On the week of 11/14, The Full-Scale Solar Team is continuing work to provide an excellent solution to mounting and servicing solar panels from underneath the solar mount frame. Along with this, the team is also solving how to put the frame onto the guideway when construction of the frame is complete, as well as keeping the manufacturing of the frame as simple as possible, preferably avoiding custom parts to ensure a faster and cheaper production of these frames in the future. In summary the work for this week heading into Thanksgiving break will be as follows.
1. Each member will tackle a different solution for servicing the solar panels
- Jordan: Will test industrial velcro as a viable solution
- Patrick: Will test griping mechanism from the underside of the frame
- Francisco: Will test griping mechanism from the outside of the frame, just as a fall-back case to ensure that a design will be made
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| Figure 1: Industrial Strength Velcro |
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| Figure 2: Solar Clamping Solution |
2. Members will start working on a structural analysis of the frame as well as acquiring necessary specifications on the frame, including actual weight of panels, approximate weight of frame, wind loading on frame, fastening load, etc..
3. Members will look for more building materials apart from McMaster-Carr to help with new solutions that are not possible with current model, and or cheaper than the current model.
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| Figure 3: Cost Analysis for parts |
As it currently stands, this frame will end up costing around ~$800-$900 and still not have a great fit because of the lack of in-line pivot joints. The way to amend this is to get clever with the model to minimize the use of the in-line pivot joints, find a new source for building materials that are cheaper, or, from a suggestion by Paul Albulet, use side plating, similar to how trusses are made, to solve for the angle discrepancy.
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| Figure 4: In-line Pivot Joint |
4. Members will test ways of how to transport the frame and place it onto the guideway when that portion of the project comes. This can vary from lifting the frame from the back, or using eye-screws, chaining them together, and lifting at one singular point.
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| Figure 5: Eye-Screw |
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| Figure 6: Assembly of canopy design using McMaster-Carr Parts |
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| Figure 7: Guideway Full assembly |
The Solar team will continue to work with Dr. Furman, Mr. Swenson, Dr. Tyukhov, and Mr. Albulet to come up with a unique solution for the tasks at hand, as well as the Guideway team and Wayside team to fulfill any requirements they might have beyond powering and weight.
Good progress. I see that you have a design completed for the support structure which is good, but have you considered what other auxiliary components your solar system will need?
ReplyDeleteMaximizers? Inverters? Cabling system? Connection to the wayside system?
Make sure, with what ever mounting solution you pick, that your panels can be EASILY installed and uninstalled. Last year, the solar team suffered in this department as it took many hours for them to install the solar panels when they were already on the guide way.