When can solar panels be used to power auxiliary systems on vehicles instead of fossil fuel generators and what are the factors that impact the performance of solar panels on mobile platforms?
Honours Thesis
Completed
Completed: July 2024
•
Duration: 12 months
This Mechatronic Engineering Honours Thesis aimed to identify the factors that impact the performance of solar panels on mobile platforms like 4WDs and box trucks to help people assess the feasibility of using solar panels to power auxiliary systems on vehicles.
Technologies
ESP32
C
Excel
Problem Statement
Solution Approach
First the potential use cases for solar panels on mobile platforms were identified from a literature review. Then the governing equations for determining the available solar energy at any point on Earth were laid out. Next, the different factors that affect the efficiency of photovoltaic (PV) cells were identified. Previous research into the potential gains of two-axis Sun-tracking was reviewed. Then the considerations of solar panels on locomotive performance were identified and their governing equations were derived. Finally, an experiment was carried out to assess how much of an effect each factor has on the performance of solar panels on platforms in different orientations.
Outcomes & Impact
1. Two-axis Sun-tracking was found to yield a maximum energetic gain of 85.64% compared to a tilted panel with no tracking in the worst possible orientation for a mobile platform.
2. A significant gap in the literature was found regarding actuator designs for two-axis Sun-tracking systems on mobile platforms.
3. The angle of incidence of sunlight was shown to be the most important factor in determining the performance of a solar panel.