Design And Construction Of A Solar Cell Phone Charger

ABSTRACT

This project is titled the design and construction of a solar cell phone charger. It is designed to meet up with the higher demand of power supply needed to keep our cell phone battery charged.

A solar cell phone battery charger is an electrical device that converts the energy of light directly into electricity by the photovoltaic effect. It does this by the use of solar panel which is a form of photoelectric cell (in that its electrical characteristics– e.g. current, voltage, or resistance– vary when light is incident upon it) which, when exposed to light, can generate and support an electric current without being attached to any external voltage source.

This work is aimed at constructing a solar cell phone battery charger system which receives 12V dc from the solar panel and convert it to the level that can be safe to the cell phone battery.

TABLE OF CONTENT

Title Page

Approval Page

Dedication

Acknowledgement

Abstract

Table of Content

CHAPTER ONE

1.0      Introduction

1.1      Introduction to solar panel

1.2      building block of a solar panel

1.3      theory of solar cell

1.4     advantages of using a solar cell phone charger

1.5     benefits of using solar cell phone charger

CHAPTER TWO

2.0      literature review of solar chargers

2.1      histories of solar cells

2.2      efficiencies of solar panel

2.3      benefits of using solar chargers

CHAPTER THREE

3.0      constructions

3.1      circuit diagram of cell phone charger

3.2      circuit operation

3.3      components description

3.4     circuits’ description

3.5    description of major components used

3.6    solar panel mounting system

CHAPTER FOUR

4.0      Result analysis

4.1      installation of the complete design

4.2      construction procedure and testing

4.3      casing and packaging

4.4      assembling of section

4.4      testing of system operation

4.5      problems encountered

4.6      cost analysis

CHAPTER FIVE

5.1      Conclusion

5.2      Recommendation

5.6      Bibliography

CHAPTER ONE

         1.1                                 INTRODUCTION

A solar cell phone battery charger is an electrical device that converts the energy of light directly into electricity by the photovoltaic effect. Solar cell phone chargers use solar panels to charge cell phone batteries. They are an alternative to conventional electrical cell phone chargers and in some cases can be plugged into an electrical outlet.

There are also public solar chargers for mobile phones which can be installed permanently in public places such as streets, park and squares. The model which is according to European Commission proclaimed as the first in the world is the Strawberry Tree, public solar charger invented by Strawberry energy Company. This solar station won the first place at “EU Sustainable energy week (EUSEW) 2011” in the Consuming category.

Some models of cell phones have a built in solar charger and are commercially available for GSM cell phone models.

Solar cell phone chargers come in different shapes and configurations including folding and rotating types.

They also come in the form of straps, with solar cells on the outer surface and a nickel metal hydride battery within. They are capable to charge a mobile device fully within six hours of exposure to the Sun resulting in 40 minutes of talk time.

Solar chargers are also available for other cell phone accessories, such as Bluetooth headsets and speaker phones.

1.2                          INTRODUCTION TO SOLAR CELL

A solar cell (also called a photovoltaic cell) is an electrical device that converts the energy of light directly into electricity by the photovoltaic effect. It is a form of photoelectric cell (in that its electrical characteristics– e.g. current, voltage, or resistance– vary when light is incident upon it) which, when exposed to light, can generate and support an electric current without being attached to any external voltage source.

The term “photovoltaic” comes from the Greek φῶς (phōs) meaning “light”, and from “Volt”, the unit of electro-motive force, the volt, which in turn comes from the last name of the Italian physicist Alessandro Volta, inventor of the battery (electrochemical cell). The term “photo-voltaic” has been in use in English since 1849.^[1]

Photovoltaic is the field of technology and research related to the practical application of photovoltaic cells in producing electricity from light, though it is often used specifically to refer to the generation of electricity from sunlight. Cells can be described as photovoltaic even when the light source is not necessarily sunlight (lamplight, artificial light, etc.). In such cases the cell is sometimes used as a photodetector (for example infrared detectors), detecting light or other electromagnetic radiation near the visible range, or measuring light intensity.

The operation of a photovoltaic (PV) cell requires 3 basic attributes:

1. The absorption of light, generating either electron-hole pairs or excisions.
2. The separation of charge carriers of opposite types.
3. The separate extraction of those carriers to an external circuit.

In contrast, a solar thermal collector collects heat by absorbing sunlight, for the purpose of either direct heating or indirect electrical power generation. “Photo electrolytic cell” (photo electrochemical cell), on the other hand, refers either a type of photovoltaic cell (like that developed by A.E. Becquerel and modern dye-sensitized solar cells) or a device that splits water directly into hydrogen and oxygen using only solar illumination.

     1.3                          BUILDING BLOCK OF A SOLAR PANEL

Assemblies of photovoltaic cells are used to make solar modules which generate electrical power from sunlight. Multiple cells in an integrated group, all oriented in one plane, constitute a solar photovoltaic panel or “solar photovoltaic module,” as distinguished from a “solar thermal module” or “solar hot water panel.” The electrical energy generated from solar modules, referred to as solar power, is an example of solar energy. A group of connected solar modules (such as prior to installation on a pole-mounted tracker system) is called an “array.”

  1.4                                         THEORY OF SOLAR CELLS

The solar cell works in three steps:

1. Photons in sunlight hit the solar panel and are absorbed by semiconducting materials, such as silicon.
2. Electrons (negatively charged) are knocked loose from their atoms, causing an electric potential difference. Current starts flowing through the material to cancel the potential and this electricity is captured. Due to the special composition of solar cells, the electrons are only allowed to move in a single direction.
3. An array of solar cells converts solar energy into a usable amount of direct current (DC) electricity.

1.5 THE ADVANTAGES OF USING A CELL PHONE SOLAR CHARGER

There are several advantages you enjoy when you use a solar charger instead of a conventional phone charger. The energy savings. Unlike conventional energy resources that produce and consume a lot of waste energy from a solar cell phone charger draws energy from renewable sources and produces no waste. You can phone solar charger to use, you can go anywhere, provided you have access to solar energy. This feature of the mobile phone solar charger makes the device a favorite among outdoor enthusiasts, the power of their mobile phones in the camping or hiking, but without access to an electrical outlet to recharge their devices. Solar mobile phone charger design is usually a small and thin, so you can use this machine can go wherever you go. Save money. Tips to follow when shopping for a solar cell phone charger Power. Make sure your mobile phone solar charger; you actually generate enough power for your phone. The golden rule when it comes to solar charger, the greater the amount of energy it produces, the better. Many hours solar charger for mobile phones and other mobile devices such as MP3 players and GPS electronics. Finally, make sure you have the shape of a solar cell phone charger in your budget. Solar mobile phone charger is an environmentally friendly alternative to the phone.

1.6   BENEFITS OF SOLAR POWERED CELL PHONE CHARGERS

There are several advantages to using these solar powered cell phone charges:
The main advantage behind the invention of these solar powered cell phone charges is to save large amount of electrical energy. The solar panels of which will help in converting the solar energy from the sun into electrical energy through various reactions.
Other advantages of solar powered cell phone charges reside in the fact that they allow you to access power outside the national grid. You can charge yours phones even while traveling without depending on electricity. This property has made it possible to make use of these cell phone chargers at any possible place.

The last one is these solar powered cell phone charges are eco/environment-friendly. They don’t produce harmful waste, and can be used anytime and anywhere that there is daylight.