• What can be cooked from squid: quick and tasty

    An increasing number of household appliances manufacturers are beginning to produce with the ability to work in an autonomous mode, when alternative, renewable energy sources are used to power the devices.
    One of these devices are fans operating on solar battery.

    Operating principle

    The main elements included in the fan kit are no different from a conventional device, the only difference is in the energy source that the solar battery serves and that, as a rule, this is a low-power device, which is determined by the ability of the solar battery to generate a certain amount of electrical energy.

    The electrical current used to power the device is obtained by converting solar energy inside the photovoltaic cells that are the basis of the solar cell.

    The transformation takes place inside the wafers, which are made of silicon. The photocell consists of two plates (two layers), each of which is made with the addition of different components. So phosphorus is added to the upper plate (layer P + in the diagram), boron to the lower plate (layer B- in the diagram). To each of the plates, electrodes are connected, to the upper - an external electrode, to the lower - an internal one, an anti-reflective coating is applied to the surface of the photocell.

    Under the influence of sunlight, an excessive amount of negatively charged particles is formed in the upper plate, and so-called "holes" in the lower one. At the same time, a potential difference is formed between the layers, under the influence of which, when the load is connected in the circuit, electricity due to the fact that differently charged particles move in opposite directions.

    Negatively charged ones move upward, positively charged ones move downward.

    Electronic circuits, which are the main component of any electronic devices, operate on the generated voltage and generated current, which makes it possible to provide power supply to the mechanisms of household appliances connected to them.

    Structurally, depending on the purpose and technical characteristics Solar powered fans can be very different.

    The solar battery can be built into the case or made of a remote design. The design of the case and the material from which it is made are also chosen by the manufacturer, depending on the requirements for a particular model and its technical parameters.

    For greenhouse

    Every gardener knows that it is not enough just to open the doors of the greenhouse in order to create the necessary microclimate inside it. To create forced air circulation inside such shelters, fans are used, and one of the most convenient in terms of operation are solar-powered fans.

    The main plus of the fan with solar panels, when used on a personal plot, is that there is no need to install additional electrical networks, moreover, the cost of consumed electrical energy absent, which is also important, when growing their own vegetables and fruits.

    As circulating fans in greenhouses, the devices of the "TMS" series manufactured in Taiwan, listed above, can be used. The solar battery, for these models, is built into the body of the device, which works only in the daytime, in the presence of sunlight, at night - the device is turned off. The productivity of the model is 0.32 m3 per minute. Cost, in retail chains - from 3,500 rubles.

    If there is a need to move significant volumes of air masses, more powerful units are used, in which the solar panel is made of an external structure, which will increase its power, and, accordingly, the power and performance of the fan.

    The operation mode of this unit is the same as above, in the presence of light - work, in the absence - standby mode. The performance of such models is higher, the cost is from 15,000.00 rubles.

    For auto

    For car owners, there are also solar-powered fans available. These are low-power fans that are placed under the windshield of the car and serve to create additional circulation inside the cabin air.

    The appearance of such devices can vary from the classic look of the fan to the avant-garde forms inherent in the author's works of developers and designers.

    The advantage of this type of fan is that it is possible to ventilate the interior of the car when the engine is turned off, while the energy of the car's battery will not be used, which will save its charge.

    For the cap

    An interesting invention was proposed by Chinese developers, they made a fan for the cap, powered by solar energy.

    At first glance, it may seem that this development is not for permanent use, but due to the relatively low cost and the ability to create an individual microclimate and comfort for the owner, this invention is already widely used by tourists in different countries the world.

    The cap serves to protect from the sun, and the fan provides airflow in the presence of direct sunlight. The cost of such products is from 500.00 rubles.

    How to do it yourself

    In order to make a fan powered by a solar panel, 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.

    The easiest way to cool your home is to install an air conditioner. However, it is expensive and ineffective. It is much cheaper to use an inexpensive ventilation system, which primarily prevents overheating of the air in the room and an increase in humidity.

    The ventilation system must be installed in such a way as to remove air from the attic. Why exactly from the attic? Because he is the source of all problems.

    It all starts early in the morning, as soon as the sun begins to illuminate the roof. I don’t know if you know or not, but roof tiles are quite effective at absorbing solar radiation. Roofs covered with bitumen are particularly good at attracting and retaining heat from the sun.

