PRESENTS BY

YOGESH RAIKWAR
(1305421126)

Introduction
Basic Concepts
Solar Irradiance
Solar Cell
Maximum Power Point Tracker
Energy Storage
Electric Motor
Aerodynamics of A Wing
Propeller
Solar Power Airplane Advantages And Disadvantages
Conclusion

INTRODUCTION
The amount of energy the sun sends towards our planet is
35000 times more than we currently produce and consume.
This energy can be easily used for practical purposes.
A solar aircraft is the one which collects energy from the sun
by the means of photovoltaic solar cells.
The energy may be used to drive the electric motor to power
the aircraft.
Our basic principle is use solar power by means of aircraft
and this thing can be done by solar panels which covers the
whole surface of wing.
During the night, the only energy available comes from the
battery.
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HISTORY OF SOLAR POWERED VEHICLES

Their are two types of solar powered airplanes as follows,
Unmanned Solar Powered Airplanes:
Sunrise I (1974)
Solaris (1976)
Solar Excel (1990)
Manned Solar Airplanes:
Solar Riser (1979)
Solar Challenger (1981)
Helinet (1998)
Solar Impuse And Solar Impuse 2 (2009)
DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

BASIC PRINCIPLE OF OPERATION

Solar power conversion into electric energy by means of
aircraft.
It can be done by solar panels which covers the definite
surface area of wings.
A convertor ensures that the solar panels are working at their
maximum power point.
The electric energy is used to charge battery which drives
electric motor.
Propeller is mounted on motor shaft produces thrust
continuously.

 Solar Irradiance is a measure of the irradiance (Power

per unit area on the Earth's surface) produced by
the Sun in the form of electromagnetic radiation.

SOLAR CELLS

A solar cell or photovoltaic cell is a device that converts

solar energy into electricity by the photovoltaic eect.
It is very widely used in space application because it allows
a clean and long-duration source of energy requiring almost
no maintenance.
Solar cells are composed of various semiconducting
materials, constituting one or more layers.

CURRENT AND VOLTAGE OF SOLAR CELL

When the cell pads are not connected, no current produced
and the voltage equals V= 0, the open circuit voltage.

When it is short circuited, the voltage is zero but the current

equals ISC.
In between these two points where in both cases the power
retrieved is zero, there is working point, called the
maximum power point.

The current of a solar cell is proportional to its area and

varies almost linearly with the light intensity
DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

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MAXIMUM POWERPOINT TRACKER

A solar cell has a working point on its current to voltage
curve where the power retrieved is maximum.
The constantly changing irradiance conditions, and thus get
the highest amount of energy, a so called Maximum Power
Point Tracker (MPPT) is required.
An MPPT is basically DC/DC converter with variable and
adjustable gain between the input and the output voltage.
The input being the solar panels and the output the battery.
It contains electronics that monitor both the current and the
voltage on each side.

DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

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POWER STORAGE
When the energy production is not constant and continuous,
a good energy storage method is necessary.
Dierent ways to store energy:
Chemical (hydrogen, biofuels)
Electrochemical (batteries, fuel cells)
Electrical (capacitor, super capacitor,
superconducting magnetic energy storage)
Mechanical (compressed air, ywheel)
Thermal
In the case of a solar airplane, the gravimetric energy density
also called specic energy. The peak power are the most
crucial parameters that determine the choice of the energy
storage method.
Therefore in present
case, the electrochemical batteries and 12
DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
the fuel cells are the two best candidates.

ELECTROCHEMICAL BATTERIES
Electrochemical batteries are energy storage devices, which
are able to convert chemically stored energy into electrical
energy during discharging.
They are composed of a cathode and an anode, made of two
dissimilar metals that are in contact with an electrolyte.
When all elements are in contact with each other, a ow of
electron is produced.

DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

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FUEL CELLS
A fuel cell is a system where the chemical energy of
reactants, often a gaseous fuel and the oxygen.
The fuel cell consists of two electrodes, known as the anode
and cathode that are separated by an electrolyte.
A fuel cell on a solar airplane to store the energy during the
day and reuse it during the night.

DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

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 An electric motor uses electrical energy to produce mechanical

energy.
There are a very large variety of electric motors that coexist because
of the different supply sources, sizes, torques and speeds depending
on the application.
In the present case, DC (Direct Current or Continuous Current)
motor will be used as solar airplane is designed to run on DC electric
power supplied by a battery.
The advantages of DC motors are numerous:
1.
2.
3.
4.

Very precise speed control.

High efficiency.
Reliability with longer lifetime (no brush abrasion and no ionizing sparks).
Their power to weight ratio is exceptionally high.
DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

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AERODYNAMICS OF WINGS
The design and analysis of wings of aircraft is principle
application of science of aerodynamics.
Once a plane leaves the ground, it is acted upon by four
aerodynamic forces.

Thrust
Drag
Weight
Lift

The lift maintains the airplane compensating the weight.

The drag that is compensated by the thrust of the propeller.
DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

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CONCEPT OF LIFT
The air flow meeting the leading edge of the object is forced
to split over and under the object.
Due to the pressure gradient and the viscosity of the fluid,
the flow over the object is accelerated down along the upper
surface of the object.
The two sections of the fluid each leave the trailing edge of
the object with a downward component of momentum,
producing lift.

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AIRFOIL
An airfoil is any surface producing more lift than drag when passing
through the air at a suitable angle.
Airfoils are most often associated with production of lift. Airfoils are also
used for stability (fin), control (elevator), and thrust or propulsion
(propeller or rotor).
AIRFOIL TYPES
Symmetrical Airfoil : The symmetrical airfoil is distinguished by having
identical upper and lower surfaces. The mean camber line and chord line
are the same on a symmetrical airfoil, and it produces no lift at zero.
Nonsymmetrical Airfoil (Cambered): The nonsymmetrical airfoil has
different upper and lower surfaces, with a greater curvature of the airfoil
above the chord line than below and have mean camber and chord line
are different.
The nonsymmetrical airfoil design can produce useful lift at zero.

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PROPELLER

The propeller is a device consisting of a set of two or

more twisted, airfoil shaped blades
The blades are mounted around a shaft and spun to
provide propulsion of a vehicle through a uid.
It accelerates incoming air particles creating a reaction
force called thrust.

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 Advantages:
1. Sunlight is renewable day after day.
2. After equipment and set-up costs, solar energy is free and we
save money.
3. Solar energy is a clean energy. It does not pollute air.
4. Solar energy which not used during the day can be stored in a
battery system.
Solar Energy Disadvantages:
1. Collecting solar energy depends on location and weather
conditions.
2. Equipment is expensive at initially.
3. Solar panels and other collectors take up a lot of space.
4. We cannot produce solar electricity at night.
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CONCLUSION
It has the advantage and very versatile and usable for less
than one meter wingspan to manned airplanes.
The design methodology consists of simple 5 parameters
linked to the design of the airplane and they are as follows,
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Solar Cell
Energy Storage
Electric Motor
Aerodynamic of Wings
Propeller

It should helpful to getting the layout of a solar airplane with

suitable size, weight and powering information.
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THANK YOU