Solar array design based on shadow analysis for increasing net energy collection in a competition vehicle

Abstract

Downloaded From: http://photonicsforenergy.spiedigitallibrary.org/ on 08/06/2015 Terms of Use: http://spiedigitallibrary.org/ss/TermsOfUse.aspxAbstract. Photovoltaic (PV) applications such as in the architectural, automotive, and aerospace industries face design contradictions because they are expected to produce a lot of energy but are constrained by available area, surface shape, incident irradiance, shadows, and other aspects that have a negative influence on the energy produced by the solar panel. Solar competition vehicles are some of these challenging PV applications. The design of such solar arrays needs to consider efficiency evaluation in order to optimize space; it is difficult not to install solar modules in areas impacted by shadows. A design procedure for a solar array configuration based on shadow analysis for competition vehicles is presented. The principle is that shadows in moving objects can be simulated, since the vehicle, the earth and the sun are are moving in semipredictable patterns, thus net energy collection can be forecast. The case study presented is the solar array design of a vehicle that participated in the World Solar Challenge 2013. The obtained results illustrate how the employment of the procedure gives insights on important aspects to consider and also delivers qualitative and quantitative information for decision making. In addition, the experience in competition highlights some issues to be considered, modified, or improved in further vehicle designs. Downloaded From: http://photonicsforenergy.spiedigitallibrary.org/ on 08/06/2015 Terms of Use: http://spiedigitallibrary.org/ss/TermsOfUse.aspx Osorio-Gómez et al.: Solar array design based on shadow analysis for increasing net energy collection. Downloaded From: http://photonicsforenergy.spiedigitallibrary.org/ on 08/06/2015 Terms of Use: http://spiedigitallibrary.org/ss/TermsOfUse.aspx Osorio-Gómez et al.: Solar array design based on shadow analysis for increasing net energy collection. Downloaded From: http://photonicsforenergy.spiedigitallibrary.org/ on 08/06/2015 Terms of Use: http://spiedigitallibrary.org/ss/TermsOfUse.aspx Osorio-Gómez et al.: Solar array design based on shadow analysis for increasing net energy collection. Downloaded From: http://photonicsforenergy.spiedigitallibrary.org/ on 08/06/2015 Terms of Use: http://spiedigitallibrary.org/ss/TermsOfUse.aspx Osorio-Gómez et al.: Solar array design based on shadow analysis for increasing net energy collection. Downloaded From: http://photonicsforenergy.spiedigitallibrary.org/ on 08/06/2015 Terms of Use: http://spiedigitallibrary.org/ss/TermsOfUse.aspx Osorio-Gómez et al.: Solar array design based on shadow analysis for increasing net energy collection. Downloaded From: http://photonicsforenergy.spiedigitallibrary.org/ on 08/06/2015 Terms of Use: http://spiedigitallibrary.org/ss/TermsOfUse.aspx Osorio-Gómez et al.: Solar array design based on shadow analysis for increasing net energy collection. Downloaded From: http://photonicsforenergy.spiedigitallibrary.org/ on 08/...

Nominal energy optimisation method of constrained battery packs through the iteration of the series-parallel topology

“…The case studies of this work revolve around the ‘Primavera’ solar car project, which has already served as a convenient platform for testing new engineering approaches and methods for research purposes . The project is divided into two phases, that is, ‘Primavera 1’ and ‘Primavera 2’.…”