2256 New Solar Booster - Easy DIY, Simple, Cheap And Effective
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- čas přidán 27. 03. 2024
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Most people don’t realize just how much 10 degrees C can drop their SP output. What I did long ago was to find out where I was getting the most south to north flowing wind on my property. Turns out my garage and the boundary wall with my neighbor was actually very effective in deflecting wind most of the year around to a northerly direction in one particular part of the property. So I moved the panels to still face north but in the path of that wind. I got hold of some cans of black spray paint and painted the back of the panels black. The black helped radiate the heat collected on the sun side and the wind took the hot air away. I got an average improvement in energy output of around 5% with nothing more than 3 cans of spray paint and a bit of elbow grease. Temperature really does make a difference.
I'm in Calgary, Alberta, and we get quite a lot of sun, but the anomalous thing I see, is when we have a sunny day and below-zero temps (sometimes very below-zero) my solar panels can produce 25% more power than the 1800W, 25-degree C standard test, they are rated at. I have seen more than 2400W on occasion, when it's cold and sunny. This sounds like a really interesting idea!
Solar panel efficiency goes down the higher the temperature. Just because the air is like 25° doesn't mean the panel is 25, probably closer to 45°
Less resistance……
@@buddyguy4723 That's probably true but my point is that the efficiency goes up as the temperature goes down. If I can keep the temperature of my panels below the 25C rating in the summer, then I should see corresponding increases in the amount of energy I can 'get for free'. (we typically see 30-40 degrees C in the middle of summer)
@@dSquared0162 I know I live in the same city lol. There's examples of people using aluminum cooling blocks and and forced air using pc fans. I think one of them achieved like a 40° difference. I don't remember if he was measuring in Fahrenheit or Celsius though.
Less moisture in the atmosphere between your panel and the Sun perhaps? 🤔
Given the solar farm in texas was just demolished by hail, the vertical panels probably would have survived.
Just to help with anyone thinking of trying the experiment take these options into consideration:
1) If you bond the opti white glass to the solar panel don’t use silicone. Silicone erodes glass.
2) Laminate glass option could help with solar panel protection from weather elements.
Good luck with the tests!
From a second generation glazier which has a passion for glass technology.
Robert, you’re the Fred Dibnah of Science. Keep up this fantastic channel👍
I bet that shielding the panels from infrared and cooling them would also prolong their lifetime on the long run
Thank you for bringing this topic to attention, Robert. I was searching for a solution to reflect infrared light for my side project, so I was quite excited to learn that there is a commercially available glass designed for this purpose. However, upon reading the Optiwire brochure on the Pilkington official site, I found no mention of this glass's ability to reflect IR light. Instead, the brochure highlights the glass's increased transparency, presumably in both the visible and infrared spectrums. This would explain the claim of "maximizing passive solar heat gain on cold sunny days." In fact, it makes perfect sense: if the glass were to reflect infrared light, it wouldn't facilitate passive cooling. After reviewing the paper, I must admit, it raised more questions than answers for me.
Nice! I wish more people would appreciate how much energy can be harvested if we were just more clever about it!
i absolutely agree mate
If only Robert Murray-Smith could bottle his creative curiosity and get the youngsters off the Redbull!
Interesting experiment. You could also put solar cells in the interstitial between floors - they often have glass hiding the concrete…. You get placement almost free as the space isn’t used
First rate Robert! People thinking outside of the box. This video made me excited too! Especially that any of us can test this easily and relatively inexpensively. Thousands of back-yard scientists/engineers providing excellent comparison data!
(I guess that would be back-garden scientists/engineers to you folks in the UK)
Cheers to you Sir!
Thanks for that.
Chuck in Florida.
When this video started I thought it was going to be about adding thermoelectric devices to the back of the solar panels thus reducing heat while generating electricity and cooling the solar panels to increase their energy production.
I would if anyone was trying that. Love your channel you make me think!
I'm sure it's been done, but it wouldn't be very economical!
I need this. We never need more heat here, only more cooling. Passive radiative cooling while generating power is amazing
That glass might keep solar cells from being smashed by hail too.
good point - actually very good point!
It would be awesome to see a power curve over a year comparing the difference. Take out all cloudy days. Show energy production over a year. From possibly 4 different installs and the cool panels vs normal panels mounted in various ways.
i agree
"Ooo dat glass..."
