Solar Challenger Future starts now Tim van Leeuwen & Jesper Haverkamp V6 Hermann Wesselink College Advisor: F. Hidden March 2010 Abstract Main goal of this project was to make calculations and respective designs to create an electric airplane prototype, capable of powering its flight either entirely or partially using solar 2010 energy. This project intended to stimulate research on renewable energy sources for aviation. - In future solar powered airplanes could be used for different types of aerial monitoring and unmanned flights. First, research was done to investigate properties and requirements of the plane. Then, through a number of sequential steps and with consideration of substantial formulas, the aircraft‟s design was proposed. This included a study on materials, equipment and feasibility. Finding a balance between mass, power, force, strength and costs proved to be particularly difficult. Eventually predictions showed a 50% profit due to the installation of solar cells. The aircraft‟s mass had to be 500 grams at the most, while costs were aimed to be as low as €325. After creating a list of materials and stipulating a series of successive tests, construction itself started. Above all, meeting the aircraft‟s target mass, as well as constructing a meticulously balanced aircraft appeared to be most difficult. Weight needed to be saved on nearly any element. We replaced the battery, rearranged solar cells and adjusted controls. Though setbacks occurred frequently, we eventually met our goals with the aircraft completed whilst Tim van Leeuwen & Jesper Haverkamp Haverkamp Jesper & Leeuwen van Tim weighing in at 487 grams. – Testing commenced with verifying the wings‟ actual lift capacities. Results were satisfying. In addition, further testing on drag and propulsion was gratifying as well. Finally, the aircraft truly took to the skies, but sadly crashed due to flaws in steering. Testing on solar cells however, was disappointing. Instead of the expected 50 %, we only managed to achieve 10 % profit. In addition, one can pose the question if leaving out the solar cells entirely would have meant saving such considerable weight, that there would have been more profit after all. Final JeT Productions Productions JeT – costs of the project were €515. Ultimately we can conclude purely solar powered flight is impossible, at least with the materials available and taking Dutch climate into account. Further developments in solar technology might create possibilities for solar planes in future. For now, in order to install solar cells, too many aspects of the plane are sacrificed to save weight. This for example resulted in a frame far too fragile. Solar Challenger Challenger Solar – Still, it should be noted that the plane we manufactured was a prototype only. Many adjustments can be made. During the project we have seen that there is quite some room for improvement. That is obvious, as this was the very first airplane we ever build. We gathered enormous amounts of knowledge and we hope that in future this knowledge will be used to continue working on solar powered planes. For if development continues, solar powered aircraft might truly be used in future. Bear in mind: Future starts now. Research Project Project Research 2 Introduction As we both enjoy aviation and are considering a study involving the aircraft industry, it had soon become clear we wanted to do our research project about a topic related to flying. 2010 Though aviation is a complex part of technology, we thought our expertise on physics and our - passion for flying would guide us through this project. Our first concern was finding a topic both interesting, challenging and future-proof. Due to current turbulence in aviation we decided on the following: The desire to fly is nearly as old as humanity itself. Ever since we walked the earth, we longed to get airborne, just like the birds above us did. In 1783 this dream became reality1. “Historians credit France's Montgolfier brothers with the first pioneering balloon flight”2. Aviation‟s next revolution was in 1903, when Orville and Wilbur Wright took off with their „Flyer 1‟ and flew 36 metres with their plane3. Flyer 1 was powered by a petrol engine, just like later aircraft. Nowadays, aviation accounts for three percent of all CO2-emissions produced by mankind4. This doesn‟t seem much, but more important is that profit of commercial aviation strongly relies on the oil price. Due to high prices5 of crude oil lately, profits of commercial aviation have been diminished and aviation industry is now looking for alternative energy sources to propel modern-day aircraft. Options that are being considered are bio fuels, hydrogen and Tim van Leeuwen & Jesper Haverkamp Haverkamp Jesper & Leeuwen van Tim 6 – ethanol . An option which is rarely considered is solar energy, an option we wanted to investigate. JeT Productions Productions JeT – Solar Challenger Challenger Solar – 1http://adventure.howstuffworks.com/first-flight-attempt.htm 2Robert Lamb, 2008 3http://www.wright-brothers.org/History/Just%20the%20Facts/1903fly.htm Research Project Project Research 4http://www.rotterdam- airport.nl/nl/generalmenu/Over_Rotterdam_Airport/In_de_samenleving/Feiten_en_cijfers 5http://images.angelpub.com/2009/03/1606/oil-price-chart-1-12-09.png 6http://www.faa.gov/news/conferences_events/aviation_ forecast_2007/agenda_presentation/media/9 - %20Rich%20Altman.pdf 3 Table of contents Front page Page 1 2010 Abstract Page 2 - Introduction Page 3 Table of contents Page 4 Introduction phase Phases Page 5 Main goal, purpose and expectations Page 6 Research questions Page 7 Requirements Page 8 Design phase Design proposal Page 9 Construction proposal Page 30 Test proposal Page 32 Tim van Leeuwen & Jesper Haverkamp Jesper & Leeuwen van Tim – Construction phase Media attention Page 35 International aspect Page 36 Construction Page 41 Test phase Test results Page 54 JeT Productions Productions JeT – Conclusion phase Conclusion Page 60 Evaluation Page 62 Additional sources Page 68 Solar Challenger Challenger Solar Acknowledgements Page 69 – Jesper‟s log Page 70 Tim‟s log Page 73 Research Project Project Research 4 Phases In order to minimize chances of failure, we set up the following scheme. It divides up the project in five different phases, all having their own planning, goals and requirements: 2010 - Phase Elements Goal Introduction phase Determine main goal, research Provide a starting point for our questions, requirements, planning. project. Design phase Research, orientation, plans, Set up a design proposal, calculations, proposals. construction proposal and test proposal. Construction phase Description of construction itself: Give an accurate description of the what succeeded, what went wrong progress of our project. and in which way did we alter our designs and plans. Test phase Observations and experiences Provide an accurate description of during testing and test results. occurrences during testing. Conclusion phase Interpretation of test results, Describe what can be learned from conclusion, evaluation, this project, why it succeeded or recommendations for future not and how this project can be Tim van Leeuwen & Jesper Haverkamp Haverkamp Jesper & Leeuwen van Tim projects. used later. – JeT Productions Productions JeT – Solar Challenger Challenger Solar – Research Project Project Research 5 Main goal, purpose and expectations The main goal of this project is to make calculations and respective designs to create an electric airplane prototype, capable of powering its flight either entirely or partially using 2010 solar energy. This project intends to stimulate research on renewable energy sources for - aviation. Hopefully this will result in the environment no longer suffering due to emissions of burning oil products. In future solar powered airplanes could be used for different types of aerial monitoring and unmanned flights. Due to their light weight, silent engines and infinite flying time, they might also be used as spy planes in inhospitable areas. By doing broad research and making appropriate calculations, we hope to design an aircraft which is actually able to fly. Our first concern is composing the right electrical system to be used in our aircraft. Selecting suitable equipment and making useful drawings and schemes will provide us with the basis for our project. Extensive testing will show how effective our system functions in different circumstances. Once completed, our circuit will be combined with the aircraft‟s frame. If we manage to correctly set up our calculations, the aircraft should be able to fly. In case testing shows the aircraft is not able to take off, we will first investigate how we can improve the plane‟s properties. Though, when nothing seems to help anymore, we will slightly shift our main goal and try to create a controllable, energy efficient vehicle using all equipment we Tim van Leeuwen & Jesper Haverkamp Haverkamp Jesper & Leeuwen van Tim – gathered so far. This will only be done in case all goes wrong. This project runs over an extensive period of time, which will provide us with sufficient opportunities to do research and create designs. We will make a strict planning and a precise proposal to make sure our project will run smoothly. Assuming we will be able to make accurate calculations, our expectations are that we will actually produce an aircraft capable of flying on solar power. Even though we try to plan and predict everything as well as possible, JeT Productions Productions JeT – setbacks might occur. To prevent failure, we shall make sure there is enough room for unexpected events. ger ger Solar Challen Solar – Research Project Project Research 6 Research questions From our main goal we can derive the main research question involved in our project: 2010 Is it possible to create an electric airplane prototype capable of using solar power to partly or - entirely power its flight? Sub questions In order to answer our main question completely, we need to look at several sub questions: 1. Is it possible to let the aircraft fly on solar power only? 2.