Subject:a high school project related to solar energy
Question:i am an 18 year old high school student living in kenya.
i am doing a physics project on the topic "science and technology for poverty
eradication" and i am using the concept of solar energy. I live in kenya
where there is plenty of sunlight. Could you please give me applications of
solar energy that could help to eradicate poverty, and also, could you please
tell me how these things can be made. Thankyou. answered on 5/10/2001: I would suggest going to the VITA (Volunteers in Technical Assistance)
website as poverty eradication through technology is what they are about,
and they have plans (unfortunately
without pictures) for solar cookers, food dryers, solar stills, water heaters,
and solar water pumps
For plans WITH pictures I'd goto solarcooking.org They even have
information specific to Kenya (look under "country reports"). According
to the BBC, "In Kenya some 60% of energy consumed comes from wood, and most
of that is used for cooking.", so I would expect that it would free up some
resources of the poor to have solar cookers and also prehaps for actual "wealth
production" they have a page which describes how a group
of women in Mexico make and sell their own breads and such using solar power.
Hope this helps! Subject:solar power Question:what is solar power? answered on 5/7/2001: There are two types of solar power. Passive
Solar: solar cooking, using the sun to heat water for hot water, solar food
drying and even hanging laundry outside to dry in the sun. Active Solar:
This is where the sun's energy is used to make electricity, most often by
changing sunlight directly to electricity using solar cells (which are also
called photovoltaic cells, or PV cells for short) They are made of silicon,
a special type of melted sand. This energy can be used to charge batteries,
or used operate anything batteries operate(DC) and with the use of an inverter
can be used to power anything that runs off a household outlet(AC). Also
check out the history of solar
power. Subject: solar powered cars Question:What advanmenats do you see in solar power in the future?
Will solar power cars eventually be used for day to day use? How do you
feel advancements in this field? How can kids learn more about his solar
power? answered on 5/5/2001:
Eventually yes, probably not just solar powered though more likely a
solar/fuel cell combination. Before we see that though, expect to see many
more solar scooters.
You can read about the NEV
electric car that is being sold now or check out the solar scooter that is also
being sold now
Go Ped, the Zap, the Ladybug, the Buzz are some other brands of electric
scooter that can be charged with a solar panel but they don't come with one
built-in.
There's lots of room for advancements in solar energy: more efficient
cells, the new overlapping cells, but probably the two biggest barriers to
advancement are batteries, and people's acceptance of new technologies.
Some kids made a lego solar powered rock polisher and other neat things,
you can see the pictures
online.
Roofus' Solar Home (created
by Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy - EREN) is worth checking out.
National Geographic Kids Network has a solar
education unitSubject:Photovoltaic market Question: where does Britan stand at the moment in Photovoltaic
market compared to other countries? answered on 5/5/2001: Much of British capital in solar energy
is invested in multi-national corporations such as BP Amoco. BP Solar, a
division of BP Amoco, is the biggest solar-cell manufacturer. Its photovoltaic
sales this year are expected to run about $250 million. Subject:pv Question:Hi!
We are four students who are doing a project about solarcells in space.
Our questions are which types of solarcells are most common, why they're
most common and why the other types are not preferable.
Gustav Nordlander
answered on 5/5/2001: You might want to check out these NASA documents:
answered on 11/24/2001: Try Making a Solar Space Heater
or plans for a less ambitious and no doubt cheaper model try this solar wall heater Subject:Solar Cookers and Aluminium Question:
Hello,
I believe almost all solar cookers are made up of aluminium as it the
second best possible conductor of heat(next to silver). But I have seen many
educated people in India fearing about cooking with aluminium because of
some reports that Alzheimer disease has aluminium has one of its major cause.
How far it is true? Unless educated and well-off people start using these
cookers, lower sections of people who still use fire-wood won't be exposed
to these devices.
Please post your views.
Thanks, Harsha
answered on 8/24/2001:
Visit solarcooking.org
they have free plans for many styles of cookers, anwsers to frequently
asked questions, country specific info, an international directory of resources
and a discussion area.
I'm sure they can help find an acceptable choice. Subject: build solar cell Question: how can i build a good solar cell for my home use .
answered on 8/16/2001: Hmmm I know of no way to build a HIGH output
siicon solar cell.
