Friday, May 31, 2013

Week Eight:


  1. Continue building system
    1. Acquired reflective umbrella
    2. Built the majority of the system
    3. Need to mount the pot into the system
  2. Work on Final report
    1. Explain each step of the flowchart in a logical manner




Week Seven:

  1. Start building system
    1. Dave and Kaan
      1. Base was built
        1. made of PVC piping
  2. Final report
    1. gather sources
      1. at least 6 to include sufficient information on system
    2. Organize into logical presentation
      1. create a flowchart of system
        1. Helps explain idea of system




Week Six:

  1. We need an equation!!!
    1. Joe and James
      1. Efficiency for heating
      2. How efficient is the system?
  2. Acquire materials
    1. Dave and Kaan
      1. Start building system
      2. Formulate actual budget
  3. Change in design
    1. Using reflective umbrella instead of parabolic mirror
    2. Free moving


Thursday, May 9, 2013


Weekly Progress

Week Five:
After some Group discussion, the group decided that a concentrater was the best option to go with for a few reason:cost effective compared to solar panel, easier to design and more feasible.

  1. Goals
    1. Modify Final Design
    2. Order Supplies
    3. Begin Building Process
  2. Modify Final Design
    1. Change in design: switch from solar panels to
    2. Parabolic Mirror
      1. Design in Creo
      2. Provides enough energy to boil water
      3. Calculate focal point
    3. Structure
      1. Mirror maneuverability
      2. Material
      3. Condenser design  
 
 
 
Week Four:


  1. Goals
    1. Finish design of filtration system
      1. Solar Panel or Concentrator
    2. Research material
      1. circuit theory and electrical component
    3. Look up supplies
  2. Design - Dave and Eric
    1. Solar Panels
    2. Base?
    3. Condenser Design?
    4. How would they fit together?
  3. Research Material - Joe and Jesse
    1. Electrical Circuits
    2. Equations for Focal Point of a Mirror
  4. Look up supplies - Allan and Kaan
    1. Materials
    2. Cost of materials
  5. Next Week
    1. Have materials ordered
    2. Begin computer design of syste
Outcomes for the week:

  • Designed a wood base that contained eighteen 3 in by 6 inch solar panels.
Components: 
  • Wood Base approximately 26 inches by 29 inches by 2.5 inches and made of pine wood
  • 18 3 x 6 solar panels
  • Plastic top to cover the solar panels encased in the box.
Cost Estimate:
18 3 x 6 solar panels = $40.00
Wood = $20.00
Plastic = $5.00



Friday, April 19, 2013

Week 3


  1. Continue research
    1. Jesse + Joe - electricity and power portion of the project
      1. Volts or Watts?
      2. DC?
      3. Current of Solar cell?
      4. Series or Parallel circuit
      5. relationship between watts and volts
      6. What is the standard output of a solar panel?
  2. Begin Design of system
    1. Eric - Creo design of stand and actual system
      1. What are the dimensions of the entire system?
      2. How will they interact with each other?
      3. Aesthetics?
  3. Research Cost of Materials
    1. Allan
      1. How much is needed?
      2. Where can we find the cheapest solar cells?
      3. Wholesale?
  4. For Next Week:
    1. Have a tentative design of the actual system
    2. Have the materials ordered and shipped
    3. Have a strong knowledge of circuit theory and how the electricity will be stored and used

Friday, April 12, 2013

Week Two

Goals: Establish a topic and brainstorm a general solution to that topic.