Design And Construction Of A Mini Solar Fan

ABSTRACT

This work is on a mini solar fan. The project involves using solar energy to power a dc fan. A mini solar fan, charges with solar energy. Mini solar fan operated either by solar panel and battery. Solar panel charges the battery during the day while the rechargeable battery supplies the energy stored in the battery to the fan during the night.

TABLE OF CONTENT

TITLE PAGE

APPROVAL PAGE

DEDICATION

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

ABSTRACT

TABLE OF CONTENT

CHAPTER ONE

• INTRODUCTION

1.1      BACKGROUND OF THE PROJECT

1.2      PROBLEM STATEMENT

1.3      OBJECTIVE OF THE PROJECT

1.4      SIGNIFICANCE OF THE PROJECT

1.5      LIMITATION OF THE PROJECT

1.6      APPLICATION OF THE PROJECT

1.7      PROJECT ORGANISATION

CHAPTER TWO

2.0     LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1      HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF ELECTRIC FANS

2.2      HISTORICAL REVIEW OF SOLAR ENERGY

2.3      THEORETICAL REVIEW OF SOLAR CELL

2.4       REVIEW OF SOLAR CELL EFFICIENCY

2.5        REVIEW OF SOLAR CELL MATERIALS

CHAPTER THREE

3.0     CONSTRUCTION

3.1      BLOCK DIAGRAM

3.2      DESCRIPTION OF PARTS OF THE BLOCK

3.3      CONSTRUCTION PROCEDURE

CHAPTER FOUR

4.0      CONSTRUCTION PROCEDURE AND TESTING

4.1      CASING AND PACKAGING

4.2      ASSEMBLING OF SECTIONS

4.3      TESTING OF SYSTEM OPERATION

4.4      TROUBLE SHOOTING METHOD

4.5      HOW TO FIX A FAN THAT HUMS

CHAPTER FIVE

5.0      CONCLUSION

5.1      RECOMMENDATION

5.2      BIBLIOGRAPHY

CHAPTER ONE

• INTRODUCTION

1.1                          BACKGROUND OF THE PROJECT

The electric fan was one of the most important electric inventions of all time. The fan is a building block of other more advanced technologies. Fans are necessary in computers, lasers, large LED lights, petrol and electric automobiles, the space station and countless other things. The fan as used in HVAC systems allows humans to build giant or underground buildings.

The electric fan has blades similar to a water or steam turbine. A DC or AC motor drives a rotating shaft.  Sizes of fans have gotten much smaller and lighter over the years.  As engineers improved the electric motor and blade design they figured out how to get more performance out of a design that uses less copper and steel.

A mini solar fan can help maintain humidity levels, protect various rooms of your house from stagnant air, and even help you sleep better at night. And that’s just the beginning. The blades force air either in or out of the room you’re trying to cool or ventilate.

A mini solar fan is a mechanical fan powered by solar panels. The solar panels are either mounted on the device or are installed independently. Solar fans mostly do not require secondary power sources other than solar power, as most of them are used for cooling purposes during day time. Some types are also used for heating purposes. It runs the fastest when it is the hottest outside providing savings on air conditioning costs.

1.6                                                  PROBLEM STATEMENT

The world demand for electric energy is constantly increasing, and conventional energy resources are diminishing and are even threatened to be depleted. Moreover; their prices are rising. For these reasons, the need for alternative energy sources has become indispensable, and solar energy in particular has proved to be a very promising alternative because of its availability and pollution-free nature. Due to the increasing efficiencies and decreasing cost of photovoltaic cells and the improvement of the switching technology used for power conversion, our goal is to design an electric fan powered by PV panels and that could supply stand-alone power to the load (fan). Solar panels produce direct currents (DC), and to connect these panels to power the electric fan

1.3                                             OBJECTIVE OF THE PROJECT

The objective of the work is to design and construct a portable solar fan which is powered by photovoltaic panels generally mounted on the lighting structure or place on a table. The photovoltaic panels charge a rechargeable battery, which powers the fan during the night or power outage.