However, to build a LOW output copper oxide solar cell try Making a solar cell
in your kitchen
This is the same kind of solar cell that Lindsay books sells information
on how to make.
Or to make a nanocrystalline solar cell, Sol Ideas
Or to make a titanium dioxide solar cell How
to Build Your Own Solar Cell
If you are looking for a cheap way to recharge small betteries(aa,aaa,c,d,9volt)
All Electronics sells small
solar cells for starting at under $1
Hope this helps!
Subject:solar panels Question: where can I find current efficiency and pricing information
on solar panels, also information on regulators and inverters?
answered on 7/16/2001: Homepower magazine is very good. Your
best bet though is still to check out prices directly. Try Jademountain (they have everything!),
Allelectronics, NeatSolarStuff, Realgoods and edsci. Subject: solar technology Question: what is the solar technology.how can we use it to get
the electrical power for our home
answered on 7/2/2001: People think it costs a lot of money to
get started with solar power it doesn't if you start small. Solar
compact fluorescent lights are a good way to go. Also LED cluster light
work very well for task lighting and can last for decades. Jademountain.com
sells them by the way. Subject: photovoltaic panels Question: i have four 70 watt photovoltaic solar panels, a 500w inverter
and two storage batteries. what is the correct way to hook these up to produce
some electricity. thanks
answered on 6/7/2001: You really need a charge controller in your
situation. I'm assuming the panels are rated with a 12-18volt output, you
would connect them in parallel. From there you would goto a charge controller
then to the batteries(I'm also assuming these are 12 volt each) which would
be paralleled. from there you connect to the inverter. I can give you more
detailed information if you can tell me the following:
1) Rated voltage on the panels
2) Rated voltage of the batteries
3) What kind of load are you planning on(What are you going to hook up
to it? How much power does it use? How long are you expecting to use it
for each day?)
keng67 asked a follow-up question on 6/27/2001: i apologize for
the delay in responding to your inquiries. here is the info:
1. four panels rated at 17 volts each
2. three storage batteries at 12 volt each
3. havent really thought about the application without knowing the amount
available. the panels and batteries were given to me and not part of my electrical
needs. generally the more things i can use the panels for to lower my bill
to the electric barons would be great.
i welcome any suggestions you may have. i live in an area that has lots
of sunshine all year long.
one last question, what is a charge controller and where do you usually
buy one of these?
aloha and mahalo,
keng ( i hope i dont blow up my house) 67
answered on 6/27/2001: Charge controllers protect your batteries
from damage by overcharging. So you don't have to babysit your panels all
day... Jade Mountain and Real Goods are two places you can buy
a charge controller, both have been around for many years.
With 4 - 70watt panels your system should produce 1.5 kilowatts to 3
kilowatts a day, assuming 5 to 10 good sun hours a day. This can vary depending
on weather conditions of course.
You can make a list of the loads in your house and their wattage, multiply
the wattage by the number of hours you think you'll use the item in a day,
and figure out what you want to hook up based on that. Don't forget to figure
in bad weather (but if you live in Hawaii I guess you'll have little of that)
PS If you have standard incandescent lighting you may want to think about
alternative lighting (led or fluorescent) whether or not you want to hook
your lighting up to solar it should save you money.
Hope this helps. Subject: solar heating and cooling Question: I'm debating changing from propane to solar heat. This
would involve a lot of expense and I need to know if anyone has any experience
with this type of heat and cooling.Thanks,
PS If you don't already use windows films you should consider buying
some. The 70% reflective surface film from Axius is quite cheap and reduces
temperatures greatly. Subject:Solar Power Cells in Houston, TX Question:
I live in Houston, TX, and am considering placing solar power cells on
my roof in the hope of cutting my electric bill, and perhaps even occasionally
selling some power back to the light company.
I am pretty good with my hands, and have a fair knowledge of electricity.
My questions are:
1. Is it reasonable to do this in Houston? Will it save money in the
long run?
2. Is it reasonable to do this myself, or should I get a contractor to
do it for me.
3. I notice that there are cells that output AC and cells that output
DC. I know that all actually produce DC. Is it better to get the ones with
the ready made inverter in each panel, or tie a bunch together and use a
single inverter?
