1. Course Project: Solar Energy Powered Boat
University of Puerto Rico –Mayagüez
Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering
TMAG 4005 – Agricultural Electrification
2nd Semester
Course Project: Solar Energy Powered Boat
By: Omayra Ortiz Santiago
( )

2. Team Members From right to left: Omayra Ortiz Christian Colmenares
Jeremy Ramirez

3. Model Picture Direction Control Solar Cells Motor Head Light Propeller
Passenger Seat

4. Challenges in the Design and Construction of the Electrical System
We decided to use solar cells from a calculator, we were pleased because we read a 4.06 of voltage, and its was ideal for our motor system; because the electrical motor only needed 1.0 V for it to run.
Then of failures intents, our solar cells did not work… We concluded that the solar cells did not have enough current.
Individual Work

5. Electrical Material List
Soldering Kit
Electrical Wires
Black Tape
Electrical Pliers
Two Sided Tape

6. Electrical Materials Electrical Multimeter Electrical Switch
Negative and Positive Terminal Wires
3v Lithium Battery
Little Light Bulb

7. Challenges in the Design and Construction of the Electrical System
We decided to use a solar cells that we bought from radio shack. These solar cells, each one have 0.55 V. It is in series elements are enough for the electrical motor boat.
To connect the solar cells we weltered the cables together and covered them with black tape.
We read with the electrical multimeter that the electrical motor boat was used V, and 0.16 A.
Individual Work

8. Mechanical Material List
Powerade Plastic Bottles
Frozen Chicken Foam Base
Candy Egg Case
Apple Juice Plastic Handle
Toy Boat Steering Wheel
UHU and Silicon Glue
Scissors, Grabs
Drill, little toy paddle
Spray Paint, Knife, Screw

9. Challenges in the Design and Construction of the Mechanical System
Our group consult what mechanical boat we wanted.
We related our ideas, and we decided to make as a catamaran little boat.
So we used recycle materials.
Individual Work

10. Challenges in the Design and Construction of the Mechanical System
Cut the apple bottle plastic handle to make a strong mirror boat, where the motor would be connected.
Connect the Powerade plastic bottles with grabs to the chicken foam base.
Individual Work

11. Challenges in the Design and Construction of the Mechanical System
3. The cover of the motor and propeller was modified because we wanted it to have free movement. To achieve this we had to cut it a little and put a screw.
4. Then we painted our boat, for originality…
Individual Work

12. Challenges in the Mechanical Control Direction System
We did a hole to attach a little toy paddle.
Individual Work

13. Propeller Material List
We did not build the propeller
We used a Motor with Toy Boat Propeller
Electrical Wires
Individual Work

14. Challenges in the Design and Construction of the Propeller System
We made the holes to pass the wires.
The motor and propeller are connect with a switch.
Individual Work

15. Electrical Diagram of Propulsion System

16. Electrical Diagram of Little Head Light

17. Power Requirements of the Propulsion Boat
Voltage
(V)
Current
(A)
Power Requirement
Theoretical Value
1.10
0.18
Direct Sunlight
Experimental Value
0.962
0.16
Voltage
(V)
Current
(A)
Power Requirement
Theoretical Value
1.10
0.18
Direct Sunlight
Experimental Value
0.962
0.16

18. Power Requirements of the Little Head Light
Voltage
(V)
Current
(A)
Power Requirements
Theoretical Value -
3 V Lithium Battery
Experimental Value
1.96
0.03
Theoretically we did not know how many voltage and current the little head light used.

19. Calculations
With the experimental results its possible to calculate the resistance of the motor. With Ohm’s Law
And to calculate the power of the motor;
For the little head light,
Individual Work

20. Electrical Safety Considerations
Wires are secured with electrical black tape.
Another special tape (blue tape) was used in the base area (foam) where the wires where connected.

21. Mechanical Safety Considerations
The boat was tested with excess weight to prove buoyancy of the plastic bottles.
The foam material (base) is also buoyant.

22. Passenger Transport Area
The passenger transport area was designed especially for the transportation of an egg so we used a candy egg case for the real egg transportation seat.

23. Main Challenges
Make that solar cells produce the enough voltage and current.
The angle which the solar cells could receive enough energy from the sunlight to power the propulsion system.
To produce the enough voltage we put the solar cells in series and for obtain a angle we decided to leave it directly faced (plane) to the sun.

24. Team Overview Workload distribution Member participation Model outcome
Fair
Member participation
Model outcome
Excellent
Workload distribution: Christian, Jeremy and I did the electrical system and I did the construction of the little boat.
Member participation: I could say that Christian did help me a lot.
Model outcome: I think that our idea was complete and successful.

25. Project Overview Applied concepts Project content Project difficulty
Application of Undergrad Studies
Project content
Irrelevant to field of work
Project difficulty OK
Individual Work

26. Final Comments
This little solar boat was really a experience to demonstrate and stimulate our invent capacity.
I consider that a project like this should continue to be part of the course.
I would develop a different alternative project, like a project with motors of a system that we could use in the agricultural field.
A recommendation should be not to use solar cells, probably another renewable sources for example, methane gas.
Individual Work