile. Using a standoff or another suitable method, prop up one end of the chassis so that the motor-driven wheel is not in contact with the ground. Connect the motor leads to the solar module using the breadboard to make the connections. Position the light source to produce maximum voltage leaving a minimum distance of 8 inches between solar module and the lamp. Is there enough power to turn the motor? If so, is there enough power to turn the motor with the wheels on the ground? sí
7. Set your multimeter to measure voltage. Connect the multimeter test leads to the solar module terminals. Record the load voltage value.(Drive gear should be engaged)
V = Load Voltage __________
8. Disconnect the test leads and set your multimeter to measure current. Connect the multimeter in series with the solar module. Record the load current.
I = Load Current = __________
9. Calculate the power delivered by the solar module when it is loaded by the motor with the wheels off the ground.
P = Load Power = I V = __________ for solar module.
10. Energize the fuel cell by using one of the power sources according to the directions in the Fuel Cell User Guide under the section Powering the Fuel Cell (Electrolysis).
Fuel cells can be damaged by high current. If using a DC power supply with the Heliocentris fuel cell, do not use more than 500 mA. Do not use a battery to energize the fuel cell.
11. After the fuel cell is energized, attach the fuel cell to the motor using the breadboard to make the connections. Is there enough power to turn the motor? If so, is there enough power to turn the motor with the wheels on the ground? ______
12. With the test leads disconnected, set the multimeter to measure voltage. Connect the multimeter test leads to the fuel cell terminals. Record the voltage value.
V = Load Voltage __________
13. With the test leads disconnected, set the multimeter to measure 10 A current, using the 10 A meter receptacle. Connect the test leads in series with the fuel cell.
Caution! Never measure current from the fuel cell without a resistor, motor, or other load in series with the ammeter. Doing so can permanently damage the fuel cell.
Record the current value. Load Current = __________
14. Calculate the power delivered by the fuel cell. P = Load Power = I V = __________ for fuel cell.
15. Remove the fuel cell and solar module and attach the two AAA battery holders to your vehicle using zip ties. Using the breadboard, connect the batteries in series with each other and with the motor. (See next step for wiring hints.) Is there enough power to turn the motor? If so, is there enough power to turn the motor with the wheels on the ground? ______
16. With the test leads disconnected, set the multimeter to measure voltage. Connect the multimeter test leads to the motor terminals. Record the voltage value.
V = Load Voltage __________
17. With the test leads disconnected, set the multimeter to measure 10 A current, using the 10 A meter receptacle. Connect the test leads in series with the motor terminals. Record the current value.
Load Current = __________
18. Calculate the power delivered by the batteries in series. P = Load Power = I V = __________ for batteries in series
19. Using the breadboard, connect the batteries in parallel with each other and with the motor. Is there enough power to turn the motor? If so, is there enough power to turn the motor with the wheels on the ground? ______
20. With the test leads disconnected, set the multimeter to measure voltage. Connect the multimeter test leads to the motor terminals. Record the voltage value.
V = Load Voltage __________
21. With the test leads disconnected, set the multimeter to measure 10 A current, using the 10 A meter receptacle. Connect the test leads in series with the motor terminals. Record the current value.
Load Current = __________
22. Calculate the power delivered by the batteries in parallel.
P = Load Power = I V = __________ for batteries in parallel
Conclusion q+a
1. Using the measurements you made, compare and relate the four options you explored. Was the car best powered by a single fuel cell, a single solar module, two AAA batteries in series, or two AAA batteries in parallel?
We lack the measurements to back this up, but, based on what we observed, the AAA batteries ran the car very poorly. The hydrogen fuel cell did a decent job of running the car, but the solar module was the most efficient option by a landslide.
2. Did voltage, current, or power best describe the suitability of a power source?
Power was the most accurate statistic, considering that both voltage and current influence the suitability of a power source.
3. If you had many solar modules, how many of them would be needed to get the same performance from the car as the performance observed with two AAA batteries? Describe or sketch how would you connect the solar modules in terms of parallel and series circuits.
