Maker Pro
Maker Pro

13-Year-Old Boy Improves Solar Panel Efficiency 50%

  • Thread starter Congoleum Breckenridge
  • Start date
C

Congoleum Breckenridge

Jan 1, 1970
0
Solar panels have been around for quite some time now, providing a much
greener method of generating power. The only problem is that most solar
panel arrays aren't exactly the most efficient replacements for
electricity due to their need for the perfect positioning and good
weather. Luckily for solar panel researchers around the globe, a 13 year
old boy figured out a way to increase solar panel efficiency all on his own.

While Aidan Dwyer was on a winter hike in the Catskills, he was amazed
by patterns he saw in the trees and realized that these pattern
resembled the Fibonacci sequence (0,1,1,2,3,5,8,13,21...etc). After
realizing trees grew in that manner in order to be efficient in using
sunlight for photosynthesis, he put two and two together and decided to
try to apply the same concept to solar panels.

He created a tree-like stand for solar panels and attached them in a
Fibonacci-like manner and compared the results with a standard flat
solar panel array. His simple creation yielded an incredible 50 percent
jump in efficiency between the traditional method and the Fibonacci
design. Since then, young Aidan ha already earned himself a provisional
U.S. patent and is undoubtedly sought out for by many who are looking to
utilize his design. Perhaps now we can expect to see entire groves and
forests of solar panel trees in the future. That would be quite a sight
to see!
 
M

m II

Jan 1, 1970
0
Absolute crap! The whole article is based on absolute nonsense with no valid
bearing or scientific proof. Even the charts were nonsense and have no
bearing with power or energy output. The kid couldn't even measure the
energy output of the cells. Cells facing different directions than ideal can
never generate more energy, period!

The kid should be spanked and the writer hung by the neck.
 
M

Malcom \Mal\ Reynolds

Jan 1, 1970
0
Absolute crap! The whole article is based on absolute nonsense with no valid
bearing or scientific proof. Even the charts were nonsense and have no
bearing with power or energy output. The kid couldn't even measure the
energy output of the cells. Cells facing different directions than ideal can
never generate more energy, period!

The kid should be spanked and the writer hung by the neck.

Actually, it's the judges and scientific advisors that should be spanked
 
M

m II

Jan 1, 1970
0
He didn't because it's crap!

1--------------------
"Michael B" wrote in message
Completely agree, but looking for details on how he optimized low
angle-of-incidence sun.
http://www.ubergizmo.com/2011/08/aidan-dwyers-fibonacci-solar-array-may-not-be-feasible-after-all/

2----------------------
Absolute crap! The whole article is based on absolute nonsense with no valid
bearing or scientific proof. Even the charts were nonsense and have no
bearing with power or energy output. The kid couldn't even measure the
energy output of the cells. Cells facing different directions than ideal can
never generate more energy, period!

The kid should be spanked and the writer hung by the neck.

3 -----------------
"Michael B" wrote in message
Perhaps you could be more
articulate?http://www.wired.com/geekdad/2011/08/teen-taps-into-power-of-fibonacc...
 
M

m II

Jan 1, 1970
0
"m II" wrote in message
I did not write the nonsense above!
 
T

Tom P

Jan 1, 1970
0

Maybe. The lad discovered that if he used more panels, then he could
increase the probability that _one_ of them would face (more closely to
orthogonal to) the sun's rays by arranging them according to a
well-known formula.

However, a tracking mechanism can assure that a panel (or an entire
collection of panels) is maintained at an optimal position throughout
the collection period so as to harvest the maximum amount of power from
the (every) panel.

I like math and I'm pleased that the young man was able to relate what
he learned in school to solar power (and I'm hoping that he'll stumble
upon fractals before too long), but his "invention" fails on two primary
claims:

[1] The ability of a panel to convert a photon flux to electrical
potential was _not_ made more efficient - panel efficiency does not
depend in any way on orientation.

[2] If the claim was being made for a system of panels, there won't be
any improvement over a system in which all panels are positioned
optimally, as they would be with a tracker.

I give the lad credit for using his head - but one of the adults in his
life should have gently clued him in so as to avoid the embarrassment of
having his "breakthrough" publicly debunked.

His _next_ idea might actually /be/ a breakthrough. :)

From the wired.com and ubergizmo websites it's impossible to figure out
exactly what his design involves. His own description is here:
http://www.amnh.org/nationalcenter/youngnaturalistawards/2011/aidan.html
 
J

Jim Wilkins

Jan 1, 1970
0
Tom P said:
...
From the wired.com and ubergizmo websites it's impossible to figure out
exactly what his design involves. His own description is here:
http://www.amnh.org/nationalcenter/youngnaturalistawards/2011/aidan.html

I'm impressed that he made the observations and measurements and followed
through with a theoretical explanation. Whether or not the Fibonacci
arrangement is better than other geometries, he has learned the process of
discovery.

jsw
 
T

Tom P

Jan 1, 1970
0
I'm impressed that he made the observations and measurements and followed
through with a theoretical explanation. Whether or not the Fibonacci
arrangement is better than other geometries, he has learned the process of
discovery.

jsw
It got me thinking how the Fibonacci series might apply to trees and how
far it might be applicable to solar energy generation.
Assuming that the evolution of trees has lead to an optimization of
the leaf structure, why do trees display the structure that they do?
Two considerations occur to me. One is that typically a tree grows in
a forest and competes for space with other trees. Therefore it has to
optimize its use of the available space.
The second is that the energy generated by photosynthesis goes into
building the structure of the tree. Therefore the arrangement of the
branches and leaves is a trade-off between the energy required to build
the structure and the energy gained by deploying the leaves in this
fashion.
Generally we regard the cost solar cell panels and their mounting
structures as simply a fixed cost, but if we considered the net energy
output - i.e. the energy generated minus the energy required to build
the system - as well as the cost of the footprint as an optimization
problem to be solved, we might indeed discover that a tree-like
structure has better overall efficiency.
 
