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• Watt Hour of Power for Solar Spirit
• Supporters
• News & Media
• Evolution
• TAFE SA

Evolution of Solar Spirit

The Solar Spirit project started soon after the 2007 World Solar Challenge. At least 18 months of research and planning has focused on achieving maximum efficiencies for the innovative solar electric vehicle.

• Maximum energy from the sun is required to have a truly competitive solar car.
• Find the most efficient Solar Cells we can afford to purchase.
• Achieve maximum efficiency: Motor and Motor Controller, Regeneration of electricity when braking, energy storage.
• Lightest possible weight (for lowest possible rolling resistance).
• The best aerodynamic and smallest frontal projection area allowable by the new rules.
• Design the solar car to drive like a standard vehicle.

The dominant factors of a solar car performance are:

1. The lowest running resistance
2. The lowest aerodynamic drag
   The C_D (drag coefficient) x A (frontal projected area) is crucial to maximise performance
3. The amount of energy captured from the sun
4. The efficient use and recapture of energy
5. The team strategy and cohesive team effort.

TAFE SA Solar Car Project summary document

Current work

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2011

During last semester 2010 the Engineering Prevocation students created the fibreglass mould and test shell as part of their studies in composite materials. In first semester 2011 the students made the Kevlar racing shell

Electronics students built battery management system, battery, controls and dash equipment as projects in their curiculum work

2010

A range of tests on the prototype showed up some benefits and some cause for major re-developments in design and implementation resulting in a managment descision to revisit the shell design.

In first semester 2010 University Mechanical Engineering graduate Noel Wong performed excellent work in developing the CAD designs for the new shell in consultation with TAFE technicians, WallCann and other external experts. By nature the resulting design is a balance of practicalities, efficiency, race imposed constraints, need for speed and aesthetics.

While currently employed in part time roles supporting the SolarSpirit project with WallCann, Noel is seeking employment as a professional mechanical engineer where he can apply his technical knowledge and skills gained through his training and in the design process of SolarSpirit II.

Noel can be contacted on email: noel127 at gmail.com

 

 Neighbouring business, Hightech Resources, built the plug from Noel's design in Aug/Sept 2010. Delivery of the two halves, each weighing over 400kg, was a great milestone of our project

 

 

Semester 2 of 2010 will see the Mechanical Engineering students at Regency Campus of TAFE SA working with a selection of composite materials to create the new shell

 

 

Electronics students will also begin project work to integrate systems from the prototype into the new vehicle

 

Previous work

Kelly, the first TAFE SA solar car

A veteran of solar racing spanning ten years, Kelly, was originally built by a syndicate which included TAFE SA. Kelly's results have been consistently very good and the experience and data gained has informed prepartions for our new car. 

 

 

 

 

SS Prototype

In 2009 the Solar Spirit team constructed and tested the prototype vehicle.

This used Triangular Advanced Solar Cells (TASC triple junction Gallium Arsenide solar Cells from Spectrolab, a Boeing company). Each of the 26,348 TASC cells were mounted on 60 + 1 (6 square meters) specially designed circuit boards (manufactured by Entech as part of their sponsorship). The circuit boards were mounted on a lightweight aluminium frame (donated by Capral) made into a flat "Stalled" wing, which could be tilted for maximum power from the sun most of the time.

The chassis is made of aircraft grade carbon composite material. Cobham Aviation Services Australia has generously donated time and Aircraft quality "Fiberlam" material. The 3.6m x 0.83m bare chassis, mabe by Cobham, only weighs 18kg. The material is ten times the strength of steel of the same weight. The technology has enabled us to possibly have the lightest solar car ever designed for a World Solar Challenge.

The CSIRO Kit motor is 98% efficient, using only about 1600Watts of energy. (With the expected low drag, weight and good aerodynamics). The motor can be used as a generator when slowing down, to convert the kinetic energy into electrical energy and store it into the batteries. In fact, the braking / cruise control system is designed to use regen as much as possible, before the actual hydraulic brakes come on.

Technical Information

Kelly		Solar Spirit prototype - intended specs
(LxWxH) 6m x 2m x 0.9m	Size	(LxWxH) 5m x 1.8m x 1.2m
245 kgs	Mass	180 kgs
Modified BP Saturn, max. 1200 watts	Solar Cells	Spectrolab Tasc Solar cells >26%  1610 watts
27 Electronic Solar Optimisers	Array Tracking	Automated shadow control
30Kg Lithium-Polymer, voltage 126V, 54Ah	Batteries	25Kg Lithium-Ion 140V 52Ah
NGM, 3 Phase DC 12 Pole, 3.75 kW Axial Flux, Brushless, Permanent Magnet 94% Eff	Wheel Motor	CSIRO 3 Phase DC 40 Pole, 1.8 kW Axial Flux, Brushless, Permanent Magnet 97.4% Eff (Parts designed to suit Solar Spirit by Cobham)
Dunlop Solamax 2.25 x 16	Tyres	Michelin 16" radial
Tritium Waveform Ultra High Efficiency	Motor Controller	Tritium Waveform Ultra High Efficiency
Carbon Fire on Nomex Honeycomb	Body	Fibre Glass with space age strengtheners
Balanced Hydraulic, lightweight	Brakes	Balanced Hydraulic, lightweight
120+ km/h	Top Speed	135+ km/h