1. Solar and Rain Catching Canopy. Urban Oasis
Elena Zimareva | Afolabi Ibitoye | Langston Clark | Evan Banks
Mentor: Professor Alexander Aptekar
The Urban Oasis is designed to work within existing “Pocket Parks” in New York City as a combined rainwater collector, personal electronics charging station and resting designation for New Yorkers. Intended to not only lessen the demand on the city power grid by using renewable energy to charge devices, the Urban Oasis is also intended to mitigate grey water overfill in New York’s combined sewer system and, in general, serve as a model for responsible environmental stewardship in urban areas. The important technical aspects of the canopy specifically analyzed were a) how much rainwater could the canopy be expected to collect per operating season b) what the optimal solar panel angle based on New York City’s specific geographical location was to maximize solar collection and c) how many full device charges could be expected per operating day. Information was gathered from various local and state organizations. The first prototype, constructed of locally sourced lumber, was assembled by hand using power and hand tools. Based on historical rainfall data taken from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) as well as the design square footage of the canopy, expected total annual rainfall collection was calculated to be 311 gallons. Using sun angle calculations taken from existing solar charts and averaging optimal angles across each month, it was determined that a fixed angle of 60° would be optimal for solar collection. Based on the specifications of the specific solar panel being used and using research from existing sources of information on solar panels, the Urban Oasis is expected to produce 147 watt hours per day (which approximates as about 27 cellular phone charges per day.) The density of the material being used has necessitated design changes to aid in its structural stability. Additionally, New York City specific code is still being researched and experts are being consulted to determine legal hurdles and long term viability of the project existing in a public space.
Aesthetics
Multiple designs were developed and discussed. For the first model it was decided to match the Urban Oasis’ aesthetic with that of the triangle theme already existing in the “Pocket Parks”. The solar canopy top consists of four triangles which are congruent with the sizes of its floor details. The base column of the canopy is also a triangular prism design.
“Pocket Parks” picture by Afolabi Ibitoye
Methodology
This project entailed a series of goals and challenges which needed to be addressed:
Water flow: Calculation of how much water could be collected as well as how and where this water would be contained.
Optimum solar angle: Determination of proper solar panel angle for optimal energy collection.
Solar energy collection: Appropriate solar panel to use as well as determining the best method for storing the energy collected by said solar panel.
Materials: Considering which materials would be most appropriate in the design. Relative water resistance, durability and workability were all considerations.
Aesthetics: Designing the panel in a way which would integrate it within the community and existing Pocket Parks aesthetic as well as encourage social interaction.
Structure: Developing a design that’s both mobile and structurally sound.
Functionality: Seamlessly integrating all three functions of the Urban Oasis (solar & water collection and shade cover).
Credit: Rendering by Langston Clark
Structure
Water Collecting
Due to the needed mobility of the canopy, the design necessitated that it be relatively easy to take apart, transport and reconnect. The structure is composed of two parts: the base and a triangular canopy that has a “connection pocket” for an easy sliding connection in the field. Originally aluminium flushing was used for connecting the canopy triangles which was later deemed to be structurally unstable and was replaced with wooden ribs and a sealant layer composed of plaster of Paris and fiberglass.
How much water it will collect:
Amount of rainwater collected (gallons) = 0.56 * Surface area * average rainfall (in)
Surface area of the canopy = sq. ft.
Rainfall in NYC last 5 years
Calculations:
Spring:
0.56 * sq ft * 11.9 in = 99 gallons of water
Summer:
0.56 * 14.84sq ft * in = 111 gallons of water
Fall:
0.56 * sq ft * in = 101 gallons of water
Solar Angle
Since the panel will be fixed in a static position throughout the day as well as during the seasons of spring, summer and fall, it was important to determine the best possible angle to be used for optimal solar generation.
Based on New York City’s latitude of o N, o W as well as predetermined optimal monthly solar angles (pictured below) it was decided to use a 60 degree angle for the canopy’s orientation.
Functionality
The main design challenge was to integrate the three components of the canopy: solar charging, water collecting and sun shading into one aesthetically appealing functional design. The solar charging wiring is separated from the water flow, through both the pipe and wires are hidden inside of the column base. The energy converter is fixed on the outside of the column for USB charging access. The battery is hidden under the planter. The structural ribs also serve as a platform for solar panels and add a design feature.
Month
Solar Angle (Degrees)
April 57
May 65
June 72
July
August
September 49
October 41
Period Average 58
Conclusion
The design of the Urban Oasis is ongoing. Research is currently being done into the viability of other canopy materials such as aluminum and fabric to minimize top weight and add to structural stability. Additionally, developing factors of scale in the design so that the canopy can be easily reproduced and duplicated is the next priority of the project. Furthermore, having a remote method to measure and monitor energy collection and complete battery maintenance is also being considered. The STA Club has hopes of implementing many canopies throughout the city. This will require further coordination with the stakeholders in this project including New York City Department of Parks and Recreation and the DOT.
Solar Energy
To store energy when there is no direct sunlight there was a need for a battery. For the prototype setup a 12V 12 W Solar panel, 12V/24V solar charge controller with USB ports and 12V car battery were used for energy storage.
Acknowledgments
We would like to thank the following people: Josh Sarantitis–our industry partner, Alice Chan–a designer for contributing to our project, Grzegorz Kosieradzki–a major contributor to construction process and Professor Alexander Aptekar for making the project possible.
References
“How much rain can I collect from my roof?” Greywater Action, greywateraction.org/faq/how-much-rain-can-i-collect-from-my-roof/.
Landau, Charles. “Optimum Tilt of Solar Panels.” Optimum Tilt of Solar Panels,
“Solar Panel Orientation and Positioning of Solar Panel.” Alternative Energy Tutorials,
Solar Charts: sun angle calculations,
“New York City, NY, USA.” Latitude and Longitude Finder,