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Date of publication: May 13, 2019
Fans are widely used in everyday life, their main task is to efficiently move air in rooms, as well as blowing various elements in heating equipment and air conditioning systems. These devices can operate from the electrical network, but if the source of electricity is not available for some reason, you can use a solar-powered fan. The advantage of such a device is that it is able to accumulate the energy of the sun and does not need to be connected to the mains. Making a cooler with your own hands is not difficult, and the benefits of using it are difficult to overestimate.
Scheme of work
The technology of this gadget is absolutely harmless and environmentally friendly. The scheme of work is simple to the banal: sunlight, falling on the photocells, generates energy, which makes the fan spin.
The best part is that the free power source for these fans cannot be spoiled.
The solar panels are connected to a low-voltage fan that blows cool air through small intake holes, exhausting hot air from the car (through an open window).
You can attach it anywhere in the side window, adjusting so that it blew into the rear or front seats.
It is reliably protected from mechanical influences and weather surprises by car glass. Its dimensions and weight are small, and the price will not hit the family budget too much.
You can install it on any car and drive on a hot day enjoying the coolness, and even saving your car battery, because, unlike the same air conditioner, it does not need battery power. In addition to the fact that the fan will cool the interior, it will remove unpleasant odors from it.
It is clear that having installed such a gadget, one cannot rely on the temperature provided by the air conditioner, which uses high-pressure coolant to lower the temperature, due to which cold air is supplied to the passenger compartment with a powerful fan, but you will not have to ride in stuffy atmosphere with a fan. The disadvantage of fans powered by sunlight is that in cloudy weather they cannot perform their functions, as well as when they are installed on tinted windows. But, manufacturers are already working in this direction: solar fans have appeared with the ability to connect to a twelve-volt vehicle outlet, i.e. if there is a lack of solar energy, the fan may receive a small amount of energy from the car's battery to start working.
How to do it yourself
In order to manufacture a fan powered by a solar battery, it is sufficient to have any fan operating at a constant voltage of 12.0 V (automobile or similar), as well as a solar battery of low power, in stock.
By connecting the existing elements to the electrical network, you can get the desired result.
As a source of energy, you can use solar panels of other devices with USB connectors, through which you can connect a fan. This can be: a camping lantern, solar lamp or floodlight, as well as an external battery.
Auto Cooler Features
For the Auto Cooler fan, the figures will be as follows: 15x11x7cm, 380 grams and 110 UAH. The size of the solar panel is 5.5 x 5.5 cm, the length of the rubber tube is about 95 cm. The body is made of high quality black plastic.
Solar fans for cars, sometimes called solar fans, are able to reduce the air in the cabin to a temperature that is normally perceived by humans.
Freedom or not?
Solar collectors for the home make the owners completely independent. First, there is no need to use an electric or gas boiler. If the latter option is even more acceptable, then electricity prices in our country are so high that heating a large house is problematic and expensive. The solar system, although dependent on electricity, consumes a minimum amount of it. This is due to the fact that solar energy is converted into thermal energy without the direct participation of electricity. Of course, in order not to be left without heating in the event of a power outage, it is recommended to install a generator and a rectifier. Currently, many solar collectors for the home are considered as an alternative source of heat, since they are completely dependent on climatic conditions, which is not their strong point.
Benefits
In addition to the possibility of gaining the desired coolness, the solar fan will keep the surfaces of the car exposed to the sun, primarily the dashboard, from cracks that inevitably appear if the car is under the scorching rays of the sun for a long time. As already mentioned, thanks to it, the car is cooled with clean energy from an environmental point of view. It also reduces the load on the air conditioner that drains the battery. Well, for whom the air conditioner is still a pipe dream - such a fan is a godsend. After all, those who drive old-style cars know firsthand that on hot days the salon turns into a real sauna. It is easy to install the fan, it is safe for others, versatile, and can work for a short or long time when parking.
Opinions about solar collectors
They are different. More positive ones come from residents of the southern regions, negative ones - from the Siberian regions, the Urals and other areas where the weather does not indulge. Judge for yourself: heating with solar collectors - reviews of various system models:
“We could not evaluate the system right away, since the house under construction had not yet been insulated - profiled timber + caulking. But the next year, at a street temperature of -12⁰C, the installation heated the water up to 65⁰ ".
Leonid, Penza
“The pros are too advertised, not a word about the shortcomings. Firstly, nowhere is it said that additional insulation is necessary for the collectors themselves, otherwise heat loss will increase exponentially, secondly, the system itself is good only as an addition to the main one - the efficiency is not more than 30%, and thirdly, it does not pay off even for 5 years of use - you have to call the foremen for prophylaxis, and that also costs money. "
Sergey Pavlovich, Mizhgirya
“There is no need to nurture illusions about the large use of solar collectors. If you really want not to pay for sources, it is better to purchase batteries - they can both heat water and power electrical appliances. No need to say - it's expensive, but is it worth it to buy collectors at the same price and pay for electricity? "
Georgy, Perm
“Self-fabrication did not bring the expected results. However, the experience turned out to be quite good - you don't have to turn on the boiler in the summer. You can use hot water in any volume, even if the pool is heated. We did not expect for the winter - the stove water heating is connected. You won't use it in the summer, so combining the two systems is an excellent way out for a private house. "
Nikolay Rogov, Wonderful
Well, solar collectors for home heating receive different reviews, and there is no consensus here. It is important to consult with specialists when considering this system as the main source of heat for a private house.They will calculate heat loss and really assess the possibility of using collectors from natural energy for the needs of a private house.
The choice and arrangement of any type of heating systems should be approached scrupulously. It is important to take into account all the points that negatively affect the future installation. In this case, it is the lack of sufficient insolation and the volume of requirements.
Nevertheless, heating a private house with solar collectors is in demand. Perhaps, in the future, development engineers will be able to turn disadvantages into advantages, increasing the efficiency of the system as a whole.
Valentina Kirillovykh
Author of publications on 1Drevo.ru with topics: Tables and benches | Guest house-bath | Log house order | Solar collector | Glued laminated timber | Home decoration with clapboard | Cylinder caulking machine | Log houses | Shield House | Log cabin | Glued laminated timber, etc.
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Application area of autonomous solar fans
Despite the fact that while solar-powered fans have not yet become widespread, the benefits of them are difficult to overestimate. But, fans can help not only motorists. With their help, for example, you can cool the whole house. After all, its roof begins to heat up with the first rays of the sun, gradually the air of the attic becomes more and more hot, since both tiles and bitumen perfectly attract heat and retain it. Due to the lack of circulation, warm air does not rise. Therefore, the house begins to heat up. And no amount of thermal insulation can save you from the heat. An air conditioner that removes heat from the room is also not very effective, but is not able to cope with the huge amount of it accumulating in the attic. Besides, it is quite expensive.
The only way to stop the flow of heat from the attic is to install an exhaust fan in the vent on the roof ridge, which will allow air to circulate. A photovoltaic fan will be more efficient, providing ventilation when it is needed. In the morning, for example, the roof is not yet heated, there is no need for ventilation. As it warms up, the solar fan spins faster and faster, slowing down again in the evening.
There are also solar-powered bilge fans designed for ventilation of galleys, holds, latrines. They do not require an additional power source, they are easily mounted in the porthole, wheelhouse and deck. The most common ones are the mushroom fan - models 30002 and 30003, which differ in the presence or absence of a protective screen. In model 30003 it is present, therefore the body of the device is slightly higher.
It is needed so that dampness does not accumulate in the cabin, the air does not stagnate, and there is additional ventilation on a hot day.
The device is arranged simply: the body is made of stainless steel, a solar panel is installed inside, feeding a small fan. A completely autonomous fan works when there is light, and when there is no light, it stops working.
Many people use a mini fan on hot days, which is attached to the cap with a special clip. This device is also solar powered as it is self-contained. This wonderful accessory will be appreciated when the temperature rises above thirty degrees, and a pleasant coolness emanates from it. Its size is only 48x58 mm, the fan diameter is 73 mm, so it will be convenient for sports, fishing, travel, and simply for those who have to move around the city a lot every day.
How the fan works
This is the most common fan with metal blades. It differs from standard devices only in the source of energy, it is a solar battery. Most often, devices that use alternative energy have low power.
The sun's energy is converted into electrical current inside the solar cells that make up the battery. Photocells are two silicon wafers, each of which has electrodes connected. The surface of the photocell is coated with an anti-reflective compound.
The technical characteristics and design of the fan depend on the purpose for which it will be used. There are two options for connecting the battery:
- installation inside the device case;
- connection in the form of an external structure.
Here you can learn what a hybrid solar inverter is and how it works.
About vacuum solar systems
This is one of the most expensive solutions. The design of such a product is quite complex, so installation is carried out only by specialists. Such a system allows you to achieve a coolant temperature of up to 300 degrees during idle time. Of course, it was very difficult for specialists to obtain such high rates. First, they tried to reduce heat loss by using a multilayer glass coating and creating a vacuum in the system.
In our case, the solar tube is somewhat similar to an ordinary household thermos. Only the outer part is transparent, while the inner tube has a special coating to capture solar energy. There is a vacuum between the tubes, thanks to which it is possible to achieve minimal heat loss. Ultimately, we can talk about the high efficiency of such systems in comparison with flat and air ones. Moreover, such a collector is capable of functioning in low light conditions.
Household collector device
The coolant can be water, air, antifreeze or any other liquid with a high heat transfer coefficient. After heating, the carrier circulates through the collector and transfers the stored energy to a special tank. From there, the consumer receives hot water. In the simplest version, water circulation occurs naturally, which is achieved due to the temperature difference in the storage tank and the collector. In a more complex version, a pump is installed that provides forced circulation along the circuit. Of course, you need to understand that with an increase in the temperature of the coolant, the efficiency of the collector decreases, and if the power is not enough, then it makes sense to install an electric heating element that will bring the air to the desired temperature.
