Materials Lab
Solar Energy Workshop
Student Names: Andrea Alvarez and Hannah Oppelt Semester: Fall 2020
Solar-powered Jack-o’-lantern process: cutting the lid; extracting the seeds; assembling the light kit; positioning the solar battery
Objective: The objective of this workshop is to introduce students to basic components of solar power and explore its potential as an alternative energy. The workshop consists of a pre-fabricated lamp for observation, an app to measure solar incidence, a jack-o’lantern, and a solarpowered light kit to illuminate the jack-o’-lantern. Building on the presentation delivered by Stan Pipkin on Oct. 22nd, the workshop is broken down into three stages: 1. Pre-workshop: Following the instructions provided in this document, participants will first:
a) assemble their pre-fabricated solar-powered IKEA Lamp to draw inspiration b) observe solar power metrics through the solar incidence mobile app c) locate optimal outdoor placement for the IKEA lamp and jack-o’-lantern relative to these metrics d) prepare the pumpkin for lighting and prepare a design for carving 2. Workshop: A live demonstration will be held October, 29th. Participants are encouraged to complete the activity along with the live demo. For the live demo, we will: a) collaboratively discuss our experience using the app to find optimal placement for the lamp outdoors b) share how these findings will influence the orientation of the jack-o’-lantern c) show off our ghoulish pumpkin designs prior to the worksop d) spend a few more minutes refining our designs and carving our pumpkins e) demonstrate the hard-wire assembly and installment of the solar-powered light kit for illumination 3. Post-Worskhop: Please share your finished project! We plan to exhibit these online, following the workshop.
Materials: Solar cells, also known as photovoltaic cells (PV), work to generate electricity directly from sunlight. Photovoltaic cells are connected electrically, and neatly organised into a large frame that is known as a solar panel. The actual solar cells are made of silicon semiconductors that absorb sunlight and then convert it into electricity. The key material present in every type of cell is silicon. Through an extensive process, silicon destined for solar cells must be refined to its purest form. In order for the silicon to be assembled into panels, the material must go through seven stages: purifying; creating the boule (a polycrystalline structure refined from molten silicon into the atomic structure of a single crystal); cutting, layering, or molding the boules into wafers; doping (also known as adding impurities back into the silicon wafers); placing electrical contacts; and encapsulating the shell. In addition to the the cells, solar energy systems are composed of inverters, racking and a solar battery storage unit. Monocrystalline solar cells are made from single crystalline silicon. The look is distinctive, often artificially colored, or true black in appearance. These cells tend to be cylindrical and the highest quality, while exceptionally wasteful. Polycrystalline solar cells, introduced in 1981, are less wasteful by molding the silicone into rectangles instead of cutting it. These cells are considered mid-range and have a distinctive blue tint. This is the solar solar cell type we are using for this activity. Thin film solar cells differ by material and come in a variety of types like amorphous silicon, cadmium telluride, copper indium, gallium selenide, and organic PV cells. These are the cheapest option and the least efficient. However, it is believed that thin solar cells may also have the most potential for the future. To learn more about the process and materials used please visit https://www.iea.org/fuels-and-technologies/solar. Solar Energy Workshop Manual Fall 2020