The objective of this project was to create a working prototype of a solar panel system that can be applied in the daily lives of those without access to a power grid in Indonesia.
This is a sustainability-focused project that is a part of the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Program (IB MYP). My role in this project consisted of ideating, pitching, iterating, and prototyping the idea for the stand-alone solar panel system, which culminated in the presentation of my physical prototype and information sheet at my school's exhibition fair.
Type: Engineering Design, Manufacturing, Sustainability
Duration: August 2016 - March 2017
Role: IB MYP Student
Deliverables: Physical Prototype, Information Sheet, Final Report
Research Question: How can science, technology, and the abundance of resources in Indonesia be utilized to benefit those without access to a power grid?
To start off the project, I broke down my background research into 3 main categories. I used each question to focus the direction of my research and the results led me to conclude that my project should be focused around the idea of trying to create a stand-alone solar panel system that would be cheaper to use in comparison to the solar panel systems currently available on the market at the time. The main takeaways I had in response to all of my research questions are summarized below:
After conducting extensive research on ways to build a solar panel system, I created sketches of what I thought the final prototype could look like and the different components that would need to be involved, which are depicted below.
The basic components I needed in the system include:
Based on the sketches created, I started CAD modeling the system in SketchUp to visualize how big the solar panels would need to be in order to fit 36 solar cells/panel (which is equivalent to ~297 W/h of sunlight).
I then iterated the CAD model to reflect the design changes I made to the framework to include a sponge layer underneath the solar cells to prevent the solar cells from slipping and moving around the solar panel when being transported.
My final CAD model iteration included design changes I made after receiving feedback from my project advisers to modify the framework so that a thin layer of glass would sit on top of the solar cells without directly crushing/touching the cells themselves, as well as a frame for the battery box that would accompany the entire system.
After finalizing my design and purchasing my materials, I constructed and assembled the system in the span of a month. The final prototype includes the following features:
