Archive for February, 2010
Wind Power analyzer blade design software
http://PoorManGuides.com
http://poormanguides.blogspot.com/
New update on the latest release of DC Motor Analyzer version 1.6. Now includes HAWT and VAWT and the ability to save 3 motor configurations.
Duration : 0:5:20
Centurion solar-powered high-altitude aircraft in flight
Since 1980 AeroVironment, Inc. (founded in 1971 by the ultra-light airplane innovator–Dr. Paul MacCready) has been experimenting with solar-powered aircraft, often in conjunction with the NASA Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards, California. Thus far, AeroVironment, now headquartered in Monrovia, California, has achieved several altitude records with its Solar Challenger, Pathfinder, and Pathfinder-Plus aircraft. It expects to exceed these records with the newer and larger solar-powered Centurion and its successors the Centelios and Helios vehicles, in the NASA Environmental Research Aircraft and Sensor Technology (ERAST) program.
The Centurion is a lightweight, solar-powered, remotely piloted flying wing aircraft that is demonstrating the technology of applying solar power for long-duration, high-altitude flight. It is considered to be a prototype technology demonstrator for a future fleet of solar-powered aircraft that could stay airborne for weeks or months on scientific sampling and imaging missions or while serving as telecommunications relay platforms. Although it shares many of the design concepts of the Pathfinder, the Centurion has a wingspan of 206 feet, more than twice the 98-foot span of the original Pathfinder and 70-percent longer than the Pathfinder-Plus’ 121-foot span. At the same time, Centurion maintains the 8-foot chord (front to rear distance) of the Pathfinder wing, giving the wing an aspect ratio (length-to-chord) of 26 to 1.
Other visible changes from its predecessor include a modified wing airfoil designed for flight at extreme altitude and four underwing pods to support its landing gear and electronic systems (compared with two such pods on the Pathfinder). The flexible wing is primarily fabricated from carbon fiber, graphite epoxy composites, and kevlar. It is built in five sections, a 44-foot-long center section and middle and outer sections just over 40 feet long. All five sections have an identical thickness–12 percent of the chord, or about 11.5 inches, with no taper or sweep.
Solar arrays that will cover most of the upper wing surface will provide up to 31 kilowatts of power at high noon on a summer day to power the aircraft’s 14 electric motors, avionics, communications and other electronic systems. Centurion also has a backup lithium battery system that can provide power for between two and five hours to allow limited-duration flight after dark. Initial low-altitude test flights at Dryden in 1998 were conducted on battery power alone, prior to installation of the solar cell arrays.
Centurion flies at an airspeed of only 17 to 21 mph, or about 15 to 18 knots. Although pitch control is maintained by the use of a full-span 60-segment elevator on the trailing edge of the wing, turns and yaw control are accomplished by applying differential power — slowing down or speeding up the motors — on the outboard sections of the wing.
The video clip depicts the aircraft on the lakebed prior to and during its first low-altitude check flight under battery power on November 10, 1998.
Duration : 0:0:21
In-wheel motor for solar powered cars
See how the motor can fit in the wheel of a solar car.
The electromagnetic components for the in-wheel motor are used in the Aurora 101 solar car.
The car raced in three Darwin to Adelaide World Solar Challenges, winning in 1999 and coming second in 2001.
The motors have now been used by six teams competing in the World Solar Challenge.
Duration : 0:1:51
Solar Power 101 – how does sunlight turn into electricity
Please sign the Declaration of Endependence at www.endependence.info/declaration .
Short and concise explanation of solar photovoltaic systems. How do they work? Do I need batteries?
Produced by the on-line local action network, Endependence.info.
Show us how you are saving energy. We’ll copy your great ideas.
Energy independence, we can’t do it alone, but we can do it together.
Duration : 0:2:4
Fresnel Lens Focal Length Change with Water, Concentrated Solar Power
This is a raw unedited video in realtime demonstrating the physics of light through a Huger Fresnel Lens. As water is added to the Fresnel side of the lens, the Focal Length triples due to water filling in the grooves of the lens. The optical quality is reduced causing the light to spread over a larger area. The overall energy concentrated is the same (less water filtering). This solar Fresnel Lens with a 40″ focal length increased to almost 9 feet or 108″
Duration : 0:5:36
Better Living with Laura Klein – Green Home Scrub
“Better Living with Laura Klein” Easy and Affordable Green Scrub For Your Home episode. The show is about green living, creating a healthy home and cooking with organic food. Laura Klein is a Green Living Expert “Green Diva” and publishes http://www.organicauthority.com .
For more info goto http://www.greendiva.tv
Duration : 0:3:12
House powered up thought homemade wind power generatorPuget Sound Energy’s Wind Power
Clean, renewable energy is becoming a core part of Puget Sound Energy’s power supply. PSE’s goal is to meet up to 10 percent of its customers’ total electricity need with cost-effective renewable resources by 2013. A major step in that direction is PSE’s ownership and operation of two large wind farms in Washington state. More info located at: http://www.pse.com/energyEnvironment/energysupply/Pages/EnergySupply_ElectricityWind.aspx
Duration : 0:9:10
Solar craft flies through two nights
For the first time a solar powered plane has flown through two consecutive nights, says UK defence research company QinetiQ.
Read more – http://snipurl.com/1qiqy – on a flight that is one step towards solar-powered craft that never land.
Video: QinetiQ – www.qinetiq.com
Duration : 0:0:42
Green Wheels: Solar Power
http://voom.tv/equatorhd/greenwheels
Grab your sunscreen, because on this episode everything’s powered by the sun. We’ll meet “solar guru” Steve Heckeroth. Not only is his homestead 100% solar-powered, so are his vehicles. He designs and builds electric tractors, and he charges
them, along with his Toyota Rav4-EV, with free energy from the sun. We’ll also check in with the Stanford Solar Car Project team and their UV-powered car — Solstice. Covered with solar panels and stocked full of lithium ion batteries, this car looks like a UFO and can drive across the country without ever stopping to fill up!
Duration : 0:3:1