Unfortunately, our group was unable to find the measurements required to determine how many solar modules would produce the same performance as two AAA batteries, but i would connect the modules in a series circuit so that energy is provided more efficiently.
4. If you had many fuel cells, how many of them would be needed to get the same performance from the car as the performance observed with two AAA batteries? Describe or sketch how would you connect the fuel cells in terms of parallel and series circuits.
We lack the needed measurements to answer this question as well, but for the same reasons as explained in #3, I would make the fuel cells into a series circuit.
5. Describe and defend a system that you believe would best utilize a solar hydrogen system to meet the needs for an average driver.
I would ensure that the hydrogen is locked in place and kept stable by placing it tightly in the car. I would place the panel on top of the car and give the driver the ability to rotate the panel so that it's directly facing the sun. This system maximizes exposure to the energy source as well as stability and safety.
6. How does a photovoltaic cell work? Record the source of your information.
A photovoltaic (PV) cell contains several layers that work together to convert sunlight into electricity. The top layer of the cell contains an abundance of free electrons while the bottom layer contains holes of electrons. Photons from the sunlight causes the electrons in both layers to move throughout the cell and produce electricity, but remain within the cell's circuit. (Source: SolarWorld)
7. Detail how electrolysis separates hydrogen and oxygen. How is electricity produced as the fuel cell allows the hydrogen to reunite in a bond with oxygen? Record the source of your information.
Electrolysis is performed by an electrolyzer consisting of a cathode and an anode using electricity. The water reacts at the anode and the hydrogen moves across the membrane to the cathode. When in the cathode, the hydrogen bonds with electrons within the circuit, so that when the hydrogen reunites with the oxygen, an extra electron remains and can be used to produce electricity. (Source: Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy)
We lack the measurements to back this up, but, based on what we observed, the AAA batteries ran the car very poorly. The hydrogen fuel cell did a decent job of running the car, but the solar module was the most efficient option by a landslide.
2. Did voltage, current, or power best describe the suitability of a power source?
Power was the most accurate statistic, considering that both voltage and current influence the suitability of a power source.
3. If you had many solar modules, how many of them would be needed to get the same performance from the car as the performance observed with two AAA batteries? Describe or sketch how would you connect the solar modules in terms of parallel and series circuits.
Unfortunately, our group was unable to find the measurements required to determine how many solar modules would produce the same performance as two AAA batteries, but i would connect the modules in a series circuit so that energy is provided more efficiently.
4. If you had many fuel cells, how many of them would be needed to get the same performance from the car as the performance observed with two AAA batteries? Describe or sketch how would you connect the fuel cells in terms of parallel and series circuits.
We lack the needed measurements to answer this question as well, but for the same reasons as explained in #3, I would make the fuel cells into a series circuit.
5. Describe and defend a system that you believe would best utilize a solar hydrogen system to meet the needs for an average driver.
I would ensure that the hydrogen is locked in place and kept stable by placing it tightly in the car. I would place the panel on top of the car and give the driver the ability to rotate the panel so that it's directly facing the sun. This system maximizes exposure to the energy source as well as stability and safety.
6. How does a photovoltaic cell work? Record the source of your information.
A photovoltaic (PV) cell contains several layers that work together to convert sunlight into electricity. The top layer of the cell contains an abundance of free electrons while the bottom layer contains holes of electrons. Photons from the sunlight causes the electrons in both layers to move throughout the cell and produce electricity, but remain within the cell's circuit. (Source: SolarWorld)
7. Detail how electrolysis separates hydrogen and oxygen. How is electricity produced as the fuel cell allows the hydrogen to reunite in a bond with oxygen? Record the source of your information.
Electrolysis is performed by an electrolyzer consisting of a cathode and an anode using electricity. The water reacts at the anode and the hydrogen moves across the membrane to the cathode. When in the cathode, the hydrogen bonds with electrons within the circuit, so that when the hydrogen reunites with the oxygen, an extra electron remains and can be used to produce electricity. (Source: Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy)