MEE1901 TARP REPORT

SOLAR POWER TENT

BATCH NUMBER 1

PUNEET CHAUDHARY (20BME1121)

PRASHANT K CHOUDHARY (20BME1080)

UMANG AGARWAL (20BME1027)

Under the Guidance of

Dr. MANIMARAN R

SCHOOL OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

VELLORE INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, CHENNAI

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 TABLE OF CONTENTS

Sr No Topic Page No
1 Introduction 3
2 Literature Survey 6
3 Patent Survey 7
4 Literature and Patent Gap 8
5 Problem Definition 9
6 Methodology 10
7 Results and Discussion 13
8 Project Outcome in terms of Technical, Economical, 14
Social, Environmental, Political and Demographic
Feasibility
9 Gantt Chart 15

10 References 16

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 1. Introduction

This project deals with the development of solar tents utilized for power generation and
aims at supplying power to the load, which can be utilized for the electronic equipment's
and wearable electronic products used by the soldiers in the war field. Soldiers carry daily
supply of primary batteries, but limited power capacity and the continual need for the
supply can limit the mobility, range, and mission length required for effective field
operations. This problem can be eliminated by using flexible solar tents in the defense
field. The new technology aims to make military missions safer and more energy
"efficient. Such capabilities would ultimately make travel safer for soldiers in countries
during wartime, since extra battery packs carried by troops are sometimes left behind,
providing unnecessary hints to enemy forces. The integration of photovoltaic into clothes
imposes some novel challenges and restrictions which are uncommon to standard
photovoltaic. The most important tasks in developing such integrated flexible solar tent
on: (a) flexible cells (b) determination of the energy yield under realistic operating
conditions (c) charge controller and system design and (d) proper integration of the solar
cells, electrical connections into the garments.

2. Literature Survey

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In [1], author Rahul Sridharan (2021). We believe we have made a smart, eco-friendly and
sustainable tent and with further research and resources we would be able to develop this to
much higher levels with the ultimate goal of implementing this technology at large scale in
rural areas to the less fortunate as homes.

In [2], Weal A. salah, Soib Taib (2013). The TEC cooling technique is found to be free of
some problems attached to traditional cooling techniques such as noise, size and vibration. In
addition, it has no side effect on the environment where there is zero emission of CO2 gas.

In [3], authors Nannan Zhang2, Haiyang Zoul, Ruiyuan Liul. We present the first
demonstration of direct full- sun daytime radiative cooling using an all- polymer filter that
blocks solar irradiance while maintaining high transmittance in the long- wave infrared
(LWIR). Warm objects and surfaces radiatively transfer heat through the polymer solar filter
to the cold sink of space, decreasing temperatures up to 10 °C during day and night. The
polyethylene (PE) filter exploits scattering by size-controlled air pores to maximize reflection
of solar photons, while preserving the LWIR transparency inherent to PE. We demonstrated
cooling power of over 110 W/m² for an emissive surface placed beneath the solar filter.
Scalable, low-cost manufacturing of a radiative cooling polymer solar filter allows direct full-
sun daytime cooling of heat-emitting surfaces in a variety of settings.

In [4], authors Khalid Rashid. This work introduces the concept of Flexible Heat Integration
(FHI) for solar thermal power plants. By designing the plant with the ability to deliver heat at
various temperatures and to various processes (high, medium, and low temperature), radiative
heat losses in the solar field can be drastically reduced.

3. Patent Survey

Patent number: US 2012/0180849 A1 [5]: A system” transparent tent that captures and
concentrates Solar energy by enclosing and shielding Subsystems from wind and weather,
thereby enabling heat and or electricity for less than the cost of energy derived from
combusting coal. The Solar concentrating tent is also capable of Supporting photocatalytic
reactions to produce hydrogen, high value hydrocarbons and clean water. The Solar
concentrator tent system can be erected in minutes without Substantial skill and does not
require ground or Surface preparation.

