Solar powered aircraft harness solar energy from photovoltaic solar cells mounted on the aircraft's wings to charge batteries and power electric motors that drive propellers. They offer sustainable aviation with zero emissions but have higher initial costs than traditional aircraft and can only fly during daylight hours due to current battery limitations. Recent advancements have enabled solar-powered aircraft to achieve flight durations of over 100 hours and altitudes of 28,000 feet. Further improvements in battery and solar cell technologies could eventually allow cargo and passenger solar aircraft to perform long duration non-stop flights economically.
Solar powered aircraft harness solar energy from photovoltaic solar cells mounted on the aircraft's wings to charge batteries and power electric motors that drive propellers. They offer sustainable aviation with zero emissions but have higher initial costs than traditional aircraft and can only fly during daylight hours due to current battery limitations. Recent advancements have enabled solar-powered aircraft to achieve flight durations of over 100 hours and altitudes of 28,000 feet. Further improvements in battery and solar cell technologies could eventually allow cargo and passenger solar aircraft to perform long duration non-stop flights economically.
Solar powered aircraft harness solar energy from photovoltaic solar cells mounted on the aircraft's wings to charge batteries and power electric motors that drive propellers. They offer sustainable aviation with zero emissions but have higher initial costs than traditional aircraft and can only fly during daylight hours due to current battery limitations. Recent advancements have enabled solar-powered aircraft to achieve flight durations of over 100 hours and altitudes of 28,000 feet. Further improvements in battery and solar cell technologies could eventually allow cargo and passenger solar aircraft to perform long duration non-stop flights economically.
Solar powered aircraft harness solar energy from photovoltaic solar cells mounted on the aircraft's wings to charge batteries and power electric motors that drive propellers. They offer sustainable aviation with zero emissions but have higher initial costs than traditional aircraft and can only fly during daylight hours due to current battery limitations. Recent advancements have enabled solar-powered aircraft to achieve flight durations of over 100 hours and altitudes of 28,000 feet. Further improvements in battery and solar cell technologies could eventually allow cargo and passenger solar aircraft to perform long duration non-stop flights economically.
Internal Guide Prof. RAMCHANDRA KULKARNI Department of Mechanical Engineering HKBK College of Engineering,
BENGALURU content • Introduction • Basic Data • Basic Principle • Solar Cell • Energy/power Storage • Electric Motor • Aerodynamics of A Wing • Propeller • Solar Power Airplane Advantages And Disadvantages • Conclusion INTRODUCTION
• Solar energy is the most abundant renewable energy
source. • A solar aircraft is the one which collects energy from the sun by the means of photovoltaic solar cells. • The energy may be used to drive the electric motor to power the aircraft. • stores excess energy in batteries for night purpose. HISTORY OF SOLAR POWERED VEHICLES ❖ 1st solar aircraft flew in 1980: Gossamer penguin. ❖ Race for efficient solar aircraft begins. Icare 2: Ulm, Germany in 1996. Helios: United states from 2000-2003. Zephyr: United kingdom from 2008 Solar Impulse: Swizerland in 2009 and solar impulse 2 in 2015 and is produced till date. Testing and Evaluation Wingspan 72m Weight 2.3 ton Number of solar cells 17,248 Number of propellers and batteries 4 Maximum flight time achieved 117 hours 52 min Maximum altitudes 28000 feet Average airspeed 75 km/h Maximum recorded ground speed 216 km/h Total energy produced 11,655 kwh Fuel consumption 0L BASIC PRINCIPLE OF OPERATION ❑ Solar power conversion into electric energy by means of aircraft. ❑ It can be done by solar panels which covers the definite surface area of wings.
