Get 4X The Power From Your Solar Panels! - TI Sunday
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- Опубліковано 11 гру 2021
- Today we test out our solar panel reflector design. We start with an overview of possible reflector technologies and then compare two identical solar panels but one has the reflector panels installed.
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Yeah this always seems like a good idea with initial testing. But keep in mind that cell degradation increases dramatically when cell temp is increased. These panels are designed to work at the temperatures reached without reflectors. And connected to a load. Even leaving a panel out in the desert, open circuit, will be at a higher temperature than they are designed to work.
Bifacial panels are actually designed to work at higher temps and having a reflector on the back is great. And you will have normal cell degradation rates. Just ensure that there is convective flow under them. Bifacial panels may have a different temperature coefficient, but they still have reduced output at higher temperatures (as do all solar cells!). So lifting them off the mounting surface at least 3 feet is recommended from most sources.
I think reflectors are fantastic for mobile systems that are not outside 365 days a year, and/or if weight is an issue. You can become very creative by making lightweight reflectors. A roll up reflector and certain types of flex panels can work together in this way.
Fun video! Love your content. Been watching for years.
Funny I was just thinking of the vids you did on using reflectors to get more power and then I saw your comment.
Could you add some kind of radiator to the underside of the panel?
not only weight-wise, but it saves a lot of money making energy with them
you could have solar farms that'd be 3x cheaper if you were to quadruple its energy output, as you wouldn't need as much panels to do so
I guess it depends how much the reflectors reflect rather than absorb heat. If, as is suggested in the video, the type of reflectors used preferentially reflect mostly the spectrum used by the photovoltaic cells then maybe the cells wont get that much more additional heat. The reflectors would need to dissipate heat from the back of the reflector though rather than re-radiating it out at the solar panel. Perhaps that can be tested next by measuring the cell temperatures.
Like was said in the video, this could work great for places where the sun doesn't really rise much above the horizon during winter, like Canada or Finland. If the air is closer to freezing, and the power output isn't more than the panel is rated for, I'm sure the panel will be fine.
I was thinking that this could also work with panels that are mounted straight up, like on top of an RV. I could just put a reflector towards south, and compensate for the bad angle. I might experiement with something like a space blanket.
I'm a electric engineering teacher. Your demonstrations, classes and explanations are one of the best lectures I ever saw. My congratulations for all your dedication. And greetings from Brazil.
Thanks you!
@@TechIngredients I want you to quantify efficiency of expanded solar systems. To include not just power generated but power saved.
Please look at low line New York experiment.
If you could also consider the description and example of a modernized skyscraper, for which I emailed you.
If I may zoom and discuss that would be great.
Thanks for your time and consideration.
You can get panels that are designed to help mitigate partial shading, but even with one of those, this demonstration would be voided, because both panels are not experiencing the same input. Without the mirrors, both panels should have the same output and with one panel being shaded there's no way they can have the same output, even if this was one of those designed for shade. I want to point out that that doesn't mean that this doesn't work just that the results are not as dramatic as what you're making them out to be because that shaded panel is seriously hampered
@@better.better They where aware of and fixed the shading issue. They mention it in the annotations during the video.
@@TechIngredients.....great work., but please look at PV-T.,ie stripping the heat out of the panel..There is a very nice Turkish panel that has been made from the 70's.,pulling the heat off the back of the panel., and it can be purchased double glazed..There is a German copy..I do like your barn door approach.,as a camping.,we'll attended unit.......but as a lash down and run away.,not quite the beast..Have a look at Rosco.,makers of film gels to the film industry.,who also have a great line in mirror film on the roll.,but your item is likely to have greater longevity..
I'm always impressed when someone can speak technically and flawlessly for such a long time. I'm sure there were a few edits here and there, but the quality of the technical presentation was outstanding.
This teacher is a college professor? He knows more than anyone I've heard, he knows his tech. Excellent explanations in video on increasing efficiency in solar panels.😊
Thanks!
No, I'm not.
We covered this in our first livestream.
I've tried similar methods and, yes, it works, and it works great! While the additional heat does degrade them a bit quicker, you won't notice because they will be gone on the first windy day. A similar panel, on an easel in the yard, became an airplane for a short while and made a not so graceful landing into the bed of a pickup truck two blocks over. Tethers are a good thing.
That was my initial concern. Did the wind damage or fight with his design? Apparently so. The question then is how to windproof the moving mirrors. Perhaps a stand alone green house type of structure? Perhaps a different, heavier mirror syatem? I would not know, but it is very interesting.
Nah, you don’t need a tether, you just need some flight control software and a GPS!
@@HealthyDoubter Perforate the reflectors!