I see some serious potential here for focusing solar infrared onto some Solar Evacuated Heat Tubes.
That may well be the trick for getting some proper steam generation!
That's a very interesting thought. Even if you don't end up generating steam, your PV setup would still be doing double duty as solar thermal.
@@alphajunky Naw, this would be just for the solar evacuated tubes. The PV is another setup.
We're you a teacher? You're very good at feeding the facts as simple and formulaic as possible.
He should be the Dean of Education at NASA :)
yes i was mate
Good info. All good stuff to apply easily, maybe the roofs underbelly could share some cooling from within the house too.
I can see vertical solar cells doubling as vertical axis wind turbines.
Thanks and cheers
How about adding white- or aluminum backing with small gap behind the panel. That should create capillary action that cools down the panel.
mmm...brilliant analysis as always...thank you so very much for continuing you channel with scientific updates!...the lav mic really helps...so any video updates on previous material pre-lav mic is always appreciated
was just thinking about this option the other day. I thought i was insane because it would obviously reduce the power the panel produces. But I was wondering how bad. Thanks so much for making the video to clarify this!
Maybe even adding some cheap reflectors if hanging vertically doesn't over come the glass absorbtion shortfall or to see if you can increase the power output without increasing heat absorption.
Why does my brain go into auto creative mode when I hear your lectures and ideas?😂
I've long suggested using lenticular lensing sheets placed directly onto the panels proper.
I don't doubt it would be possible to work out the angles needed for such a short contraction, one wouldn't require the rays to be massively focused, only enough to raise the amplitude by a fraction should make a massive difference to the saveable energy.
Another factor that needs to be considered is the propensity of solar panels to melt off snow in the winter. Here one of the things that limits electricity production in the winter is snow on the panels. The dark iridium coating is fairly effect with melting off a light covering of snow thereby dramatically increasing wintertime production.
I would want to evaluate the tradeoff with the increased IR reflection.
This reminds me of a 12 yr old boy in 2012 who got a prize for coming up with a 3d panel in the shape of a skateboard and going beyond the 2D the government or governments have been going with for the past 50 years. 40 years at that time.
Most people don't know that solar panels lose about 0.5% of their output for every degree C. So a solar panel rated at 400W (tested at 25C and 1000W/m2 irradiation) will only produce 320W at 65C, which is not an unusual temperature for a solar panel to have. That's why companies like Triple Solar have developed PVT solar panels which not only generate electricity but are also used to (pre)heat water.
Just an aside but recladding all the suitable windows in these buildings w/ bird friendly mods would be an added bonus
Have you considered printing fractal anechoic cones to reduce the echo in your office?
I suggest a fractal design because it would offer more reflective branches, magnifying the effect compared to regular anechoic cones.
You could also use a flock paint to increase the effect even more.
Finally a good use of a product invented to alleviate the problem created needing it. We built cities, create a lot of heat and heat retention, need glass to alleviate the problem, spend resources for that and the cycle continues…
If the glass cover also protects the cell from weathering, it would make a long-term output better and more consistent.
It seems a good idea for countries that high temperature year round. I think that in the UK where we only have only a couple months of high temperatures it may not off set the loss.
But I guess that's why they are doing more research.
that's a guess mate - and you could well be right - but it is still a guess and so i think still worth the experiment
Hello Robert, I suspect that keeping the panels cooler would also prolong their life...thanks for all the brilliant stuff
Just a quick correction, the majority of the sun energy, which arrived at the surface of the earth, is in the visible light spectrum. With some of it coming in the near ultraviolet, and the near infrared. Overall, the positive impact of solar panels shading the buildings. They are supported by is quite noticeable.
GOOD ONE. LOVE YOUR CHANNEL BROTHER. FUN AND IDEA INSPIRING.
cheers mate
This should be tested with reflectors. 4 Mirrors or polished aluminium can increase power by upwards of 400% on days with a bit of clouds, but on sunny days it is lower as the panel heats up. This might be useful to reduce that extra heat.
Thank you very much. Just do it
or you could
My immediate take away from this would be to make a thin film equivalent that can be rolled behind it in winter on one of the new muscovite and gold cells you could use laser etching on the gold backing elements to increase the uptake of the reflected I.R. and a really thin film of coolant to take the heat energy away as electrical heating is still pretty inefficient. Then you'd be making gains in cooling and heating plus more power in winter.
