43513-B5
Sustainability and Renewable Energy Technologies
Summary Since PRF allowed me to rescope my grant last year, we have initiated a number of projects, which will result in 4 publications, to be submitted this month wherein we will acknowledge the PRF funding. The three projects are: optimization of a novel solar concentrator using ray tracing simulations, an experiment heating swimming pools with passive solar, and analysis of batteries for electric vehicles. This past summer, PRF funding supplied salary, and partial salary for eight undergraduate students, and myself as well as provided funding for five of us to attend the SPIE conference in San Diego in August. Solar Concentrator: Upon returning from my sabbatical at UC Berkeley last summer, I employed two physics students in summer research, Nik Glazar, and Steve Rogers, in the design of a new solar focusing geometry. The goal is to significantly lower the costs related to tracking of solar concentrators. These students returned, and Steve Rogers mentored three other undergraduate students, Matt Kinni, Greg Chavoor, and Connor Barickman. The results, which the five of us presented at the SPIE in San Diego1 indicate reasonably high concentration and efficiency. Nick Glazar and Connor Barickman are also in the process of building a prototype of our present design. Lastly, Nick Hasheider, Chiweng Kam, and Ben Landen conducted analysis regarding the use of intermediate scale concentrated solar power in urban environments. Preliminary results indicate that the majority of California's energy needs could be met with the system we are proposing, which is the subject of present and future grants. Transportation Batteries and Fuels: Two physics majors Michael Fisher, Matthew Werber, finished an analysis comparing electric travel to conventional travel in terms of energy density of the entire onboard drive system, and cost of travel over the lifetime of the vehicles. The results indicate that for vehicles of shorter range (100 miles or less), an electric drive train has both higher energy density, and lower lifetime costs, than an internal combustion drive train. Passive Heating of Swimming Pools: Two students, Ryan Garoogian, and Chiweng Kam, did an experiment at Cal Poly's National Pool Industry Research Center, to measure the effect of different methods of passive solar heating. Solar heating was enhanced by both inserting a black liner into the swimming pool to absorb solar radiation, and by putting a transparent plastic cover over the pool to eliminate evaporative losses. Future Work: We have most likely completed the work related to the last two projects. The project related to solar concentrators shows great potential for future investigation, collaboration, and industrial application. Conclusion: This past year, PRF funding has provided me an excellent opportunity to explore new areas, and make a transition to renewable energy that is very compelling as determined by myself, many of my students, the Cal Poly administration, and the national news. This past year, I have been able to identify one area, concentrated solar power, to be my future direction. The work of the past year should result in four publications before the New Year.