I’ll be an airplane one day
Add a turbine for a solar / wind hybrid system? 😎
Nice setup. Note that with reflectors of a similar area as the panel, the most you can increase irradiance is by 1x per reflector. This is because we're simply reflecting the rays from one adjacent area to the panel. The increase is actually less, because either the angled reflector or the panel are at an angle that is not perpendicular to the incident rays. So two reflectors at an optimal angle can give up to 3x the total output of a single panel at an optimal angle. Achieving 4x or more will require larger or more reflectors. Still, it's a good idea given that the reflectors cost and weigh less than adding another panel or getting higher efficiency panels. edit- Note the voltage at the single panel is low, about 14V. The optimal voltage probably doesn't change much with irradiance, but the optimal load does. That's what maximium power point tracking controllers take care of. In this case it's likely the panel would generate more power when presented a more optimal load.
I love people with a practical approach rather than bookish knowledge. Thank you Sir
Thanks!
Both are needed. The bookish knowledge is where you start, and the practical engineering is how you implement it.
The single axis tracking aspect of the placed mirrors (without moving the main body) is really a significant value addition to the system 👍
Yeah, where would one get a tracking system to affix to a mirror array like that, that would get the mirrors to move and keep focusing their light on the panel as the sun moves?
Another interesting advantage of this setup is reducing the effect shadows have on solar panels (as made clear by the effect those small branches had in cutting the power output almost in half of the unmodified solar panel) because now the panel is getting light from 3 seperate directions, which will contain different shadow patterns.
Now that is a brilliant perfection of an idea ;)
Yews, he did not mentioned that. And compared apples with oranges. The both panels should have been in full sun.
@@ehombane Watch the video again at 14:21 There's a few secs in the video where it says "2nd test" done when both the panels are under full sun without shadows.
@@pravinsmart Thanks for pointing that out. I did not noticed. I use subtitles to confirm, that I hear correctly, but something is faulty here, subtitles are ridiculously off. So I ignored them, focusing on audio. Hence, I did not noticed the written notes.
And what I have said it remains true. He says that panels increases the output at a rate of over six times which is not true. It is almost 4 times as second test proves. He should have corrected with text this figure too.
Even more, the enhanced panels should have been placed in the shadow. Obviously, you need to enhance panels when you have poor sun conditions. Enhancing in that situation will not wear the cell too much, compared with enhanced panels in full sun. As we know, panes as every electronics depreciate in time due use, depreciation being a lot faster when the system is overexerted. So the mirrors may kill the panels in few years in a sunny location, but be a blast in a shadowed location.
I have done some testes myself at window, where I have few hours of shadowed sun, with very unsatisfactory results. However, I noticed that charging my little solar radio from a LED light, is 12 times more efficient. Yep, mind boggling. More precise, a full day of exposure, gives me one hour of player use. I considered only the two hours of full sun, the rest I suppose is useless. But at LED I charged only 10 seconds, which gave one minute of player use. Repeated few times, but not extensively, so there may be some errors. However the difference is stark. So I assumed that solar panels works on a band that LEDs are providing. Now, he confirmed my hunch. SO, that coating may be a really nice find. The two mirrors should have tripled, the production, or even less, since it cannot have perfect angles to capture all reflected surfaces. So, the extra percentage may come from that filtering of the useful band. I mean it reflects the useful bands but not the useless ones, that may even do damage through extra heating.
So, the idea is amazing. Too bad that is poorly presented and incompletely tested. .
Would love to see a long term test of this. Please set up and use two panels one standard and one with the reflectors long term and provide the data after each month. Consider adding a third to the testing with cooling to dissapate any extra heat. You make very great videos.
They tried this in the Mojave, and ended up selling off all the panels be caused it really didn't work. Most of the panels just got cooked and failed, the blue cells turned brown. Heat is definitely the big problem, but I bet it would work in cold areas.......
YES ! A geothermal heat exchanger would work , I bet .
@@nimrodquimbus912 As you said this type of setup is definitely better in colder areas. While deserts do get more light than any other (terrestrial) location they also have to deal with extreme heat and extreme cold as well as sandstorms.
In order to do a long term test, he would have to build the robotic control arms that he mentioned. They would not only need to track the sun but also would have to open up when the panel temperature gets too high, and of course close when it rains or when the sun goes down. Spending all that money, time, and resources just to capture at most 30 cents a day worth of energy doesn't seem like a wise investment (unless you're a government worker)
@@Shadowmaster625 it would not be so much about capturing small amounts of energy as it would be to see if doing it would actually add any benefit to the overall performance day by day week by week month by month or if what was shown in the video amounts to nothing more than a parlor trick. Lots of questions could be answered like does it degrade the panel to fast and end up costing us more in the end, Bugs and design changes to the reflection system if it works, TCO recalculated, and much more. The investment would be well worth the money if there was true benefit to be realized. Simply showing what was shown in the video is not enough to cause your average joe to spend money on a potential money pit Considering how expensive solar is. Why would anyone just tamper with a working system after watching a UA-cam video In order to get potentially damaging results. However with more concrete evidence the equation changes and the risk can be justified.
I'm always so amazed at how you project such an honestly deep level of understanding of all the technical things you describe. It feels like you are someone that could be questioned endlessly on a topic and all your answers would be genuine with no bull in between. Your descriptions always feel so focused in reality that creating a mental image that sticks is very easy. The math you present always seems well placed where you use it as an aid to come to a conclusion rather than a crutch to compensate for lack of a full embodied understanding.