Not a cheap option for bulk grid but would make for a very efficient setup for micro scale on edge living.
Could get some sheet metal make thin boxs with plumbing themal paste boxes and solar together and harvest the heat as a heat pump for hot water and such.
Vertical solar requires 4x the land area. And gives more energy during summer when you don't need it, and 2x less during winter when you do need it. At £3 per sqf that means £60 per 400W panel that itself costs £60. So double the price for minor improvement.
at latitude above 45% like here in Minnesota, great idea to hang verticle or maybe 75-80% angle, also so snow will slide off easy
that is good point mate
How about a reflective mirror at 90 deg to the panel while hanging it vertically.
Tech Ingredients did something similar with the panel adjusted to the sun. He found some cheap material to make it.
In my opinion the main issue would be maintenance, the mirror needs to be washed once in awhile. I think that sloping inwards one would give even better results
Well that's cool Cheers Rob
Robert what about chimney effect cooling on the back of the solar panel like my woodstove has around it to move air into the room.
Test: Control: Static, angled panels. Test 1: Vertical. Test 2: Angled, with glass. Test 3: Vertical, with glass. Tests 4-7 Maybe also do a rotational/2D tracking panel group, with angle or vertical, with and without glass. Tests 8+ do a 3D tracking, varying from 90° angle w.r.t. sun, up to vertical or past vertical, in 2.5° or 5° increments. See if vertical is truly the best net power (total power, power lost due to overheating, power spent cooling). What I'd do if I won the lottery, set up these experiments and hire people to build and conduct them on my behalf (as I'm disabled, can't do much physically).
Nighthawk did it!
I love your video's. Thank you.
So nice of you - cheers mate
It’s always irritated me that most people address “solar energy“ only in terms of its conversion to electricity. Adobe walls use solar energy by absorbing it in the heat of the day and releasing it in the cool of night to warm the interior. We dry clothes in the sun, and the wind is motivated by the sun. Vegetables are solar energy energy and the so are coal and oil. But using direct solar input saves the pollution of burning the ancient fossil sunlight. Intelligent design using all elements of solar radiation is needed to extract the best utility from the sun. Thank you for all your work.
True about direct sun energy; the difficulty is saving this energy for later use in a human and nature friendly way.
How about a auto curve to fit the most intake?😊 work off it's own energy or from a super capacitor. 😊
You should research pilkington Optiwhite Low E (softcoat) it's the same low iron glass with an RF sputtered coating on the inside pane (this coating is conductive and can be etched) This combined with a perovskite can be used to to create a cell. Also this coating also reflects IR
Thought I'd add if memory serves the Low E coating is a RF Magnetron deposited layer of Tin Oxide (SnO2)
I'm in Canada. We are (or were) used to putting storm windows over our windows in winter to get another layer of trapped air for insulation, so I guess we could similarly add this glass layer in summer and remove it for winter. It's not like it has to be sealed or anything, so should be a simple mechanical fit.
Also, in somewhere like the NYC concrete canyons, would this glass on skyscraper windows reflect/bounce all infrared down to street level and heat it up?
another great video
Bifacial panels are now becoming popular and they are hung vertical with an edge facing South. This produces a "M" shaped daily production curve that declines at the hottest part of the day. Here comes an idea. Why not use a micro ribbed prismatic "wash board" Fornell glass cover to bend the best production angle slightly forward from the perpendicular.
Could heat from a solar panel or IR reflection be used to do work like pre-heating hot water rather than wasted Rob ?
Rob is there a way to make a reverse flow battery. + to - instead of - to +. Maybe using gold nitres ?
Got me thinking to have a go.
Could you combine this glass with a fluorescent effect or film of some sort and increase your solar output to help compensate for any initial loss from adding the glass to begin with?
I wonder if you could do the same experiment by using the defusing screen from defunct flat panel TV? Place the defusing screen over one solar panel and nothing over the other and compare results. A short addendum here, a storm dropping hail the other day in Texas destroyed over 3000 solar panels on a solar farm. Ouch.
Why not use the unwanted heat to run a Thremo Electric Generator layer underneath the solar panel, it would generate more than enough to run a fan to enhance cooling and the TEG would cool the panel for higher efficiency?
