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SOLAR JACKET an innovation against energy crisis

Conference Paper · June 2016

DOI: 10.17148/ICETSEM/P1

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 SOLAR JACKET
an innovation against energy crisis
ADITI DIXIT1
1 2
Student, EN Dept, IMS
Engineering College, Ghaziabad
mail id: mailtoaditi0@gmail.com mail id:debojyotisen89@gmail.com
Abstract
Today the world is facing number of problems. The
world is coming closer at high rate. Also with such
high speed energy is consuming. The conventional
energy sources which are now available with us are
about to vanish within few years. The purpose of
manufacturing this “SOLAR JACKET” is to
encourage the idea of energy conservation by
shifting focus on renewable energy source. In this
paper a solar garment is designed which provides
cooling environment to people working in the hot
summer. A solar panel is used to convert the sun
radiation into electrical energy. The circuit consist
of solar panel; comprised of four solar cells ,ICs f
and rechargeable batteries for running up the dc
fans. The glass sheet coated solar panel was
attached at the back of the jacket using designed
transparent pocket in the garment itself. The wires
and other accessories were attached inside the
jacket, the batteries and charging pins were placed
inside the pockets of Jacket maintaining all the
safety norms and providing safety to the people
wearing it from unnecessary electrical shocks. It is
cheap, easily detachable, washable and gives
comfort to wearer.
Keywords: E- textiles, solar jacket, e-jacket, energy crisis
DEBOJYOTI SEN2 ATUL K UMAR KUSHWAHA 3
3
Assistant Professor, EN Dept, IMS Assistant Professor, EN Dept,
Engineering College, Ghaziabad IMS Engineering College, Ghzd
mail id:
atulkushwaha1980@gmail.com
I. Introduction
Fossil fuel based power generation with
unwanted emissions causing adverse effect with
the environment and threatening to the future of
the planet. Search for viable and deployable low
carbon technologies to meet the growing power
demands of global population has become
imperative. Role of Scientists and Engineers is
to make Conventional Energy Sustainable‘ and
Renewable Energy Available‘. Global warming
and Climate change being global problems, must
be tackled with global synergy. "Think Global
and Act Local" is the new slogan. Efforts are
made by different countries individually and
collectively to address this energy related
climate change issue (Sen. D., 2015) .Extensive
use of natural and renewable energy sources is
needed to minimize the burden of fossil fuels.
Burning of high levels of fossil fuels induce
climate change, air and environmental pollution.
Moreover, reason for switching from fossil fuels
to renewable sources is their huge consumption
and rapid reduction. A variety of renewable
energy sources are readily available such as sun,
wind, tides, and geothermal activity. An initial
cost and maintenance cost of renewable energy
is high but has no fluctuation in prices when in and pocket gave new concept of fashion and
use as compared to the prices of electricity and smart textile (J.S Hynek et al). These solar cells
gas. It is because renewable energies are fully are graphically strong and need to be more
dependent on natural energy sources, hence, visually integrated into the garment. Different
eliminating the dependence on fossil fuels(Syed. solar jackets have been introduced in Japan and
U., 2012). Solar energy is the most promising of other countries. Solar caps were also introduced
the renewable energy sources in view of its and commercialized too(J. Schaeffer et al,2005).
apparent limitless potential. A photovoltaic In addition, solar panels were attached in dresses
system is a system which uses solar cells to such as bathing suits for charging cell phones
convert light into electricity. PV systems are like and other devices with USB port. Hence, it has
any other electrical power generating systems; been observed much work has been carried out
just the equipment used is different than that on replacing the conventional energy system
used for conventional electromechanical with the solar energy and use of solar energy in
generating systems. Although a PV array garments.
produces power when exposed to sunlight, a
number of other components are required to
properly conduct, control, convert, distribute,
and store the energy produced by the array.
Depending on the functional and operational
requirements of the system, the specific
components required may include components
such as a DC-AC power inverter, battery bank,
system and battery controller, auxiliary energy
sources . In this connection solar cells are used
in which the solar radiation is directly converted
into electricity. The most common method of
doing this is through the use of silicon solar cells
(A. S. Sambo et al,2005). Sunlight is composed
of photons, when photons strike a PV cell; they
FIG 1: Solar jacket- front view
may be either reflected or absorbed or may pass
right through. Only the absorbed photons
generate electricity due to the transference of an II. Design Methodology
electron in an atom of the cell (which is actually
A flexible and portable charging garment using
a semi-conductor) . Different solar products
solar energy system was designed. The design
have been launched such as solar chargers for
garment is cheap, portable, washable,
cell phones and laptops and solar power for solar
comfortable and safe (no risk of electric shocks).
signals, emergency road signs, emergency call
The fitting of solar panel is done in such a way
boxes, parking lights and garden lights .
that optimum amount of heat via sunlight can
However, solar cell has few limitations such as
pass through the panel and generate maximum
its efficiency is decreased near the poles of
energy. However, the solar circuit is placed at
earth, in cloudy weather and it is expensive.
the back pocket of the garment. The design
Furthermore, research has been extended
jacket has flexibility; it can be used for windy
towards Etextiles. An integration of photovoltaic
and harsh weather condition because of glass
thin film cells into wearable such as jacket, tie
sheet coated on solar panel.

