HOW CAN WE MAKE SOLAR PANELS MORE RELEVANT IN AEROSPACE ENGINEERING?,JACOB LENOX, RISHEE JAYASIMHA
WHAT ARE SOLAR PANELS? Solar panels are a technology which converts light into electricity 1 Utilize any source of light (usually sun) to produce electricity 1 Solar panels are a collection of solar cells 1 Solar cells produce more electricity when 1 : There are more grouped together Light hits them more directly (higher intensity) 1. "Power." What Are Solar Panels? N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Nov
CURRENT USES OF SOLAR PANELS Today: Homes 1 Cars 1 Solar Impulse 1 Satellites 1 ISS 1 Large scale powering of factories and research facilities 1 1 Null, Jan. “Harnessing the Sun: The Promises of Solar Energy.” Weatherwise (August 2010). n. pag. Web. 27 September International Space Station (top) ( Solar Dynamics Observatory (bottom) (
POSSIBLE USES IN AEROSPACE ENGINEERING Power of electronic systems on airplanes Solar panels on fuselage or wings 1 2 Satellites 3 Future spacecraft 3 NASA Concept ( pdf) 1 "Solar Impulse - Around the World to Promote Clean Technologies." Solar Impulse Website. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Nov Bents, David J. “Long-duration Low-to Medium-altitude Solar Electric Airship Concept.” NASA Technical Memorandum (October 2011). n. pag. Web. 27 September Null, Jan. “Harnessing the Sun: The Promises of Solar Energy.” Weatherwise (August 2010). n. pag. Web. 27 September Hubble Space Telescope (
SOLAR IMPULSE Solar Powered 1 The top of the wings are solar panels 1 Lightest aircraft of its size 1 Can be flown for 36 hours without stopping 1 Manned aircraft without having the cabin pressurized or heated 1 1 "Solar Impulse - Around the World to Promote Clean Technologies." Solar Impulse Website. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Nov Solar Impulse (solarimpulse.com/#airplane)
CHALLENGES OF USING SOLAR PANELS ON AIRCRAFT Power 1 2 80 meter wingspan 2 tons vs. 560 tons Speed 1 2 Increased Drag Highway Speeds (Solar Impulse) Range 1 2 Dependent on Energy Density and Glide Ration 40 MJ/kg vs. 1.6 MJ/kg 13,000 km vs. 1,000 km (at night) 1. Bhatia, Aatish. "Solar Planes Are Cool, but They’re Not the Future of Flight." Wired. N.p., 16 Apr Web. 3 Nov NASA. NASA Armstrong Fact Sheet: Solar-Power Research. 28 February Website. 29 September 2015.
REFERENCES Bents, David J. “Long-duration Low-to Medium-altitude Solar Electric Airship Concept.” NASA Technical Memorandum (October 2011). n. pag. Web. 27 September Ozoroski, Thomas A. “High Altitude Long Endurance UAV Analysis Model Development and Application Study Comparing Solar Powered Airplane and Airship Station-Keeping Capabilities.” NASA Technical Memorandum (January 2015). n. pag. Web. 27 September Null, Jan. “Harnessing the Sun: The Promises of Solar Energy.” Weatherwise (August 2010). n. pag. Web. 27 September Davis, Peter Harrop and Sam. "Power Electronics Technology." 21st Century Technology Propels Electric Aircraft into the "Blue Yonder" (2010): 21. PDF Document. "Power." What Are Solar Panels? N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Nov Bhatia, Aatish. "Solar Planes Are Cool, but They’re Not the Future of Flight." Wired. N.p., 16 Apr Web. 3 Nov NASA. NASA Armstrong Fact Sheet: Solar-Power Research. 28 February Website. 29 September QINETIC Ltd. "Advanced Materials & Processes." Amorphous silicon solar panels power carbon fiber aircraft (2007): 13. PDF Document.