Final Project Report - Heliostat-Concentrator Solar Cooker
Final Project Report - Heliostat-Concentrator Solar Cooker
Final Project Report - Heliostat-Concentrator Solar Cooker
Heliostat-Concentrator
Solar Cooker
Team Helios
Ian Davison and Devin Mast
December 3, 2015
1
Statement of Disclaimer
Since this project is a result of a class assignment, it has been graded and accepted as fulfillment
of the course requirements. Acceptance does not imply technical accuracy or reliability. Any use
of information in this report is done at the risk of the user. These risks may include catastrophic
failure of the device or infringement of patent or copyright laws. California Polytechnic State
University at San Luis Obispo and its staff cannot be held liable for any use or misuse of the
project.
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Table of Contents
Statement of Disclaimer ................................................................................................................ 2
Table of Contents ......................................................................................................................... 3
List of Tables ............................................................................................................................... 6
List of Figures .............................................................................................................................. 6
Nomenclature .............................................................................................................................. 8
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY............................................................................................................ 9
1. Introduction ............................................................................................................................10
1.1 Solar Cooking Background ..................................................................................................10
1.2 Objectives..........................................................................................................................13
1.2.1 Optimize Concentration at a Stationary Point ...................................................................13
1.2.2 User-Friendliness .........................................................................................................14
1.2.3 Cost and Sustainability ..................................................................................................14
1.3 Requirements .....................................................................................................................14
1.3.1 User Parameters ...........................................................................................................15
1.3.2 Investment Considerations .............................................................................................15
1.3.3 Performance ................................................................................................................16
1.3.4 Safety .........................................................................................................................16
1.3.5 Maintenance and Sustainability ......................................................................................16
1.4 Year-Long Plan ..................................................................................................................17
1.4.1 Winter .........................................................................................................................17
1.4.2 Spring .........................................................................................................................17
1.4.3 Fall .............................................................................................................................17
2. Background .............................................................................................................................18
2.1 Existing Products................................................................................................................18
2.2 Applicable Standards ..........................................................................................................18
3. Design Development ................................................................................................................19
3.1 Concept Generation ............................................................................................................19
3.2 Top Concepts .....................................................................................................................19
3.3 Selection Process ................................................................................................................23
3.4 Selection ...........................................................................................................................23
4. Proposed Design ......................................................................................................................25
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4.1 Design Details ....................................................................................................................25
4.1.1 Reflector .....................................................................................................................25
4.1.2 Concentrator ................................................................................................................27
4.2 Material Selection and Production ........................................................................................29
4.2.1 Reflector .....................................................................................................................30
4.2.2 Concentrator ................................................................................................................30
4.3 Analysis Results .................................................................................................................30
4.3.1 Concentrator Size and Cooking Power ............................................................................30
4.3.2 Reflector Deflection and Efficiency ................................................................................30
4.3.3 Heliostat Construction and Out-Of-Plane Deflection .........................................................31
4.3.4 Reflector Construction and Torque Requirements .............................................................32
4.3.5 Reflector Weight and Deflection ....................................................................................32
4.4 Cost Analysis .....................................................................................................................32
4.5 Schematics.........................................................................................................................32
4.6 Safety Considerations..........................................................................................................32
4.7 Maintenance and Repair ......................................................................................................33
5. Product Realization ..................................................................................................................34
5.1 Fall Construction ................................................................................................................34
5.2 Design Changes since the Critical Design Report ...................................................................34
5.2.1 Target Users ................................................................................................................34
5.2.2 Concentrator ................................................................................................................34
5.2.3 Seasonal Adjustment.....................................................................................................35
5.2.4 String Guide/tensioner ..................................................................................................36
5.2.5 Tracking Circuit and Power Source.................................................................................36
5.2.6 Top and Bottom Support ...............................................................................................37
5.2.7 Temporary Stand ..........................................................................................................38
5.3 Recommendations for Future Design Development.................................................................38
5.3.1 Insulation Possibilities ..................................................................................................38
5.3.2 Reflective Surface Coverings .........................................................................................38
5.3.3 Frame Alterations .........................................................................................................38
5.3.4 Concentrator ................................................................................................................39
5.3.5 Tracking System ..........................................................................................................39
6. Design Verification ..................................................................................................................40
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6.1 Testing Procedures .............................................................................................................40
6.2.1 Daily Setup Time .........................................................................................................40
6.2.2 Maximum Input Force...................................................................................................40
6.2.3 Static Heat Spot............................................................................................................41
6.2.4 Static Heat Spot, with Wind ...........................................................................................41
6.2.5 Performance ................................................................................................................41
6.2.6 Maintenance ................................................................................................................43
7. Conclusion ..............................................................................................................................44
Appendix A: References
Appendix B: Quality Function Deployment
Appendix C: Decision Matrices
Appendix D: Vendors and Pricing
Appendix E: Design Verification Plan
Appendix F: Testing Procedures
Appendix G: Detailed Analysis
Appendix H: Gantt Chart
Appendix I: Potential Failure Modes and Effects Analysis
Appendix J: Technical Drawings
Appendix K: Instructions
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List of Tables
Table 1. Solar cooker formal engineering requirements ............................................................................. 15
Table 2. Projected costs for heliostat system prototype .............................................................................. 32
Table 3. Tracking Circuit Component Specifications ................................................................................. 37
Table 4. Test names and associated specification numbers ........................................................................ 40
Table 5. Revised specifications for testing formal requirements ................................................................ 40
Table 6. System style decision matrix. ....................................................................................................... 47
Table 7. Daily tracking mechanism decision matrix. .................................................................................. 48
Table 8. Seasonal adjustment decision matrix. ........................................................................................... 48
List of Figures
Figure 1. A woman in Totolgalpa uses a solar box cooker to produce baked goods for sale. [2] .............. 11
Figure 2. An Indian woman and her family outside their home with a parabolic concentrator (A)
[3]. A Scheffler reflector at the Barli Development Institute in Indore (B) [3]. ............................ 12
Figure 3. Diagram and explanation of parabolic concentration for solar cooking purposes [7] ................. 12
Figure 4. Panel cookers made from corrugated plastic with a reflective coating being used in
India. [2]......................................................................................................................................... 13
Figure 5. Small scale models used to facilitate understanding of how to concentrate sunlight.
Models were built with wooden skewers, scrap Mylar, and foam core. ........................................ 19
Figure 6. Focusing reflective geometric property of a parabola (A) and hand sketch of our
conceptual design (B). ................................................................................................................... 20
Figure 7. "Floating Puddle" concept based on Rojas' design (A) [11], and our sketch of a modified
design that compensates for the daily motion of the sun (B). ........................................................ 20
Figure 8. Conceptual diagram of a Scheffler dish, which has a focal point that remains fixed
relative to the ground. .................................................................................................................... 21
Figure 9. Sketch of Fresnel lens concentrator concept showing relative positions and tracking
device. ............................................................................................................................................ 21
Figure 10. Concept sketches for a dual-mirror system layout (A) and a potential seasonal
compensation system design (B). .................................................................................................. 22
Figure 11. Parabolic trough concept, where a high-temperature fluid carries heat to the cooking
interface. ........................................................................................................................................ 22
Figure 12. A 3D rendering of the primary reflector .................................................................................... 25
Figure 13. A 3D layout of the overall system ............................................................................................. 26
Figure 14. Conceptual (A) and revised (B) design of seasonal adjustment for the primary reflector ........ 27
Figure 15. Parabolic profile sweep setup with finished mold surface. When revolved about the
axis, the pattern lightly contacts the light brown concrete-like mixture evenly. ........................... 28
Figure 16. Wooden lath frame, weighted down by bricks after pressing dirt and plastic were
removed. The bricks were necessary because the elasticity of the wood caused the frame
to separate slightly from the mold. ................................................................................................ 28
Figure 17. Completed prototype with Mylar strips adhered to wooden frame. .......................................... 29
Figure 18. Solidworks ray tracing sketch, assuming ideal concentrator and circular reflector.
Dimensions in meters. .................................................................................................................... 31
Figure 19. Close up of the new seasonal adjustment support rod design.................................................... 35
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Figure 20. String tensionr system. Used to eliminate slack in the daily tracking system as the
geometry of the string drive changes with the rotation of the heliostat. ........................................ 36
Figure 21. Tracking circuit: used to detect movement of the sun and actuate the motor to orient
the heliostat. ................................................................................................................................... 37
Figure 22. Plot of temperature as a function of time demonstrating how the solar cooker heated up
2 kilograms of water. ..................................................................................................................... 42
Figure 23. Instantaneous power absorbed at the hot spot with varying time steps. .................................... 43
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Nomenclature
Heat flux The time rate of heat transfer per unit area
Heliostat A device including a reflective surface that turns so as to keep reflecting sunlight toward a
target
Insolation The cumulative solar energy per unit area over a defined period of time
Irradiation The instantaneous incident (solar) radiative power per unit area
Lath A thin flat strip of wood
Paraboloid The solid generated by revolving a parabola about its axis
Off-axis The section of a paraboloid defined by a plane not parallel to its axis
paraboloid
Scheffler dish A flexible off-axis paraboloid solar concentrator invented by Wolfgang Scheffler
Solar azimuth The angle between a projection of the vector from an observer on Earth to the sun on a
angle horizontal reference plane and due north
Solar elevation The angle between a horizontal reference plane and the vector from an observer on Earth to
angle the sun
Solar zenith The angle between the vertical and the vector from an observer on Earth to the sun; the
angle complement of the elevation angle
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This document is the full report for the senior project of Cal Poly Mechanical Engineering students Ian
Davison and Devin Mast. The report encompasses the full project process, including background
research, identification of need, design requirements, design development, proposed design, design
realization, changes to proposed design, and design verification. We were tasked with the design and
manufacture of a dual mirror solar cooker to verify a concept for a new type of off-axis parabolic solar
cooker conceived by Dr. Pete Schwartz, the sponsor of the senior project and a physics professor at Cal
Poly. Previously, off-axis parabolic solar cookers have used a deformable concentrator to adjust for
seasonal change in solar position. The core innovation of the dual mirror concept was to replace the
deformable concentrator with a rigid dish and use a tracking heliostat to adjust for seasonal variation,
redirect the light, and provide a constant light source on the dish. The motivation for this modification is
to simplify construction and lower costs, as deformable dishes must maintain precise geometry
throughout deformation and are therefore difficult to manufacture. This means traditional off-axis
parabolic solar cookers are often beyond the financial reach of the intended users: economically
disadvantaged communities in developing countries. The scope of the project initially encompassed the
creation of both the concentrator and the heliostat but was redefined at the beginning of fall quarter to
solely encompass the tracking heliostat, as proof of concept could be accomplished using a previously
built concentrator. The heliostat was completed and testing was performed fall quarter.
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1. Introduction
This report was compiled by Team Helios of the California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly) in
San Luis Obispo, California. It represents the cumulative efforts of team members Ian Davison and Devin
Mast, senior Mechanical Engineering students, on the behalf of their sponsor Dr. Pete Schwartz. Team
Helios was under the advisement of Professor Eileen Rossman of the Cal Poly Mechanical Engineering
Department.
The team was tasked with developing a solar cooker. The cooker will better meet the needs of members
of developing communities in Yemen1 by offering power comparable to current state-of-the-art products
while being more affordable, reliable, easy to use, and serviceable on site. It should outperform the
previous Scheffler heliostat built by Cal Poly students and be competitive with other solar cookers on the
market. For the purposes of this project, we have focused our efforts on the design and construction of the
heliostat frame, tracking system, and concentrating dish2 of a solar cooking system. Future projects may
investigate integration into living structures, cooktop design, and insulation of cookware. In the long
term, this project will facilitate the development of a solar cooking system that will improve the quality of
life in developing communities worldwide.
1
The project was originally associated with an interested NGO in Yemen, but that changed in May 2015. See
Section 5.2.1 Target Users.
2
The focus of the project with regard to the concentrating dish shifted in fall of 2015. Refer to Section 5.2.2
Concentrator.
