solar energy in middle and high school classrooms
TRANSCRIPT
LIVE INTERACTIVE LEARNING @ YOUR DESKTOP
Solar Energy in Middle and High School Classrooms
Presented by: Michael Tinnesandand Rachel Pokrandt
September 13, 2011
Where does U.S. energy come from today?
Source: www.eia.gov
Where does U.S.energy come from today?
Source: www.eia.gov
The Potential of Solar Energy
How can we capture the Sun’s energy?
• Passive
Credit: U. S. Department of Energy-Solar Decathlon
How can we capture the Sun’s energy?
• Solar Concentrators
20 mW concentrator near Seville
How can we capture the Sun’s energy?
• Photovoltaic panels
Credit: U. S. Department of Energy-Solar Decathlon
How can we capture the Sun’s energy?
• Solar Water heating
How do we measure electricity usage?
• Watts - A watt is a unit of power. It is a Newton meter per second, or can be given as a joule per second.
• Kilowatts – 1,000 watts equals one kilowatt (kW)
• Kilowatt-hours (kWh) – A device such as a plasma TV, which uses 1,000 watts for one hour consumes one kWh of power.
How do Solar Panels work?
How do Solar Panels work?
Credit: rsc.org
p-type n-type
How do Solar Panels work?
How do Solar Panels work?
How are Solar Panels made?
Credit: Solar World
How are Solar Panels made?
Credit: Solar World
Challenges for 1st Generation Solar Panels
• They don’t work at night and work poorly in cloudy weather.• Production uses toxic materials including greenhouse
gases and must be treated to prevent release • Takes energy to produce solar panels (1-3 year ‘energy
payback’)• Expensive• End-of-use recycling needs to be developed• Research in new solar panel technologies needs to
continue, improving efficiency, cost, usability.
2nd Generation Solar
• Cheaper• More flexible – more uses• Lighter
• Not as efficient
Examples of 3rd generation solar panels
How do they work? What do they look like?
* +
T O2 n T O2 n-
-
/2 I I -
+S
S
hv e
3
S
[ i ] [ i ]
2
S
5
1 2
4
1. A dye, adsorbed on TiO2 is excited by light
5. The dye is reduced by the electrolyte
2. The excited dye injects an e- into the TiO2
3. The electron leaves the TiO2 and is carried through as current
4. The e- returns to the device and reduces the electrolyte
1
3. ITO electrode2. TiO2 Semiconductor
1. Sensitizer Dye
4. Catalytic layer to promote I- to I2 regeneration
5. Electrolytewith I-/I2
Insulating Seal
TiO2 Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells
Bioinspiration
Blackberry Solar Cell Lesson PlanStandards and skillsNS.9-12.1 SCIENCE AS
INQUIRYNS.9-12.2 PHYSICAL
SCIENCENS.9-12.4 EARTH AND
SPACE SCIENCENS.9-12.5 SCIENCE AND
TECHNOLOGYNS.9-12.6 PERSONAL
AND SOCIAL PERSPECTIVES
Lesson activities• Learn how traditional
solar panels are made• Consider this process
against the 12 principles of green chemistry
• Construct a dye sensitized solar cell
• Evaluate and compare the differences in solar cell technologies
Making the cell with your students!
TiO2 Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells
Using Solar Power
On the grid
Using Solar PowerOff the grid
U.S. Department of EnergySolar Decathlon
The Solar Decathlon Events
Team Germany
Team California
Appalachian State University
Phase Change Wallboard
Photo: National Gypsum
Measuring heat of phase change.
• Measuring temperature vs phase change
Measuring heat of phase change.
• Measuring temperature vs phase change
Measuring heat of phase change.
• Heat of fusion lab
Measuring heat of phase change.
• Heat of fusion lab
Hf of paraffin ≈ 200 J/g
Specific heat capacity of paraffin ≈ 2 J/g x°C
Resources• U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon -
http://www.solardecathlon.gov/
• ChemMatters – www.acs.org/chemmatters
• Beyond Benign-Blackberry Solar Cell Activity -http://www.beyondbenign.org/K12education/highschool.html
• Solar World - http://www.solarworld-usa.com/
• National Renewable Energy Lab -http://www.nrel.gov/learning/
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