Thank you!
Yet, no understanding of the impact of a shadow on panel1
@@occamraiser
it is mentioned in the video as a second test where there was a difference of about 10 watt.
And I myself, having no technical expertise in any of these subjects, appreciate his willingness & generosity to educate laymen & encourage a collaborative spirit. The global energy crisis we're facing (peak oil + climate change + emerging economies) is everyone's problem. Not just country bumpkins or city mice. Not just North America, but every continent everywhere. Once upon a time the American economy depended too heavily on whale oil and giving it up was needful. Seems to me this is the next generations global space race.
@@MohamedAdel-jf4qe why not provide a time stamp so people can see for themselves. I watch the video a year ago. Don't want to have to watch it all again
I'm a solar sales consultant working remote from Brazil. Your videos are the coolest!
Aluminized mylar film survival blankets are the lightest mirror and can be stretched taut over a wooden frame and concertinered for portability too. (These survival blankets can also make deadly effective parabolic mirrors using a large cylinder to make a drum and pulling partial vacuum - I made one 30 years ago and it was a lot of fun)
Keeping the panels cool becomes a major issue - excessive heat reduces their efficiency and lifetime dramatically, so use a watercooled panel behind the solar panel to take away the heat for storage for a win-win. This is where it gets more expensive though, so the bottom line is to just add more cheap panels instead!
Those blankets degrade quite quickly outside, been there, done that.
@@boots7859 how quickly is quickly?
Slow enough for a (prolonged) camping trip?
I've gone down the mylar path, and honestly, those $45 silver coated alloy sheets sound like the way forward. Getting a result out of mylar is easy.. Getting a great result will cost more and be less resilient.
@@Jehty21 If you're thinking along the lines of boosting a portable folding panel on the trail then yes, you've got little to lose by rigging up a frame or two, you can get them very cheap.. Other than that, user mileage may vary.. It's pretty thin.
wind though
I did this in 1991 when I was living in my RV on a couple of 35 W PV panels for electricity. I used aluminum foil-backed Styrofoam insulation sheets for the reflectors. The panels were what they referred to as 'muds' that I got second hand because they had turned brownish due to someone using reflectors on them and overheating them, causing the adhesives inside to cook. I only used the reflectors in the winter snows up in the CO mountains, so the reflectors didn't appear to do any further harm. (Power output reduced only about 1% over a year.) But they gave me substantially more power with the reflectors, about double. The foil works just fine since getting anywhere close to 100% reflected energy from 2 'wings' will cook the panels anyway, so the attenuation caused by the cheap reflectors works just fine.
Do you think white color panels would help considerably or it should be somewhat shinny?
I agree
Love your content! Thanks so much for doing what you do. Please continue doing these deep dives into improving practical things that we can do at home. Love the catamaran, the speaker boards, and now this solar power increase. Appreciate you!
Fantastic video, so much great information! I noticed that during testing there was a shadow from a branch across the "control" solar panel, even small shadows can cause a huge loss of power. While I agree that the reflectors will add power, I think it's not as much as your test results showed.
Another benefit of the mirrors would be a reduction of shading, they would reflect light back into the shaded spots and keep power output steady.
14:20
EEVBlog recently showed a tiny shadow from a wire destroyed efficiency on his solar panels in Australia. In his panels, the surrounding doides get overheated, reducing efficiency and panel life. Even tiny shadows can be a disaster for solar panels.
I ran into this issue with the AC unit on top of my RV, it didn't matter which direction the sun was in one of my solar panels was being ever so slightly shaded by the AC unit
I was thinking the same thing as I was looking at the shadows off the trees on the first panel.
This shadow makes the comparation invalid. He should make a new test video.
Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) inverters with bypass diodes can mitigate the effects of shading, by bypassing low output shaded cells. Advanced algorithms for MPPT can even respond to transient shadings such as clouds or even a high-speed event like a bird passing over a panel. These algorithms use a variety of techniques like Neural Networks (NN), Fuzzy Logic Control (FLC), and even biologically-inspired algorithms like Artificial Bee Colony (ABC), Ant-Colony Optimization (ACO), and even Flower Pollination (FP) to search for a global power maximum on the I-V curve among all cell outputs.
Yes, There's actually shadow seen in the left panel which I immediately thought that are the figures completely right.
*edit* oh it was already commented
A new Tech Ingredients video, always endlessly entertaining and informative. Thank you guys for the great content!
i've watched several of your video's with great pleasure you are highly skilled in both voice and mannerisms along with precise science, so as to leave
me with zero questions.
at 7:20… “ they cut out little rings, unulars, concentric rings about the center..”…
A GREAT communicator… a GREAT TEACHER….. will intuitively… will naturally…. Deliver the same critical info in different ways … this teacher organically said the same thing .. repeated the same concept using different word combinations… THREE WAYS….