M

m II

Jan 1, 1970
0
The inner leaves of trees die off in tree maturity due to non-functioning.
PV panels is a 2D technology.

Stop quoting the nonsense article and get a better scam.

---------------------

"Tom P" wrote in message It got me thinking how the Fibonacci series might apply to trees and how
far it might be applicable to solar energy generation.
Assuming that the evolution of trees has lead to an optimization of
the leaf structure, why do trees display the structure that they do?
Two considerations occur to me. One is that typically a tree grows in
a forest and competes for space with other trees. Therefore it has to
optimize its use of the available space.
The second is that the energy generated by photosynthesis goes into
building the structure of the tree. Therefore the arrangement of the
branches and leaves is a trade-off between the energy required to build
the structure and the energy gained by deploying the leaves in this
fashion.
Generally we regard the cost solar cell panels and their mounting
structures as simply a fixed cost, but if we considered the net energy
output - i.e. the energy generated minus the energy required to build
the system - as well as the cost of the footprint as an optimization
problem to be solved, we might indeed discover that a tree-like
structure has better overall efficiency.
 
V

vaughn

Jan 1, 1970
0
I don't understand the mental process that got you from here:
It got me thinking how the Fibonacci series might apply to trees and how far
it might be applicable to solar energy generation.
Assuming that the evolution of trees has lead to an optimization of the leaf
structure, why do trees display the structure that they do?
Two considerations occur to me. One is that typically a tree grows in a
forest and competes for space with other trees. Therefore it has to optimize
its use of the available space.

To your conclusion:
...if we considered the net energy output - i.e. the energy generated minus
the energy required to build the system - as well as the cost of the footprint
as an optimization problem to be solved, we might indeed discover that a
tree-like structure has better overall efficiency.

There are arrangements of solar panels that might optimize energy gathered per
UNIT OF ROOF AREA, but none of those are liable to optimize energy gathered as a
function of ENERGY (or money) INVESTED. To do that, you must point your
precious, scarce, expensive panels directly at the sun, and nowhere else.

Further, there are myriad practical reasons why we don't plant trees on our
rooftops. Perhaps you would like a tall wind force-gathering object mounted on
the top of your house, but here in hurricane country that would never work.

Vaughn
 
M

m II

Jan 1, 1970
0
PV installations on roofs may coming to an end once the insurance companies
are done with the up and coming of live apparatus on a roof top during a
home fire preventing firefighters from performing their duties.

------------
"vaughn" wrote in message Further, there are myriad practical reasons why we don't plant trees on our
rooftops. Perhaps you would like a tall wind force-gathering object mounted
on
the top of your house, but here in hurricane country that would never work.

Vaughn
 
J

Jim Wilkins

Jan 1, 1970
0
Tom P said:
...
It got me thinking how the Fibonacci series might apply to trees and how
far it might be applicable to solar energy generation.
Assuming that the evolution of trees has lead to an optimization of the
leaf structure, why do trees display the structure that they do?
...

A critical difference is that tree branches can't cooperate for less
individual but greater mutual benefit, each branch competes with its
neighbors as though it was a separate organism. We aren't constrained to
leave an underperforming panel wherever it first sprouted and can move it
to a better location.

jsw
 
J

Jim Wilkins

Jan 1, 1970
0
vaughn said:
...> There are arrangements of solar panels that might optimize energy
gathered per UNIT OF ROOF AREA, but none of those are liable to optimize
energy gathered as a function of ENERGY (or money) INVESTED. To do that,
you must point your precious, scarce, expensive panels directly at the
sun, and nowhere else.

Vaughn

I found that no one place on my roof sees the sun long enough. Ideally the
panels would be on a robot that chases the sun around tree shadows that
block half the lawn. Diesel powered, with tracks. Relocating them manually
two or three times a day is good enough for now since I'm retired.

jsw
 
S

Stephen Wolstenholme

Jan 1, 1970
0
Trees have also evolved phototropism, and have evolved configurations
that depend on that characteristic.

Someone will soon be selling arrays of small phototropic solar panels.

Steve

--
Neural network applications, help and support.

Neural Network Software. www.npsl1.com
EasyNN-plus. Neural Networks plus. www.easynn.com
SwingNN. Forecast with Neural Networks. www.swingnn.com
JustNN. Just Neural Networks. www.justnn.com
 
J

Jim Wilkins

Jan 1, 1970
0
Stephen Wolstenholme said:
Someone will soon be selling arrays of small phototropic solar panels.

Steve

Will they grow on trees?

(My alternate energy source does)

jsw
 
S

Stephen Wolstenholme

Jan 1, 1970
0
Will they grow on trees?

(My alternate energy source does)

jsw

No growth but they will hang on the branches or even from a clothes
line.

Steve
 
Top