Liu, Saha, Sarin, Scomparin 1

Project 1.3.2

Solar and Hydrogen Vehicle

HydroSolar
POE Period 6 11/17/16

Liu, Saha, Sarin, Scomparin 2

By:
Janice Liu
Ishan Saha
Shelja Sarin
Loic Scomparin

Table of Contents
Title Page

Design Brief

Initial Design Solution

Testing Summary Content-Modifications

5-6

Testing Summary Content-Final Design

Solution

7-8

Testing Summary Content- Calculations of

Power Source Configurations

9-10

Power Source Evaluation

11

Liu, Saha, Sarin, Scomparin 3

Design Brief
Client/Target Consumer: Tesla Motors
Problem Statement: Tesla Motors desires more knowledge about how much power
and speed a solar module and hydrogen fuel cell can provide in future car designs and
needs a functional, small-scale prototypes using both of these energy sources in order to
be able to make an accurate estimation that will support future designs.
Designers: Janice Liu, Ishan Saha, Shelja Sarin, Loic Scomparin
Design Statement: Design, build, and test a miniature version of a car that is able to
run using a hydrogen fuel cell or solar module.
Constraints:
The vehicle must be made only from specified materials
The vehicle must hold on to the power sources securely, without tipping
over.
Vehicle must easily change power configurations
Vehicle must be no more than 12in by 5in long/wide.
Team Deliverables:
Documentation
Demonstration of the working final prototype to client
Gantt Chart
Individual Deliverables:
Team Norms
Notebook brainstorming and sketches
Calculations of the final prototype
Table of measurements of the final prototype

Gantt Chart Link:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1haeKr60xnruxhH1YMwudXPSN2Kfu3IEek
Wwkzstjv9o/edit#gid=0

Liu, Saha, Sarin, Scomparin 4

Initial Design Solution

We will build a vehicle that will be powered alternatively by a solar cell and
hydrogen fuel cell. The vehicle will have four wheels as wheels have a much lower
coefficient of friction in comparison to treads. The vehicle will be built such that the
hydrogen fuel cell and the solar cell will be efficiently and stably situated upon it and
connected to the breadboard, which will connect to the motor. The motor will power the
back axle of the vehicle with a chain and sprocket system.

Liu, Saha, Sarin, Scomparin 5

Testing Summary Content

Design Modifications
Design Modification

Description

Signatures

Motor On Bottom-

JL
IS
We have decided to attach the motor to the SS
bottom of the vehicle such that it doesnt
LS
take up any extra space on the top of the
vehicle. This also gives us a better position 11/04
to situate a sprocket and chain system
connected to the motor driving the back
wheels.
Main platformWe initially had the car built around the
platform (between the wheels) in this
picture, but this was too heavy so we
changed it to two, smaller side structures.
We attached this vertical wall panel to the
vehicle so it gave our vehicle more surface
area to attach the solar panels and
hydrogen fuel cells.

JL
IS
SS
LS

We eventually got rid of this modification

because it added too much extra weight.

11/07

Liu, Saha, Sarin, Scomparin 6

We initially tried to use a chain and
sprocket system but this reduced efficiency
due to excess friction (the chain rubbed
against the side of the vehicle and was
either too tight or too loose. Because the
solar panels and the hydrogen cells both
power the vehicle with a very low voltage,
we had to optimize efficiency, so we had to
get rid of this modification.

JL
IS
SS
LS

We changed the chain and sprocket system

shown above to a two-gear system.
Without the chain, there is much less
friction against the side of the car, and the
transmission of energy is much greater,
increasing the efficiency. The car now runs
on both power sources, and the weight is
further reduced.

JL
IS
SS
LS

11/10

11/11

Liu, Saha, Sarin, Scomparin 7

Final Design
Our final vehicle was very different from what was initially proposed. Instead of
having four wheels, we decided for the vehicle to have three to reduce weight and
friction. The main structure is composed of a VEX motor and other vex parts including
wheels. It has two wheels in the back and two spools in the front to work as a front
wheel. The vehicle utilizes a 1:1 simple gear train attached to the back wheels and the
motor. The vehicle can be powered by various power sources (the four described below)
that are wired in either a parallel or series circuit into a breadboard and connected to
the motor. The vehicles lightweight design helps to optimize efficiency.