This guy is a natural teacher…
I hope that he is rewarded accordingly
38x10 to the 27….. thumbs up
I've been using something similar for over a year now, made from 1/8" aluminum covered with a mylar emergency blanket spray glued on. It easily doubled the power output with nearly no cost (used materials on hand left over from a solar oven build)
I've got a big old satellite dish laying around that I keep thinking I should cover with mylar. I haven't worked out an application for it, though, besides hanging a can of beans in the focal point and taking bets on when it explodes.
I immediately thought of using emergency blankets too for the reflector. Thumbs up.
@@Darwinpasta It might be pretty difficult to get it to lay flat without creases. If it's made of metal already you could try simply stripping off the paint and polishing it. Rustoleum also makes actual "mirror" paint you could try. Sort of expensive though at close to 20 bucks a can where I live (Canada).
@@whatelseison8970 Fiberglass, unfortunately. I figured the creases wouldn't matter too much if it's all reasonably flat. Hadn't thought about the paint, though.
@@Darwinpasta It depends on how tight you want the focus to be but you're probably right. Only one way to find out I suppose. To stick it down for a trial run you could just spray a bit of water between the dish and the film and the surface tension will hold it down. If that goes well then you can try a nice, thin, slow curing epoxy. Generally solvent based glues can't dry through the film.
Thank you for getting to the point. You are one of the best lecturers I've ever had the privilege to watch.
What? ... 🤔 Dude took 20 minutes to give us a
@@trupyrodice4462 yes, but if you try to watch videos, you know it could have taken an hour to show five minutes of content! Relatively speaking, this video wasn't too bad.
Another great video. Thank you for all you provide to the community. Ive said it before, but I'll say it again, You have one of the best channels on youtube and in my opinion youve consistently held your place at the top for a very long time. I appreciate your hard work.
Thank you so much for your work! Your ideas tweak me to follow and use parts of your in work I am considering. Cheers to you!
Considered such a thing at 49deg N since solar irradiance falls off dramatically in the Winter. It's not so much about overdriving the panels but collecting more of that diffuse, weak light so it performs closer to the rated values. I especially like your idea of moving the reflectors rather than the panel as a single-axis tracker approach.
BTW: When you are going to start reselling some of the cool stuff you find?
As others have said there are some details that have to be taken into consideration such as cell overheating and wind loading, but this is a great concept once those caveats are addressed.
The tracking system needs to be addressed. If these were fixed they'd reduce morning and evening sunlight on the panel. Canceling out efficiency gains. These also force you to space your panels out a LOT more because the collectors could shade other panels. There's a lot more work that needs to go into this. For most people any type of tracking system. Even a cheap DIY one totally destroys the cost benefit ratio. It's easier to just buy more panels.
Excellent content, product improvements, and presentation! Keep up the good instructional videos guys. UA-cam needs more like these that are worth watching and not a bunch of nonsense. Great work.
You're awesome dude! So appreciate your thourough and detailed explanations and descriptions. You take on exploration that I would be reluctant to entertain myself as it wouldn't hold value unless such detail is documented. Your sourcing is exemplary and you reach to the front of the industry and technologies keeping me well informed. Presentation includes my inner layman and tickles my inner technician😁 Just freaking excellent work. I eat it up. Thank you!
I really can't get enough of this stuff, it gives me so much hope for the future and that I can make a difference too!
I've had a similar idea in mind for at least one end of my double row 15 panel system, but including a few faceted angles to reflect across the long rows of individual panels, and maybe an automated tracker to shift the angles as needed...
Thanks - great info - will try to set something up using this concept on the farm
All your videos are great, I learn something every one I watch. Around 6 years ago I moved into a house that had a large shop and have worked on a solar heater and my version of a 2 stage evaporative A/C system. Both worked great in a large prototype setup. I plan on using the bio balls in the next version of my A/C system, thanks for the tip. My biggest problem comes in sizing the pumps. I think I must have slept through my fluids class. Would love pick your brain some time about my projects.
"A course or sloppy algorithm?" No, man, it's pure corporate evil.
Love your channel. Keep 'em coming! (Can I come live with you guys when the end times come? ;)
Wouldn’t recommend. When the end times come mcmaster-carr probably doesn’t deliver supplies anymore. These guys are done for then. 😂
@@petergoestohollywood382 I'm not so sure. Super-Dad here will probably start mining his own rare earth metals at that point. ;)
I noticed the panel on the left had shading from a tree limb, so I expect that had a negative influence on the test. I do enjoy your videos!! Keep up the good work.
Doubtful it would change the fact it had a 5x increase.
Absolutely right. The shading of a single cell affects the total panel performance ance
That's the benefit of Microinverters v. Central Inverters.
This is the most important comment… comparing a panel in shade (even partial) to one in direct sun is a completely FALSE comparison. I have tested this myself and the loss of power is HUGE!
@@kiterb3527 micro vs string NOT central. Commercial term. Less confusing for layfolk like me.
As always, thank you for an excellent presentation. My hunger to know is always served a superb dish when I visit your channel.
As always I thank you for the diverse range of subjects u cover. I continue to learn so much from u. Cheers & bless u.