    The heat from the roof is then transferred to the air that fills the attic. During the day, more and more heat enters the airspace of the attic. Now, inside the attic, another mechanism comes into play. It is well known that warm air rises up and cold air goes down. Since the air in the attic is not mixed, a temperature distribution is created in the house, shown in Fig. 1. Layered temperature distribution causes heat accumulation. We have a huge reservoir of heat that needs to be used.

    In many homes, it gets too hot due to the infiltration of heat from the attic. When you turn on the air conditioner, you try to remove heat from the living area to make the environment more comfortable. However, at the same time, the attic continues to heat the house. Such confrontation is costly and does not lead to the desired results.

    The only way to stop this flow of heat from the attic into the dwelling is to insulate the house from the attic. Thermal insulation with glass wool is very effective. A layer of glass wool, no more than 15 cm thick, covering the ceiling has a noticeable effect on the amount of heat that penetrates downward.

    Cooling mechanisms

    However, no amount of insulation can completely isolate the lower rooms from the penetration of heat from the attic. Heat will penetrate into the living space through heat transfer and radiation.

    To illustrate this, consider an example. Suppose that the attic of your house is 9x12 m (108 m2). If the average temperature in the attic is 55 ° C and you want your living space to stay below 27 ° C, then the best you can count on is to achieve a heat transfer of no more than 2000 J / h. And this is in the case of a perfect isolation system. For ordinary house with a single-layer insulation of the ceiling with glass wool, the heat penetration is about 4500 J / h.


    Fig. 1

    It has been experimentally established that in order to neutralize 9000 J of heat, the air conditioner must pump 1 ton of air. Thus, to eliminate the effect of heating the attic, we need to pump an extra 0.5 tons of air with the air conditioner!

    However, the actual amount of heat penetrating downward depends on the temperature difference in the attic and in the house. A temperature difference of 5 ° C corresponds to thousands of joules. Therefore, the colder it is in the attic, the less the air conditioner works.

    Attic ventilation

    How can you cool an attic? You just need to ventilate it! It is very rare when the outside air temperature is higher than the air temperature in the attic, where it is usually hot, like in a stove; you can cool the attic by replacing the hot, stagnant air in it with colder outside air.

    This is relatively easy to accomplish by cutting a roof vent near the roof ridge and installing exhaust fan... The fan blows cold air through the raised eaves of the roof and draws hot, stagnant air out of the attic through the vent.

    This air circulation inside the attic mixes hot and cold air and eliminates temperature extremes (Fig. 2). It should be noted how it affected the temperature inside the attic. The temperature is now more evenly distributed and the average temperature has dropped.


    Fig. 2

    I want to note that a very large fan is not required to ventilate the attic. The goal will be achieved if the air exchange in the attic is carried out approximately every 3 minutes.

    The size of the fan is determined by the size of the attic. The attic has a standard size (9x12 m2) and has a volume of approximately 135 m3. To exchange such a volume of air, a fan is required every 4 minutes, which will pump out 34 m3 / min.

    The main elements of the fan

    The fan is driven by a small DC motor, the characteristic of which is usually linear: the more power supplied to it, the faster it rotates. It is known that power depends on two quantities: voltage and current. A change in any of these values ​​will cause a change in power.

    For example, a 12 V motor with a 3A current can rotate at a speed of 6000 rpm. If we reduce the electrical energy supplied to the motor by lowering the voltage to 6 V, then the rotation speed will decrease by 2 times and become equal to 3000 rpm.

    On the other hand, if in the same 12 V motor at 3 A, rotating at the same speed of 6000 rpm, reduce the current by 2 times, keeping the voltage at the same level (12V at 1.5 A), you get the same Result: the motor rotates at 3000 rpm. Given the principle of operation of photoelectric converters, understanding the reason for the change in the speed of rotation of the motor with a change in the current consumption is especially important.

    The amount of air that the fan blades will drive is directly proportional to the rotation speed. This indicates that it is possible to regulate the air flow by simply changing the speed of the motor.

    Solar battery

    There is no doubt that photovoltaic converters can be used to power the exhaust fan. This is the preferred choice. It should be noted that an interesting relationship arises when a photovoltaic source is connected to a fan motor.