4. Do the cells require direct sun, or will they work, just producing
less power on cloudy days?
5. Since they are extracting the energy that would otherwise land on
the roof, do they, just by being there, reduce the cooling bills?
6. Would it be better to get solar hot water heater? I also have a pool
that needs heat for about 5 months of the year. Three are tooooo cold to
even consider swimming, and the rest are so hot that a water airconditioner
would be a better idea.
Thanks in advance,
Rick
answered on 6/12/2001: 1. Yes, Houston gets a lot of sun 5.5 peak
sun hours a day. It also will save money in the long run (think about 5-20
years depending).
2. Assuming you know how use a voltmeter, and have actually built things
before that didn't fall apart it is reasonable to do this yourself. However,
consider the temperature on the roof if your planning on doing this during
the summer, you may prefer a contractor, so you can be inside sipping the
cool beverage of your choice.
3. Tie a bunch together and use a single inverter, it gives you more
options, but be sure to use a charge controller with it! You can use a dc
system to charge batteries.
4. If you use thin-film panels they will work much better than the older
style on cloudy days.
5. They reduce the temperature on by a marginal amount, not enought to
matter.
6. Depends, I know you said you heat it 5 months a year but how many
watts does your heater use and how many hours do you run it each day?
rhill458 asked a follow-up question on 6/12/2001: Which company's
panels would you recommend, or they all about the same. Thanks again Rick
answered on 6/13/2001: The panels are pretty much the same according
to their type (and of course power ratings). I find the thin film type panels
worth the additional cost. Most of my panels are ICP, but I've had no trouble
with any of my panels. What you need to watch out for is the dealer(price
and reliability). Also, if you've not yet read Home Power magazine you should head to
their website. Subject: solar heater Question: Please, I'd appreciate if someone would tell me how I
could construct a solar heater. I'd like to know the dimensions and the relationship
between the area of the heater and the capacity of heating.
Thanks.
answered on 6/11/2001: Hello,
See this very good diagram
showing how they work and a picture of the finished product or for more technical details. Ibiblio
offers an
an explaination of drumwall solar heaters and includes a computer program
in basic Also, Dully, a nationally-syndicated newspaper columnist sells
plans for this for $3 Subject:Making electricity? Question:
Hi my name is Lawrewnce and I wanna know how to make eternal electricity...
You can give me ways of making it that involves no chemical reactions...
Or maybe u can give one or two ways of making it, ion such a way that
only motion is involved... Thank you...
answered on 6/7/2001: I'm not certain what you mean by "eternal
electricity" but I have a feeling you are refering to perpetual motion machines.
These are money making scams unfortunately. To the best of my belief nobody
has yet been able to do this(And it's likely this is impossible).
Don't worry though, solar panels can last 50 years or more. Windmills
and fuel cells are additonal sources of cheap and easy power. Proper managed
and maintained these sources should certain last a liftime or nearly so;-)
Subject: photovoltaic cells Question: Where can I find information about the fabrication of
photovoltaic cell.The circuits, costs and how does the circuits works .
For free.
Thank you.
answered on 6/7/2001: You might want to try How Solar Cells Work
It's a very good article, but I disagree on their concept of "cost effective".
To see what I mean about that check out my system page to see how very cheap it
can be to add solar power into your life. Subject: solar power car designs Question: hello
i am doing a project on solar powered cars at school. in this project,
i have to build a small model that includes a 9v motor, alligator clips,
9v battery,solar cells and balsa wood so that the car actually works. can
you please give me a really good site where they show us how to make and
create a solar powered car (mini model for school) or a site where they show
us the designs to make one of these solar powered cars?
thank you
answered on 6/6/2001: Try this Department of Energy
site it has several files written for teachers and student who wish
to build a model solar car to participate in JSS (Junior Solar Sprint) so
hopefully it will be of use to you.
Subject: SOLAR ENERGY Question: 1. What is the future of solar energy? 2. What are the
greatest challenge for solar energy? Thank You! answered on 5/25/2001: I think future trends in solar energy will
be cheaper price, solar/fuel cell combinations, and more acceptance as other
energy prices skyrocket. Price and acceptance are the greatest challenges
faced by the solar power industry.
