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Full-Text Articles in Engineering
Solid Thermal Storage As An Energy Storage Device In Insulated Solar Electric Cookers: Thermal Modeling And Experiment, Michael Antonio Fernandez
Solid Thermal Storage As An Energy Storage Device In Insulated Solar Electric Cookers: Thermal Modeling And Experiment, Michael Antonio Fernandez
Physics
The use of solid thermal storage (STS) as an energy storage device in insulated solar electric cookers (ISEC) was explored using a thermal simulation before retrofitting an existing cooker without energy storage and testing it under several conditions. STS sizing, material selection, and geometry were examined from both theoretical and practical perspectives and re-examined following experimental results. Characterization of the system’s thermal interfaces and methods to improve their thermal conductivities were investigated resulting in several performance enhancements to the system.
Feasibility Study Of Portable Solar Powered Blood Storing Refrigerator, Saroj Subedi
Feasibility Study Of Portable Solar Powered Blood Storing Refrigerator, Saroj Subedi
Honors Theses
This report is focused on the preliminary feasibility of portable solar-powered blood-storing refrigerators primarily based on calculations of energy required to maintain the temperature of the refrigerator, the electricity required throughout the day, calculating sufficiency of power supplied by the solar panel, and selection of battery for power storage. The method and the trend of a feasibility study involve the study of blood properties, separation of blood components after donation, and their storage conditions. Then, the portable size of the refrigeration has been proposed with three different compartments for storage of each blood component. The further methods involve the selection …
Insulated Solar Electric Cooker With Phase Change Thermal Storage Medium, Justin Brett Unger, Nathan Robert Christler, Matthew Weeman, Marcus Edward Strutz
Insulated Solar Electric Cooker With Phase Change Thermal Storage Medium, Justin Brett Unger, Nathan Robert Christler, Matthew Weeman, Marcus Edward Strutz
Mechanical Engineering
This final design review document outlines the senior design project carried out by a team of four mechanical engineering students at the California Polytechnic State University – San Luis Obispo under the sponsorship of Dr. Peter Schwartz of the Cal Poly Physics department. The aim of this project was to improve upon the design of previously developed Insulated Solar Electric Cookers (ISECs) by adding a thermal storage system to allow for quicker cook times and the ability to cook food at non-peak solar hours. The team’s goal was to develop a working prototype utilizing a phase change medium as the …
Vaccine Cooler For The Global Poor, Benjamin J. Larson, Cooper E. Gibson, Eilbron Younan, Cody R. Volk
Vaccine Cooler For The Global Poor, Benjamin J. Larson, Cooper E. Gibson, Eilbron Younan, Cody R. Volk
Mechanical Engineering
Cal Poly physics professors Peter Schwartz and Nathan Heston approached the Solar Freeze team with the problem that remote communities in Africa have limited access to modern-day medicine or vaccines. They suggested that we try and design a cooling device that can keep vaccines cold for multiple days at a time while the medicine is transported to remote villages. Currently, there are vaccine cooler products on the market, but most of them are very expensive or lack portability. Peter and Nate have tasked the Solar Freeze team to come up with a less expensive solution that is also portable and …
Solar Powered Atmospheric Water Generation, Ben Conser
Solar Powered Atmospheric Water Generation, Ben Conser
Master’s Theses
Several atmospheric water generation (AWG) system configurations were analyzed to determine the feasibility of AWG as a method to combat water stress. In order to best combat water stress, AWG must be implemented in such a way which minimizes the energetic and monetary cost of water production. Thermodynamic and economic analyses were used to compare the performance of several AWG system configurations. Metrics such as specific energy consumption (SEC) and levelized cost of water (LCOW), which measure the energetic and monetary cost of water production respectively, were used to compare each system. Using this approach, the optimal system configuration was …
Photovoltaic Cooking In The Developing World, Tyler Watkins, Christopher O'Day, Omar Arriaga
Photovoltaic Cooking In The Developing World, Tyler Watkins, Christopher O'Day, Omar Arriaga
Mechanical Engineering
The challenge of clean cooking is faced by hundreds of millions of people worldwide. We present a cooking technology consisting of a solar panel directly connected to an electric heater in a well-insulated chamber. Assuming continued decrease in solar panel prices, we anticipate that in a few decades Solar Electric Cooking technologies will be the most common cooking technology for the poor. Appropriate use of insulation reduces the power demand making low-power Insulated Solar Electric Cooking systems already cost competitive.
Fluid Analysis In Solar Heat Pipes, Ben Krumholz, Michael Agavo, William Dundon
Fluid Analysis In Solar Heat Pipes, Ben Krumholz, Michael Agavo, William Dundon
Mechanical Engineering
Evacuated tube solar collectors are efficient systems that use heat pipes to facilitate heat transfer. They use incoming solar radiation to heat water. Professor Mason Medizade tasked the team with choosing a component of the system to research and test its influence on system performance. The team investigated the working fluid that runs through the heat pipes. Distilled water, acetone, and ethanol at a range of fill volumes form 1 mL to 11 mL were tested. The team's goal was to find a volume for each fluid to maximize performance of the system. Performance was defined as average temperature rise …
Experimental Investigation Of The Fluid Temperature Field And The Thermal Performance Of Insert Devices In A Flat-Plate Solar Collector, Gurveer Singh Sandhu
Experimental Investigation Of The Fluid Temperature Field And The Thermal Performance Of Insert Devices In A Flat-Plate Solar Collector, Gurveer Singh Sandhu
Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository
An experimental study on the thermal flow behavior inside a flat-plate collector and the impact of insert devices (passive heat transfer enhancement techniques) on the thermal performance of the collector is presented. Temperature fields were obtained for different Reynolds numbers (250-650) and at different inclination angles of the collector. The results show that a stratified flow is developed inside the collector and the warmer fluid restricts itself to the upper portion of the collector only. Various new configurations of the conventional insert devices were tested over a wide range of Reynolds number (200-8000). Comparison of these devices show that in …
Solar Decathlon Controls, James Mitchel Routh, Travis Lathrop, Colby Jarrett, Zach Cross
Solar Decathlon Controls, James Mitchel Routh, Travis Lathrop, Colby Jarrett, Zach Cross
Chancellor’s Honors Program Projects
No abstract provided.
Design, Construction And Evaluation Of A Multi Layered Solar Distillation Prototype, Arlen A. Flanagan
Design, Construction And Evaluation Of A Multi Layered Solar Distillation Prototype, Arlen A. Flanagan
BioResource and Agricultural Engineering
Water is arguably the most important resource to any individual; especially in areas of deserts and open oceans where drinkable water suppliers are scarce. The prototype Solar Desalination Unit allows normally undrinkable water to be distilled into a potable source with minimal inputs. The unit’s main power source is focused sunlight to thermally heat water inducing evaporation which is then condensed and collected. While solar desalination has been around for many years, lately more complex designs have been investigated in order to increase yields and efficiency. This paper focuses on the design, construction and testing of a Multi-Plate Solar Desalination …