SOLAR CELL

 The students Lee-Ann Briggs from the Combermere School and Shanice Seale, from the Garrison Secondary School presented on alternative sources of energy and focused on using the sun to harness its energy. They showed a wide range of knowledge as Linda-Joy Forde, Head of the Science Department of the Garrison Secondary School looked on. The students presented two possible alternatives of solar cells,  in the form of a copper solar cell and a titanium solar cell. The cells both are highly cost effective in terms of their production costs and are produced mainly from locally accessed materials.

The copper solar cell functioned using  the process of electrolysis. It made use of use of coprous oxide and copper as the electrodes and simple inexpensive salt water as the electrolyte.  

The titanium solar cell was constructed using a single glass panel,  titanium oxide and raspberry juice as well as carbon emitted from a candle. They also highlighted the importance of the solar cells in relation to functioning as an alternative source for generating electricity to power simple household devices such as a radio, which can be used  during recreational activities

The projects are all developmental and will undergo further modifications over time with a view of developing to commercial production which enables the saving of foreign exchange and the recycling of some material that would normally be discarded after their initial use.

Top Ten Current Uses for a Stirling Engine

1. Cordless hair dryer
2. Heats homes in The Netherlands with 50-75 hp engine.
3. Provides basic power (5 hp) in Bangladesh by burning rice husks on the hot side of the engine (Lockwood engine).
4. Provides basic power to remote African villages by burning wood (1-5 hp Van Arsdell-Howard University engine).
5. Power oceanographic exploration submarine for Jacques Costeau, the Saga, so his team can quietly sneak up on the fishies and the whalies.
6. Power the quietest military submarines in the world—a 1300 hp Stirling engine drives subs in the Swedish and Danish fleets (but not in the American fleet—yet!!!).
7. Powers a rotisserie attachment to BBQ in Tulsa, Oklahoma (The Stirling engine rotisserie is so valuable that the owner will risk life and limb to dash out into Oklahoma rain and tornadoes to rescue the rotisserie—but leaves the BBQ to fend for itself!).
8. Powers remote scientific research stations in Antarctica, providing power to run the experiments, the telescope, and send back data to scientists in warmer locations.
9. Provides power to homes and businesses in Las Vegas, Nevada. The heat source is a series of solar collectors.
10. And the #1 use for a Stirling engine today … A Cat Magnet! (Any cat within 100 yards is drawn to it!)

Top Ten Uses for a Stirling Engine in History

1. A car: the AMC Spirit was powered by a Stirling engine in the 1970’s.
2. Fans: from the 1880’s to 1930’s, fans were often powered by Stirling engines.
3. Radios and rowboats. In the 1930’s, an engineer from Philips Electronics in The Netherlands found a Stirling fan at a flea market. Buying it, he adapted the engine to run a radio. Unfortunately, the transistor was invented soon after, making the more expensive Stirling radio obsolete. Deciding the project wouldn’t be in vain, the engineer took the Stirling engine and hung off the side of a row boat. Imagine the people standing along the Dutch canals wondering what was powering that rowboat with no oars in sight!
4. As a veritable replacement for any steam engine, the Stirling engine is much safer—which is why the Reverend Robert Stirling invented it in 1816!
5. Refrigerators and freezers: Sun Power of Athens, Ohio developed Stirling-powered refrigeration units in the 1980’s but they did not dent the market.
6. Stirling cycle coolers generate liquid oxygen and liquid nitrogen in labs all around the world. It’s a moderately priced way to do so!
7. A yacht: Philips Electronics developed a 90 hp Stirling use for marine use.
8. Domestic water pumps: 1870’s to 1920’s.
9. Sewing machines: 1870’s to 1920’s.
10. And the #1 top use for a Stirling Engine … A Cat Magnet! Worked back then too!

Written by Kathy Bazan.

Scott Weatherhead, CEO and Inventor of Net2Vu describes its basic concept from his booth at SciTech Expo 2010.

ABOUT Net2Vu

View the world on your TV through the Internet. Net2Vu is redefining the home television experience by bringing millions of free internet videos from around the world directly to your TV plus the channels you love, and Movies on demand — all of this without a computer. The Net2Vu platform transforms the TV set into a powerful multimedia hub with an unbelievable level of choice and ease in accessing digital entertainment. You’ve never seen your television like this before.

Net2Vu is a privately held company based in the British Virgin Islands with offices in many Caribbean countries.

For more on Net2Vu go to www.net2vu.com

SciTech 2010 officially launched this morning, with the Director of National Council for Science and Technology (NCST), Dr Lennox Chandler giving the feature address. Dr Chandler sharing his reasons for stating that this Expo will be the last for a while. He lamented about the Expo generating great energy and excitement bi-annually and having fascinating projects that are torn down right after the exhibition with no real opportunity for commercialization. 

Listen below

Dr. Lennox Chandler – Address

ICBL –  On Behalf Of Sponsors

Charles Cyrus – Vote Of Thanks

[Show as slideshow]

[View with PicLens]

A robotic car that has a mind of its own. Come out and get all the details.

Queen's College Science Club says change your fuel … save the world

The biggest problem in the world is global warming

We say remove the carbon dioxide with our C2C converter 

Participants 

• Rebecca Whitehead
• Alexis Layne
• Sharan Sambhwani
• Gabriela Grant

Supervised by Ms. P Murray – Chemistry Teacher

Timothy Walker completed his booth early and gives us a basic overview of his business which features Vollara products with ActivePure Technology from the space program! 

Tyrone King & Thorne Wood Speak About Project Discovery. Project Discovery's exhibits are Hovercraft, hydrogen fuel cell and Solar cells, all of which were built in Barbados with all local products. Project Discovery pulls students from Barbados Community College, Samuel Jackman Prescod Polytechnic, Garrison Secondary, Springer Memorial Secondary School & Combermere Secondary School.

So here in a Stirling Engine … 

And here is the one that Sanjay Mahabir will be showing you this weekend at SciTech Expo 2010!!!! 

Sci-Tech 2010 – Concorde Launch       

Press Release

Contact:
Lennox Chandler, Director, NCST - Phone: 246.427.1820
Linda Walrond - Phone: 246.424.0994

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE