Sometimes you see an innovation that makes perfect sense and you wonder why no one discovered this before. [Hat tip to Nature !!!]
Entrepreneurs need to be working more with designers, engineers and biologists. Case in point
A group of three MIT students (Forrest Liau, Vyom Sharma, and George Whitfield)have designed a system that allows solar PV panels to track the sun without motors or control systems. The student team, called Heliotrope, won first prize which included a check for $10,000 in the finals of a competition called MADMEC 2008: "Materials Solutions for Alternative Energy"-aimed at developing innovative energy technologies
One green Blogger writes
"They designed the system to imitate the way plants track the sun across the sky, by using the difference in temperature between shaded and sunny areas to change the properties of the material supporting solar photovoltaic cells. The system, once built, is completely passive, requiring no power source or electronics to control the movement. Solar cells that track the angle of the sun can be 38 percent more efficient at generating power than those that are mounted in a fixed position.
The team explored several different variations of the proposed system, using various materials including polymers and bimetallic strips. The system that shows the most promise, they said, mounts solar panels at the top of a curved arch made of a pair of metals such as aluminum and steel, which should be durable enough to withstand the elements with little or no maintenance.
The team demonstrated a scale model of the arch by shining a spotlight to warm up one side and cause the arch to bend, tilting the solar panel toward the light. They explained that the prototypes are cheaper than existing systems for tracking the sun and could be built from materials that are readily available in developing nations."
Abstract of the project from the MIT web site
Many plants are phototropic/heliotropic, gradually tilting towards the sun to optimize solar energy capture. Current sun-tracking solar panels involve the use of motors and electronic control systems, but we believe a biomimetic heliotropic solar panel can be created with the use of alternative materials and designs. Practically, the heliotropic solar panel could be useful in developing areas, where motor-based sun-tracking panels are not affordable. From an expressive standpoint, a solar panel that tilts towards the sun (like a sunflower) can help the public see a connection between the natural and the high tech.
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I have a solar water heater at home and it is very efficient. I think it's important for homeowners to take alternative energy in their own hands and become responsible and have ownership in it. I learned how to make your own solar panels from my neighbor and it erupted since then.
Posted by: twitter.com/AuditionFree | November 13, 2009 at 03:34 PM
There is an even simpler Solar Radiation collector which was invented by a UK lady about 1957, and tested by Harold Woodward about 1958, one brief report in the proceedings of the 1960 Madrid conference.
I have the manuscript copy of Woodward's test progrsmme, and am working on applying the technology for solar water heaters, and possible PV, maybe as a combined panel.
Posted by: ferrand stobart | January 27, 2009 at 06:29 AM