4D-Printed Shape Memory Polymer Based Solar Tracker

Serhii Tytov; Fhad Al-Modaf; Shicheng Su; Nazek El-Atab

doi:10.1109/PVSC48317.2022.9938697

4D-Printed Shape Memory Polymer Based Solar Tracker

Serhii Tytov, Fhad Al-Modaf, Shicheng Su, Nazek El-Atab

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › peer-review

Abstract

In this work, soft actuators made of shape memory polymers (SMPs) are used to actuate and control a solar tracker in response to heat generated by sunlight. To achieve this, a thermo-mechanical design of a solar tracker is 4D printed. The results show that the black-colored elliptical-shaped solar tracker can shrink and tilt by up to 30° when exposed to sunlight with a response time of 30 s, enabling the solar cell to remain exposed to the highest light intensity and therefore, allowing for continuously optimizing the solar cell power output.

Original language	English (US)
Title of host publication	2022 IEEE 49th Photovoltaics Specialists Conference, PVSC 2022
Publisher	Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.
Pages	1248-1251
Number of pages	4
ISBN (Electronic)	9781728161174
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1109/PVSC48317.2022.9938697
State	Published - 2022
Event	49th IEEE Photovoltaics Specialists Conference, PVSC 2022 - Philadelphia, United States Duration: Jun 5 2022 → Jun 10 2022

Publication series

Name	Conference Record of the IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference
Volume	2022-June
ISSN (Print)	0160-8371

Conference

Conference	49th IEEE Photovoltaics Specialists Conference, PVSC 2022
Country/Territory	United States
City	Philadelphia
Period	06/5/22 → 06/10/22

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
The authors acknowledge generous funding from the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) and the KAUST Climate and Livability Initiative.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 IEEE.

Keywords

4D printing
shape memory polymer
solar energy
solar tracker

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Control and Systems Engineering
Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering
Electrical and Electronic Engineering

Access to Document

10.1109/PVSC48317.2022.9938697

Cite this

Tytov, S., Al-Modaf, F., Su, S., & El-Atab, N. (2022). 4D-Printed Shape Memory Polymer Based Solar Tracker. In 2022 IEEE 49th Photovoltaics Specialists Conference, PVSC 2022 (pp. 1248-1251). (Conference Record of the IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference; Vol. 2022-June). Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.. https://doi.org/10.1109/PVSC48317.2022.9938697

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title = "4D-Printed Shape Memory Polymer Based Solar Tracker",

abstract = "In this work, soft actuators made of shape memory polymers (SMPs) are used to actuate and control a solar tracker in response to heat generated by sunlight. To achieve this, a thermo-mechanical design of a solar tracker is 4D printed. The results show that the black-colored elliptical-shaped solar tracker can shrink and tilt by up to 30° when exposed to sunlight with a response time of 30 s, enabling the solar cell to remain exposed to the highest light intensity and therefore, allowing for continuously optimizing the solar cell power output.",

keywords = "4D printing, shape memory polymer, solar energy, solar tracker",

author = "Serhii Tytov and Fhad Al-Modaf and Shicheng Su and Nazek El-Atab",

note = "Funding Information: The authors acknowledge generous funding from the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) and the KAUST Climate and Livability Initiative. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2022 IEEE.; 49th IEEE Photovoltaics Specialists Conference, PVSC 2022 ; Conference date: 05-06-2022 Through 10-06-2022",

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doi = "10.1109/PVSC48317.2022.9938697",

language = "English (US)",

series = "Conference Record of the IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference",

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Tytov, S , Al-Modaf, F , Su, S & El-Atab, N 2022, 4D-Printed Shape Memory Polymer Based Solar Tracker. in 2022 IEEE 49th Photovoltaics Specialists Conference, PVSC 2022. Conference Record of the IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference, vol. 2022-June, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc., pp. 1248-1251, 49th IEEE Photovoltaics Specialists Conference, PVSC 2022, Philadelphia, United States, 06/5/22. https://doi.org/10.1109/PVSC48317.2022.9938697

4D-Printed Shape Memory Polymer Based Solar Tracker. / Tytov, Serhii ; Al-Modaf, Fhad ; Su, Shicheng et al.
2022 IEEE 49th Photovoltaics Specialists Conference, PVSC 2022. Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc., 2022. p. 1248-1251 (Conference Record of the IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference; Vol. 2022-June).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › peer-review

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AU - Su, Shicheng

AU - El-Atab, Nazek

N1 - Funding Information: The authors acknowledge generous funding from the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) and the KAUST Climate and Livability Initiative. Publisher Copyright: © 2022 IEEE.

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N2 - In this work, soft actuators made of shape memory polymers (SMPs) are used to actuate and control a solar tracker in response to heat generated by sunlight. To achieve this, a thermo-mechanical design of a solar tracker is 4D printed. The results show that the black-colored elliptical-shaped solar tracker can shrink and tilt by up to 30° when exposed to sunlight with a response time of 30 s, enabling the solar cell to remain exposed to the highest light intensity and therefore, allowing for continuously optimizing the solar cell power output.

AB - In this work, soft actuators made of shape memory polymers (SMPs) are used to actuate and control a solar tracker in response to heat generated by sunlight. To achieve this, a thermo-mechanical design of a solar tracker is 4D printed. The results show that the black-colored elliptical-shaped solar tracker can shrink and tilt by up to 30° when exposed to sunlight with a response time of 30 s, enabling the solar cell to remain exposed to the highest light intensity and therefore, allowing for continuously optimizing the solar cell power output.

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4D-Printed Shape Memory Polymer Based Solar Tracker

Abstract

Publication series

Conference

Bibliographical note

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Access to Document

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