Space Apps Challenge 2017

Solario is a fun and interactive software platform that allows you to understand the working principle of the solar power technology. It has interactive learning modules that show the basic theory behind solar panels. The user can also simulate its real function by: (1) Building your desired solar panel with user defined specifications, (2) Charge your solar panel under the sun with real variable parameters such as angle of the sun, cloud density, solar panel efficiency and charging time and (3) finally, used up the charged energy on a house with simulated loads of your choosing. In a way, the user can make a clear sense of how to plan his daily energy usage given the limited solar energy resources that his solar panel can offer.

FEATURES:

After running the software, you will be prompted to choose between two options: LEARN or PLAN.

LEARN - it includes all the learning module of this software. It is composed of six modules, the modules are:

1. Getting to know solar panels
2. The science behind solar panels
3. Let’s get building some panels
4. Energize my stuffs
5. Considering loads
6. Stuff the affects my panels
7. Do it yourself: I want to build one!

PLAN – allows you to design, charge and use your solar panels.

1. The BUILD function lets your design your solar panel by assigning value to the specifications such as
2. Once the user-defines solar panel is ready, it can be charged using the set-up charging button. This button will allow the user to set the charging time, the angle of the sun and cloud density.
3. When it is done charging, the user can then select the LOADS function to set-up the appliances installed in the house. The user can choose from incandescent bulb, electric fan, fridge, television and a washing machine with standard wattages.
4. Finally, the user can use the solar panel to power these loads and determine up to what extent (hours) the charged solar panel will last.

• Battery Capacity – defines the charging limit of the solar panel
• Material Type – provides the efficiency of the solar panel
• Cell Voltage – sets the voltage to define the power.
• Cell Current – sets the current to define power given the voltage
• No. of Cells – sets the number of solar cells in the panel
• Connection type (Parallel/Series) – sets the nominal voltage/current given all the parameter

The solar panel will then charge at a rate depending on the charging time, solar panel efficiency, cloud density, charging time and battery capacity.

FUTURE PLANS

The software is powered by LabView development environment. So, in the future, it can be used to connect to the actual solar panels and other auxiliaries to allow machine-software interface and gives the user a more insightfully and precise functions.

The software may also be deployed as a web application or mobile application so that you can plan energy usage anytime, anywhere. It may also be developed to allow forecasting of the energy that you can harvest on a given day provided all the real-time parameters are present for a specific geographical area.

Resources:

LabView 2015 - Development software for rapid prototyping

Adobe Photoshop CS6 - Interface Design

Comparison of calculated energy usage:

http://pvwatts.nrel.gov/,

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/g0gf1awqqaumyqt/AAB1G07...

https://sa-media-2017.s3.amazonaws.com/media/docum...

http://www.iowaenergycenter.org/resources/solar-ca...

Link to the app repository:

https://github.com/dekoriente/Ouroboros-Solaria-NA...