1.4                                         SIGNIFICANCE OF THE PROJCET

After knowing in detail what a solar fan is and how different useful it is to make appliances work at residential and industrial levels students should also know the advantages.

1. Solar energy has always helped in reducing global warming and green house effect.
2. Also use of solar energy helps in saving money many people have started using solar based devices

• Solar fan helps people who use limited amount of electricity.

• A mini solar fan is more environmentally friendly.

• Though initially the installation may be costlier, in the long term it would turn out to be cheaper because it does not use power from the utility grid and may provide savings up to 30 percent on air conditioning costs.

• Risk of electric accidents are eliminated as there are no electric cords attached to the solar fan.

1. A cordless appliance offers much more mobility compared to conventional fan. A mini solar fan is the best way and they are better than the normal electric ones. Also their maintenance does not cost much money
2. Mini solar fan is portable, as a result of this, it can be carried from one place to another.
   • LIMITATION OF THE PROJECT
3. Initially you need to shell out a lot of money for buying a solar panel, battery and fan.

1. It will work effectively and produce direct current only when the Sunlight is strong.
2. The solar panels that are used to attract Sunlight requires lots of space
3. The device can work efficiently only if the presence of the Sun is strong.
4. Solar fan can work when there is no Sunlight but provided their battery is fully charged with the help of Sunlight

1.6                                          APPLICATION OF THE PROJECT

1. Cool Down your Room (and yourself)

Perfect for more moderate climates, electric fans are a very inexpensive way to cool almost any room in your home. They can also be quite refreshing, as they circulate cool air throughout the room.

Portable air circulators are some of the best options for this type of use, as they are easy to move from room to room. Be sure to pay attention to the size of the room you want to cool, as some kinds work better in large rooms than others.

2. Deal with smokers

Whether you’re dealing with a small kitchen mishap or your cigar-smoke, an electric fan can be a savior. Use your pedestal or table fan  to suck up the smoky air and blow it out an open window or door. Pointed in the right direction, it can act as an exhaust.

Once the room is cleared, turn it around to blow fresh air back into the room. You don’t even need smoke in the house for this trick – it works for any room that needs ventilating.

3. Sleep easier

It can be especially difficult to sleep on a warm summer night. Typically, you have to choose between the noisy air conditioner or the uncomfortable heat. A bedroom fan can be a great alternative, as it operates much quieter than an air conditioning unit and it significantly lowers room temperature.

In addition, the cool breeze can be relaxing while you try to fall asleep. Pedestal fans are usually the best type for the bedroom and the variety of remote controlled options available make these a great addition to your home. A Mini Fans are perfect for moderate bedroom cooling too, and installed over the bed, they’re quite effective.

4. Keep humidity in check

An electric air circulator can do more than just cool. Because they ventilate the room, maintaining proper humidty levels is easy. Too much humidity can damage your home. Blowing fresh air into the room can keep the humidity levels down in your home and keep indoor areas well-ventilated. The constant circulation of air helps keep the air in your home clean as well as dry. It’s a win-win all the way around.

5. Protect your bathroom

Keep bathroom moisture levels in check with an exhaust fan. Installing an exhaust fan in the bathroom protects the interior and keeps it looking new. It also helps keep paint from peeling, doors from warping and mold from accumulating on bathroom surfaces too.

The added circulation keeps the air dryer, and helps remove bathroom moisture generated from a hot shower. These bathroom exhaust fans  help control bathroom odors and room stuffiness too.

6. Accentuate your room

A solar fan can be so much more than a functional appliance; it can also add decorative charm to your living environment. Decorative fans come in a variety of shapes and sizes and accentuate just about any room in your home. The color variety can certainly add a refreshing change of pace from the traditional models. Best of all, they work just as well as standard fans.

1.7                                                         PROJECT ORGANISATION

The work is organized as follows: chapter one discuses the introductory part of the work,   chapter two presents the literature review of the study,  chapter three describes the methods applied,  chapter four discusses the results of the work, chapter five summarizes the research outcomes and the recommendations.