I truly enjoy and learn a great deal from your presentations. Go man GO you are providing a massive level of technical knowledge
Thank you for the research. I've done thought experiments with this principal, but did not know how much improvement can be expected by using mirrors. Now I want to build some using mylar emergency blankets as mirrors.
Nice guys talking relaxed about new technologies really is fun. Thank you sir!
You do a great job of demonstrating various applications. Very easy to follow. Thank you. 👍
I was waiting for him to accidently light a fire behind him with that high power lens!
Brilliant Idea, great explanation and video! I think a temperature sensor could easily be added to ensure the panels do not overheat but I’m sure you already thought of that. Thanks for sharing, Greg
Thanks for yet another brilliant video (content, production, style, delivery). The demonstrated reflector enhancement illustrated here is a great fit for RV and other portable applications to provide increased power/lb and also provide protection during transport.
Brilliant as usual! Now I’m going to rig something like that on my tiny backpacking panel. Thank you!
Great idea! The and in general just great content you’re always creating! Thanks! Honestly one of my all time favorite channels
Awesome proof of concept prototype. I can see you put time and thought into it along with a well thought out video. You rock, thanks
Greg
only good for seperate pnls,,no good if 10 or 20 on roof..
I enjoyed your demonstration of how to increase the solar energy. I’ve messed with this quite a bit, 10 yrs ago I used a magnifying glass on a smaller panel & it worked for a short time until it burned out that spot in the panel, then I tried mirrors & the mirrors work better, & didn’t shorten the length of the life of the panel. Although these were very small cells, all which was purchased at a dollar store. Just to see if it would work. I do like your design with it folding. I had a dream of these panels used on a huge scale,& after researching it found that in fact they are building super solar cell collectors. I am always open for learning more about solar & how to get as much power out of them, when others tell me it’s impossible in the area I live to collect enough power. I live in the Midwest. Either way, I’m very happy to have found your channel and learn more about ways to improve. Thank you!
Fantastic presentation and idea !!! Thank you for sharing !!!
As other commenters have noted the left hand panel was partially shaded which would have had a drastic impact on the output.
Having said that I looked at reflectors and trackers a while ago and while they do make a difference, solar panels became so cheap that it was far easier to just add extra panels equivalent to the gains from the reflector/trackers. Remember they have to be maintained so the extra effort is seldom worth it.
Anyone reconsidering plans would be advised to add up the costs and extra engineering of the reflectors and/or trackers against just adding a couple of panels. Here in Australia it is now common to put say 6kW of panels on a 5kW inverter to compensate for losses from incidence angle. The inverter can usually manage the extra panels perfectly.
This is where I landed.... Going with used panels and an orphan (new, but no longer supported by mfg) inverter, including single axis adj. mounting with 4x6 and unistrut... I'm at $430 per kw. That is not counting the cost of the wiring I had to upgrade and the cutoff switches and such to wire everything up, or the inspection after I finished.
I have been working with solar power since 2012 and I am very much in agreement with Steven additional panels is almost always the best option and like Steven points out you can add more panels to a smaller inverter to get a higher output - yes you might lose some power in the summer but you will get it back in the winter months - I've done the calculations many many times 😁
Great outdoor setup! Very well made demonstration, great content as always!🥰
Keep up the good job!
Thanks for sharing and stay safe !
Nice work dude, I love your hands on approach
Also a great way to compensate the decrease of light (power) on cloudy days, with no overheating problems.
Panel 1 has shadowing so it can't be used as a comparison to the panel with reflectors.
Love your vids, keep them coming
You mean it's rigged? Say it ain't so...🤣
And the angle is different .
Are the electric parameters identical?
The only correct measurement had been the same panel with and without mirrors.
And you have to correct the angles automatically or you must have a lot of time ....
that is not what I am saying
@@kennguyen821
Incredibly educational. Worth experimenting with.
Thank you Sir, got your point, even if the left solar panel is in some shadow and has less power output due to serial connection of the solar cells
Awesome. I was told to mount PV panels at 90° to earth's surface in the winter so snow has a great chance of falling off & the sun would also reflect off the snow to the panel. Now if there was a top mirror instead of side mirrors, & if it was wider, it wouldn't need to be adjusted as often. Maybe once a week.
I'm tempted to do this mirror idea for a solar heat collector also.
Don't forget wind load. And snow on the upper reflector. Will need daily care like a rabbit hutch.
@@NICEFINENEWROBOT In most cases fixed panels will remove their snow pretty quick. You may have problems if you live in an area that is prone to having 1 foot of snow drop a lot and sticks around. Yet it does not take much for the air to warm up the panels and the snow to slide off.
@@kameljoe21 Usually you can heat the panels by running current through them.. making the snow disappear quite fast
@@allesklarklaus147 I have never heard of that. If that is true then that is how the large solar farms in northern areas might do it. Though I wonder how much energy it requires to do that and if its manual or not, an AI of some sort would have to confirm that there is snow on the panels and start the process of heating panels.
