Specifications

58
Above is a schematic provided by the manufacturer to show how the Sunforce 45444
can be utilized in conjunction with a solar array. This will be a wiring diagram very
similar to how the wind turbine and the solar array will be implemented in the project.
The only difference being that in the final construction the turbine and the solar array will
be mounted to the same support structure to be one all-inclusive power generator.
5.4 PV Cell Array
In our design we will be using PV array as a energy source to charge the battery. There
will be other sources that we will be using to create energy. The type of PV array we will
be using is the Thin Film Array Panel. The reason we are going with this design aspect
is because it is flexible and inexpensive. We will be covering the top of our panel, which
we will be going with a dome design, which will be able to pick up light at any angle at
any time of the day depending on the location of the sun.
The dome design was unique design aspect that we are using because it will consume
the light energy as much as possible. We will also have mirrors around it, which will
cause a reflection that will reflect lost light on to the solar panels. These mirrors will
increase energy production by 10 percent we estimated we would also have to try to
keep heat down from affecting the solar panels performance. The dome design will help
because it will dissipate heat due to the high surface area associated with a dome
design. The panels are pretty flexible so we do not see it being difficult tasks in making
it conform to a dome shape. These panels will be wired to a diode, which will make
energy loss low due to the panels on the terminal of the battery.
The diodes main purpose is so the energy that is stored in the battery will not reverse
polarity and go back into the panels. Since the panels will be across the battery it can
be looked as a source in one direction or a load in the other. We do not want it be a load
because this will cause power to be drained across the battery which will make it act
more like a light bulb rather than a outside energy source. The battery will then go to an
inverter, which will change the 12-volt DC to AC, which is usable on many different
devices. The inverter will be in the box so it will dissipate heat when loads are
connected to it. We will have an exhaust system that will be used to remove the heat
from the box. This will make it nearly impossible to overheat the inverter and cause it to
start a fire.
We will make our box out of aluminum, which is a very moldable metal. This will make
the dome in which the solar panels will be attached. Because of this the panels will have
to be wrapped around this causing it to deform around the dome.