Solar Energy Output Lab

Overview

Objectives/Goals Conventional solar energy usually means dozens of expensive solar panels pointed at the sun. A alternative form of solar energy is to use mirrors to focus more light onto a solar cell; another is to use large lenses to focus the light. Which of these methods is most cost effective to use on a large scale? HYPOTHESIS: The method of mirrors will be the cheapestto produce solar energy because it is cheaper to polish pieces of glass than to shape plastic or glass into lenses. Methods/Materials One: Ordered solar cells from Edmund; bought mirrors from Michael's; bought a Fresnel lens from Office Depot. Two: Recieved the solar cells and had to find out how to assemble them. Three: With the solar cells assembled, I need to set up the mirrors and lens. Will use parts from a Vex Robotics Kit. Four: With the mirrors and lens set up, I need a method of measuring the output of the solar cells. I found a way on the internet, but need a load resistor and two multi-meters (borrowed from my father). Five: On a sunny day, I took 10 readings each of: 1) Solar Cell alone; 2) Solar Cell with Lens; 3) Solar Cell with 8 mirrors. Had to use a Neutral Density Filter to keep the solar cells from overloading. Materials: Fresnel lens, 2 solar cells, 8 mirrors, a wooden pole, 8 clamps, 16 small nuts and bolts, 2 multi-meters, 4 bendable pieces of metal, wire, a 4.8 ohm resistor, and a 1.0 ND Filter. Results In Power/Dollar my results were: 160 microwatts/$ for the solar cell alone; 733 microwatts/$ for the solar cell with lens; 951 microwatts/$ for the solar cell with mirrors. Conclusions/Discussion My experimentation confirmed my hypothosis that a solar cell with mirrors would put out the most energy per dollar. Even though the lens system put out a higher average of 10,265.74 microwatts compared to the mirror system's 6657.8743 microwatts, because mirrors are cheaper than lenses, the mirror system was more cost effective.

Competition history

• CSEF 2009 Energy & Power (Junior Division Only) · Entry J1034

Resources

• CSEF project summary ↗

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