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only effective when the sun is strong. One work-around involves thermal energy storage systems, but that
comes at an added cost with additional losses.
Currently there are a number of solar cookers on the market that have been implemented in developing
communities. The simplest of these is a heat-trap box style cooker; an example is shown in Figure 1.
Solar box cookers are inexpensive and easy to manufacture. They cook at moderate to high temperatures
and often accommodate multiple pots. Worldwide, they are the most widespread [3, 4]. They do not
cook as fast as a fire.
Curved concentrator cookers are expensive and require trained skilled workers and specialty equipment to
produce. Additionally, they need to be adjusted regularly so they face the sun properly throughout the day
and year. These costs are offset by their cooking power, because they concentrate sunlight from a larger
area more accurately, resulting in higher heat and faster cooking times. They are especially suited to large
community cooking operations [4].
There are two main types of curved (parabolic) mirrors: on-axis and off-axis. Examples of each of these
are shown in Figure 2, next page. The more common design is the on-axis parabolic mirror, which is a
rigid mirror in the shape of the bottom of a paraboloid. These concentrators either have control systems
that use two axes to account for daily rotation and seasonal change or are manually pointed at the sun at
the time of use [5]. The second type of mirror is called a Scheffler Reflector, which is an off-axis
parabolic mirror. This design requires daily rotation and seasonal deformation of the dish to concentrate
sunlight on a fixed focus throughout the year [6, 8]. Figure 3 on the next page is a schematic showing
how the geometry of an off-axis parabolic mirror focuses sunlight.
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A B
Figure 2. An Indian woman and her family outside their home with a parabolic concentrator (A)
[3]. A Scheffler reflector at the Barli Development Institute in Indore (B) [3].
There is also a hybrid of these two types, called a panel cooker, which combines the principle of
concentrating sunlight using the geometry of a paraboloid with the simple, planar construction of a box
cooker. They are inexpensive and fairly easy to make, which has made them popular. Figure 4, next page,
shows a common panel cooker.
Currently, there are a number of ways that researchers test solar concentrators. This variation in testing
methods is a result of differing objectives of solar cookers. Some focus on being cheap as possible or on
minimizing user input, while other try to maximize power supplied to cooking surface. One example of
testing protocol is the WBT (Water Boiling Test): a laboratory test that evaluates stove performance
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Figure 4. Panel cookers made from corrugated plastic with a reflective
coating being used in India. [2]
while [boiling or simmering water] in a controlled environment to investigate the heat transfer and
combustion efficiency of the stove. [10]. A similar test is the CCT (Controlled Cooking Test). This
method attempts to evaluate the performance of designs in real life settings in comparison to traditional
methods of consumable fuel stoves. We plan to perform multiple tests incorporating these techniques
when we have completed our project.
1.2 Objectives
Ultimately we aimed to optimize the concentration of sunlight at a single stationary point for the
purpose of cooking. The end users will be members of communities in rural areas of developing nations,
so an additional objective is to maximize user-friendliness and minimize cost. Further, primary purposes
of choosing solar power to begin with include low operating cost and sustainability, so the solution should
also be designed and built with this sustainable manufacture and materials in mind. Before the product is
implemented in developing communities overseas, we wish to verify the design here in San Luis Obispo,
CA, so the product is tailored to this location. Finally, from the project management perspective, it is our
objective to deliver a finished, working solar concentrator that accomplishes these objectives in December
2015.
To link these objectives to engineering specifications, we employed a Quality Function Deployment
(QFD) diagram. The QFD diagram is a tool that systematically incorporates the needs of each customer
and engineering requirements to meet these needs. It also facilitates comparisons with existing
competitive designs, and provides a graphical comparison of how well these other products meet the
customer needs. Building a QFD diagram is ultimately a systematic method to make sure there are
engineering specifications that can be measured to determine that a product meets customer needs.
Using this tool, we created specific metrics by which to assess the success of our design in meeting
customer requirements. Our QFD provides a comparison between box cookers, panel cookers, Scheffler
Reflectors, and others. Our goal was to create a solar cooker that is competitive with others on the market.
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focal area. Our objective was to design the optimal concentrator dish geometry to focus nearly all of the
incident radiation. This is important to the end user, because it affects how quickly the user can cook.
Adaptability to the instantaneous position of the sun is also important to optimal concentration. As the sun
travels across the sky, the incident radiation changes direction, and the solar concentrator must account
for this. For some concentrator designs requiring lower precision it would be sufficient for the user to
reorient the cooker by hand, as needed. For cookers requiring greater precision, like parabolic reflectors, a
more precise positioning system is needed. The suns relative position also changes depending on the
season and latitude, which a cookers frame geometry must be able to account for. This is important to the
user because it is difficult to adjust the cooker and cook simultaneously.
1.2.2 User-Friendliness
For a solar cooker to be successful, it must be more user-friendly than open fire. This means minimizing
the number and magnitude of user inputs, such as repositioning the cooker or making tuning adjustments.
By extension, this means the cooker should be freestanding--no one should have to hold it while in
operation.
A solar cooker is a significant investment for low-income communities, so it needs to be made to last.
Therefore it was our objective to design a solar cooker that is weather resistant and requires simple, low
maintenance.
1.3 Requirements
From the objectives discussed above, we devised a set of engineering requirements to test how well a
design meets each one. Table 1, next page, summarizes these requirements. The predicted risk for each is
indicated as high (H), medium (M), or low (L). The compliance, or method used to verify the
specification is met, is indicated as some combination of analysis (A), test (T), inspection (I), or similarity
to existing designs (S).
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Table 1. Solar cooker formal engineering requirements
3
Following the change of scope of our project in May 2015 (see section 5.2.1 Target Users), this sourceable range
requirement applies only to the long term product(s) and not our delivered prototype, which is the focus of this
senior project.
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cost around $200. Our requirement is to exceed the value of the last Cal Poly prototype by building a
better reflector for less4. We also require that the product last for at least 5 years because a long life is
needed to justify the price of expensive equipment.
1.3.3 Performance
To make sure customers are satisfied with the product and do not need to change their cooking habits
drastically, we require that our product develop a stationary heating zone that can be used with normal
cookware, so the experience is similar to cooking over a fire. To the same end, we require that our
product work with ordinary pots and pans. To ensure that the device will be efficacious, it is required that
it supply 40 kW/m2 to the cooking surface at our latitude in San Luis Obispo, CA of 34.6 N. The heat
flux requirement was derived by assuming a cooking power of ~2 kW (typical for a modern electric stove
and 2m2 Scheffler dishes) through the area of a 20 cm-diameter circle (about the diameter of a medium
sized pan) and then requiring only about 60% of that to account for losses.
The cooker should be able to perform satisfactorily under ordinary wind conditions. For this, we specified
that the cooker should be operable in winds of up to 10 m/s (22 mph). The designers agreed this is the
wind speed above which we would be uncomfortable cooking outdoors.
1.3.4 Safety
The geometry of the cooker will affect how well it meets our customers needs. For example, it should be
stable enough that strong winds will not cause failure or user injury. For this case, we specified that it
should withstand a 30 m/s (67 mph) wind in worst-case conditions, which should allow the dish to
withstand storms without extensive damage. It should also be free of sharp edges, pinch points, and
unguarded moving parts. Additionally, users should be thermally protected from high-heat components.
This is of high importance, because the concentrated sunlight can quickly burn the user or set fire to the
surroundings if improperly used.
4
See Section 5.2.2 Concentrator for project changes affecting this requirement.
5 Following the change of scope of our project in May 2015 (see section 5.2.1 Target Users), this sourceable range
requirement applies only to the final product(s) and not our delivered prototype.
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1.4 Year-Long Plan
Here we break down the stages of the development of our product by the winter, spring, and fall academic
terms.
1.4.1 Winter
At this point in the design process, our main focus was research. After partnering with Dr. Schwartz and
establishing ourselves as a team, we began to investigate current solutions to the main problem: cook food
in a sustainable fashion. We concentrated this research on solar concentrators and their use in solar
cooking. Once we had a grasp of the subject matter and had met with Dr. Schwartz, we began creating the
QFD. Here we outlined the project requirements as discussed previously.
Following completion of the QFD, we began ideation. We continued our research into different methods
of solar cooking to develop as many solutions as possible for the problem. Towards the end of winter
quarter, we entered the design selection process, which is documented in section 3.2 Top Concepts.
1.4.2 Spring
Starting at the beginning of spring quarter, we began in-depth design work in preparation for construction
of our product. This included testing of materials and organizing a set of technical drawings. Throughout
spring quarter we worked towards the implementation and construction of a full scale product.
During this time, we completed the analysis of our design. Halfway through spring quarter, we expanded
on our Preliminary Design Report to reflect the new information we learned through research,
experimentation, and construction. This was presented to our sponsor and advisor in the form of a Critical
Design Report (CDR). This report included a full description of our design, complete technical drawings,
safety and failure mode considerations, and supporting analysis.
After this report we continued with the construction of our device. At the end of spring quarter we
reported our progress to Dr. Schwartz in the form of a project update report.
1.4.3 Fall
In fall, we completed construction, analysis, and testing. The testing included design verification to
determine whether the product accurately met the engineering specifications and the customer
requirements. Modifications were made to the design to optimize its performance and overall usability.
The results of the analysis were compiled over the course of fall quarter and used to create this Final
Project Report. This report is an extension of the Critical Design Report and includes everything we
learned previously. It includes the full design of the product, technical drawings for manufacturing,
testing results, and additional analysis.
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2. Background
This section includes details on existing solar cooking products and relevant solar cooking standards. The
purpose of this section is to establish the baselines and norms of the contemporary solar cooking industry.
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3. Design Development
This section details the design process of our product. In our design process it was important to
thoroughly investigate all possible solution avenues, and so this section details the concept generation and
selection methods used to assure the best choices.
Figure 5. Small scale models used to facilitate understanding of how to concentrate sunlight. Models were
built with wooden skewers, scrap Mylar, and foam core.
19
A
B
Figure 6. Focusing reflective geometric property of a parabola (A) and hand sketch of our
conceptual design (B).
Our concept features dual-axis tracking to compensate for the daily and annual changes in the suns
position in the sky. The daily tracking axis could be adapted with a motor, as shown. The seasonal
tracking axis would require manual adjustment on a regular basis. This concept features relatively simple
construction and an efficient geometry. That is to say that the form is relatively tolerant of geometric
imperfections, and that the ratio of reflective surface area to the area of concentrated light is relatively
high, compared to an off-axis paraboloid section, discussed later on. Some issues with this design are that
it can be difficult for the user to reach the food at the center of a large dish, and the device cannot be used
to cook inside.
Our next idea was to make a concentrating lens from water and a transparent vinyl sheet. We could
improve on the design by Dan Rojas, shown in Figure 7A, next page. Figure 7B is our sketch of the
designwhich we termed the floating puddlewith our modifications to improve performance.
A B
Figure 7. "Floating Puddle" concept based on Rojas' design (A) [11], and our sketch of a modified design
that compensates for the daily motion of the sun (B).
A planar tracking mirror was introduced because the existing design only worked when the sun was
directly overhead. This design is very inexpensive and the materials would be easy to source. However,
the device has to be quite large to concentrate enough sunlight, the puddle would evaporate and cease to
20
focus if disturbed by wind, and there are considerable inefficiencies associated with the transmission of
radiation through the water and the plastic.
Another concept we considered was the existing Scheffler design. This is the state of the art in solar
cookers. It uses a dish in the shape of an off-axis paraboloid section, which deforms to compensate for the
seasonal variations of the sun. It rotates about a fixed axis to track the sun during the day, using a
clockwork mechanism driven by a weight. Figure 8 is a conceptual diagram of the design.
The Scheffler is an efficient and reliable design. It also directs the heat away from itself, creating an
unobstructed heat zone that can be easily used for cooking. However, the construction is complicated and
requires trained craftsmen to execute it properly. Both the dish and the tracking mechanism have very
tight tolerances, which are challenging to meet in a developing community.