@@kameljoe21 I don't think you need AI to know that if it's January at 1PM and your solar panels aren't producing any power that you probably have snow on them.
Thank you for the good information. This looks like a good idea especially for someone like me from N.H.. My only negative comment about your demonstration is that the original panel was not playing with an equal amount of sun since it was obviously dealing with tree shadows. That said it was probably only a 20% reduction and the end result is still that using mirrors will improve the output significantly. Two thumbs up.
This was excellent. I actually watched the ad even though I could have skipped it just because i wanted to support a solid video with great information
An excellent demonstration! I've been thinking about using just simple one foot square mirrors grouped together as reflectors just to get light into the east side of my house from a fence that sits about 12 ft away! But the same mirrors added to panels like yours would really help with the small solar panel I have. Really incredible, the increase in voltage output, again great demonstration!
Love this guy!! Thanks for all the great informational videos!
Speaking of solar collection, this camera shot is overexposed.
Advice: It is usually best to underexpose the shot slightly in the camera then in post (editing) push up the exposure. This avoids clipped highlights. In normal lighting/exposure conditions the increase in noise (on most modern digital cameras) is negligible.
You are doing the projects I've always thought about and this one is at the top of my list for tinkering some day. Would be awesome to also invent a DIY sun tracking device to move the panel and incorporate the panel cooling system too to keep efficiency super high!
A true teacher. Thanks a lot for this video.
This is awesome 😎 I'm definitely going to need this for this coming winter 🥶❄️
I did this last summer with mylar blankets on fiberglass and I've been very happy with the results! I've increased my battery bank by 40% and its been working quite well. Great video as always!
Good idea with mylar. That's exactly what cannabis growers use to make the most of their indoor lighting.
@@davedunn7759 I wondered why they looked at me so funny when I asked for thirty mylar blankets at the hardware store lol
@@larryreagan6936 LMAO!!
Can you show a pic somehow of your Mylar blanket setup ?
@@emmasantos5939 I have some pictures. I'll try to post them here but if I can't I'll post them on my FB page under my same name.
I fell in love with perovskite solar cells tech quite some time ago and I am still waiting for a viable, long lasting iteration of it. When/if it finally comes, it's going to be amazing. That's why I can't wait for the next video! I want to know what you have to share with us in that regard.
I think that putting perowskite film on top of a solar water heater AND adding the reflectors could end up in a mind-blowingly effective device.
Now thy are scaring the public with threats of toxic Lead (Pb) in waste Perovskite (TI check pronunciation) panels. - it could be somewhat of a concern as just like batteries solar panels to tend to be distributed and downscaled over a couple of generations - rather than replaced and recycled after first use. More likely causing problems in "terminal countries" rather than place of initial installation.
@@kadmow Perovskite is actually the name of CaTiO₃ structure that can hold various cations inside. Newer perovskite panels that are being tested have had their Lead replaced with other elements that are not toxic.
🙏 - This matches the idea I had in mind only, in my case, I have a row of panels and I could only benefit from the reflectors on one panel per side unless I was to design two multiple angles reflecting panels, one on each side, in order to spread the rays across the array.
Excellent Idea. I might try this with my shop portable Panels. Cheers!
Maybe I missed it but hybrid solar panels seem to be be something interesting to look at especially in this context due to the additional heat. They convert what electricity they can up to low double digits(whatever that currently is) and the remaining energy goes into heating water (underneath the photovoltaics) while also cooling the panels. Sounds like a perfect project for you guys.
heating water directly is useless. you can 3~6X the energy to convert it to electricity and using a heat pump then just heating water directly
@@SupremeRuleroftheWorld It's hardly useless. A heat pump adds a LOT of cost and complexity for that added efficiency. Heating water directly is a very simple, cheap and robust way to directly use what would otherwise be waste heat.
@@bradley3549 its actually useless to do it "cheap". looking at the startup cost only is breathtakingly shortshighted.
@@SupremeRuleroftheWorld What you missed in the original comment was 'due to the additional heat'. These solar panels aren't made to get 3x the luminosity that comes with reflectors which can damage the solar panel pretty quickly in a warm climate. You'd need to cool the panels effectively to prevent additional costs of replacing the panels much sooner than their original lifespan.
@@charlielarson1350 as panel makers state how much energy they lose due to heat in most of their datahseets (its not much) its nothing buy economical to even consider cooling and maintaining that whole setup. just eating that little (because it is little) reduction in lifespan is FAR more economical then dicking around with a cooling setup for an entire roof for 30 years. do you know how i know that it does not make economic sense? because if it did large solar parks would be using that already.
that was interesting ! i use a lot of solar and batteries / inverter systems on boats. can't see making these moving parts easily anytime soon but definitely good to know the differences possible ! Good luck and keep those inventions coming !
Sounds like over clocking a CPU. There is obvious benefits but it requires technical abilities and there is a risk of panel damage.
Great educational video. Learning about the concentrator and reflective materials was worth the watch.
i built something similar bout 15 years ago in an octagon formation, nice video .
