Solar Energy Projects for the Evil Genius

by Iovine, John

• ISBN13: 9780071458221
• ISBN10: 0071458220
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2006-04-30
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill/TAB Electronics

Summary

Solar energy is a clean, inexhaustible supply of energy that is being explored more and more given the current state of our dependency on foreign oil and global environmental concerns. This is an easy, fun reference for building 16 practical and inexpensive solar energy projects. All projects are table-top sized models for ease of use and can be scaled larger if necessary. Appeals to electronics and mechanical hobbists, high school, and 2-year trade schools with environmental engineering courses Projects range from a simple, rechargeable solar flashlight to sophisticated solar furnaces and thermoelectric generators A list of suppliers provides contact information for obtaining all the parts used in the book

Table of Contents

Chapter 1: Discusses the reasons to develop solar energy. Economics and efficiency comparisons to standard energy sources.

Chapter 2: Where solar energy shines, heating buildings and water. Passive solar systems, with air and water are examined. Heat storage methods are compared. Two model solar water heating systems are constructed.

Chapter 3: Building a solar oven for cooking food. References to: solar equipment, solar ovens deployed in third world communities.

Chapter 4: A practical real time use of solar energy is providing potable water from sea water. A basic Solar Water Distiller is constructed and tested.

Chapter 5: The solar furnace is capable of generating high temperatures. Build a simple solar furnace that can ignite paper products into flames and liquefy low temperature metals. Includes information on commercial solar furnaces.

Chapter 6: Thermoelectric generators are examined. Readers are shown how to build a simple thermoelectric generator that generates electricity from heat, and how to power the generator using the solar furnace from Chapter 5.

Chapter 7: Photovoltaic cells generate electricity directly from sunlight. Readers are shown how to build a homemade Photovoltaic cell using a copper sheet. Testing commercial Photovoltaic for light frequency solar cells.

Chapter 8: Advanced Photovoltaic Cell construction project. Make a solar cell that uses photochemistry to mimic photosynthesis, using photosensitive dyes that promise cheap solar electric power.

Chapter 9: Build a Solar Engine. These are often used for applications like pumping water for storage and irrigation.

Chapter 10: Build a solar heat engine to achieve mechanical work through heat.

Chapter 11: Improving solar collector efficiency by tracking the sun. A simple electrical feedback system that tracks the sun across the sky is built.

Chapter 12: 5 or 6 smaller projects are built to fully demonstrate the capabilities of solar energy. They include a rechargeable flashlight, special lights for illuminating a walkway, and simple solar cells.

APPENDIX: SUPPLIERS INDEX