Passionate Passivity - Applications

This project has applications specifically in renewable energy research as an environmentally-positive passive photovoltaic tracking system alternative. It is the first passive photovoltaic panel tracking system of its kind to be capable of dual-axis tracking flexibility, environmentally-positive, very precise and cost-effective, while managing to match the efficiency of an active tracking system. Because there is minimal maintenance required, this project is financially viable for energy collection in third world countries, as well as mass solar energy farms in geographic locations with warm climates or southern latitudes. (See Figure 9.)

Figure 9: This project can be applied in mass generation methods on solar energy farms.
(Source: Massachusetts Technology Collaborative Renewable Energy Trust)

From a financial and economic perspective, this project is more cost-effective. In a large-scale system producing approximately 2000 watts using 12 phovoltaic panel modules, it can be assumed that this system, including the photovoltaic panel, will cost approximately $2000, compared to active tracking systems of the same size that cost approximately $6000 and conventional single-axis passive tracking systems that cost approximately $4000. Photovoltaic panels of the rated output of 170 watts are already pre-installed in commercially-priced systems, and are thus included within the price estimate for a realistic cost of this project. Because the majority of solar panel systems have an improved lifetime of 40 years if maintained, this project’s design, with just a single arrangement, can begin profiting after the first two months. In comparison, conventional passive tracking systems will take four months to begin profiting, and active tracking systems will take a minimum of one year depending to begin profiting due to the frequent maintenance costs that will occur once every two months throughout the system’s lifespan of 40 years. Thus, the system that has been developed in this project proves to be economically and financially beneficial for the future, with a variety of potential applications.

(This website details preliminary work for Passionate Passivity, corresponding with the Calgary Youth Science Fair in March 2008. Significant project changes and design modifications have been made to Passionate Passivity since the creation of this website. To ensure intellectual property protection, final work spanning from approximately June 2007 to April 2008 will be first presented at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) in May 2008. This website should not be utilized as a reference for Eden Full's ISEF 2008 research.)


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Applications
This project has applications specifically in renewable energy research as an environmentally-positive passive photovoltaic tracking system alternative. It is the first passive photovoltaic panel tracking system of its kind to be capable of dual-axis tracking flexibility, environmentally-positive, very precise and cost-effective, while managing to match the efficiency of an active tracking system. Because there is minimal maintenance required, this project is financially viable for energy collection in third world countries, as well as mass solar energy farms in geographic locations with warm climates or southern latitudes. (See Figure 9.) Figure 9: This project can be applied in mass generation methods on solar energy farms. (Source: Massachusetts Technology Collaborative Renewable Energy Trust) From a financial and economic perspective, this project is more cost-effective. In a large-scale system producing approximately 2000 watts using 12 phovoltaic panel modules, it can be assumed that this system, including the photovoltaic panel, will cost approximately $2000, compared to active tracking systems of the same size that cost approximately $6000 and conventional single-axis passive tracking systems that cost approximately $4000. Photovoltaic panels of the rated output of 170 watts are already pre-installed in commercially-priced systems, and are thus included within the price estimate for a realistic cost of this project. Because the majority of solar panel systems have an improved lifetime of 40 years if maintained, this project’s design, with just a single arrangement, can begin profiting after the first two months. In comparison, conventional passive tracking systems will take four months to begin profiting, and active tracking systems will take a minimum of one year depending to begin profiting due to the frequent maintenance costs that will occur once every two months throughout the system’s lifespan of 40 years. Thus, the system that has been developed in this project proves to be economically and financially beneficial for the future, with a variety of potential applications. (This website details preliminary work for Passionate Passivity, corresponding with the Calgary Youth Science Fair in March 2008. Significant project changes and design modifications have been made to Passionate Passivity since the creation of this website. To ensure intellectual property protection, final work spanning from approximately June 2007 to April 2008 will be first presented at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) in May 2008. This website should not be utilized as a reference for Eden Full's ISEF 2008 research.)
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