Thank you for this video. Would be interesting to see the effect on the thermal system. Maybe with the concentrator you could produce heat even on cloudy and cold days.
This is something that I’ve been talking about trying for the last 5 years. Really excited to see someone that thinks the same and actually demonstrated it works. Really impressive.
@@iamstillcrazy not useless in our northern climate. We install these for three months in the winter and then remove them for the other nine months.
@@iamstillcrazy I live in the north and it is cloudy lots of days so solar panels don’t make much sense. I came up with this idea to find a work around for those problems. I currently don’t have any solar panels and likely will never. However this concept brings it closer to a possibility - except during the summer. Thanks.
@@akau1340 Why do you remove them for the other 9 months?
Beautiful & elegant solution… 😎👌🏽 Congrats!!
Incredible information. So simple and clever.
This is a great idea! I did improve on it (permanent install) at home to include a water jacket on the back side of panel for cooling (not necessary - keeping panel cooler increases lifespan) - i achieved 4x more power and temp increased only 2 degrees - a very nice trade-off.
Hi the water jacket sounds like a great addition to the reflectors.Do have a photo and more info on it and how you retrofitted it
@@martinscheirich6387 I'm still working on it - I changed the design into a small 'misting' system which sprays water over the backside of panel - this is the way to go I think - very little cost for this setup as long as water is easily available
Screaming! Screaming for vengeance!
@@mordecaisackett9421 thanks,you don't have a photo of your stop do you?
@@mordecaisackett9421 could you submerge the backside of the panel in a pool of water?
Or submerge the whole panel?
Love this video! Very interesting to think we could potentially increase solar energy output with using less panels. But, please do a part 3 of the vanilla rum episode! I know you didn't want to get into mixing and focus on the tech, but I'm so curious it's killing me!
awesome Job! i really hope i can set up panel on my garage this summer!
You are good a person imparting your hard-work and knowledge with diligence and honestly. Jazakallah
Very interesting mirror solution. Thanks for the full introduction on other solar types.
Yes, keeping the mirror cool to reduce ohmic loss is important. Another channel demonstrated the shadow from radio antenna mast hurt his output. Might be interesting to include
Before saying anything, let me check to see if you ever covered sterling engines. The heat removed from cooling a solar panel might be worth the watts.
Sterling engine directly driving cooling water circulation plus a small generator while reducing ohmic losses in the cells so more watts can be removed.
Controlling the mirrors with motor is an interesting idea. Because they are light a less complex system can be used.
But that also means they might be very susceptible to strong wind.
I think those methods are quite cost prohibitive. Instead just rotate the panel 90° to capture the most of the sun while nullifying a mechanical actuator.
Light just means it's basically a sail. Wind stress will become a major issue
Brilliant friend I have the EF delta 2 coming. My next project is building something like this...........Thank you.
I love this channel how you apply so much technology to practical uses
When using mirrors, I would suggest to tackle the higher temperature problem by water cooling the panels. Basically combining pv and thermal solar.
This way your panels may have a much better longevity and the overall efficiency of the area used to collect energy from the sun will be further enhanced.
I'm thinking a 30 Watt fan in the circuit, aimed at the surface of the panel will solve the temp issue, albeit using some of the extra incoming power.
A thermal sensor/switch would turn the fan on and off, to preserve energy when cooling is not needed.
This is a subject I have spent a lot of time thinking about. I'm curious about the temperature rise of the cells. As higher temperatures lower cell efficiency, I've always wondered about water cooling, however, I've heard that the efficiency gain is so minute that it's not worth it. But if your percentage of photons is much higher it could have more of an effect and further improve this incredible design.
I was wondering the same thing, I wonder if setting up a misting sprinkler would help with the extra heat?
Maybe a passive cooling with big radiator on the back of the solar panel could work good enough?
It has been done for pool heating systems - dual use of roof area, high water temperatures not desired for either part of system- "Heatseeker Dualsun" is one brand - however the per panel cost is quite high. Probably still unproven - real world - is if the panels do last longer under real conditions (due to reduced surface temperatures) - given the corrosive nature of pool water.
Great video! Thank you. Just what I was looking for, a small solar set up for my townhouse backyard to charge up the batteries to recharge my laptops and mobile devices at night time.
I like the reflector design for cloudy days great idea.
Interesting vid and solar concentrators have been used in the Mojave desert for many years testing various designs. Theoretical vs practical always comes to mind and with quality solar panels being so dirt cheap approaching $.020/watt in some cases, it might be more practical to simply add more panels that can be firmly bolted down to racks for simplicity and survivability in all weather.
Cheers!
How about making those mirrors as vertical strips that can be rotated so they can track the sun with a computer and motor and drive belt without having to adjust the whole thing every time. Bonus: it becomes wind transparent to a high degree.
1 disadvantage is that each strip would require it's own rigid frame (more weight). If the system has a permanent location, that wouldn't be an issue, other additional base framing.