Patent number US 2,402,662: " Ohl’s silicon P-N photo-EMF cel " [6] In 1954, Bell Labs’
Daryl Chapin, Calvin Fuller, and Gerald Pearson created a silicon single-crystal photovoltaic
(PV) cell capable of about 6% conversion efficiency with direct sunlight, enough to power an
electric device for several hours of a day

Patent number US 2,780,765: " Solar pv cells [7] - they describe creating a light-sensitive
p-n junction by diffusing boron into a 40 mil thickness16 n-type silicon wafer 11. This forms a
thin and highly transparent boron-doped surface p-type layer 13 that is only 0.1 mil thick.

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They treated the light-exposed top surface 14 with a thin polystyrene coating 20 to minimize
losses from reflection of sunlight. They also etched away portions of the p-type layer 13 on
the back surface 15 and electroplated rhodium contacts 17, 18, 19 to create electrical
connections to the p-type and n-type layers

4. Literature and Patent Gap

5. Problem Definition

While trekking, camping or staying in a cold climate it's hard to carry fossil fuels to get
warm, during the night under a tent you can't warm yourself because you can't burn wood
inside tent. Smoke of fossil fuel can create problems for your eyes and affect your health in a
bad manner. Burning fossil fuels can harm our environment by polluting the air.
The lack of reliable access to electricity during outdoor activities, such as camping or
trekking, can be a significant challenge.
Many campers and hikers rely on traditional methods such as gas-powered generators, which
are not only noisy and polluting but also pose a fire risk. Moreover, the use of such
generators is not sustainable and can harm the environment.

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Therefore, the problem definition for a solar power tent project is to design and develop a tent
that can generate and store solar energy and provide a reliable and sustainable source of
power for electronic devices during outdoor activities. The tent should be portable, easy to set
up, durable, and able to withstand various weather conditions.

6. Detailed Methodology

6.1 Components Required

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6.1.1 BC547 Transistor

6.1.2 1N4007 Diode

6.1.3 10 Kohm Resistor

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6.1.4 3 LED Light

6.1.4 solar panel

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6.1.5 Battery

6.1.6 Invertor

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 6.1.7 charge controller

6.2 Methodology

Fig. 6.1 Methodology

6.2.1 Design

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 I. The solar tent is a concept tent. We will be using an automatic RFID module to send
the message. Once the tent receives your message, it would glow in response to help
you find it easier.
II. The solar tent will be made from a semi-photovoltaic fabric that's woven with both
coated solar threads as well as conventional threads which form a solar shell of sorts,
that could slide around the exterior of the tent to face optimum sunlight throughout
the day. In the morning you can point the solar panels towards the rising sun, mid-day
you can point them straight up, and towards the evening you can point them towards
the sunset for optimal solar power through the day.
III. A wireless control hub that's located on the inside of the solar tent allows you to
control everything from inside the coziness of the tent. The hub will display
informational graphs and data on how much power you've generated through the solar
panels, how much power you've consumed, the heated floors of the tent, control and
settings for the integrated Wi-Fi signal, and more, all of which is controlled with a
flexible touchscreen.
IV. The groundsheet of the solar tent is embedded with a heating element which is
controlled by the wireless control hub, that allows you to turn the heat one once the
ground falls below a certain temperature level.

Fig.6.2 Solar panel

6.2.2 Solar setup

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 Fig. 6.2.2 Solar setup

6.3 Calculation and Power consumption

▫ Total Electricity can be used for 8-10 hrs. as it is completely proportional to the
weather conditions
▫ As it runs on DC Current now the perovskites cells can produce from 13,800 to
18,000 watts of electricity.
▫ Solar cells give an attractive option for directly photo-charging lithium-ion batteries,
the use of perovskite solar cell packs with four single CH3NH3PbI3 based solar cells
connected in series.
▫ Our device shows a very high photo-electric conversion and storage efficiency of
7.80% and very good cycling stability, which can do better than other reported
lithium-ion batteries.