Subject: Solar Power? Question:What is Solar Power most recent Technologies? What is the
size of a home-solar-power unit? answered on 5/23/2001: Two of the latest developments in solar
power are thin-film panels and solar/fuel cell combinations. There is no
one typical size of a home solar power unit.
Subject: repairing a solar panel Question: how do i repair a solar charger. 5watt battery saver
pro. answered on 5/22/2001: If it's still under warranty I'd contact
the manufacturer. Otherwise, what exactly is it doing, or not doing?
Subject: solar electricity Question: 1) How do the plants that use solar electricty generate
power?
2) what are 3 disadvantages of using solar electricity?
3)What recorses does solar electricity use?
4)How did solar electricity originate?
5) where is solar electricity used?
answered the question on 5/15/2001: Some industrial plants use
solar heated steam to drive a turbine to create electricity. Some use photovoltaic
cells to direct generate electricity.
Three disadvantages of using solar electricity are: the sun doesn't shine
(locally) at night, price, people's perceptions/lack of knowledge about solar.
Solar electricity can be used in any application that requires electricity,
it is no different in type.
Solar electricity is generated pretty much worldwide. Subject: atoms Question: If the sun consists of hydrogen and helium, how do plants
get their carbon?
answered the question on 5/8/2001: I think Free-ed.net
has some links that may be of use to you. Try "Introduction to General, Organic,
and Biochemistry I and II" Question: Which appliances use the most electrical energy. why?
2) If the appliaances (1000w toaster, 1200w kettle, and two 60w lightbulbs)..if
the appliances and the lights were turned on at the same time, would the
fuse blow? why or why not?
answered on 5/ 14/2001: Appliances that use electric heat(oven,space
heater),or electric cooling(frig, freezer) generally will use the most electricity.
Heat is created by a resistive element which is very inefficient.
Ok the 1000w toaster uses a nominal 9 amps, the 1200w kettle uses a nominal
10 amps, the 60w light bulb uses a nominal .5 amps, the second 60w light
bulb uses a nominal .5 amps . So, that adds up to 20 amps which means yes
it will probably blow your fuse or pop the circuit breaker (depending on
which you've got) IF it's a 20amp circuit. There is a surge factor any time
you turn on a resistive element: light bulb, toaster, ect. it will consume
approx. twice the current for a very brief period. After which, the heat
generated by the appliance will cause the resistance to increase, therefore
the current consumed will decrease.
Response: helped a lot! thx!
Subject of this Answer: Removing "memory" from batteries b38b asked this question: Hi ' How is a "memory" removed from
batteries.
answered on 5/13/ 2001: I assume you are talking about ni-cad
rechargeable batteries. Jade Mountain sells a product
called QuickCharge to recondition ni-cads but it's $65.00
If you're more into "home-brew" check out this
pdf which explains how to build a "pulsar" and much of the theory behind
it.
SubjectWorking model of a windmill chappy20644 asked this question: Hi, Can you please help me.
I am an Australian Mum who has a student who needs to provide a working model
of a windmill for a very important school project. She is keen to show how
the windmill generates energy to pump water into troughs to feed the farm
animals. I have used my limited knowledge to try and find her something on
the net, but no luck. Can you help us please, things are getting desperate.
Aussie Mum
answered on 6/ 6/2001: Here are some sites you may want to try:
Explains
how children in grades 7 & 8 can build a working model of a windmill
using index cards for arms, a yoghurt container for a hub, ect. Tells how to
make a working model of the Nebraska Windmill from a cardboard box base.
How
to build a windmill model for second graders.
I hope these help!
chappy20644 asked this follow-up question: Thank you so much
simple solar you have helped us greatly. Your assistance has made one 10
years old Australian girl very happy. Thank you Thank you Thankyou.
Aussie Mum
response on 6/ 7/2001: Glad I could help.
angel_girl008 asked this question on 5/ 7/2001: I am doing research
on thermal energy and every time I search for it GEO thermal energy comes
up! What I am looking for is : -a description of the method of generating
electricity -a short history about thermal energy -overall Efficiency of
thermal energy
Do you think you could help me because I cannot find ANY information
at all! THANK YOU!
answered on 5/ 8/2001: There are many types of thermal energy
including both geo and solar.