    Photovoltaic solar cells can usually be considered as current sources. In low light conditions, the solar cell generates a small current, although the voltage remains normal. As a result, the fan (if rotating) rotates slowly and therefore only pumps a small amount of air.

    This circumstance just meets the task of airing the attic. In the morning, the roof is practically unheated, and at this time of day, ventilation is not necessary or only a little ventilation is needed.

    During the day, as solar radiation increases, more power is supplied to the fan motor from photovoltaic converters, and the fan speed increases. With the increase in solar insolation, an increasing amount of heat enters the attic. It should be noted that an increase in the fan speed (air exchange) is observed exactly when there is a need for it.

    Towards evening, the intensity of solar radiation decreases again, the roof absorbs less heat and the need for ventilation decreases. This is consistent with a change in the output power of the photovoltaic converters, which rotate the fan at a lower speed.

    As a result, we have developed a self-regulating attic ventilation system that maintains its temperature at a relatively constant level. Typically, the fan is controlled by a mechanical thermal switch depending on the heating of the attic.

    Solar cell design

    For the above purposes, two commercially available commercially available series fans were selected, specially designed for these applications. We will place our photovoltaic sources near the fans. Remember, however, that you can use any combination of motor and fan that works for you.

    The first fan is an exhaust fan from Solarex Corp.

    The mentioned fan rotates with a 12 V DC electric motor. However, to increase the service life, Solarex recommends supplying the motor with 6 V. When connected to a photovoltaic battery developing 6 V at 1.2 A, the fan will exchange air at a speed of 10 m3 / min.

    It will not be difficult to develop a 7W battery that meets these requirements. First you need to imagine the required maximum amperage. As mentioned above, it corresponds to 1.2 A.

    It is generally known that a 7.5 cm round solar cell produces a current of 1.2 A. In fact, you can find rather cheap substandard 7.5 cm cells that develop "only" 1 A. These elements are suitable for the mentioned purposes.

    To achieve a power of 7 W at maximum solar radiation intensity, 12 cells are required. Elements can be soldered sequentially by arranging them in 3 rows of 4 elements each. If substandard cells of 1 A are selected for use in the design, then to compensate for their defectiveness, it is necessary to increase the number of cells in the battery by 2 and bring their number to 14.

    The second fan we will look at is supplied by Wm. Lamb. Its diameter is 35 cm; it is equipped with a linear electric motor with ball bearings. Pressed-in ball bearings extend motor life. The motor is powered by any voltage: 6-48 V. For our purposes, the manufacturer recommends using a voltage of 12V.

    A 30 W solar generator will rotate the fan at a speed sufficient to exchange air at about 30 m3 / min, while a 7 W battery will provide it with sufficient energy to exchange air at a rate of 14 m3 / min. In fig. 3 shows the dependence of the air exchange rate on the power of the photoelectric converter.


    Fig. 3

    Roof structure installation

    In accordance with one of the options for installing the ventilation device, you will need to make holes in the roof. Since any work on the roof carries the risk of possible water leaks, neatness is the key to a successful job.

    First, a round hole in the roof is sawn with a hacksaw. Both fans are supplied fixed in metal shrouds and the opening in the roof must match the shroud exactly. Make sure that the hole is selected between the roof rafters!

    Then a fan is installed in the hole. Now a metal reflector is placed around the device, and all possible slots are poured abundantly with tar to avoid leaks. To prevent rain from entering through the hole, the fan is covered with a cone-shaped or U-shaped hood.

    If you do not want to make a hole in the roof, there is another option. The fan can be mounted over one of the vents located under the eaves. The best way to do this, fix the fan at an angle of 45 ° to the attic flooring. It is recommended to make a frame from a pair of frames having an aspect ratio of 2: 1 (Fig. 4), and then attach the fan to one of them (Fig. 5). Then you can place the frame over the ventilation hole. Make sure the opening is large enough to allow all the air to be exchanged, otherwise the fan will not work efficiently.

    Read and write useful

    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 capable of storing the energy of the sun and does not require an electrical connection. Making a cooler with your own hands is not difficult, and the benefits of using it are difficult to overestimate.

    This is the most regular fan with metal blades. It differs from standard devices only in the source of energy, it is the 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.

