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Helio Tracker: 2009 Project Summary

Jonathan Ota designed a device to track the sun's movement like a sunflower in order to increase the efficiency of photovoltaic panels. The device uses a parabolic mirror to direct light to a bottle containing alcohol, which heats up and creates pressure through a phase change, similar to how plants respond. This pressure moves through tubing to pistons on the opposite side, aiming to elongate them and move the mounted solar panel toward the light. However, while the individual components responded to sunlight, the pressure was not enough to translate the piston movement into movement of the device's head. Further refinement is needed to overcome issues like friction and clarity.

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45 views

Helio Tracker: 2009 Project Summary

Jonathan Ota designed a device to track the sun's movement like a sunflower in order to increase the efficiency of photovoltaic panels. The device uses a parabolic mirror to direct light to a bottle containing alcohol, which heats up and creates pressure through a phase change, similar to how plants respond. This pressure moves through tubing to pistons on the opposite side, aiming to elongate them and move the mounted solar panel toward the light. However, while the individual components responded to sunlight, the pressure was not enough to translate the piston movement into movement of the device's head. Further refinement is needed to overcome issues like friction and clarity.

Uploaded by

Vivabi
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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CALIFORNIA STATE SCIENCE FAIR

2009 PROJECT SUMMARY

Name(s) Project Number


Jonathan T. Ota
S0217
Project Title
Helio Tracker

Abstract
Objectives/Goals
Photovoltaic panels are commonly plagued with a single problem: inefficiency due to immobility.
However, when photovoltaic panels track the movement of the sun, their efficiency increases
significantly. A solution exists in nature: the sunflower. The purpose of this project is to design a device
that can track the movement of the sun without consuming electricity by mimicking the phototropic
qualities of the sunflower.The three basic actions of a sunflower reacting to light are imitated through
three components on the device. A parabolic mirror channels light to a central bottle, thus acting like the
photoreceptor in plants. Within the bottle, alcohol absorbs heat and undergoes a phase change to create
pressure. The pressure, similar to the hormone in plants, acts as the signal and moves through lengths of
tubing to a piston on the opposite side of the device. The pressure triggers the elongation of the pistons
emulating the elongation of the cells in plants, thus moving the mounted panel towards the light.
Methods/Materials
mylar (space blanket), 91% isopropyl rubbing alcohol, 20mL plastic syringes (pistons), ¼ vinyl tubing, ¼
polyethylene tubing, 22 gauge copper wire, paper towel rolls (cardboard), Black cloth tape masking tape,
"engine enamel" black paint, 1/4 inch aluminum tubing, plastic panel, for mounting photovoltaic panel
Results
Individually, the separate systems responded to sunlight by creating pressure to move the pistons. The
elongation of the pistons did not translate into the movement of the head of the device.
Conclusions/Discussion
There are various reasons why the head of the device did not move. Although the pistons respond to
pressure and expand, they are not mounted securely to the panel and the main trunk of the device to make
the head of the device move. Another example is that the rubber plungers of the pistons exert too much
friction against the walls of the syringe which hinders the pistons from reacting to small changes in
pressure. Also, the bottles containing the alcohol are not completely clear, thus reducing the amount of
sunlight heating the alcohol and the pressure created. All or some of these factors may be a reason the
device does not fully function as hypothesized. Further study of these individual factors needs to be
undertaken.

Summary Statement
My project aims to Emulate phototropic qualities in plants to increase the efficiency of photovoltaic
panels.

Help Received
My father helped me with writing the report. Donal Ferris helped me with different aspects of the
structure of the device. Debra Mauzy-Melitz assisted me with my abstract and board.

Ap2/09

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