HOW CAN WE MAKE SOLAR PANELS MORE RELEVANT IN AEROSPACE ENGINEERING?,JACOB LENOX, RISHEE JAYASIMHA

WHAT ARE SOLAR PANELS?

Solar panels are a technology which converts light into electricity1

Utilize any source of light (usually sun) to produce electricity1

Solar panels are a collection of solar cells1

Solar cells produce more electricity when1: There are more grouped together

Light hits them more directly (higher intensity)

1. "Power." What Are Solar Panels? N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Nov. 2015.

CURRENT USES OF SOLAR PANELS

Today: Homes1

Cars1

Solar Impulse1

Satellites1

ISS1

Large scale powering of factories and research facilities1

1 Null, Jan. “Harnessing the Sun: The Promises of Solar Energy.” Weatherwise (August 2010). n. pag. Web. 27 September 2015.

International Space Station (top)(http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/gallery/images/shuttle/sts-132/hires/s132e012208.jpg)Solar Dynamics Observatory (bottom)(http://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/news/topstory/2008/sdo_propulsion.html#.VjloVOLssuc)

POSSIBLE USES IN AEROSPACE ENGINEERING

Power of electronic systems on airplanes Solar panels on fuselage or wings1 2

Satellites3

Future spacecraft3

NASA Concept(http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/20110020831.pdf)

1 "Solar Impulse - Around the World to Promote Clean Technologies." Solar Impulse Website. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Nov. 2015.

2 Bents, David J. “Long-duration Low-to Medium-altitude Solar Electric Airship Concept.” NASA Technical Memorandum (October 2011). n. pag. Web. 27 September 2015.

3 Null, Jan. “Harnessing the Sun: The Promises of Solar Energy.” Weatherwise (August 2010). n. pag. Web. 27 September 2015.

Hubble Space Telescope(http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/gallery/images/shuttle/sts-82/html/s82e5937.html)

SOLAR IMPULSE

Solar Powered1

The top of the wings are solar panels1

Lightest aircraft of its size1

Can be flown for 36 hours without stopping1

Manned aircraft without having the cabin pressurized or heated1

1 "Solar Impulse - Around the World to Promote Clean Technologies." Solar Impulse Website. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Nov. 2015.

Solar Impulse(solarimpulse.com/#airplane)

CHALLENGES OF USING SOLAR PANELS ON AIRCRAFT

Power1 2

80 meter wingspan

2 tons vs. 560 tons

Speed1 2

Increased Drag

Highway Speeds (Solar Impulse)

Range1 2

Dependent on Energy Density and Glide Ration

40 MJ/kg vs. 1.6 MJ/kg

13,000 km vs. 1,000 km (at night)

1. Bhatia, Aatish. "Solar Planes Are Cool, but They’re Not the Future of Flight." Wired. N.p., 16 Apr. 2013. Web. 3 Nov. 2015.2. NASA. NASA Armstrong Fact Sheet: Solar-Power Research. 28 February 2014. Website. 29 September 2015.

REFERENCES

Bents, David J. “Long-duration Low-to Medium-altitude Solar Electric Airship Concept.” NASA Technical Memorandum (October 2011). n. pag. Web. 27 September 2015.

Ozoroski, Thomas A. “High Altitude Long Endurance UAV Analysis Model Development and Application

Study Comparing Solar Powered Airplane and Airship Station-Keeping Capabilities.” NASA Technical Memorandum (January 2015). n. pag. Web. 27 September 2015.

Null, Jan. “Harnessing the Sun: The Promises of Solar Energy.” Weatherwise (August 2010). n. pag. Web.

27 September 2015.

Davis, Peter Harrop and Sam. "Power Electronics Technology." 21st Century Technology Propels Electric Aircraft into the "Blue Yonder" (2010): 21. PDF Document.

"Power." What Are Solar Panels? N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Nov. 2015.

Bhatia, Aatish. "Solar Planes Are Cool, but They’re Not the Future of Flight." Wired. N.p., 16 Apr. 2013. Web. 3 Nov. 2015.

NASA. NASA Armstrong Fact Sheet: Solar-Power Research. 28 February 2014. Website. 29 September 2015.

QINETIC Ltd. "Advanced Materials & Processes." Amorphous silicon solar panels power carbon fiber aircraft (2007): 13. PDF Document.