A method of generating electricity from thermal energy is to use it to
heat water to create steam and using that steam to drive a turbine, thus
generating electricty. There are other methods as well.
By the way thermal energy can be used more directly as well, to heat both
water and living spaces.
I'm not sure if you are looking for the history of thermal energy in general,
or just using thermal energy to create electricity.
Thermal energy can be efficent, it depends on the particular application.
asked for clarification on 5/ 8/2001: It would help if I knew
if your interest in thermal energy was in general, or about some specfic
type.
Subject:gas saving devices Question: Is there a device that will increase gas milage up
to 20% as claimed by some advertizement?
answered on 11/24/ 2001: I haven't found one. The easiest way to
save on gas is to keep your tires properly inflated. Even if a tire "looks
fine" it can be low enough to lower gas milage, and create more wear, ect.
Many of these devices have been reviwed by cousumer reports and found
to do less than claimed or actually create damage. That's not to say one
of the things might not work....
Subject: air conditioning efficiency schillerchris asked this question on 8/ 13/2001: i have a small
appartment (under 1k ft^2) in central florida. i am out of the appartment
during the day (from 7:30AM to 8PM). is it most efficient/economical to:
1)leave the AC on during the day w/ a small fluctuation in temperature settings
(ie: 82F during the day & 78F at night), or 2)turn the AC off during
the day? thanks, chris
answered on 8/16/ 2001: I'd leave it off, but install reflective
window film. It's cheap - probably only $30 for your sized place, just peels
off when it's time to move, and can reduce your inside temp by 10-20 degrees
easy.
Subject: technical magazines Question: I want to know some of the technical monthly /quarterly
magazine name and addresses pertaining to the power plant
answered on 6/ 11/2001: Hello, Try www.powermag.com You can
find online copies of Power Magazine and Electrical World there. Both are
written from an engineering focus.
Subject: energy used by computers skinnersc asked this question: How much energy does a computer
use per hour? How much does it use if it left on, but not in use ?
answered on 5/ 16/2001: This varies a desktop computer(80-150)
will use more than a laptop(20-50watts). If your computer is not in use
and you have set your windows power saving settings(assuming you use windows
and not linux) to automatically turn off your monitor and hard drive you will
reduce most of the power your computer would otherwise consume. Remember
if you have a printer, or scanner, or whatever hooked up and on, that will
increase how much energy is used.
Subject: how much energy appliances use zil6532 asked this question: I'm doing a research project on
the laws of energy. One of my questions asks me to find how much energy
everyday household appliances use. Could you help me with some examples?
answered on 5/14/ 2001: Very easy just go around your house
and look at the labels ;) For example a 1500watt hair dryer uses 1500watts.
Also most vcrs use between .8amps and 1.5amps that would be between 96 -
180watts. With incandecent lights a 60watt bulb uses 60 watts, a 100watt
bulb uses 100 watts ect.
Subject: energy
mentallisa asked this question: where can i find pictures of energy
saving equipment?
answered on 5/ 9/2001: Goto JademountainRealgoods and the government's
Energy Star site.
Subject: Making a power generator pmwhite asked this question: I have recently taken an interest
in creating a small electricity generator, just as a fun experiment, but
I would like to know some things before I start. It is my understanding that
to make a generator you should have a rotor and a stator. A rotor can be
either a spinning roll of copper wire with the stator being magnets, or a
rotor can be a cylinder of magnets with the stator being copper wire. When
you spin one or the other, a current is generated in the copper wire. If I
am incorrect in any of my speculations, please correct me. Also, I would like
to know what changes when I speed up or slow down the rotation of the rotor
-- the voltage or the amperage. What changes when I add or remove the amount
of copper wire spinning around/in the magnetic field -- the voltage or the
amperage? If I want to convert the current to, for example, power my small
kinetic motion gadget that uses a single standard 9V battery, what should
I do in terms of converting my power output to imitate that of a standard
9V battery? Any miscellaneous things/warnings I should know, please tell
me as well. Any help is appreciated. Thanks. -- Philip. answered on 5/16/ 2001: Philip, for the actual building of the motor
I'd suggest reading the plans at Picoturbine.
The orginal picoturbine is too small to replace a 9volt battery but the
information should be useful to you.
