Our Project Proposal
Saturday, March 15, 2008
so our online journal is finally up and running!
anyway, for the easy reference of anyone who might need to see our proposal, here it is.
Title of SIA The Physics Behind Solar Energy
Briefly describe the 'green' issue chosenSolar energy is the sun’s rays that reach the earth and can be converted into thermal energy for multiple purposes such as heating homes, building, swimming pools and even greenhouses. Solar energy can even be converted into electrical energy with the use of photovoltaic devices and solar power plants.
Photovoltaic devices convert sunlight directly into electricity, even when not connected to an electrical supply. Each photovoltaic cell is made from silicon alloys and they absorb photons from the sun to generate electricity. The amount of sunlight can affect the cells’ performance, so it is best to have maximum sunlight for more electricity. Environmental impact is minimal.
Solar power plants indirectly generate electricity when heat from solar thermal collectors is used to produce steam for power generation. The steam is converted into mechanical energy in a turbine and into electricity from a conventional generator coupled to the turbine. Some solar thermal technologies use concentrator systems due to the high temperatures needed to heat the fluid. Solar energy is free and unlimited. It does not pollute the environment but manufacturing the cells uses silicon and produces waste. In addition to that, large solar thermal farms can also harm desert ecosystems if not properly managed.
State the rationale for your group’s choice of ‘green’ issueFirstly, we realised that one of the most pressing ‘green’ issues right now is global warming. Thus, we worked from there and decided to focus our project on a topic related to energy, seeing that global warming is caused largely by the burning of fossil fuels to obtain energy.
However, we were unsure of which form of renewable energy to pick but eventually decided on solar energy. This was largely due to the fact that the Norwegian company Renewable Energy Corporation (REC) had announced late last year that they would be building the world’s largest solar manufacturing plant in Singapore. Hence, we decided that it would be useful to find out more about solar energy as it would soon become a well-known issue related to Singapore in the near future. Focusing on Solar Energy will not only give our group the opportunity to find out more about an important alternative source of energy, but would also allow us to research about a physics-related topic that is both relevant to Singapore and to saving the environment. Therefore, our group’s choice of ‘green’ issue is solar energy.
Briefly list the physics principle(s) related to the ‘green’ issuePhotovoltaics use solar cells or solar photovoltaic arrays to convert light from the sun directly into electricity. It is a method for generating solar power by using solar cells packaged in photovoltaic modules, often electrically connected in multiples as solar photovoltaic arrays to convert energy from the sun into electricity. Photons from sunlight knock electrons into a higher state of energy, creating electricity.
Physical use of solar energy for lighting: When daylighting techniques are appropriately applied, natural light can supply interior lighting for a significant portion of the day. Daylighting systems collect and distribute sunlight to provide interior illumination. Daylighting design carefully selects window type, size, and orientation and may consider exterior shading devices as well. Individual features include sawtooth roofs, clerestory windows, light shelves, skylights and light tubes.
Hybrid solar lighting is an active solar method of using sunlight to provide illumination. Hybrid solar lighting systems collect sunlight using focusing mirrors that track the sun. The collected light is transmitted via optical fibers into a building's interior to supplement conventional lighting.
A solar chimney is a passive solar ventilation system composed of a hollow thermal mass connecting the interior and exterior of a building. As the chimney warms, the air inside is heated causing an updraft that pulls air through the building.
A solar still uses solar energy to distill water. In cone solar stills, impure water is inserted into the container, where it is evaporated by sunlight coming through clear plastic. Free of solids in suspension or solution, the water vapor condenses on top and drips down to the side, where it is collected and removed.
and that's all for now.
& duhmynameiskailin signed off @ 2:24 PM
