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Full-Text Articles in Engineering
Enhancing Bifacial Pv Efficiency With The Addition Of A Rear Side Reflector, Neila Watson
Enhancing Bifacial Pv Efficiency With The Addition Of A Rear Side Reflector, Neila Watson
Honors Theses
Bifacial photovoltaics are an expanding sector of solar electricity production, collecting solar energy on the front, back, and sides of the module. This increases the efficiency by around 10% to 30% over a typical mono facial cell, which only collects sunlight on the front. However, the performance of bifacial PV arrays depends on a variety of factors, including temperature, shadows, solar insolation, and set-up geometry. The geometry is affected by the tilt angle, the azimuth angle, the height from the ground to the panel, and the reflectance from the ground surface. The addition of a reflector, usually white in color …
High Performance Thermal Insulation: Silica Aerogels In Construction Technology, Matthew Giarrusso
High Performance Thermal Insulation: Silica Aerogels In Construction Technology, Matthew Giarrusso
Honors Theses
The United States is a world leader in the production and expenditure of energy, accounting for 18% of the total global energy consumption in 2016, 40% of which was used for the heating, cooling, and lighting of commercial and residential buildings. Currently, traditional air-based insulation products are being used in thicker and more numerous layers in an attempt to keep up with contemporary codes and standards. One promising alternative to traditional insulation is silica aerogel. With a remarkably low density and thermal conductivity, silica aerogel could save energy, space, and weight in new and retrofit structures. Silica aerogels are currently …
Asme Human Powered Vehicle Competition Frame Design, Zacarie Hertel
Asme Human Powered Vehicle Competition Frame Design, Zacarie Hertel
Honors Theses
Each year, the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) sponsors the Human Powered Vehicle Challenge. The purpose of the competition is to provide a continued source of research into human powered vehicles. Generally, the vehicles for this competition consist of faired recumbent tricycles and bicycles, capable of reaching high speeds in an efficient manner. The subject of this report is the design and analysis of a new vehicle frame for Union’s 2014 competition entry. The frame is the structural skeleton of the vehicle, supporting the rider and all vehicle components. The frame is what withstands the majority of the loads …