    The owner of the backyard can use a solar-powered fan for the greenhouse in order to create the desired microclimate inside it. The device will provide forced air circulation, which will have a beneficial effect on plant growth. There is no need to supply electricity to the site, since the device will work only due to sunlight. The landlord will not have to pay for such electricity.

    As a solar fan, you can use devices of the "TMC" series (manufacturing country Taiwan). They are produced with a built-in solar module and have a capacity of 3-3.7 cubic meters. m. per minute. They work only with a sufficient amount of light, they turn off at night.

    If there is a need to circulate large volumes of air masses, devices with a remote battery should be used. They are more powerful and can improve the performance of the device. The device will operate during the daytime and will enter standby mode at night.

    During the hot season, the number of accidents on the roads increases significantly. This is due to the fact that it is difficult for drivers to control the situation on the road if they are exhausted from the heat. It is good if the car is equipped with air conditioning, which creates a comfortable microclimate in the cabin. But if your car doesn't have air conditioning, you can use a solar-powered car fan instead. Its principle of operation is similar to that of standard household appliances.

    The cooler functions completely autonomously, so it can be used to save fuel. The owner of the car will be much more pleasant to be in the car in the summer: the fan will help to survive the heat, relieve the stuffiness.

    The performance of a cooler directly depends on the place in which it is located. The more rays of the sun hit the battery, the faster the blades will rotate. Therefore, install the unit on the sunny side. The cooler has small size, it does not take up much space in the car and is easy to carry by hand. It is important that the solar powered car fan is securely fixed. Then the risk of damage while driving will be minimized.

    The use of a solar-powered fan has great prospects for the future. The device can be made by yourself.

    Surely many motorists are well aware of the situation when a car that has stood in the sun warms up inside to the temperature of a steam room in a bath. The described device is to some extent designed to relieve you of this problem.
    My story about an autonomous fan powered by its own solar battery, which is simply hung on any sliding glass in any car. The principle of operation is simple: the sun shines through the glass on the solar battery and the generated electricity feeds the electric fan motor, which draws hot air from the car interior through the slotted gap of the glass of one of the doors.
    I will say right away that it was not possible to conduct field tests of the device, because the goods received at the end of August in the current season were no longer relevant (for the latitude of Nerezinova). Nevertheless, this is not the last season, and therefore next year, already in May, it will be in full demand.


    The seller sent the fan in its original box. In addition to the device itself, there is an instruction and a special seal. In the instructions for the schematics, everything is quite clear:


    The device itself is light in weight, but significant in size compared to what appears in the images in the online store.




    Today was a little sunny day and I took the opportunity to carry out field tests. Photos from different angles outside.




    Inside view.


    According to the proposed instructions, it is supposed to install a sealing profile to the left and right of the fan. I'll show it separately, because I'm not ready to cut it yet.


    In the sun, the fan rotates at high speeds, even makes a faint noise. When it is cloudy, the speed drops, but the fan does not stop. I believe that it will be quite effective, because there is a noticeable thrust when working in the sun.
    In conclusion, I will say that I purchased two of these hoods. According to the link, the price is not optimal now, I purchased from this seller a little earlier. It is important to note that this seller dispatched the item quickly and accurately and this link has a very clear description of the item.
    I myself am satisfied with the purchase, I recommend it. By the link searchsku.ru you can find shops with a sweeter price. This device can be inexpensive good gift, especially since it's time to think about gifts for the new year!

    I plan to buy +36 Add to favourites I liked the review +23 +56

    How to cool the air in the car

    A hot summer day ... On your way back to your car, you stop outside the sheltered canopy of a local mall. You parked it in a large, red-hot area, since all the seats were taken under the canopy. When you open the driver's side door, you notice that the hot air flow has become so thick that it even casts a shadow on the sidewalk. Your legs and shoulders are bathed in heat, and since the car is not equipped with air conditioning, you now have to endure this discomfort. You breathe heavily when you feel like you are in a sauna or stove.

    This stove analogy will in no way be an exaggeration: even on a moderately warm day, the temperature inside the car can reach 70 ° C. And some surfaces are heated up to more than 90 degrees, and then it really is time to fry eggs on them. How to protect the interior of your car from the heat when you need to leave it for a long time? One way is to install an easy-to-use solar car fan.

