Solar Car Racing and Model Solar Cars as a Teaching Tool for - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Solar Car Racing

and

Model Solar Cars as a Teaching Tool for Science

Gary Vliet, April 13, 2013

PV Applications

Texas Solar Radiation DataBase Project 1996-2002

Collector for Solar Water Heating

• Vliet Residence, Austin, TX, 1977

1.5 kW PV Array - Vliet Residence, Austin TX, 2000 (Grid-Connected)

Collector for Solar Water Heating

• Vliet Residence,

Austin, TX, 1977

World Solar Challenge .... Australia

Began in 1987 1600 Miles Darwin to Adelaide First won by GM with their GM Sunraycer

1987 World Solar Challenge Darwin to Adelaide, 1600 miles

GM Sunraycer wins. Sunraycer at finish line in Adelaide

Some Solar Races in the U.S.

Blue: 1990, 1600 mi. GM SunRayce USA Orlando to Warren, Mi Green: 1991, 600 mi. CalCAR Sacramento to L.A. Red: 1993, 1100 mi SunRayce USA. Arlington to Minneapolis Purple: 2013, 1500 mi. Winston Solar Challenge Dallas to Los Angeles

Texas Native Sun Team at end of

1990 GM SunRayce USA … Orlando to Mich.

1991 CalCAR 600 miles, Sacramento to Los Angeles Texas Native Sun

UT Entry

Sunrayce USA, North American Solar Challenge; American Solar Challenge

• 1990 - Sunrayce USA was an 11-day, 1,800 mi (2,900 km) race from Orlando to
• Michigan. U. Mich.’s Sunrunner won with an average speed of 24.7 mph

(39.8 km/h).

• 1993 - Sunrayce 93 was a 7-day, 1,100 mi (1,800 km) race from Arlington to
• Minneapolis. U. Mich. Won again with its Maise & Blue
• 1995 - Sunrayce 95 was a 1,600-mile (2,600 km) race from Indianapolis to Golden,
• Colorado. MIT won with an average speed of 37.23 mph (59.92 km/h).
• 1997 - Sunrayce 97 was a nine-day race from Indianapolis to Colorado Springs.

California State LA’s Solar Eagle III won with average speed of 43.29 mph (69.67 km/h)

• 1999 - Sunrayce 99 route was from Washington, D.C., to Orlando. The Univ.

Missouri-Rolla’s Solar Miner II won with an average speed of 25.3 mph (40.7 km/h).

• 2001 - Renamed the American Solar Challenge, the route was Chicago to

Claremont, CA along much of Route 66. The U. Mich. won with elapsed time of 56 hours, 10 minutes, and 46 seconds.

Sunrayce, Cont’d

• 2003 - The Solar Miner IV from the University of Missouri-Rolla won the 2003 race
• verall, as well as the Open Class.
• 2005 - Renamed the North American Solar Challenge, it was the longest and most

hotly contested race to date. The 2,494.9 mi (4,015.2 km) route was form Austin, TX to Calgary in Canada. U. Mich.’s Momentum won with an average speed of 46.2 mph (74.4 km/h).

• 2008 - The 2008 North American Solar Challenge was a ten-day race from Dallas

to Calgary on Canada. The U. Mich.'s Continuum won with an elapsed time of 51 hours, 41 minutes, and 53 seconds, marking that school's fifth victory.

• As many of the top cars were bumping up against the 65 mph (105 km/h) race

speed limit in the 2005 event, race rules were changed for 2008 to improve safety and limit performance. Open class cars were allowed 6 square meters of active cell area, and required upright seating.

• 2010 - Renamed the American Solar Challenge, the 7-day race was from Tulsa

Naperville, Illinois. U. Mich. finished in first place, its sixth victory!

• 2012 – The 2012 American Solar Challenge was a 1600-mile race from Rochester,

NY to St. Paul, MN. U. Mich.'s Quantum won the overall competition.

Winston Solar Challenge ….. Dell-Winston Solar Challenge …… Solar Car Challenge Really the Lehman Marks Solar Challenge

‘Winston’ Solar Car Challenge

Model Solar Cars …..

A Vehicle for Conveying Science Concepts

• Energy forms
• Energy transformations
• Renewable Energy
• Motors vs. Engines
• Electricity and Polarity
• Gearing for speed and torque changes

Workshops …. Approaches

• Provide Basic Components

–PV Panel, motor, gears, wheels and axles –Students construct ‘chassis’ and do assembly –Instructive, ‘very hands on’ & creative … but –Wasteful of materials … time consuming !! –!!! As a volunteer, it’s rather inefficient !!!

Workshops …. Alternate Approach

• Provide also a Pre-made Chassis

–PV Panel, motor, gears, wheels and axles –Provide ‘pre-made’ chassis (explain) –Students assemble components –Still is ‘hands on’ … but ….. –Kit materials easily ‘recycled’ …. and …. –!!! Efficient for the Volunteer !!!

Junior Solar Sprint Kit Components

Pre-Made Solar Car Chassis

Solar Car Kits Components

PV Panel, Chassis (Top), Wheels/Axles, Chassis (Bot.)

Solar Kit Assembled

Top View Bottom View

Discuss Renewables … in general

Help with assembly

Invite questions

A little race !

Trying out ‘Their’ Cars

Interaction after the ‘Race’ … what went wrong, what went right!!

Solar Powered Horse !