Subject: solar cookers Question: Can someone send me a simple guide to making a solar
cooker. it should be simple enough to make out of household items nothing
that I would have to buy. thankyou answered on 5/23/ 2001: Visit SolarCooking.org They have plans for box style, parabolic,
and panel cookers, most of which could be made from scrap from around the
house. A plan you may want to try is their pizza box solar cooker. They have
simple directions and lots of pictures.
Subject: Energy Question: hi please someone help me in answering this question:
desbribe 3 alternative ways in which remote communities in australia are
supplied with electrical energy, adn compare adn contrast these ways by identifying
advangtages and disadvantages of each method! please help! thanx p.s please
include some web sites if possible asnwered on 5/28/2001: The Australian
Renewable Energy Website has the information your looking for. They
cover traditional fuels, solar, and wind systems used to power remote areas.
Subject: electricity Question: Who discovered electricity?
Answered on 6/13/ 2001: While it is commonly held that Benjamin Franklin
discovered electricity,
the ancient Greeks, Hebrews, and Egyptians all had some concept of electricity.
It seems only the Egyptians actually used electricity though, electro-plating.
However, it is very unlikely they understood why this phenomena worked. Other
pioneers were: Alessandro Volta who invented the precursor of the modern the
battery. and Michael Faraday who described the nature of the electricity.
Subject: home-based wind energy fortyfourfive asked this question: is it possible to build
a home based windmill to create electricity from the wind and where can i
find out more information on systems that may be in use or instructions
on how to construct a windmill?
asnwered on 6/10/ 2001: Yes! Picoturbine is your best bet. They
sell plans but also have a number of free ones available Also http://www.zetatalk.com/energy/tengx032.htm
Tells how to make a working model of the Nebraska Windmill from a cardboard
box base.
Subject: purchasing a working windmill nancykitblake asked this question: I AM LOOKING FOR A PLACE TO
BUY A WORKING WINDMILL TO PUT ON A FARM. DOES ANY ONE HAVE AN ADDRESS OR
ANYTHING TO HELP WITH THIS? NANCY
answered on 7/2/ 2001:Realgoods
& Jademountain are two places
you may be interested in. If you decide to build instead see Picoturbine Subject: cure by energy Question: hi dear i want to know cure by energy in true and should
i belive it. thanks
answered on 7/16/2001: If you mean human healing, pain relief
can be obtained by a "tens" machine, it is a FDA approved device that is
used in physical rehab.
Subject: Positives on solar energy Question: I need to know some positive info on solar energy. answered on 5/15/2001: Well, it's a renewable energy source, quiet,
clean, dependable, prices are decreasing, and it's an investment in the future.
Let me know if you need any other positives! Subject:solar electricity for the home Question:i need a cheap photovoltaic unit for my country retreat answered on 5/15/2001: I can suggest: my own store section , JadeMountain and RealGoods But have you figured out how much
power you need yet? Subject:Price of solar energy Question:Just checked out your website. The $99 solar cell...what
kind of things could you run using just that? How hard is it too hook up?
Right now, we don't have a house...but we want to try solar when we get
one. answered on 5/12/2001:
I read from your profile that you live in Texas. Most of Texas gets 5.5
hours of sunlight on an average day (more in summer, less in winter and a
bit more along the east and west borders of Texas). So on an "average day"
you'd get 82.5 watts from that panel.
What does that mean? The average shaver uses 15 watts but maybe you shave
in 10 minutes that would be only 3.75 watts used.
The most common Video Cassette Player (the one you can buy at walmart,
kmart, ect...) uses 12 watts. (In english this means "12 watts an hour",
but that's the wrong way to say it) So you could run it 6.8 hours a day.
Now let's say you don't want to risk your batteries dying out right in
the middle of your movie because there's a thundersorm that day, it helps
if you can produce & store more power than what you need (3 times the
amount is a good rule of thumb)
Other things that the panel would be good to power would be:
laptop 20-25 watts
cd player 1/2watt-35 watts
led light 1.2watts (but NOT regular incandescents)
It's very easy to setup a small system. If you have ever changed a car
battery you have all the skills you need.
gaelic's Comments:
That's awesome...thanks for all your help! We will definately be doing
this when we get our own house...hey, if we could do it with our apartment
now, we would.
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