    In fact, the name of this fan sounds even more complicated than its design itself. The solar car fan, as it is sometimes called, takes in and converts it into low-voltage electricity, which is needed to drive a small fan that propels the stagnant, hot air in your car and provides fresh air. Such car gadgets can reduce the temperature in the car interior by several degrees. And although it may seem that this is not much, on hot days these few degrees sometimes mean the difference between life and death: according to statistics, temperatures above 38 degrees Celsius often become fatal for children and pets left unattended in cars.

    Back in the early 1990s, Mazda embarked on a comprehensive solar rollout, but for unknown reasons stopped offering the feature. Audi and Mercedes-Benz recently proposed such systems as parameters for cars. However, if you can't afford an Audi Benz at the moment, you can always get a portable solar fan. Designed for any passenger vehicle, these versatile fans typically run between $ 20 and $ 40, giving you the opportunity to spend your money on things that are more useful to you than luxury German cars. Let's take a look at how these devices work and weigh the pros and cons of buying solar fans for your car.

    The principle of operation (mechanism) of a solar-powered car fan

    The most striking aspect of solar car fans is that they use solar energy to operate. Their power supply is free and will never be depleted.

    In typical solar car fans, the solar panels are connected to a small low voltage fan. It lets air flow through tiny holes, expelling hot air and directing cold air into your vehicle. Typically, the entire ventilation unit is attached in a long strip to the top edge of a car window or door. Miniature solar panels and the fan itself are in contact with the inside of the glass and therefore are well protected from bad weather and external mechanical stress.

    Of course, you should not expect that having installed a single gadget, you will return to a completely cool car interior at more than 30 degrees outside, but there is every reason to believe that the cabin will now not be as hot as it could have been without such a device. ... In addition, the fans can effectively remove unpleasant odors from the car, which often occur in the hot and humid environment of a closed car, - for example, a mixture of smells of sweat, perfume and food taken on a trip.

    Disadvantages of solar-powered car fans

    Of course, this one is not perfect. Since the fans of this type work solely thanks to the energy of the sun, this is the reason for several disadvantages of such a system:

    • They often need direct sunlight to function, so they won't be able to perform well on hot but cloudy days.
    • manufacturers warn that the device will not work when installed on tinted windows;
    • Most serious disadvantage: solar fans require installation on your car window, which entails a certain risk of burglary.

    Fortunately, some car manufacturers are already taking action in this direction: in response to frequent complaints that devices do not work out of direct sunlight, they have invented solar fans that can also be plugged into a car's 12-volt outlet. For example, if the solar energy is too weak for the fan motor to start, the device will receive a small amount of electricity from your car's battery.

    However, if you have already begun to think about how you can save on switching on on hot days and even completely replace it, take your time. Solar fans for a car in the near future will not yet be able to compete with air conditioners that use high pressure coolant to lower the air temperature and, by means of a powerful fan, direct a stream of cold air where it is needed. In solar-powered fans, on the other hand, hot air is simply blown out of the machine by the exhaust method, and cooler air from the outside is sucked in through the air intake holes.

    Be careful while driving: it should be remembered that keeping the solar fan on while driving is undesirable, as the fan can interfere with the view from the window to some extent.

    Advantages of Solar Car Fans

    It is unlikely that you would deliberately throw your favorite CDs, expensive electronics, or sensitive car gadgets into a red-hot oven. Nevertheless, this is exactly what happens when you leave your car with items of value to you in the direct sunbeams... It is worst if they remain on surfaces exposed to the sun, for example, on the dashboard or in the front seats. Excessive sun exposure causes cracks in the skin, plastic, and other materials that make up interior decoration your car.

    The solar car fan has several advantages:

    • thanks to it, the air conditioner of your car works less;
    • you can be sure that your car is cooled with clean energy;
    • it will increase the air flow and make your return to the car on a scorching summer day more comfortable than it was before;
    • helps to get rid of unpleasant odors and excessive air humidity;
    • most models are easy to install on almost any car or truck;
    • unlike blinds or tinted windows, which also help to cool the car interior, you do not have to worry about breaking the integrity of your vehicle when installing the device;
    • affordable price of the device to anyone.

    Keep in mind that the performance of your solar vehicle may vary, and this will depend on several factors, including the position of the sun and the quality of the device you choose.