We also generated the concept of using a rigid glass or plastic lens to focus light. A Fresnel lens is an
efficient way to focus incoming light with great accuracy. The lens must be on the line between the focal
point and the sun, so to heat a pot from below, we mounted the mirror lower than the food and used a
mirror to track the sun and direct it at the lens throughout the day. Our concept sketch is seen in Figure 9.
21
The lens concepts strength was that lenses can be purchased ready-made with high quality geometry due
to their history of use in other applications. However, the cost of a large, accurate lens is high, and
sourcing one in a developing community would be challenging. Additionally, a Fresnel lens surface
ridges make it difficult to clean out any dust or grit that would settle on its surface. This opaque layer
would significantly reduce the lens efficiency.
Another idea that came forward as a top concept used two reflectors. The first is a plane mirror that tracks
the sun throughout the day and keeps it directed at the same area, as seen in some of the preceding
concepts. The second reflector is an off-axis paraboloid section that concentrates the light from the plane
mirror to the cooking point. As far as we could determine, no existing designs are similar to this
configuration, shown in Figure 10.
A B
Figure 10. Concept sketches for a dual-mirror system layout (A) and a potential seasonal compensation
system design (B).
This design allowed for the concentrating reflector to be sheltered as it is kept on the ground near a wall.
Like the Scheffler, it would also create an easy-access unobstructed heat zone, but its advantage over the
Scheffler is that it doesnt require a deformable dish. Although the concentrator dish is not deformable, it
does still need to be a precise paraboloid section. Another drawback is that there is some loss in efficiency
at both reflective surfaces, instead of just at one.
The final of our top six concepts employed a heat transfer fluid, heated by a parabolic trough. A tracking
system rotates the trough to follow the sun during the day, which continually heats a heated fluid, such as
sunflower seed oil. The heating process causes convective circulation, leading to a constant supply of hot
oil at the top of the reservoir, where food can be cooked. See Figure 11.
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This approach is different in that the concentrated sunlight is not directly cooking any food. The benefits
include the simpler geometry of a parabolic trough and the ease of routing the heat to any desired
location. The fluid reservoir could also be used for space heating or for cooking after dark, due to the
thermal energy stored by the fluid. However, the cost of the fluid would be high, as would the expenses of
the piping and fluid maintenance. There are also the issues of a lower efficiency due to conduction and
the issue of a long start-up time to get the fluid up to cooking temperatures.
3.4 Selection
Through our selection process, it became clear that one design stood out from the rest: the Dual Mirror.
This design provides a balance of performance, usability, and cost that made it stand out from our other
ideas.
Our main tool to choose our design was our decision matrix (see Appendix C: Decision Matrices). This
tool clearly displays the attributes and shortcomings of each design. Through analysis of the decision
matrix and in depth discussion of its results, we came to the conclusion that the Dual Mirror was better
suited to our requirements than each of the other designs.
The Dual Mirror design scored higher than any other design, scoring a whole 9 points better than the
second best design, the lens. These two designs scored similarly on many of the categories, with the dual
mirror taking the lead in a few key sections. On a daily basis, a user of the dual mirror would input less
time than as user of the lens due to the geometry of the lens. The design would utilize a Fresnel lens,
which approximates a regular lens in a single plane through the use of concentric ridges. These ridges
would fill easily with debris and quickly decrease the performance of the mirror, requiring daily input to
ensure optimum performance. This lens is also a specialty item, which increases the cost of the product
considerably. While the lens design could be slightly more compact, the benefits of the dual mirror easily
outweigh this consideration.
23
The third best design was the Scheffler at 10 points less than the Dual Mirror. Basic analysis showed that
this design would actually perform better than the dual mirror; however, it has other shortcomings that
make it less than ideal. Firstly, the deformable nature of the concentrator increases cost, complicates
construction, and worsens the user interface. Despite the slight inefficiency caused by a second mirror, the
Dual Mirror has comparable power output, as shown by our calculations. We came to the conclusion that
the Scheffler method is better suited for communities that are constructing large scale systems like that of
Abu Road, Rajastan [8].
The next best idea was the Heat Transfer Fluid. This idea was very promising at first; the ability to route
heat to any desirable location through piping was very appealing in regards to our purpose of building a
solar kitchen. However, we found that it had shortcomings the Dual Mirror did not. Firstly, the heat
transfer fluid itself would be expensive: water cannot be used due to the danger of steam creation in the
pipes at the concentrator and all alternatives (e.g. sunflower seed oil) are relatively expensive and
unavailable in third world countries. Secondly, due to scarcity of support and resources, any issues caused
by plumbing could cause the device to stop functioning. Despite the construction advantages of having a
parabolic trough as opposed to an off axis paraboloid, we decided the Heat Transfer Fluid was not the
design we wanted.
The other three design concepts scored even lower than these previously presented. They ran into
problems with reliability (Floating Puddle), inability to cook inside (On Axis Paraboloid), product life
(Cal Polys), among other issues. We determined that the Dual Mirror would better meet our customers
and sponsors requirements than each of these other designs.
24
4. Proposed Design
This section investigates the chosen concept by providing a complete description of the geometry,
materials, manufacturing processes, and testing plans. The design presented in this section was proposed
at the time of the CDR. Changes have been made following the CDR throughout the end of spring quarter
and the entirety of fall quarter, and are documented in Section 5.2 Design Changes since the Critical
Design Report.
4.1.1 Reflector
The reflector, as seen in Figure 12, consists of a plane mirror with 3 main geometric concerns: latitude,
daily tracking, and seasonal tracking.
The rotation of the plane mirror is driven by a
small motor to follow the daily movement of the
sun. This small motor is controlled by a relatively
small, analog circuit and powered by a 12V
battery. The circuit consists of two photoresistors,
regular resistors, an op-amp comparator, a DC
relay, a breadboard, and a rechargeable battery.
The two photoresistors are used to detect the
position of the sun: when one of the photo-
resistors does not receive sunlight, the circuit will
rotate the mirror to directly face the sun. This
results in discrete movements of the mirror with a
time delay. This is advantageous over a directly
connected motor that continuously turns the
mirror, as the continuous motion quickly drains
the battery. Our motor will rotate the mirror via of
a string drive. This provides a large moment arm
in a cost effective method. The rotational axis is
secured on one side by a pin joint, and on the
other side by a concentric half-pipe. The bottom Figure 12. A 3D rendering of the primary reflector
end of the rotational pipe is fixed with an endcap,
with a small bowl bored in the center, which mates with a bolt milled to a point, providing a low-cost,
low-friction bearing. At the high end, the rotating pipe is cupped by a half-pipe, supporting the vertical
load, while a bolt protruding out the top resists axial load.
The rotational axis must be specifically angled relative to level ground to compensate for latitude
differences. This is executed properly by making the angle of the axis of rotation with respect to
horizontal equal to the local latitude, thus producing an axis parallel to the Earths. By angling the
reflector towards the equator (due South, for our Northern Hemisphere location), light can then be
25
reflected onto a concentrator on the equator-side of the reflector. In order to ensure the incoming light
provides a constant irradiation at an unchanging angle, the reflector must direct the light so it is parallel to
the rotational axis (and Earths axis). Thus, the rotational axis must be in line with the axis of the
paraboloid as seen in Figure 13. This is accomplished by support the pin joint and the concentric pipe by
26
Single
rod
Dual
Discrete rods
adjustment
holes
Slider uses
A B set screws
Figure 14. Conceptual (A) and revised (B) design of seasonal adjustment for the primary reflector
4.1.2 Concentrator
The design of the concentrator was not finalized to the same extent as the heliostat at the time the CDR
was authored. A number of different manufacturing techniques have been explored at Cal Poly
previously, none of which we were comfortable with settling on before understanding firsthand the
challenges of manufacturing a paraboloid surface. To improve our understanding and better inform our
design choices, we opted to build a small scale prototype.
The construction technique we chose for the prototype involved building a mold for the paraboloid
surface, then laying up and gluing together a lattice of wood lath in this mold. Finally, reflective Mylar
strips were affixed to the finished lattice.
The mold was created by revolving a parabolic pattern about its axis, sweeping out a parabolic profile in a
shallow hole in the earth at the Student Experimental Farm. We chose to make the mold this way because
it is close to the first principles of a paraboloid, literally revolving a parabolic path in space. The parabolic
profile was created by marking and connecting points on a piece of thin plywood, whose locations were
calculated and mapped in Cartesian coordinates. The points were connected and then this profile was cut
out. The cutout was next affixed to an axle and supported so that it would sweep out a shallow hole in the
ground when revolved.
Next, the hole was dug such that there remained roughly 1cm between the solid earth and the wood
pattern throughout the range of its sweep. Then a thin layer of a cement-like mixture of water, sand, and
clay was spread in the shallow hole. By sweeping back and forth with the pattern, it could be seen where
the mixture needed to be lower of higher. The pattern was swept back and forth and the mixture
redistributed until it was only just in contact with the pattern throughout its range. The mold was then
allowed to cure. Figure 15 shows the parabolic pattern and mold after sweeping out a uniform surface.
27
Wooden
axis fixture
Parabolic
pattern
Axis
PVC pipe
axis fixture
Figure 15. Parabolic profile sweep setup with finished mold surface. When revolved about the axis, the
pattern lightly contacts the light brown concrete-like mixture evenly.
Once cured, narrow wooden lath was placed in the mold in two orthogonal layers. The top layer was
chosen to run concentric to the parabolic axis to aid with adhering the reflective material later. A dab of
glue was placed at each point where the slats crossed, then the assembly was pressed in place by burying
it in dirt. The wood and the pressing dirt were separated by a layer of heavy plastic. The glue was allowed
to cure for two days. Figure 16 shows the results.
28
Once cured, the wooden frame was removed. Sheets of Mylar were cut to span the distance between the
slats of the top layer, and then affixed using a single staple in the center, followed by tape. Figure 17
shows the finished prototype.
Figure 17. Completed prototype with Mylar strips adhered to wooden frame.
In building the concentrator this way, we learned that the wood lath frame was too springy; once the
frame was removed from the mold, it sprung back slightly towards its original planar shape. We also
learned about the criticality of imperfections in the reflective surface. It was important not to over-
constrain the reflective material, because it would introduce unwanted distortions. The Mylar used was
wrinkled and had dents and smudges, seen in Figure 17 as the distorted reflections in the surface of the
reflector. These imperfections significantly scattered the light received, producing a very crude focal
point. We believe these are the primary sources of imperfection in our construction technique. The
method was a success in that it produced an effective concentrator, with which we were able to burn large
holes in a piece of black foam core board.
With these results, we could make a well-informed and structured decision about the bestor hybrid of
known concentrator construction methods. Section 5.2.2 Concentrator details our ultimate decision on
construction of the concentrator.
29
4.2.1 Reflector
The majority of the reflector used off-the-shelf parts. The mirrors themselves are 1x4 bedroom mirrors
mounted onto a 4x5 plywood sheet. The mirrors are low cost and have adequate reflectivity, while the
plywood is low cost and sufficiently strong. The frame itself consists primarily of 1.5 schedule 40 steel
pipe with off-the-shelf brackets and mounts. The steel is a common building material and easy to work
with, since it is weldable. It is also robust and durable.
4.2.2 Concentrator
The concentrator requires attention to detail in its manufacture and material selection. To achieve an
acceptable efficiency, the geometry of the dish must be very precise. We investigated the use of a cob
mold to shape wooden strips into the correct shape. This mold could be easily created with readily
available materials at low cost using a plywood parabolic profile swept through a wet mixture which is
then cured (see Section 4.1.2 Concentrator). The choice of reflective material depends on reflectivity and
durability. The efficiency of our product is quickly compromised by surface imperfections like dents,
scratches, and contaminants. We recommend reflective aluminum in our final design, as it is more
resistant to deformation that Mylar and has a comparable reflectivity. We weigh resistance to deformation
heavily because accidental bends or even the slightest of curvature anomalies can have significant effects
on the concentration of the light, and Mylar is more susceptible to more sudden changes in curvature.
