The Sinag solar car is unveiled in the Philippines
Using a body of carbon fiber, Kevlar and epoxy swathed over a honeycomb core, the Sinag solar car, a first for the Philippines, is set to enter the 20th World Solar Challenge in Australia in October. The three-wheeled vehicle converts energy from the sun into electricity using 400 solar cells, silicon-based, which are capable of sending 2000 watts to a pack of lithium polymer batteries and in turn to the electric motor driving the rear wheel. Like other solar racers, the car seats one person and relies more on endurance than outright speed. We wish all of the cars a good race in Australia, hopefully the experience and knowledge gained will help to increase the efficiency of more normal cars like those that we all drive today.
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[Source: Manila Times]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Ivan Porcalla 10:21PM (4/16/2008)
http://fc06.deviantart.com/fs29/f/2008/099/8/d/Sinag_2_with_Ventus_Logo_by_ivanporcalla.jpg
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grimmex 3:59PM (9/04/2007)
Jeremy said:
"hopefully the experience and knowledge gained will help to increase the efficiency of more normal cars like those that we all drive today."
Oh sure. If you built a car that weighed 180 lbs, sat on bicycle tires, and carried a single driver who weighs less than 160 lbs, you too can make it run at highway speed with only 2.7 horsepower. This is a well-known fact. Engineering cannot change this.
But people (especially Americans) don't want to drive smaller, lighter cars. They want big, comfortable cars with heat and AC, mag wheels, a cool paintjob, and enough space to carry groceries, soccer teams, and a kayak. That too is a well-known fact and engineering cannot change that either.
What solar car challenges are all about is an exercise in pure engineering. The exercise is "build the solar panel, battery, and motor more efficient than the next guy so that you beat him in a race". The battery and motor here are already near 100% efficiency (with possible improvements in power density possible of the battery), but the real efficiency bottleneck is the solar cells. The most efficient cells in the world convert around 40% of the total amount of energy from sunlight to electrical power. Most solar cells can do maybe 15-20%.
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howard 11:39AM (9/05/2007)
I'm to old now to do anymore experimenting with ELECTRIC/ALTERNATIVE FUEL VEHICLES but in years past I was exposed to some of the most remarkable sources of power I ever imagined possible! Here is one of them; I had an old man in my town who became a good friend, he was a welder and inventor! Well, one day he came to me and asked if he could use a small space in my shop to do some experimenting on an idea he had for an engine? Of course I said yes, he was the only one in town I trusted to do some of the specialized welding my projects required and to have him in house was a valuable asset! He worked on his idea for over two years sometimes all night! I never questioned him about what he was doing because I knew when he wanted me to know he'd tell me and that time came on a Sunday afternoon! I lived right next door to my shop and he came over and asked if I'd like to witness the starting of his engine? I didn't even hesitate and went over to the shop with him. He had this weird looking device (he had kept it covered up when anybody was around)setting on a steel table he had built just for it. It was all stainless steel and highly polished! He asked me to stand by the oxygen tank and turn it on then off when he told me which I did! He stood next to his engine and told me to turn it on wait 30 second then turn it off! He had a digital meter hooked up to it and as I watched it started to climb as the engine started to turn, it got to 7 and stopped, the engine continued to run, it was making a hissing sound. He told me to turn off the oxygen and I figured the engine would stop but it kept running, I thought it was momentum that had built up in the flywheel. He stood there with a smile of satisfaction on his face! I walked over to him and asked how long it would run and what was the digital meter reading? I don't know how long it'll run and the digital meter is reading horse power he said! That engine ran for over twenty four hours with the oxygen tank disconnected! It had a small shaft sticking about 4" out of one end of the end plate, he would take a piece of OAK and press down on this shaft and the digital meter went up to 20 but it didn't stop the engine! To stop it after a total of 34 hours he opened a valve and let the oxygen escape!
In the strictest of confidence he let me watch as he dissembled the two cases, there was an o-ring around the seam to seal the two, a stainless flywheel in the middle and two ports with sliding covers that were actuated by slots and followers in the flywheel! The principal was explained to me; Air (oxygen in this case) was built up in one chamber and as it forced the flywheel to start moving slowly the pressure was forced into the other chamber, back and forth causing the flywheel to turn! Being a sealed system as long as the pressure was kept at a constant level the engine would keep running indefinitely! In my mind this was as close to PEPETUAL MOTION as anything I had ever seen! This was Christmas day 1972 and he had a heart attack that night and died New Years day 1973! his wife came to my shop about two weeks later and had a friend pick up all his belongings including the AIR MOTOR! I didn't want to pry so i didn't mention it till almost a year later when I saw her in a store, I asked what she did with all his things especially the big shiny chambers? Oh, I sold them for scrap, you knew Pappy and all his junk! I said good by and went home and cried! I'm not sure but I think I could build one of these if I put my mind to it but I'm not even going to try, I'm to old and don't have the desire! But I wouldn't mind assisting somebody elase!
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