FIG 2: Solar jacket (rear view)
With the assistance of solar manufacturer
Pvilion, special jackets were designed, that has
an array of solar panels at its back to collect
solar power for charging the battery which will
ultimately run the DC fans to provide the
cooling effect. The jackets are fitted with water
resistant, flexible solar panels that can be
separated on and off easily. A cable runs to
battery pack in one of the front pockets. When
fully charged, the battery contains enough power
to completely charge a 1,500 mAh device up to
four times. In case of rainy season and even
slow charging, the battery can also pulled out
and be charged from an external power source
via plug system.
FIG 3: Solar Panel mounted at the back of the jacket
For designing the solar jacket four 6 volts solar
cells are used which are connected in series. It
senses the sunlight and generate the DC voltage.
Two ICs were used as voltage regulators to
control the voltage and charge the battery in a
constant voltage. There were four rechargeable
batteries (each of 4 V and 1.2 A) connected to
store the electric charges and can be used to run
the DC fans. A reverse diode was also attached
for one way passage of current.
FIG 4: DC fans connected with the solar circuit
The solar panel of was sealed using glass sheet
coating on the back of the garment using sticky
gum.A hole of was cut through which wires and
ports were passed into the first layer of
garment.The distance is selected in such a way
that the plates has optimum exposure to sunlight
and comfortable for wearer. Other accessories of
solar panel such as wires were attached using the
small pins. The DC fans are kept near the
pockets, For providing proper cooling to the
wearer 4 DC fans are attched in the pockets. The
rechargeable batteries were placed at left hand
side pocket. It has been observed that the
stitched solar panel is easy to detach when
required such as for washing the jacket.
 4) Back up batteries (12 Volt, 7 amp-hr sealed
lead acid battery ): They store the electrical
power in the form of a chemical energy. Without
storage, we would only have power when the
sun was shining. So, for utility outages or night
time usage, we need the storage batteries.

5) Inverter (further inclusion): Further

inclusion is thought for making the garment
useful for charging devices ike mobiles, laptops,
ipods etc.

FIG 5: DC fans provided in the jacket for cooling purpose.

III. Components

1) PV panel (four no.s each of 3 watt peak):

Solar panels generate free power from the sun
by converting sunlight to electricity with no
moving parts, zero emissions, and no
maintenance. The solar panel, the first
component of an electric solar energy system, is
a collection of individual silicon cells that
generate electricity from sunlight.

2) Constant voltage regulator(IC) using VR1

(15V) and VR2 (9V) : In this system we are
using a 7809 voltage regulator. The fixed 3-
terminal regulator is useful in applications were
an adjustable output is not required making the
output power supply simple, but very flexible as
the voltage it outputs is dependant only upon the
chosen regulator. The constant voltage output
throughout the day ranging between 7.9V to 15 IV. Conclusion
V. This constant output voltage is then fed to the
This paper is a step towards the solution of
charge controller which delivers 700 mA current
energy crisis for the world . Renewable energy
to charge the batteries.
which comes free of cost is used to overcome
3) Charge controller (12 volt): A battery energy crises and provide a solution towards
charger is used to maintain the proper charging energy security . The designed portable garment
voltage on the batteries. As the input voltage basically provides cooling system to the people
from the solar array rises, the charge controller working in hot summer such as traffic police,
regulates the charge to the batteries preventing driver, conductors, laborers etc. It is cheap,
any over-charging. compact and comfortable eco friendly cooling
garment. Moreover charging facilities for
 different electronic devices (laptop, mobile, iPod
and mp3 players) in the absence of electrical
energy can be introduced as further studies in
this garment. Electronic items can be plugged in
and charged, allowing power most of the devices
less than or equal to +24 V. For making jacket
more flexible, small wafer solar cell can be used
but this type of garment requires clean
environment and weather.

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