30
the focal point. When incident rays are not parallel, they are not reflected to converge at the parabolas
focus; instead they may not focus at all or will focus at some other point. For our system, it was important
to understand how deflection of the primary reflector would affect concentration at the focus.
We modeled the system with a reflector of circular curvature and an ideal concentrator. We adjusted the
offset at the peripheral ends from the ideal reflector to the actual curved reflector surface, and observed
the change in focal width at the theoretical focal point. Figure 18 below shows the ray tracing model
developed in Solidworks, used to explore this relationship between deflection and concentration.
Figure 18. Solidworks ray tracing sketch, assuming ideal concentrator and circular
reflector. Dimensions in meters.
31
4.3.4 Reflector Construction and Torque Requirements
In order to design the tracking motor and drive train system, we needed to know how much torque would
be required to turn the daily tracking axle. We considered torques due to friction in the bearings and the
torque required to accelerate the reflector at 0.5 rpm/s. we found that 2.26 N-m (20.0 in-lbf) of torque is
needed to move the reflector as desired.
The majority of the cost of the heliostat frame is hardware, priced according to McMaster-Carr and Home
Depot. The reflector will be the second most expensive part of the prototype, where nearly half the cost is
the glass mirrors sourced from Home Depot. The tracking circuit cost includes circuit elements and the
motor mount. The total cost is only 11% over our $200 budget.
Refer to Appendix D: Vendors and Pricing for detailed a detailed cost breakdown.
4.5 Schematics
A full set of drawings for the construction of the Reflector is available in Appendix J: Technical
Drawings.
32
denote a critical item that needs attention. For items with criticality above 20 (out of 100 possible), we
have proposed solutions that were incorporated into the design.
The items with the highest criticality are failures that significantly compromise the cooking power of the
product. The items of greatest criticality involved the imperfections, degradation, or wear on the reflective
surfaces. To address these, we proposed methods of refining construction and maintenance schedule.
Refer to Appendix I: Potential Failure Modes and Effects Analysis for complete details.
Based on the results of the FMEA, we did not identify any major safety concerns with our concentrator.
The FMEA was continued until the conclusion of our project to be sure that all possible safety hazards
have been identified and addressed.
33
5. Product Realization
At the time of the CDR, little actual construction had taken place. Since then, the design was altered, the
product was created, and much knowledge was gained. This section outlines the manufacturing process,
changes to the project since the CDR, and recommendations for the future.
5.2.2 Concentrator
Over summer, Dr. Schwartz suggested that we could begin testing earlier if we used an existing
concentrator instead of waiting until that portion of the manufacturing was complete. This idea was
retained until the beginning of fall quarter, during which time it became apparent that we were going to
run into time constraints due to manufacturing. As the creation of a new concentrator is not necessary for
design verification of the dual mirror concept, we decided to narrow the scope of our project to only
include the heliostat. Our final product reflects this change, with the heliostat and associated tracking
systems newly fabricated and the concentrator borrowed from a previous project.
34
5.2.3 Seasonal Adjustment
At the time of the CDR, our seasonal adjustment consisted of two rigid rods with eyehooks on either end
that connected the upper mirror assembly to the rotating axis via a concentric pipe fixed with set screws.
Shortly following the CDR, we realized a much simpler method of accomplishing the necessary degrees
of freedom. To execute it, we created metal support rods as shown in Figure 19 whose pins on either end
were parallel. This avoids the out-of-plane complications that encumbered the previous design.
35
5.2.4 String Guide/tensioner
We also made a number of changes to the daily tracking. The first change was made both for ease of
manufacture and cost reasons. We eliminated the semicircular string guide and added a pulley and large
deformation spring to supply the motor adequate tension. We found that the semicircular guide would be
hard to manufacture, especially in a developing country, and a similar result could be obtained by
eliminating the string guide, adding a larger displacement string, and adding a pulley to direct the string
around the hinge board as seen in Figure 20.
Figure 20. String tensionr system. Used to eliminate slack in the daily tracking
system as the geometry of the string drive changes with the rotation of the heliostat.
36
Figure 21. Tracking circuit: used to detect movement of the sun and actuate the motor to orient the
heliostat.
This circuit consists of only ICs and discrete circuit elements (exact specifications can be found below in
Table 3) to detect changing sunlight and actuate the motor. It is currently powered by a 12V power
source, but ideally this could be replaced by a rechargeable battery and charging solar panel. Two photo
resistors are placed on either side of the Photocomparator Divider (Drawing P001) on the
Photocomparator Base (P002). The divider projects perpendicular to the heliostat surface; when the sun
position moves, it casts a shadow on the east side of the Photocomparator base and the east photoresistor.
This changes the resistance of said photoresistor. The comparator receives two input voltages dependent
on the resistance of the two photoresistors and, when the west photoresistor detects sunlight and the east
does not, triggers the relay which actuates the motor. When cloud cover casts shadow on the heliostat, the
resistance of both photoresistors will change and the voltage difference will not be sufficient to trigger the
comparator. This allows the heliostat to track the suns movement without being confused by cloud cover.
Table 3. Tracking Circuit Component Specifications
Circuit Component Specifications
Motor Amico a12032000ux0190
Relay TE OUAZ-SS-112D
Comparator LM 311
R1 1000
R2 2200
R3 150
PR1 80 in direct sunlight, 600 in shade
PR2 80 in direct sunlight, 600 in shade
37
Secondly, we added a 2-inch section of semicircular pipe on the bottom support, which acts as a backup
support in the unlikely case that the pipe falls off of the pivot bolt.
38
insulation at the hotspot, it is likely that the frame could be streamlined to produce a more convenient and
manageable design.
One further alteration would be to include a means of locking the rotation of the daily tracking axis. This
would prevent inadvertent rotation due to wind, which could crash the mirror assembly into the tracking
motor bracket. We managed by bracing the mirror assembly with wood and spacer blocks temporarily.
5.3.4 Concentrator
We believe that the majority of our performance issues stem from inefficient concentration of the light by
the concentrator. We decided to eliminate the concentrator from our project scope because we knew that
previous projects at Cal Poly had created solar concentrators and that we could borrow one of these
concentrators to verify that our heliostat was properly working. However, at the time of this decision we
were not aware the magnitude to which the concentrator had deformed. If we had known, we may have
opted for a different course of action, but regardless we already were working overtime finishing the
heliostat. We recommend that a concentrator be constructed for this device and the old concentrator be
recycled. From the preliminary prototyping that we were able to complete, we found that a concentrator
could be constructed by sweeping a mold in the ground and laying mylar in this mold. We leave this as a
possibility for future development.
39
6. Design Verification
Following construction of the device, verification of the design was necessary to determine whether or not
the dual mirror concept met our requirements. Prior to construction, a full testing plan was created to
guide our testing efforts. This section lists the intended and completed tests.
40
6.2.3 Static Heat Spot
This test was designed to verify that the heliostat did its job properly. If the heat spot was not static, it
would indicate either a problem with the daily tracking or seasonal adjustment. We could discern which
system was at fault because if the automated daily tracking functioned but the heat spot migrated, we
would know the seasonal adjustment was out of calibration.
Before this test, we verified that the tracking circuit triggered the motor as desired. As soon as the circuit
was completed, it was tested to ensure it would trigger when the correct photoresistor fell into shadow.
Results: The tracking circuit properly engages the motor and rotates the heliostat to properly reflect light
onto the concentrator whenever the east side photoresistor falls into shadow. This successfully kept the
entire concentrator supplied with light correcting for the azimuth angle. The seasonal adjustment easily
corrected for the elevation of the sun for the current season, although we had to run the system for a few
hours to get it dialed in properly.
6.2.5 Performance
This test was based off of a performance testing standard published by ASABE (American Society of
Agricultural and Biological Engineers). The device was used to raise the temperature of water and the
power supplied to the hotspot was calculated from the energy absorbed by the water. A thermocouple data
logger system was used to record the temperature of the water; this can be found below in Figure 22.
41
80
70
60
Temperature [C]
50
40
30
20
10
0
12:00 PM 12:15 PM 12:30 PM 12:45 PM 1:00 PM 1:15 PM 1:30 PM 1:45 PM 2:00 PM
Time [hr:min]
Figure 22. Plot of temperature as a function of time demonstrating how the solar cooker heated up 2
kilograms of water.
We found the power supplied by the device at a water temperature 50 C above ambient to be 35 Watts.
This is considerably lower than the required power of 1200 watts. We can account for some of this
difference when we take into account potential inefficiencies: the legs shadows, the washers, not perfectly
planar mirrors, inefficient reflectivity of the mirrors, and seasonal change of irradiation (the value of 1200
watts was calculated using summer values for irradiation and current irradiation values may be as low as
half of the summer values). However, all these together does not result in the performance obtained. The
light profile at the hot spot produced by the concentrator is roughly 40 cm in diameter, but is unevenly
distributed and partially scattered. While more testing is necessary to determine the exact cause of this
low performance, we believe that the main cause is the concentrator.
In addition to finding the average power delivered by the concentrator, we also found the power with
multiple time steps to give us a sense of the instantaneous heat transfer balance to the pot. This can be
seen below in Figure 23.
42
400
10 min Average
5 min Average
2 min Average
300 1 min Average
20 s Average
200
100
Power [Watts]
-100
-200
-300
-400
12:45 13:00 13:15 Time [hr:min] 13:30 13:45 14:00
Figure 23. Instantaneous power absorbed at the hot spot with varying time steps.
Results: The device performs much worse than expected. This failure has a number of potential causes;
the primary cause we suspect is at fault is the concentrators improper geometry. We suggest the device
be tested with a more accurately shaped concentrator to thoroughly investigate the root cause of failure.
6.2.6 Maintenance
As previously stated, the device was left outside for the month prior to Senior Expo. During this time it
was exposed to three periods of rain, a wide variation in wind and sun, a cold snap, and a significant
amount of dust and grime created from the nearby machine shop. From our estimation, this has had
negligible effects on the power output and no effects on the structural integrity or user interaction with the
device.
43
7. Conclusion
This project was pitched to the mechanical engineering students by Dr. Pete Schwartz, a professor in the
Physics department. For some time, he has been involved in the field of solar cookers. These devices
attempt to solve a problem of two interconnected societal trends: the need to support the growing
population and the push to become sustainable and self-supporting. These two trends combine in many
ways, including a lack of sustainable, appropriate cooking technologies in developing countries. One
solution to this need is the solar cooker. Dr. Schwartz pitched the project to design and build a Dual-
Mirror Solar Cooker; while other solar cookers exist and use similar technologies, no other cookers use
this specific geometric design (the dual mirror has only been attempted once before, by a previous senior
project group at Cal Poly). This project was an attempt to verify the design concept, produce a working
model for testing purposes, and design a product for this concept that was reliable, cost effective, and
simply constructed.
This project began with research and analysis of the concept and how it compared to other designs on the
market. We determined that the dual mirror was a worthy approach to fulfilling the need, continued with
the design of the dual mirror system, created small and full scale prototypes, and tested this device for our
design verifications.
Throughout the course of the past year, we encountered many issues and setbacks and the device and
project changed accordingly. The largest change from our initial goal was the elimination of the
concentrator from the scope of the project. While this change was necessary in order for us to complete
the project and not necessarily vital to the verification of the concept, it did negatively impact the
outcome of the project. Upon completion of the heliostat, we tested the performance of the solar cooker
and found that it failed to meet our design specifications. A number of potential causes other than the
improper geometry of the concentrator can be found in Section 6.2.5. Following our testing, we have a
number of recommendations (these are fully elaborated in Section 5.3 Recommendations for Future
Design Development) for further investigation of this design: insulation at the hotspot should be
investigated to allow for a smaller scale device; a cover should be designed for the heliostat and
concentrator; the support structure should be investigated to eliminate shadows; most importantly a
concentrator with proper geometry should be constructed.
44
Appendix A: References
[1] "Solar Cookers International." Aid for Africa. N.p., 17 Aug. 2009. Web. 02 Feb. 2015. <http://www.aidforafrica.org/member-charities/solar-
cookers-international/>.
