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Report Summary Problem Statement Requirements Concept Generation Design Refinement Final Selection/Specifications Lessons Learned/Conclusion Appendix

Author: Jon Evans	Team: Solar Car

Requirements

The requirements for the ventilation system came from two sources: American Solar Challenge and the University of Utah Solar Vehicle Design Team. These requirements are:

American Solar Challenge Requirements:

• Batteries must be ventilated at a minimum of 280 L/min
  • The battery boxes must be supplied with at least 280 liters of fresh air per minute. This will reduce the likelihood of the batteries overheating. In the case of a leak from one of the batteries, this will prevent dangerous fumes from reaching the driver or sensitive equipment.
• Must be active whenever battery system is electrically connected to the rest of the car.
  • The fan must always run for the same purposes as stated above.
• Outside air must be provided for the driver.
  • The driver must have fresh air. This will allow the driver to stay comfortable during the race and will prevent the buildup of any dangerous gases withing the cabin.

Additional Team Requirements:

• Shell interface must not significantly compromise aerodynamics.
  • In designing the interface, the drag caused by the equipment should be minimal. It is understood that some drag will occur, but this should be a consideration. Higher drag forces require the motor to use more energy to move the vehicle, reducing its efficiency and top speed.
• Shell interface must be lightweight.
  • Every increase in mass of the vehicle will slow it down. For this reason, weight will be a major priority in designing the interface equipment.
• Shell interface must be easy to manufacture and include Commercial Off The Shelf (COTS) parts.
  • This component is not the only part of the Solar Vehicle. Therefore, significant amounts of manufacturing time should not be spent on it. If COTS parts are available at a reasonable price, they should be used wherever possible.
• Shell interface must connect with COTS ducting equipment.
  • The primary purpose of the design is to provide an interface between the ducting and the outside ventilation. If the connections are poor, the efficiency of the ventilation system will be compromised.
• Shell interface must not be overly expensive.
  • As mentioned above, this is not the only component of the Solar Vehicle, so moderation must be used when selecting materials and COTS parts.

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