Liu, Saha, Sarin, Scomparin 8

One solar cell

One hydrogen cell (with counterweight in

the front)

Wiring the parallel circuit:

Wiring the series circuit:

To wire the first solar panel, we put the

positive and negative wires into their
corresponding spots on the breadboard in
the same columns as the motor wires. The
same thing was done for the second panel
to finish the circuit.

To wire the hydrogen cells in series, we

wired the yellow wire coming out of the
positive end of the second hydrogen cell
into the negative terminal banana plug of
the first hydrogen cell along with the
banana plug that was already plugged in.
The other wires were placed into the
breadboard, all in the same columns to
make sure everything was connected.

Liu, Saha, Sarin, Scomparin 9

Two solar cells wired in parallel

Two hydrogen cells wired in series

(with counter balancing weight in the
front)

Calculations of Power Source Configurations

1 solar cell
Force
(N)

Voltage

0.7
2.67 V
Newto
ns

Current
149.5
mA

Electrical
Power
P=IV
P= (2.67)
(.1495)
=.399 watts

Mechanical
Power
=work/time
= (.7N
*1m)/10.16
=.0689
watts

Speed

Efficiency

Time/
Mechanical
1 m:
Power/
10.16 sec Electrical
power
=
0.0689/0.39
9
= 17.23%

2 solar cells in parallel

Force

Voltage

Current

Electrical Mechanical
Power
Power

Speed
Efficiency
(of both
on
vehicle)

0.75 N

2.23 V

First
Panel:
110.3mA
Second
Panel:
72.8 mA

P=IV
=(2.23 V)
(183.1
mA)
=0.408
Watts

Time/1
m:
9.5 sec

Total:

=work/time
=(0.75
N*1m)/9.5
sec
=0.08 watts

=0.08
watts/0.408
Watts
=19.6%

Liu, Saha, Sarin, Scomparin 10

183.1mA
1 hydrogen cell
Force

Voltage

Current

Electrical
Power

Mechanical
Power

Speed

Efficiency

0.85 N

0.77 V

120.1mA

P=IV
P= (0.77)
(.1201)
= 0.093
watts

=work/time
(0.85
N*1m)/40.5
8 sec
=0.021
watts

40.58
sec

=0.0210
watts/0.09
3 watts =
22.57%

Speed

Efficiency

2 hydrogen cells in series

Force

Voltage

Current

Electrical
Power

Mechanical
Power

1.3 N

1.97 V

184.3 mA

P=IV
P= (1.97)
(0.1843)
=0.363
Watts

=
15.05
work/time sec
(1.3
N*1m)/15.0
5 sec
=0.0864
Watts

=0.0864
Watts/
0.363
Watts
= 23.8%

Liu, Saha, Sarin, Scomparin 11

Power Source Evaluation

The power source that worked the best for our groups was the 2 solar cells wired
in parallel. This system allowed our vehicle to move one meter in only 9.5 seconds with
an approximate efficiency of 19.6% because the energy from the initial power source
(light) was absorbed instantly and converted into energy. The energy from the hydrogen
fuel cells seemed more reliable than the solar panels, but they did not provide enough
speed to drive the car efficiently. Although the two hydrogen cells wired in a series
circuit has an efficiency of 23.8%, which is the highest among the configurations, the
mass of the hydrogen cells imbalanced the entire vehicle when they were added. Thus, it
would not be convenient to use when driving in particular areas, such as a steep hill or a
rocky road. Also, the hydrogen fuel cells took about fifteen minutes to fully charge,
which delayed the window of time in which the car could be driven. To scale our
prototype up to an actual car size, we would try to attain the same ratios of the current
models size and weight to the rest of the vehicle. For example, we would scale the actual
model to the size of our current model in terms of feet. Our proposed model to Tesla is a
2 seat, slim sports car that is narrow in the middle, allowing for solar panels to be added
horizontal from the side of the car, as well as on the roof. The maximum amount of
energy would be obtained by this solar panel configuration, whereas the 2 large panel
configuration used in the model car would provide less energy due to less of a surface
area. Since solar panels cannot store energy, we would direct the energy to a large
battery (located at the front of the car), which would take over when the car is not in
direct sunlight or when driving during the night.