[2] Ochsner, Regula, Stephen Harrigan, Koin Etuati, Ajay Chandak, Badal Shah, Kevin Adair, Patricia McArdle, Tom Carter, Susan Kinne, and
Jesse DelBono. "News You Send." Solar Cooker Review 16 (Apr. 2010): n. pag.Solar Cookers International. Web. 02 Feb. 2015.
[3] "In India, a Program for Rural Women Emphasizes Training as the Key to Effective Use of Solar Cookers." One Country 14 (Dec. 2002): n.
pag. Bah' International Community. Web.
[4] "How Solar Cookers Work." Solar Cookers International. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Feb. 2015. <http://www.solarcookers.org/basics/how.html>.
[5] "Parabolic Solar Reflectors." Solar Cooking. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Feb. 2015. <http://solarcooking.wikia.com/wiki/Parabolic_cookers>.
[6] Munir, A., O. Hensel, and W. Scheffler. "Design Principle and Calculations of a Scheffler Fixed Focus Concentrator for Medium Temperature
Applications." Solar Energy 84.8 (2010): 1490-502. Science Direct. Web. 02 Feb. 2015.
[7] "Scheffler Community Kitchen." Solar Cooking. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Feb. 2015. <http://solarcooking.wikia.com/wiki/Scheffler_reflector>.
[8] "The Scheffler-Reflector." Solare Brcke. Solare Brcke, 2015. Web. 03 Feb. 2015. <http://www.solare-
bruecke.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2&Itemid=2&lang=en>.
[9] Schwartz, Peter. "Project Proposal." Message to the author. 5 Feb. 2015. E-mail.
[10] "Testing." SCInet. Solar Cookers International Network, 13 Nov. 2014. Web. 07 Mar. 2015. <http://solarcooking.wikia.com/wiki/Testing>.
[11] Rojas, Dan. "Free Energy Solar Giant Water Parabola Cooker 1000f AQUA DEATH RAY." YouTube. Green Power Science, 24 July 2011.
Web. 06 Mar. 2015. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_zKk03CJKU>.
Appendix B: Quality Function Deployment
QFD: House of Quality
Project: Solar Collector
Revision: 3
Date: February 1, 2015
Correlations
Positive +
+
Negative
+
No Correlation
Relationships +
Strong +
Moderate +
Weak
+ +
Direction of Improvement
Maximize
Target
+ + +
Minimize
+ +
Column # 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 NOW: Current Product Assesment - Customer
Communities who purchase the product
WHAT:
Dr. Schwartz
Customer
Requirement
[degrees]
Row #
Row #
[kW/m2]
s (explicit &
index]
0 1 2 3 4 5
[Y/N]
[Y/N]
implicit)
100 kW/m2
5 minutes
5 controls
1%, 0.1%
10 hours
10 m/s
30 m/s
$200
50
30 N
Yes
Max Relationship 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 3 9 9 9 9
Technical Importance Rating 75 62 62 84 98 109 78 101 133 158 94 25 103 94 74 115
Relative Weight 5% 4% 4% 6% 7% 7% 5% 7% 9% 11% 6% 2% 7% 6% 5% 8%
Weight Chart
|||||
||||
|||
|||
|||
|||
|||
|||
|||
||
||
||
||
||
||
5
Engineering Specifications
Our Product
4
Competitor
#1
3
Competitor
#2
2
Competitor
#3
1
Competitor
#4
0
3 6.9% 3 9 3 9 3 9 3 9 3 9 3 9 3 9
Functional latitude range [degrees]
Wind speed while operable [m/s] 2 4.6% 2 4 4 8 4 8 3 6 4 8 3 6 2.5 5
Wind speed before failure [m/s] 2 4.6% 1.5 3 3.5 7 3.5 7 4.5 9 4 8 3.5 7 2 4
Risk of injury [custom weighted 5 11.5% 4 20 4 20 4 20 3.5 17.5 4 20 4 20 4.5 22.5
index]
Maximum power to cooking 4 9.2% 4.5 18 4.5 18 4 16 4.5 18 3.5 14 4 16 3 12
surface [kW/m2]
Works with ordinary pots/pans 2 4.6% 5 10 5 10 5 10 5 10 3.5 7 5 10 5 10
[Y/N]
Annual maintenance [hours] 2 4.6% 4 8 4 8 4 8 4.5 9 2 4 4 8 3.5 7
Daily maintenance [minutes] 2 4.6% 4.5 9 4.5 9 4.5 9 5 10 4.5 9 4.5 9 3.5 7
Materials sourceable in range of 2 4.6% 3 6 3 6 3 6 3 6 3 6 3 6 3 6
target location [km]
Size (length x width x height) [m] 3 6.9% 4 12 4 12 3 9 4.5 13.5 3.5 10.5 4.5 13.5 3 9
Total: 43.5 100% 57 158.5 57.5 160 62 170 58 157 57.5 159.5 59 161 53 146.5
Table 7. Daily tracking mechanism decision matrix.
Frame
1-1/2 in x 10 ft Galvanized Steel Pipe 1 $ 43.50 $ 43.50 Home Depot
1 in x 10 ft galvanized steel tube 1 $ - $ - SEF
2in male-male galvanized steel pipe nipple 1 $ 1.89 $ 1.89 Ace Hardware
Pipe Clamp, 1-7/8 OD, 2-hole mount 2 $ 2.57 $ 5.14 McMaster
1/4-20 x 3 zinc-plated screws, pack of 10 1 $ 5.84 $ 5.84 McMaster
1/4-20 x 1 zinc-plated screws, pack of 100 1 $ 9.75 $ 9.75 McMaster
1/4-20 zinc-plated nuts 14 $ - $ - Home Depot
U-clamp, 1/4-20 threads, pack of 10 1 $ 7.84 $ 7.84 McMaster
1/4 in. steel plate 1 ft2 $ - $ - Scrap
Paino hinge, 3ft 1 $ - $ - SEF
1/2 x 1/2 steel box tube, 3 ft length 2 $ 5.57 $ 11.14 Home Depot
Frame-side Pulley 1 $ - $ - Rose Float Lab
Extension spring 1 $ 3.08 $ 3.08 McMaster
Motor-side pulley 1 $ - $ - Scrap
3/8-16 x 2 cap screw 1 $ - $ - Scrap
1/4 in washer (12 pack) 3 $ 1.18 $ 3.54 Home Depot
4"x4" 10 ft length 1 $ 10.59 $ 10.59 Home Depot
Frame Total $ 102.31
Tracking Circuit
Motor 1 $ 18.44 $ 18.44 Amazon
Pipe, sch 40, .50 diameter, 36 in length 1 $ 7.62 $ 7.62 Home Depot
Wire, 22 awg 30 ft $ - $ - Ian's Backpack
Photovoltaic panel 1 $ - $ - Mustang '60
Battery 1 $ 8.48 $ 8.48 Zoro
Photoresistors 3 $ - $ - Mustang '60
LM311 comparator 1 $ 1.95 $ 1.95 Radioshack
5V DC Relay 1 $ 1.95 $ 1.95 Radioshack
Tracking Circuit Total $ 38.44
TEST PLAN
Item Specification or SAMPLES TESTED TIMING
Clause Reference Acceptance Test
No Test Description Test
Criteria Stage
Responsibility Quantity Type Start date Finish date
Prototype dish Small scale WBT: in order to test the Max Ian CV 1 s 5/1/2015 6/13/2015
construction abilities of the chosen material and
manufacturing, we will construct a
1 small scale prototype and use this to
test the time it takes the model to boil
a cup of water.
Ray Tracing Perform basic ray tracing including Pass Ian CV 1 A 4/1/2015 5/1/2015
bending analysis of reflector frame to
2 verify size of reflector
Daily setup time First we will time ourselves multiples Max 10 min Devin DV 10 C 10/5/2015 11/5/2015
time performing all the necessary
tasks in order to operate the product.
3 We will then find volunteers to test
out the product and record their usage
of the product.
Maximum user Using spring scales or force scale to Max 30 N Devin DV 1 D 10/5/2015 11/5/2015
input force apply all forces to the product, we will
go through and perform all the tasks
4 necessary to cook with the product
and record the applied forces
Static heat spot We will track the movement of the 5 cm from Devin DV 10 C 10/5/2015 11/5/2015
5 relative to cooker focus throughout a full daily use cycle static
Wind speed while We will document the performance of Min 10 m/s Devin DV 5 C 10/5/2015 11/5/2015
operable the mirror on days with and without before
6 wind to determine any correlations operation
between wind and performance failure
Maximum power WBT: Through an adaption of the 80-160 kW/m2 Ian PV 10 C 10/5/2015 11/5/2015
to cooking surface water boiling test, we can determine
the power input to the stove at various
7 levels of cloud cover the time it takes
to boil water and extrapolate the
power output of the stove
Daily maintenance Simulate a windy dusty day and time 5 minutes Ian DV 10 C 10/5/2015 11/5/2015
8 the necessary steps required to clean
and maintain the system
Appendix F: Testing Procedures
Daily Setup Test Protocol
Objective:
To determine the time required each day to setup the solar cooker before it can be used.
Materials:
Stopwatch
Procedure:
1. Before doing anything, start the stopwatch.
2. As soon as you start the stopwatch, begin setting up the device.
3. Reset to the starting position.
4. Setup cooking area.
5. Plug in the battery and start the tracking circuit.
6. Ensure seasonal tracking is correctly adjusted and change if needed.
7. Stop the timer.
Analysis:
1. Report total setup time.
Maintenance Test Protocol
Objective:
Quantify the time required to sufficiently maintain the device.
Materials:
Heliostat-Concentrator Solar Cooker
Stopwatch
Procedure:
1. Before doing anything, start the stopwatch.
2. Clean and polish the mirrors.
3. Paint any broken off bits from the frame.
4. Check string wear and replace if needed.
5. Perform any other necessary maintenance.
6. Stop the timer.
Analysis:
1. Report total setup time.
Maximum Input Force
Objective:
To ensure that all actions necessary for the operation of the device can be performed by the user.
Materials:
Spring Scale
Heliostat-Concentrator Solar Cooker
Procedure:
1) Perform all actions necessary for use of the device with the spring scale and record maximum force
required.
a) Place wrench on seasonal adjustment set screw, place spring scale at end of wrench, and slowly
increase the force applied. Record the maximum force applied before screw turns.
b) Place spring scale on seasonal adjustment (through the top support hole) and record max force
required to slide the slider pipe throughout full range of motion.
c) Place wrench and retighten set screw using the spring scale, record the maximum force.
d) Use spring scale to rotate the heliostat back to starting position.
Analysis:
1) Report all tasks that exceed maximum limit of 30 N
Pre-cooking Setup Test Protocol
Objective:
To determine the time required each day to setup the solar cooker before it can be used.
Materials:
Stopwatch
Procedure:
1. Before doing anything, start the stopwatch.
2. As soon as you start the stopwatch, begin setting up the device.
3. Reset to the starting position.
4. Setup cooking area.
5. Plug in the battery and start the tracking circuit.
6. Ensure seasonal tracking is correctly adjusted and change if needed.
7. Stop the timer.
Analysis:
1. Report total setup time.
Static Heat Spot Test Protocol
Objective:
Quantify how stationary the heated area generated by the system is.
Materials:
Heliostat-Concentrator Solar Cooker
Cooking Stand
Nonflammable Surface
Nonflammable marking tool for nonflammable Surface
Time Lapse Camera
Windless but sunny setting
Procedure:
1. Setup Heliostat-concentrator system for cooking.
2. Setup cooking stand at the focal region.
3. Mark nonflammable surface with a polar grid.
4. Place marked nonflammable surface marked side down on cooking stand, centered (approximately).
5. Setup time-lapse camera focused on gridded area. Setup camera to take frame once a minute for the
test duration. The test duration should range from sunrise to sunset. Be sure the camera will have
sufficient battery and storage.
