Stan Wrzeski
Brent Haddad
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Andrea Chialastri: Solar Window
Andrea is currently working on testing the efficiency and performances of a solar window, as well as on designing the next generation. The current prototype has been developed by the startup company SolarPath, based on a patent by Dr. Narinder Kapany, and it can be used for passive space heating and cooling of both residential and commercial buildings.
The window is composed of a double pane glass, with photovoltaic louvers in between, and two vents at the top and bottom of the frame, through which air is circulated by small fans from the outside to the inside of a building. The system is able to generate both electricity and heat, which are provided by solar radiation captured within the double glazing, and it is energy self-sufficient.
Team Members
Team Lead: Stephen Jackson
Vice Lead: Dustin Bennie
Treasurer: Seth Cochran
Administrator: Adrian Unkeles
Advisers: Paul Naud, John Vesecky
The purpose of this project is to create a mobile charging station that generates and stores the output energy through the use of solar panels to charge an electric lawn mower via an AC wall outlet. The system will be controlled by an onboard microcontroller, able to measure the solar irradiance, energy generation from the solar panels, the lawn mower’s current and voltage ratings, and switching control, and record the measurements through an onboard SD card. The microcontroller will also control DC motors to position the PV panels referenced to the sun for maximum power output. There will also be an accessible general user interface to monitor the power ratings. A major goal for this system is a robustness enabling it to be used on such other platforms as truck beds and trailers.