@@gcrady - using a single T-beam for each strip should do the trick. Now let’s wait for the sound that 'harp' is creating under windy conditions ;o)
@@gcrady They can be built up of segments with perpendicular stabilising rods to keep them rigid.
Yea I agree with all points raised and have held this view, just need actuators with thermal heat exchanger on the backplate (PVT) and a temperature sensor that feeds into the flow rate of the heat exchanger to maintain optimal cell temperature and you're where im at in terms of design. Thanks for the video, very gratifying!
I am very impressed with this idea, i am going to try it.
I love this video. It really does have practical applications, especially in colder/lower solar intensity areas. I had an idea to do some light reflection stuff with solar panels. I was thinking of finding a way to use water as a heat sync to keep the panels cool, and have warm water at the same time.
I do wonder how much that bit of shade on the control panel was hurting it's output.
I recently saw a video of a guy seeing a spike of something like 20% loss in power output simply because a thin metal pole for an antenna shaded the solar panels. The video name is "EEVblog 1426 - WOW! This Problem DROPS Solar Output by 20% !" by the channel "EEVblog" I would say that the gain in solar panel caused by the mirrors is more like 20% to 50%, depending on the circuitry of the solar panel. The biggest increase would be from lighting up with the indirect light (being reflected by the mirrors) the areas which are shaded by the direct light hitting the solar panels. But there are ways to use more mirrors to light up either a solar panel, a solar heater, or a house.
You can use multiple mirrors (which can be as cheap as aluminium foil, with clingwrap (food wrap) on both sides for protection, kept fairly stretched between two poles (but not so much they rip), each at a different angle from the ones next to it, to act more like a fresnel mirror (the mirror version of the fresnel lens), and to either move that one or the solar panel into the concentrated sunlight.
You can even set it up to maximize sunlight gained in the mornings and evenings, so you don't have to cool the solar panels too much, since that takes away from the energy produced, but mounting an under-volted fan or array of fans to the back of the solar panels, and maybe also using the do-it-yourself thermal paste and a copper or aluminium backing for a heatsink plate (as opposed to a heatsink with those fins) to maximize the heat transfer to the air.
With water, it's a bit more difficult, because you have to use waterproof materials and electrically insulate them from the panels, so it would be less efficient than the fans, and (depending on the setup) it might need to resist both the water pressure and quick thermal expansion-contraction cycles, without losing structural integrity for quite some time.
The shadow made about 17w (around 40%) difference.
@Jim McIntosh impractical for most applications due to size, windproofing and overheating. Ground mounted systems or small portable panels are where mirrors would work best especially in cool places far away from the equator.
@Jim McIntosh wouldn't the cells be at very inefficient angles to the sun? /\ or is one side a mirror?
I think heat pipes would be better in lower temperatures but costly. I have fancied making my own heat pipes out of copper pipes containing water in a vacuum but I am barred from fitting anything to my roof so have not tried.
A mild wind will rip that panel right off the roof.
Interesting, I've been trying to plan out what I'd like to set up on my home in the future... and this looks to be a *good* way to boost efficiency and output.
just use 3 solar panels for home use. unless footage isnt and issue.
Yeah, youre going to pump that efficency, at the cost of durability... Youre going to increase a lot the working temperature of your panels
Total newbie here, and I'm blown away by this information. Thank you!
Thanks and welcome!
Best channel on the tube! Thank you for your work.
Would be very interested in seeing a follow up on implementing the sun tracking. With a quick thought using a suitable linkage between the panels it should be possible to operate it with one linear actuator. Since they don't need to move fast using a traveling nut design should provide plenty of power even for multiple panels and be simple to build yourself.
The linkage would need continual adjustment throughout the year I think
Would love to see a smaller version tested , also living in Florida I'd like to know what temperatures things start failing or melting . On my 12 x 12 panels , those few tree branches on the left would cut voltage down over 2/3 .
I live in the desert and I don't need reflectors or fresnel lenses here as it might start a fire. I actually use the opposite a filter film and back the panels and seal between them with a silicone paste I then mix with fine aluminum dust and apply generously otherwise the panels will degrade and fuse within a few months. I also used custom spacers in the joining this puts a 10 degree slope on each panel arranged in a tiled repeated pyramid pattern. This simple trick increases your surface area which allowed me to add about four to six more 250 watt panels on my roof or about 1 to 1.5kw of additional power generation. I wouldn't go above 15 degrees being the extreme on the tiling rise 10-12 degrees is probably good to avoid any shading power loss. If you do this also assume for wind deflection around the edges of your setup since they are no longer flat using flashing around the edges to direct the incoming air over the panels. Little extra work but it's worth doing.
Love the channel and the clear presentation.
There is so much potential in this video.
1. Reflective fabrics can be used to further reduce weight, stowing, cost.
2. The fabrics can have slits that allow for wind to pass through to avoid the whole setup turning into a sail ship.
3. For small mobile solar systems, this has immense uses.
4.it can be integrated into car ports, and parking areas such that the reflectors act as shade while the solar panels are cheaper for the same power output.
Nice.
Agreed.
Thanks!