SMART SOLAR WATER HEATER
For this project, we needed to track the position of the sun for smart solar water heating. Our device had to able to boil water; 750mL of water from 20 to 100 degrees Celsius in ten minutes, and it had to be able to continuously and accurately track the sun and orient itself to maximize energy capture.
We also wanted the device to be portable, which meant it had to weigh less than 10kg and be no larger than two cubic meters. Finally, for safety, we required that the device be insulated so it would not burn the user. As a metric for this, we established the exterior of the water tank should not exceed 60 degrees Celsius.
Collaborators: Adrian Perez, Adie Allen, Sameer Hiremath, Johann Rindisbacher, HenrySalim
.
Sketches
The initial prototype was not stable. Parabolic mirror covers most of the solar panel, which collected energy to power the motors.
The second Sketch introduced portability and stability. It also left enough space for the solar panel to collect energy.
Initial Sketch
Final Sketch
Assembly & Results
Designed a solar energy harvesting system, using a parabolic mirror to heat water. Engineered sun-tracking capability using light sensors and Arduino. Programmed function to orient mirror to maximize solar energy capture. The machine was able to rotate but it failed because the bearing used wasn’t strong enough to support all weight when rotating. The vacuum tube was very fragile and also it took longer than established to boil water.
Joint Mechanism