❑ A convertor ensures that the solar panels are working at their maximum power point. ❑The electric energy is used to charge battery which drives electric motor. ❑Propeller is mounted on motor shaft produces thrust continuously. ❑When Sunlight falls on the solar panel , the solar panel absorbs the energy and uses it by the help of inverter which the energy is converted into AC ( Alternating Current ) or ( Direct Current ). SOLAR CELLS There are many types of solar cell
➢ But among these monocrystalline, polycrystalline , Hybrid and
amorphous are the most preferred for solar aircraft. Graph illustrating comparative outputs of typical PV technologies based on amount of solar radiation: POWER STORAGE Different ways to store energy are: 1. Chemical (hydrogen, biofuels) 2. Electrochemical (batteries, fuel cells) 3. Electrical (capacitor, super capacitor, superconducting magnetic energy storage) 4. Mechanical (compressed air, flywheel) 5. Thermal ELECTROCHEMICAL BATTERIES In the case of a solar aircraft, the electrochemical batteries are used. Electrochemical batteries are energy storage devices, which are able to convert chemically stored energy into electrical energy during discharging. Electric Motor An electric motor uses electrical energy to produce mechanical energy. Mostly used electrical motor are: ✓ Permanent magnet synchronous motor(PMSM) ✓ Brushless DC motor. Aerodynamics of wings • The design and analysis of wings of aircraft is principle application of science of aerodynamics. • Once a plane leaves the ground, it is acted upon by four aerodynamic forces. 1. Thrust 2. Drag 3. Weight 4. Lift Thrust Thrust is a force created by a power source which gives an airplane forward motion. It can either "pull" or "push" an airplane forward. Thrust is that force which overcomes drag. Drag Drag is the force which delays or slows the forward movement of an airplane through the air when the airflow direction is opposite to the direction of motion of the airplane. The more surface area exposed to rushing air, the greater the drag. An airplane's streamlined shape helps it pass through the air more easily Lift Lift is the component of the force that is perpendicular to the oncoming flow direction. WEIGHT There is mass difference between the weight of a normal aircraft and a solar aircraft. A normal plane weight 560 Tons and A Solar Plane weight 2 tons. PROPELLER • The propeller is a device consisting of a set of two or more twisted, airfoil shaped blades. • The blades are mounted around a shaft and spun to provide propulsion of a vehicle through a fluid. • It accelerates incoming air particles creating a reaction force called thrust. Case study 1 Zephyr Zephyr is a High Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) made from carbon-fibre Flying Hours-30 Hours Weight -75kg Type of Battery-Lithium-Sulphur Type of Solar Panel-Monocrystalline Year of Development-2010 Developed By-QinetiQ Case study 2 Solar impulse 2 Solar impulse 2 is the first solar powered flight around the world. Flying Hours-180 Hours Type of Battery-Lithium-Sulphur Type of Solar Panel-Monocrystalline Year of Development-2016 Developed By-Andre Borschberg and Bertrand Piccard ADVANTAGES ➢ Sustainable energy consumption and it is indefinitely renewable. ➢ Used to generate electricity. ➢ Do not emit any form of pollution to the environment. ➢ They frees from the dependency of fossil fuels. ➢ Require little maintenance. ➢ Silent producer of energy. DISADVANTAGES ➢ The primary disadvantages of solar power is its reliability. ➢ Another important disadvantage is the initial startup cost. ➢ Even today’s most efficient solar cells convert approximately 20% of sun’s rays to electricity. CONCLUSION
✓ Solar aircraft are reaching height where we can go non-stop and
safe for human. ✓ However, the technology of aircraft to be economical will take time. ✓ Higher efficiency limit have been reached, and should be tested soon. ✓ Material on planes to hold cargo and passenger. ✓ Robust body instead of glider body. REFRENCE [1] I. Genuth" Solar powered UAV history," <http://the future of things.com/print/> Accessed March 9, 2009 [2] C.Crane, "Physical Power: Zephyr-6," Light Flights: Solar planes are taking off in search of a fuel-free night" <http//www.thefreelibrary.com/> Accessed March 4, 2009 [3] <http://www.wholesalesolar.com/solar-panels.html>, accessed March 17, 2009. THANK YOU