6. Record:
a. Nonflammable surface used: material, shapes
b. Polar grid scale
c. Time lapse frame rate
d. Start time and date
7. Begin recording at sunrise.
8. Monitor the test throughout the day.
9. Stop recording at sunset.
10. Playback time-lapse. Note range of lighted area of nonflammable surface.
11. Find centroid of this range and realign the gridded surface so that the lighted range centroid is
coincident with the polar grid origin.
12. Repeat steps 5-8.
Analysis:
1. Review time-lapse. Calculate the maximum deviation of the centroid of the instantaneous light spot
from the centroid of the overall range of the light sport. This deviation quantifies the mobility of the
heat sport, which is important as temperature will be directly related to the visible radiation.
Static Heat Spot with Wind Test Protocol
Objective:
Quantify the effect of wind on the position of the hot spot.
Materials:
Heliostat-Concentrator Solar Cooker
Cooking Stand
Nonflammable Surface
Nonflammable marking tool for nonflammable Surface
Time Lapse Camera
Wind and sun
Anemometer
Wind direction sensor
Procedure:
1. Setup Heliostat-concentrator system for cooking
2. Setup cooking stand at the focal region
3. Mark nonflammable surface with a polar grid
4. Place marked nonflammable surface marked side down on cooking stand, centered (approximately)
5. Setup time-lapse camera focused on gridded area. Setup camera to take frame once a minute for the
test duration. The test duration should range from sunrise to sunset. Be sure the camera will have
sufficient battery and storage.
6. Record:
a. Nonflammable surface used: material, shapes
b. Polar grid scale
c. Time lapse frame rate
d. Start time and date
7. Setup anemometer and direction sensor near system
8. Begin recording at sunrise
9. If wind measurements must be taken manually, they should be taken every half hour.
a. Record average wind direction and uncertainty
10. Stop recording at sunset.
11. Playback time-lapse. Note range of lighted area of nonflammable surface
12. Find centroid of this range and realign the gridded surface so that the lighted range centroid is
coincident with the polar grid origin.
13. Repeat steps 5-8.
Analysis:
1. Review time-lapse. Calculate the maximum deviation of the centroid of the instantaneous light spot
from the centroid of the overall range of the light sport. This deviation quantifies the mobility of the
heat sport, which is important as temperature will be directly related to the visible radiation.
2. Compare this deviation to the deviation found in the Static Heat Spot test.
Appendix G: Detailed Analysis
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Appendix H: Gantt Chart
ID Task Task Name Duration Start Finish Dec 21, '14 Feb 15, '15 Apr 12, '15 Jun 7, '15 Aug 2, '15 Sep 27, '15 Nov 22, '15 Jan 17, '16
Mode T S W S T M F T S W S T M F T S W S
1 WINTER 104days Thu1/15/15 Wed4/29/15
Project: Team Helios Gantt Split Inactive Task Duration-only Finish-only Progress
Date: Thu 12/3/15 Milestone Inactive Milestone Manual Summary Rollup External Tasks Manual Progress
Page 1
ID Task Task Name Duration Start Finish Dec 21, '14 Feb 15, '15 Apr 12, '15 Jun 7, '15 Aug 2, '15 Sep 27, '15 Nov 22, '15 Jan 17, '16
Mode T S W S T M F T S W S T M F T S W S
24 CriticalDesignReviewwithPete 0days Fri5/8/15 Fri5/8/15 5/8
Project: Team Helios Gantt Split Inactive Task Duration-only Finish-only Progress
Date: Thu 12/3/15 Milestone Inactive Milestone Manual Summary Rollup External Tasks Manual Progress
Page 2
ID Task Task Name Duration Start Finish Dec 21, '14 Feb 15, '15 Apr 12, '15 Jun 7, '15 Aug 2, '15 Sep 27, '15 Nov 22, '15 Jan 17, '16
Mode T S W S T M F T S W S T M F T S W S
47 FrameAssembly 2wks Mon5/25/15 Mon6/8/15
Project: Team Helios Gantt Split Inactive Task Duration-only Finish-only Progress
Date: Thu 12/3/15 Milestone Inactive Milestone Manual Summary Rollup External Tasks Manual Progress
Page 3
ID Task Task Name Duration Start Finish Dec 21, '14 Feb 15, '15 Apr 12, '15 Jun 7, '15 Aug 2, '15 Sep 27, '15 Nov 22, '15 Jan 17, '16
Mode T S W S T M F T S W S T M F T S W S
70 PrintPoster 0days Mon11/30/15Mon11/30/15 11/30
88 Printandbindsponsorandadvisorcopies
89 UploadPDFtolibrary,obtainreceipt
Project: Team Helios Gantt Split Inactive Task Duration-only Finish-only Progress
Date: Thu 12/3/15 Milestone Inactive Milestone Manual Summary Rollup External Tasks Manual Progress
Page 4
Appendix I: Potential Failure Modes and Effects Analysis
Potential
Failure Mode and Effect Analysis
(Design FMEA) FMEA Number:
Page 1 of 7
System: Concentrator Design Responsibility: Ian Davison
Subsystem: Frame Prepared By (Orig.): Ian Davison
Component: - FMEA Date (Orig.) 3/11/2015
Revised By: Ian Davison
Revision Date: 12/2/2015 (Rev.) A
Action Results
O
C O
S Potential Cause(s) / c Responsibility & C
Item / Potential Effect(s) of r Recommended S c
Potential Failure Mode e Mechanism(s) of c Target r
Function Failure i Action(s) Actions Taken e c
v Failure u Completion Date i
t v u
r t
r
3 Thermal warping 3 9 None - 0
Efficiency drop Warping under the
Integrate drainage holes I. Davison
Maintain proper 3 weight of collected 7 21 0
in concentrator 5 Oct. 2015
shape for rainwater
Shape change
reflective 2 Thermal warping 3 6 None - 0
material Warping under the
Focal point translation Integrate drainage holes I. Davison
2 weight of collected 6 12 None 2 6 12
in concentrator 5 Oct. 2015
rainwater
Add a feature to allow for
calibration of the frame I. Davison
3 Foundation settling 4 12 None 3 4 12
position relative to the 5 Oct. 2015
Efficiency drop foundation
I. Davison Non-corrosive material
3 Frame corrosion 3 9 Paint frame 3 2 6
5 Oct. 2015 selected for frame
Prevent rigid
Add a feature to allow for
body motion of Rigid body motion
calibration of the frame I. Davison
concentrator 2 Foundation settling 7 14 None 2 7 14
position relative to the 5 Oct. 2015
Focal point translation foundation
I. Davison Non-corrosive material
2 Frame corrosion 2 4 Paint frame 2 1 2
5 Oct. 2015 selected for frame
Optical system Frame picked up by Design braces for high I. Davison Frame to be installed
7 5 35 7 2 14
alignment failure wind wind scenarios 5 Oct. 2015 in-ground
0 0
Potential
Failure Mode and Effect Analysis
(Design FMEA) FMEA Number:
Page 2 of 7
System: Concentrator Design Responsibility: Ian Davison
Subsystem: Concentrator Surface Prepared By (Orig.): Ian Davison
Component: FMEA Date (Orig.) 3/11/2015
Revised By: Ian Davison
Revision Date: 12/2/2015 (Rev.) A
Action Results
O
C O
S Potential Cause(s) / c Responsibility & C
Item / Potential Effect(s) of r Recommended S c
Potential Failure Mode e Mechanism(s) of c Target r
Function Failure i Action(s) Actions Taken e c
v Failure u Completion Date i
t v u
r t
r
Action Results
O
C O
S Potential Cause(s) / c Responsibility & C
Potential Effect(s) of r Recommended S c
Item / Function Potential Failure Mode e Mechanism(s) of c Target r
Failure i Action(s) Actions Taken e c
v Failure u Completion Date i
t v u
r t
r
Confirm bolt size Analysis confirms FS of
D. Mast
8 Strong wind loads 2 16 provides FS of 2 for at least 2 for worst 8 1 8
Support 5 Oct. 2015
Bolt failure Cracked/broken reflector worst case wind load case loading
Reflector
D. Mast
8 Fatigue 4 32 Upsize bolts Bolts upsized 8 1 8
5 Oct. 2015
Etch approximate
seasonal slider D. Mast
6 User error 7 42 None 6 7 42
placement into rotating 5 Oct. 2016
Seasonal
Improperly calibrated Improper focus pipe
Adjustment
Recommend daily
Incorporate additional D. Mast
5 Adjustment creep 5 25 check for proper 5 1 5
locking feature 5 Oct. 2015
seasonal positioning
Maintain D. Mast Reflector frame will be
Rigid body translation Low efficiency 5 Ground shifting 3 15 Build on a foundation 5 1 5
rotation axis 5 Oct. 2015 installed in-ground
parallel to Select material with low D. Mast
Warping of frame Low efficiency 1 Thermal deformation 10 10 None 1 10 10
Earth's coefficient of thermal 22 Oct. 2015
Joints designed to
Allow user to come to D. Mast
Safeguard user Pinch user 8 Unguarded pinch point 7 56 Paint pinch points red minimize pinch severity 6 5 30
harm 2 Dec. 2015
and likelihood
0 0
Potential
Failure Mode and Effect Analysis
(Design FMEA) FMEA Number:
Page 4 of 7
System: Primary Reflector Design Responsibility: Devin Mast
Subsystem: Reflector Prepared By (Orig.): Ian Davison
Component: - FMEA Date (Orig.) 3/11/2015
Revised By: Ian Davison
Revision Date: 12/2/2015 (Rev.) A
Action Results
O
C O
S Potential Cause(s) / c Responsibility & C
Potential Effect(s) of r Recommended S c
Item / Function Potential Failure Mode e Mechanism(s) of c Target r
Failure i Action(s) Actions Taken e c
v Failure u Completion Date i
t v u
r t
r
D. Mast
5 Impact to frame 7 35 Improve frame rigidity Frame reinforced 5 4 20
5 Oct. 2015
Deformation under its D. Mast
4 6 24 Improve frame rigidity Frame reinforced 4 3 12
own weight 5 Oct. 2015
Anti-planar deformation Low efficiency D. Mast
5 Strong wind loads 9 45 Improve frame rigidity Frame reinforced 5 7 35
5 Oct. 2015