Rob, what about the restriction of land area? Would hanging panels vertically use more land, due to shading from adjacent panels? Would this efficiency gain be offset by the number of overall panels that you could squeeze into a given amount of acreage. Seems like a 6 or half dozen type situation!
Would seem a boon in hot weather dominated climates. But in cold weather dominated where the winter heat gain is positive to the structure, perhaps not so good overall.
What about the hail is my question with solar panels.
🤷♂️
Hail as in hail stones ?...A sheet off thick plastic above it that is curved down at the edges a bit will protect your pannel also allowing all the light through..
In an old video of Roberts I thought I saw he used something like the plastic top screen from an overhead projector to increase the light input to the cell but I can't find the video. Does anyone know the video?
Robert what do you think would happen if you ran them vertically with the glass and painted the back with the high reflective paint..? It would probably act as a reflector collector if you line the rows up right?
yes i think it probably would mate
hmmm I wonder if that mirrored stick on windows solar film will work ?
How much capital do i need in the smallest unit to setup a factory as this? Any ideas?
I sometimes wonder what was the best invention before sliced bread?
I'm using 4-100 watt panels to pump water from my well. What if I diverted a small water line to misting sprayers that would spray over the panels to help cool them? I adjust the angle of panels every couple months.
Other channels have proved this to a positive effect on energy output. Possible to attract and bond more dirt to the panel and need more frequent cleaning. I am guessing on this point. The misting is not likely to be strong enough to clean the panel(s).
Experiment and good luck.
@@69dblcab It's a ground mount so easy to clean. I have a carwash brush anf squeegee and clean the panels every couple weeks or more often as needed.
I put silver mylar on roof under solar panels to bounce IR away from roof on my RV -
Why don't the panel manufacturers use this IR reflective glass in their panels then? Or do they?
Hey Rob, sorry to be “that pesky viewer” but is the Lav mic connecting to the camera? It sounds like the internal mic is recording the audio for your at desk segments recently. It sounds distant from your voice source, and is picking up the wall reflections. Once again I beg your forgiveness for mentioning it. 😊
yes it is mate - thank you for pointing that out - it might be the batter in the mic - i will check it out - cheers
@@ThinkingandTinkering ☺👍Thanks for the reply Sir.
Is that -9% generation to achieve +5% generation?
Fascinating area but a shame the IR is wasted and can't be converted (by phosphorescence?) to increase generation whilst reducing heat.
Would a liquid cooled radiator on the rear of the panel help?
Companies are already making water cooled panels
Rob, do you think that the new Lenovo laptop with the transparent screen might make a good tinted window for buildings that works as a solar panel? Probably too expensive for now. But maybe one day.
i like the idea of trying mat - to expensive for me too but i could put it n the drawer until i come across one
I would be more interested in a solution that has more impact in winter. My panels produce plenty already in March. But it's Nov-Jan that is the problem to become 100% off-grid. And that's when this solution has no effect. If I talk to fellow DIY solar people they all say the same. My current solution is doubling the amount of panels, but I already know that it does not solve this completely.
I wonder how that compares to putting reflective paint on the roof under the solar panel without the glass
good point mate
I think both solar power and solar hot water already use this
i think maybe your mic didn't get plugged in, it kinda sounds like you're in an echo chamber..
Anthony Hopkins with a soldering iron
lol
Hasn't this just disproved the C02 warming theory if the infrared gets reflected back out into space? Incredible the solar manufacturers haven't thought of this before...
Pull your head out of your posterior.
@@AngryMan540 Pull your head out of his posterior.
The higher frequency Infra Red hits the ground etc., and re-radiates as lower frequency Infra Red. It is this sub 5um (ish) Infra Red that the Co2 etc., traps. The higher 10um (ish) Infra Red can be reflected straight back out to space.
Wow, that human life form is about to save the world, or at least his backyard.
Your audio has a lot of echo which makes you hard to understand.
Why on earth would anyone do this?
I would bet on the liberals insisting that reflecting the IR back into space will only heat the atmosphere more than it already is.
lol probably
Get to the point quicker please.
lololol
When I was investigating making my own solar panels a few years ago, low iron glass was the way to go. I assumed all commercially produced panels already had it?