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 7. Results and Discussion
7.1 The selection of suitable flexible solar cells was based on the load test conducted on the
samples collected from the different flexible solar cells manufacturing companies. A load
test is one of the methods used for testing flexible solar cells. The voltmeter is connected
to the solar panel and ammeter; rheostat is connected in series with the solar cell to vary
the load in the circuit. Depending upon the variations in the load there will be
simultaneous change in the value of the current/voltage. By taking the average value from
the recorded value the capacity of the solar cell is finalized.
7.2 The testing of the 20 A charge controller has been carried out. The testing arrangement of
the charge controller circuit. If the load current is maximum than the input current of
(array output) the battery will be supplying the rest of the current. In the above test a load
of 10 W CFL has been connected and this can consume load of 0.42 A and the total
output from array is 1A, 24 V DC. The load is calculated for the following cases and the
results are listed below

S.No Load AC AC NON-AC NON-AC

(W) Voltage Current Voltage Current
(V) (A) (V) (A)
1 200 240 0.7 225 1.5
2 400 235 1.7 225 2.5
3 600 230 2.6 225 3.4
4 800 230 3.7 220 4.2
5 1000 230 4.8 220 5.1
6 1200 230 5 220 6
7 1400 230 6.1 220 7
8 1600 230 7 220 8
Table 7.2.1 Voltage – Ampere for AC and Non-AC supply

In this project, Solar tent is made up of perovskite material which converts heat energy into
electrical energy and stores it in the battery. Electrical energy is used for electrical
appliances such as heaters, lights and charging gadgets. Tents are portable and the
installation process is simple, can be installed over a car. Solar power tents can serve our
soldiers in really cold climates.

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 8.Project Outcome in terms of Technical, Economic, Social,
Environmental, Political and Demographic Feasibility

Technical feasibility: The solar power tent project is technically feasible as it involves
integrating solar panels with a tent to harness the energy of the sun and convert it into
electricity. This technology is well-established and has been used in various applications,
such as solar-powered homes and outdoor lighting. However, the technical feasibility of the
project depends on the quality and durability of the materials used and the effectiveness of the
solar panels in generating sufficient power.

Economic feasibility: The solar power tent project is economically feasible in the long run as
it can potentially save money on electricity bills and reduce the environmental impact of
traditional energy sources. However, the initial cost of the solar power tent may be higher
than that of a regular tent due to the added cost of solar panels and other electronic
components. The project's success also depends on the demand for the product and the ability
of the manufacturer to produce and distribute the tents at a competitive price.

Social: The solar power tent project has significant social benefits as it can provide electricity
to individuals and communities without access to traditional power sources. This can improve
their quality of life and facilitate educational and economic opportunities. The project also
promotes sustainable practices and encourages people to reduce their carbon footprint.

Environmental: The solar power tent project is highly environmentally feasible as it relies on
a renewable energy source (the sun) and does not emit any greenhouse gases. By using solar
energy, the project reduces the dependence on fossil fuels, which are a significant contributor
to climate change. Additionally, the solar power tent can encourage individuals and
communities to adopt more sustainable lifestyles.

Political: The solar power tent project has the potential to be politically feasible as it aligns
with global efforts to reduce carbon emissions and promote sustainable development.
Governments can incentivize the adoption of renewable energy technologies like solar power,
which can help create jobs, reduce energy poverty, and promote a more sustainable future.
However, the success of the project depends on the political will to prioritize sustainable
development and implement supportive policies.

Demographic feasibility: The solar power tent project is suitable for a wide range of
demographics, including outdoor enthusiasts, hikers, campers, and individuals and
communities without access to traditional power sources. The project can be particularly
beneficial in rural areas and developing countries where energy poverty is prevalent.
However, the project's success depends on the availability and affordability of the product
and the willingness of individuals and communities to adopt more sustainable practices.

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 9. Gantt chart

References

[1] Rahul Sridharan, Maruti Sriram and E Rajkumar

Published under licence by IOP Publishing Ltd.

[2]
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/235675690_Solar_Powered_Air_Conditioning_b
y_Aid_of_TEC_for_Mina_Tents_Application

[3] https://nanoscience.gatech.edu/paper/2016/16_NatE_01.pdf

[4] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/am/pii/S025527011831496X

[5] https://patentimages.storage.googleapis.com/f6/f6/b1/ae53e451e3ce78/
US20120180849A1.pdf

[6] https://patentimages.storage.googleapis.com/d3/8b/71/374769ceefb2fa/US2402662.pdf

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