Select material with
D. Mast
2 Thermal warping 10 20 lower coefficient of None 2 10 20
5 Oct. 2015
thermal expansion
Reflect sunlight Users advised to cover
Wind-blown debris, Advise users to protect D. Mast
parallel to earth 5 8 40 surface when not in 5 5 25
dust surface when not in use 5 Oct. 2015
axis use
Scratched surface Low efficiency
Animal intrusion
Advise users to protect D. Mast
5 Animal intrusion 6 30 determined to be 5 2 10
surface when not in use 5 Oct. 2015
unlikely
Users advised to cover
Wind-blown debris, Advise users to protect D. Mast
6 10 60 surface when not in 6 5 30
dust surface when not in use 5 Oct. 2015
use
Dirty surface Low efficiency
None. Bird poop
Recommend regular D. Mast
4 Bird poop 9 36 likelihood observed to 4 1 4
cleaning 5 Oct. 2015
be very low
0 0
Potential
Failure Mode and Effect Analysis
(Design FMEA) FMEA Number:
Page 5 of 7
System: Primary Reflector Design Responsibility: Devin Mast
Subsystem: Daily Tracking System Prepared By (Orig.): Ian Davison
Component: Electric Circuit FMEA Date (Orig.) 3/10/2015
Revised By: Ian Davison
Revision Date: 12/2/2015 (Rev.) A
Action Results
O
C O
S Potential Cause(s) / c Responsibility & C
Potential Effect(s) of r Recommended S c
Item / Function Potential Failure Mode e Mechanism(s) of c Target r
Failure i Action(s) Actions Taken e c
v Failure u Completion Date i
t v u
r t
r
Shield motor from D. Mast
5 Water intrusion 4 20 0
condensate 5 Oct. 2015
Use manufacturer D. Mast
4 Loose wiring 4 16 0
Overheating specified crimps 5 Oct. 2016
Tie down cables and
D. Mast
4 Insulation degradation 5 20 wires away from moving 0
5 Oct. 2017
parts
Use manufacturer D. Mast
5 Loose wiring 4 20 0
specified crimps 5 Oct. 2018
Short Circuit Spark Tie down cables and
D. Mast
5 Insulation degradation 5 25 wires away from moving 0
5 Oct. 2019
Motor parts
D. Mast
7 Water intrusion 4 28 Enclose motor assembly 0
5 Oct. 2020
Use manufacturer D. Mast
7 Loose wiring 4 28 0
Tracking stops specified crimps 5 Oct. 2021
Tie down cables and
D. Mast
7 Insulation degradation 5 35 wires away from moving 0
5 Oct. 2022
parts
Use manufacturer D. Mast
7 Loose wiring 4 28 0
specified crimps 5 Oct. 2023
Open Circuit Tracking Stops
D. Mast
7 Corrosion 3 21 Enclose motor assembly 0
5 Oct. 2024
Use manufacturer D. Mast
7 Loose wiring 4 28 0
specified crimps 5 Oct. 2025
Open Circuit Tracking stops
D. Mast
7 Corrosion 3 21 Enclose motor assembly 0
5 Oct. 2026
D. Mast
7 Water intrusion 2 14 Enclose battery 0
5 Oct. 2027
Tracking stops
Battery Use manufacturer D. Mast
7 Loose wiring 3 21 0
specified crimps 5 Oct. 2028
Short Circuit
D. Mast
8 Water intrusion 2 16 Enclose battery 0
5 Oct. 2029
Chemical Leak
Potential
Failure Mode and Effect Analysis
(Design FMEA) FMEA Number:
Page 5 of 7
System: Primary Reflector Design Responsibility: Devin Mast
Subsystem: Daily Tracking System Prepared By (Orig.): Ian Davison
Component: Electric Circuit FMEA Date (Orig.) 3/10/2015
Revised By: Ian Davison
Revision Date: 12/2/2015 (Rev.) A
Action Results
O
C O
S Potential Cause(s) / c Responsibility & C
Potential Effect(s) of r Recommended S c
Item / Function Potential Failure Mode e Mechanism(s) of c Target r
Failure i Action(s) Actions Taken e c
v Failure u Completion Date i
t v u
r t
r
Chemical Leak
Use manufacturer D. Mast
8 Loose wiring 2 16 0
specified crimps 5 Oct. 2030
Low voltage Tracking stops 7 Battery aging 3 21 None 0
Spring Fracture Inconsistent tracking 6 Excessive cycling 1 6 None 0
Spring selected
Specify maximum pre- D. Mast operates well within
6 Excessive pre-load 3 18 6 1 6
load 5 Oct. 2015 possible loading
Spring Set Inconsistent tracking
scenarios
Advise against D. Mast Condemn uneccessary
6 Excessive cycling 1 6 6 1 6
Drive train unecessary cycling 5 Oct. 2015 cycling
Protect string from D. Mast Recommend regular
7 Weathering 6 42 7 2 14
weathering 5 Oct. 2015 string replacement
String breaks Heliostat swings freely
Choose a more wear- D. Mast Recommend regular
7 Mechanical wear 8 56 7 2 14
resistant string 5 Oct. 2015 string replacement
Choose a more wear- D. Mast Recommend regular
Slip Inconsistent tracking 6 Mechanical wear 7 42 7 2 14
resistant string 5 Oct. 2015 string replacement
Use manufacturer D. Mast Solder connection
7 Loose wiring 4 28 7 3 21
specified crimps 5 Oct. 2015 points
Install photovoltaic cell D. Mast
Open circuit Battery does not charge 7 Impact 4 28 None 7 4 28
Photovoltaic away from impact zones 5 Oct. 2015
panel
Protect connections from D. Mast Weatherproof
7 Corrosion 3 21 7 2 14
weathering 5 Oct. 2015 connections
Choose panel with high D. Mast
Low voltage Battery does not charge 7 Faulty panel 2 14 None 7 2 14
reliability ratings 27 Oct. 2015
Specify careful insulation D. Mast
Safeguard user Harm user Electric shock 8 Loose wiring 2 16 None 8 2 16
measures 5 Oct. 2015
0 0
Severity
1 Negligible (No discernible effect)
2 Inconvenience/annoyance (No functional issues)
3 Issue (Functionality decreased, but still useable)
4 How bad is it?
5 How bad is it?
6 Significant function degredation
7 Loss of major function, no injury
8 Total loss of major function, minor injury
9 Critical. Total loss of major function, serious injury
10 Death/sever injury. Catastrophic failure
Occurrence
1 Extremely remote 0.00001%
2 0.001%
3 0.01%
4 Remote 0.1%
5 Unlikely
6 Unlikely
7 Possible 1%
8 5%
9 Probable 10%
10 Will occur 100%
Appendix J: Technical Drawings
FULL BOM
ITEM NO. PART NUMBER DESCRIPTION QTY.
1 R051 REAR UPRIGHT ASSEMBLY 1
1.1 R101 REAR UPRIGHT POST 1
1.2 R011 TOP BENT STEEL PLATE WITH PIPE FITTING 1
1.2.1 T001 TOP BENT STEEL PLATE 1
1.2.2 T002 HALF PIPE 1
1.3 R009 SUPPORT BRACKET PLATE 1
1.4 N/A WASHER FOR .25 INCH 8
1.5 N/A 1/4-20 NUT 4
1.6 91286A128 1/4-20 X 5 STEEL BOLT 4
2 R200 FRONT UPRIGHT ASSEMBLY 1
2.1 R010 BOTTOM BRACKET PLATE 1
2.2 R007 1.5 STEEL PIPE LEG 2
2.3 R008 BOTTOM BENT STEEL PLATE 1
2.4 N/A WASHER FOR .25 INCH 10
2.5 N/A 1/4-20 NUT 5
2.6 91286A128 1/4-20 X 2 STEEL BOLT 4
2.7 R012 MILLED PIVOT BOLT 1
3 R500 TRACKING STAGE ASSEMBLY 1
3.1 R001 1.5" STEEL ROTATING PIPE 1
3.2 R004 PLYWOOD SUPPORT FOR HINGE 1
3.3 R034 PIANO HINGE 2
3.4 R013 MIRROR ASSEMBLY 1
3.4.1 M001 PLYWOOD BACKING 1
3.4.2 M002 PLANE MIRROR 4
3.4.3 M004 1X3 BOARD HORIZONTAL 2
3.4.4 M005L 1X3 BOARD SHORT, LEFT SIDE 1
3.4.5 M005R 1X3 BOARD TALL, RIGHT SIDE 1
3.4.6 90130A012 RUBBER SEALING WASHER 12
3.4.7 R036 FENDER WASHER 12
3.4.8 N/A 1/4-20 X 1.5 HEX CAP BOLT 2
3.4.9 N/A WASHER FOR .25 INCH 6
3.4.10 N/A 1/4-20 NYLON LOCK NUT 2
3.4.11 N/A #6 X 3/4 WOOD SCREW 40
3.4.12 M003 HALF SIZE PLANE MIRROR 1
3.5 R015 SEASONAL ADJUSTMENT SLIDER PIPE 1
3.5.1 SP001 SLIDER PIPE 1
3.6 3201T54 PIPE CLAMP 2
3.7 R903 SUPPORT STRUT 2
3.8 91375A532 1/4-20 x .125 SETSCREW 2
3.9 R902 SLIDER PIN 1
3.10 R800 PHOTOCOMPARATOR ASSEMBLY 1
3.10.1 P001 PHOTOCOMPARATOR BASE 1
3.10.2 P002 PHOTOCOMPARATOR DIVIDER 1
3.10.3 N/A PHOTORESISTOR 2
3.10.4 P004 CONNECTOR BRACKET 1
3.10.5 N/A #4-40 X .19 WOOD SCREW 6
3.11 R901 PULLEY 1
3.12 9640K151 EXTENSION SPRING 1
3.13 91286A128 1/4-20 X 3 STEEL BOLT 2
3.14 N/A 3/8"-16 X 2 CAP SCREW 1
3.15 N/A 1/4-20 NUT 2
3.16 N/A WASHER FOR .25 INCH 4
3.17 N/A 1/4-20 X 1.5 HEX CAP BOLT 1
3.18 N/A 1/4-20 NYLON LOCK NUT 1
4 N/A 3/8"-16 LOCKNUT 1
5 M400 MOTOR MOUNT ASSEMBLY 1
5.1 a12032000ux0190 12V DC 5 RPM GEARMOTOR 1
5.2 R020 MOTOR MOUNT 1
5.3 M503 MOTOR PULLEY 1
5.4 91400A170 #6-40 X .25 STEEL SCREW 1
5.5 91735A102 #4-40 X .25 MACHINE SCREW 3
7 N/A #6 X 3/4 WOOD SCREW 4
8 R700 TRACKING CIRCUIT 1
9 R750 BATTERY 1
10 S001 STRING 1
UNLESS OTHERWISE SPECIFIED:
DIMENSIONS ARE IN INCHES.
TOLERANCES:
.X.1
.XX.05
.XXX.005
ANGLES1
5
1
3
6
50
GROUND LEVEL
3X 20.00
DETAIL A
SCALE 1 : 2
DETAIL B
SCALE 1 : 2
B
9 4X
DETAIL C
SCALE 1 : 4
Lab Section: 03 SHEET 4 of 5 Title: REFLECTOR ASSEMBLY Drwn. By: DEVIN MAST
Dwg. #: R000 Nxt Asb: N/A Date: 12/03/15 Scale: 1:24 Chkd. By: I. DAVISON
NOTE THAT THE TWO PULLEYS
ARE ALIGNED ONCE THE
MOTOR MOUNT IS INSTALLED
DETAIL D
SCALE 1 : 2
Lab Section: 03 SHEET 5 of 5 Title: REFLECTOR ASSEMBLY Drwn. By: DEVIN MAST
Dwg. #: R000 Nxt Asb: N/A Date: 12/03/15 Scale: 1:8 Chkd. By: I. DAVISON
UNLESS OTHERWISE SPECIFIED:
11 6
8
DIMENSIONS ARE IN INCHES.
TOLERANCES:
.X.1
.XX.05
.XXX.005 3
ANGLES1
4
1 17
16
12
Lab Section: 03 SHEET 2 of 2 Title: TRACKING STAGE ASSEMBLY Drwn. By: I. DAVISON
Dwg. #: R500 Nxt Asb: R000 Date: 12/03/15 Scale: 1:6 Chkd. By:
UNLESS OTHERWISE SPECIFIED:
DIMENSIONS ARE IN INCHES.
TOLERANCES:
.X.1
.XX.05
.XXX.005
ANGLES1 3 .13
26.56
2 .13 1.00
6 0.15 0.15 .13
A
.56
.13 .13
.13 .13
2
5 .13
.13
26.04 DETAIL A
SCALE 1 : 2
54.00
16.00
1.90
6.50
2 2X
23.50
Lab Section: 03 SHEET 2 of 3 Title: 1.5" STEEL ROTATING PIPE Drwn. By: I. DAVISON
Dwg. #: R001 Nxt Asb: R500 Date: 12/03/15 Scale: 1:16 Chkd. By:
.25 PLATE 3 1X 1.76
.31 .10
3.72
4.00
1.25
1.00 B
.67
3.62
5 2X
6 1X
.63
.40 THRU
.31
.06
.50
.12
DETAIL B
SCALE 4 : 1
Lab Section: 03 SHEET 3 of 3 Title: 1.5" STEEL ROTATING PIPE Drwn. By: I. DAVISON
Dwg. #: R001 Nxt Asb: R500 Date: 12/03/15 Scale: 1:16 Chkd. By:
UNLESS OTHERWISE SPECIFIED:
DIMENSIONS ARE IN INCHES.
TOLERANCES:
.X.1
.XX.05
.XXX.005
ANGLES1
8.00
7.25
2X 5.13
2X 2.88
.75
14X .48
0
32.00
31.00
29.00
27.00
25.00
2X 23.50
23.00
21.00
19.00
2X 16.00
13.00
11.00
9.00
2X 8.50
7.00
5.00
3.00
1.00
0
.50
MATERIAL: 1/2 INCH OSB Lab Section: 03 SHEET 1 of 1 Title: PLYWOOD SUPPORT FOR HINGE Drwn. By: I. DAVISON
Dwg. #: R004 Nxt Asb: R500 Date: 12/03/15 Scale: 1:4 Chkd. By:
UNLESS OTHERWISE SPECIFIED:
DIMENSIONS ARE IN INCHES.
TOLERANCES:
.X.1
.XX.05
.XXX.005
ANGLES1
1 2
7 10
12 10
4
3 10
11
A
2
DETAIL A
SCALE 1 : 1.5
64.00
6X 55.63
2X 52.63
2X 46.63
2X 40.63
38.00
2X 34.63
2X 28.63
26.00
2X 22.63
2X 16.63
2X 10.63
6X 8.38
0
0
8X 5.63
2X 9.38
2X 15.38
2X 21.38
23.00
25.00
2X 27.38
2X 33.38
2X 39.38
8X 42.38
48.00
MATERIAL: 1/2 INCH OSB
48.00
.25
12.00
23.00 23.00
.25
2X 12.00
Lab Section: 03 SHEET 1 of 1 Title: HALF SIZE PLANE MIRROR Drwn. By: I. DAVISON
Dwg. #: M003 Nxt Asb: R013 Date: 12/8/2015 Scale: 1:8 Chkd. By:
UNLESS OTHERWISE SPECIFIED:
DIMENSIONS ARE IN INCHES.
TOLERANCES:
.X.1
.XX.05
.XXX.005
ANGLES1
2.50 .75
36.00
MATERIAL: PINE
Lab Section: 03 SHEET 1 of 1 Title: 1X3 BOARD HORIZONTAL Drwn. By: I. DAVISON
Dwg. #: M004 Nxt Asb: R013 Date: 12/8/2015 Scale: 1:8 Chkd. By:
UNLESS OTHERWISE SPECIFIED:
M005L
DIMENSIONS ARE IN INCHES.
TOLERANCES:
.X.1
.XX.05
.XXX.005
ANGLES1
.75
2.50
.27 THRU
.90
.75 .13
MATERIAL: PINE
5.00
48.00
DETAIL A
SCALE 1 : 2
Lab Section: 03 SHEET 1 of 1 Title: 1X3 BOARD SHORT, LEFT SIDE Drwn. By: I. DAVISON
Dwg. #: M005L Nxt Asb: R013 Date: 12/8/2015 Scale: 1:8 Chkd. By:
M005R
UNLESS OTHERWISE SPECIFIED:
DIMENSIONS ARE IN INCHES.
TOLERANCES:
.X.1
.XX.05
.XXX.005
ANGLES1
2.50 .75
.09
.27 THRU
.75 .13 .90
R3.80
90
5.00
48.00 MATERIAL: PINE
.63
1.38
DETAIL A
SCALE 1 : 2 DETAIL B 21.50
SCALE 1 : 2
Lab Section: 03 SHEET 1 of 1 Title: 1X3 BOARD TALL, RIGHT SIDE Drwn. By: I. DAVISON
Dwg. #: M005R Nxt Asb: R013 Date: 12/8/2015 Scale: 1:8 Chkd. By:
UNLESS OTHERWISE SPECIFIED:
DIMENSIONS ARE IN INCHES.
TOLERANCES:
.X.1
.XX.05
.XXX.005
ANGLES1
1.00
.05
1.63
1.0
.5
.25
.4
.27
90
2.19 1.03
.25
1.0
.25 0.5" SQUARE TUBE
.8 MILD STEEL
13.25
54.60
.27
19.94
.75 R.50
A
.19
DETAIL A
SCALE 1 : 1 DETAIL B 17.75
SCALE 1 : 1
1.08
.88
2X .08
.25
MATERIAL: MILD STEEL Lab Section: 03 SHEET 1 of 1 Title: SLIDER PIN Drwn. By: I. DAVISON
Dwg. #: R902 Nxt Asb: R500 Date: 12/03/15 Scale: 4:1 Chkd. By:
UNLESS OTHERWISE SPECIFIED:
DIMENSIONS ARE IN INCHES.
TOLERANCES:
.X.1
.XX.05
.XXX.005
ANGLES1
3.00
6X .10
2.10
2X 1.58
2X 1.43
.90
0
0
2X .70
2X 1.00
2X 1.30
2.00
MATERIAL: WOOD
1.20
3.00
.90
2.00
MATERIAL: WOOD
.19
1.50
2X 1.25
2X .25
0
0
2X .25
2X .75
1.00
3.50
.50 A
SECTION A-A
Lab Section: 03 SHEET 1 of 1 Title: PULLEY Drwn. By: I. DAVISON
Dwg. #: R901 Nxt Asb: R500 Date: 12/03/15 Scale: 2:1 Chkd. By:
UNLESS OTHERWISE SPECIFIED:
DIMENSIONS ARE IN INCHES.
TOLERANCES:
.X.1
.XX.05
.XXX.005
ANGLES1
1
3
4 6
4X .28 2X .70
2X .89
2X 1.25
78.00
Lab Section: 03 SHEET 1 of 1 Title: REAR UPRIGHT POST Drwn. By: I. DAVISON
Dwg. #: R101 Nxt Asb: R051 Date: 12/03/15 Scale: 1:2 Chkd. By:
UNLESS OTHERWISE SPECIFIED:
DIMENSIONS ARE IN INCHES. A
TOLERANCES:
.X.1
.XX.05
.XXX.005 B
ANGLES1
1
2
A
.05 A B
.05 M A
.25
A
1.5
35
2.8
2X 2.00
4X .28 2.8
VIEW A-A
2X .75 A
0
0
2X .95
2X 3.05
4.0
Lab Section: 03 SHEET 1 of 1 Title: TOP BENT STEEL PLATE Drwn. By: I. DAVISON
Dwg. #: T001 Nxt Asb: R011 Date: 12/03/15 Scale: 1:1 Chkd. By:
UNLESS OTHERWISE SPECIFIED:
DIMENSIONS ARE IN INCHES.
TOLERANCES:
.X.1
.XX.05
.XXX.005
ANGLES1
2.5
2.25
1.98
.25
2X .95 2X 2.10
2X .50
2.5
2X 1.25
4.0
Lab Section: 03 SHEET 1 of 1 Title: SUPPORT BRACKET PLATE Drwn. By: I. DAVISON
Dwg. #: R009 Nxt Asb: R051 Date: 12/03/15 Scale: 2:1 Chkd. By:
UNLESS OTHERWISE SPECIFIED:
DIMENSIONS ARE IN INCHES.
TOLERANCES:
.X.1
.XX.05
.XXX.005
ANGLES1
3 1
2X .28
1.04
53.20
.75
1.05
DETAIL A
SCALE 1 : 1
Lab Section: 03 SHEET 1 of 1 Title: 1.5 STEEL PIPE LEG Drwn. By: DEVIN MAST
Dwg. #: R007 Nxt Asb: R200 Date: 12/8/2015 Scale: 1:6 Chkd. By: I. DAVISON
UNLESS OTHERWISE SPECIFIED:
DIMENSIONS ARE IN INCHES.
TOLERANCES:
.X.1
3.21
3.48
4.00
.XX.05
.52
.79
0
.XXX.005
ANGLES1 .25
A
4X .28
2X 1.00
2.7
2X 2.00
2.68
1.9
35
1.3
.5
.28
Lab Section: 03 SHEET 1 of 1 Title: BOTTOM BENT STEEL PLATE Drwn. By: I. DAVISON
Dwg. #: R008 Nxt Asb: R200 Date: 12/03/15 Scale: 1:1 Chkd. By:
UNLESS OTHERWISE SPECIFIED:
DIMENSIONS ARE IN INCHES.
TOLERANCES:
.X.1
.XX.05
.XXX.005
ANGLES1
3.21
3.48
.52
.79
4.0
0
0
2X .50
2X 1.50
2.5
90
1.0
Lab Section: 03 SHEET 1 of 1 Title: MILLED PIVOT BOLT Drwn. By: I. DAVISON
Dwg. #: R012 Nxt Asb: R200 Date: 12/03/15 Scale: 8:1 Chkd. By:
UNLESS OTHERWISE SPECIFIED:
DIMENSIONS ARE IN INCHES.
TOLERANCES:
.X.1
.XX.05
.XXX.005
ANGLES1
3 5
4.0
0
1.4
2X
3
1.0
0
.57
VIEW D-D 0
0
2.0 D
5
1.2
2X 0
1.0
.50 .13
55.00
.25
3.00
2.50
11.33
14.38
.50
1.14
2X .57
0
55.00
.14
90
.40
.25
A
.35
.55 .53
SECTION A-A
MATERIAL: DELRIN
MATERIAL: STRING
LENGTH: 69.70 INCHES
Materials:
Heliostat concentrator solar cooker
Compass
String
Gravity-based angle finder
Procedure:
14. Assemble:
a. Rear Upright Assembly (R051)
b. Front Upright Assembly (R200)
c. Tracking Stage Assembly (R500)
15. First, find an area of ground 6 feet by 12 feet that is stable, flat, and that does not experience periods
of shade throughout the day.
16. Use the compass and mark a line about 5 feet long on the ground to establish a north-south axis.
a. Ensure that this line is true north-south, not magnetic north-south by correcting for
magnetic declination according to your latitude and longitude. This orientation is critical
for proper performance of the device.
b. Draw this line at the north end of the free area to ensure there is a free area at least an
additional 7 feet south of this line for the concentrator and kitchen setup.
17. At the south end of this line, use the compass to mark an east-west line that extends 2 feet in either
direction.
18. 49.5 inches north from the east-west line, dig a hole on the north-south line about 6 inches wide and
at least 20 inches deep.
19. Use this hole to secure the 4x4 post.
a. Ensure the post is perfectly vertical.
b. Ensure the sides of the post run north-south and east-west, and that the Top Bent Steel
Plate with Pipe Fitting (R011) is on the south-facing side of the 4x4.
c. One method to fill the hole: after placing the post, backfill with a small layer gravel, then
fill in the spaces with sand, and repeat until level with the ground.
20. Dig holes centered 1 foot east and west from the intersection of the marked lines at least 8 wide and
at least 20 inches deep.
21. Place R200 in the holes on the east-west line and install it vertically, ensuring the milled pivot bolt
(R012) faces the 4x4.
22. Ensure the two upright assemblies are positioned to incline the tracking stage at your latitude:
a. Connect a string to R012, then thread it through the hole in R011.
b. Measure the inclination of the string with the gravity-based angle finder.
c. Adjust the depth to which R200 will be buried until the inclination of the string matches
your latitude.
23. With at least two people, mount the tracking stage assembly:
a. Slide the bolt through the Top Bent Steel Plate,
b. Place the bottom on the Pivot Bolt of the front upright assembly, and
c. Secure the top with the 3/-16 Locknut.
24. Attach the motor mount to the 4x4 as shown in R000.
25. Attach the string and spring to the motor mount, pulley, and .25 peg on the tracking stage
assemblys cross pipe.
26. Secure the tracking circuit to the underside of the upper instance of M004 on the tracking stage
assembly.
27. As soon as the device is plugged in to the battery it is ready for use.
Instructions for Use: Lets Cook Something!
Objective:
To cook food with the power of the sun.
Materials:
Heliostat-Concentrator Solar Cooker
Cookstand
Cookware
Sunglasses
Food
Sunlight
Procedure:
1. Rotate the device so the mirrors face east (if you are in the northern hemisphere).
2. Power the tracking circuit (if your device is set up with a solar panel disregard step 1) and step back
to allow the device to orient itself properly.
3. Ensure you are wearing eye protection (e.g. sunglasses) and oven mitts as you approach the hotspot.
4. Place your food filled pot or pan in the hotspot on the cooking stand.
5. Whenever you approach the device to stir your food or check its status, ensure you are wearing proper
protection.