Aerodynamics of the Car When Racing - Report Example

Green power car Name: University: Course: Code: Lecturer: Contents Contents 2 INTRODUCTION 3 BACKGROUND RESEARCH 3 Car Aerodynamics 5 The body 5 Top view 5 Side view 7 Steering wheel 7 The wheels 8 Wheelbase 9 Solar panel and Wheel position top view 10 Motor position 11 Range of Concept 12 RESOURCES 12 MOTOR – DC Fracmo electric motor 12 BODY WORK 12 CHASSIS 12 BATTERRY TYPE/ POWER SOURCE 12 WHEELS 12 STEERING WHEELS 13 Cost analysis 13 DECISION MATRIX TABLE 13 CONCLUSION 14 References 15 INTRODUCTION Technology advances have led to the development of the electric car, which is an automobile that uses electrical energy to move.  The electrical energy used in these cars is stored in batteries and other devices that can store electric energy. Electric cars have a smooth and strong acceleration caused by the torque developed by the electric motor mounted in the car. However, most electric car designs have difficulties to maintain the charge for a certain period [2]. This is attributable to the rate of discharging from the batteries. Our design will focus on solving different difficulties faced during green power car race while increasing running time. BACKGROUND RESEARCH This project (Green power design project) is about designing an electric vehicle capable of participating in a race, which may last for over 6 hours. Our design car will be participating in the IET Formula 24+ competition, which is a game for children aged 9-11 years supported by Green Power. Figure 1: Vehicle in Green power race [2] Fig. 1 is a vehicle design used in green power race. The design has front design that provides an allowance that can give space to mount solar panel and the battery. Additionally, the design the chases lowered to ensure for stability and maintain the car position in racing. Sustainability is main objective for this design. Considering the fact that cars require energy to move, the electric motor mounted in this will provide enough torque that will propel the car at the expected speeds. As opposed to the fossil fuel cars (diesel and petrol), electric current is stored in batteries mounted in the car and charged using solar panel mounted on the top of the car. Having considered the current designs used to make electric cars, the designs can be classified as; Cars that use direct external power source; Cars that use store power charged from external source; and Electric vehicles that use on-board devices to charge batteries and power the vehicles while in motion. Our model uses the third type of electric car that use on-board mounted solar panel to charge the battery. This serves as a sustainable system using the solar to ensure zero pollution when using the car in racing. For large electric cars they can be charged using an external power source and used for the distances that the stored charge can sustain the car propulsion (SEE fig 2 below). Figure 2: Tesla being charged in Norway [3] From fig. 2 above, the Tesla design is charged using an external source of power. However, the car has roofing that is best suited to mount a solar panel to charge the battery. Additionally, the Tesla design has rear wheel bigger than the front wheel, which provides stability for the racing car. This project will use the design that will use solar panel to charge the battery, an electric motor mounted at the middle axil, a battery, and bodywork. Car Aerodynamics The body Since the car is designed for racing, the body has to obey the aerodynamics of an aerofoil to provide down pull for the car when in the race. The front side is designed such that is reduces resistance at the front side and ensure that it attains maximum speed when in the race. On the upper side of the side is covered and the solar panel mounted on to ensure that it captures maximum solar radiation when the car is racing [5]. Moreover, the body is made of fiberglass, which is light material and reduces the weight of the car. When racing the car weight reduces the propelling speed of the car. Thus, using the fiberglass in the design ensures that the car races without resistance developed from heavy weight. Top view From the view the design that is used in the design of this car is design 2 as indicated in the figure below. Figure 3: design top view From the above figure, the solar panel is mounted on the front side of the car. This area has enough space that can hold the solar panel and the battery. In addition, the space provided is enough to ensure the driver is safe in case the power collides from the front side. Side view Figure 4: side view From the above figure, the power car is designed such that it has low resistance on the wind flowing against its propelling direction. Design 2, is the design used in this car since it provides proper aerodynamics required to propel the car with least resistance [1]. On the other hand, design 1 has a block front, which provides more distance to the car when racing thus it is not fit for this design. Steering wheel Having considered three designs of a steering wheel, design 1 fits the car since it provides full surface to handle the car (SEE fig below). Figure 5: steer wheel design The wheels The wheels for the car are designed such that they are inside the car to ensure that they cannot topper over easily when negotiating corners. Additionally, the rear wheels are designed to be smaller for both rear and front wheels, which lowers the center of gravity for the car and ensures that the car is stable when racing [3]. The figure below is an illustration of different wheel designs from which the car ideas were developed, design 1 best fits for this design. The upper covering of the car is made of plastic panels. The round plastic panels are meant to protect the area around the front wheels. Figure 6: wheel size Wheelbase This design has a wheelbase that has both the front and rear wheel with an equal breadth, this ensures that car propels and maximum speeds without toppling when negotiating corners. Therefore, design 1 in the figure below suits better for the design. For design 2 and 3 the car can easily topple when negotiating a corner, hence making the two options not fit for the design (SEE fig.7). Figure 7: wheelbase Solar panel and Wheel position top view Figure 8: solar and wheel position From the figure above the front wheels are moved inside, while the car rear side covers the rear wheels. The solar panel is mounted slightly behind the front wheels and in front of the steering wheel, this reduces the shocking impact when the car is accelerating and if it hits some foreign equipment on the racing track [2]. Motor position Figure 9: motor position From fig 9 above, the motor position is best mounted at the middle position to develop equal torque to both rear and the front wheels. Mounting the motor at either back or rear side of the chassis, the amount of torque developed will not be uniform hence the car will not be stable when racing. Range of Concept Table 1: chassis material sheet RESOURCES MOTOR – DC Fracmo electric motor Power supplied: 240 Watts Voltage: 24 Volts BODY WORK Materials: Fibre glass Finish: Smooth (Skin Friction/ Drag) CHASSIS Material: Aluminium Type: Wrought Aluminium Finish: Bright BATTERRY TYPE/ POWER SOURCE Two 12 volt Green power approved and supplied unmodified batteries will be used on each vehicle Auxiliary batteries: one PP3 or six AA cells WHEELS Pneumatic Tyres STEERING WHEELS Material: Aluminium Finish: Bright Form: Cylindrical Cost analysis Table 2: COST ANALYSIS [6]   Part QTY Cost total cost 1 Crash helmet 1 £ 30.00 £ 30.00 2 battery charger 1 £ 30.00 £ 30.00 3 Dual Brake Lever 1 £ 17.00 £ 17.00 4 100 W solar panel 1 £ 130.39 £ 130.39 5 200 Ah battery 1 £ 62.40 £ 62.40 6 Goblin Kit car 1 £ 1,110.00 £ 1,110.00 7 Battery Box and Clamp 1 £ 21.65 £ 21.65 8 Battery Clamp 1 £ 6.00 £ 6.00 8 Battery Isolator Mounting Plate 1 £ 6.96 £ 6.96 8 Circuit Breaker 1 £ 12.96 £ 12.96 8 cable tie 5 £ 0.02 £ 0.10 8 Wiring Set 1 £ 39.23 £ 39.23 8 Electrical Connecting Block 1 £ 1.25 £ 1.25 8 Push Button Switch 1 £ 3.58 £ 3.58 8 Relay 1 £ 19.12 £ 19.12 8 Spare Key for Isolator Switch 1 £ 1.99 £ 1.99 8 Battery Isolator Switch 1 £ 11.52 £ 11.52    Total   £ 1,504.07 £ 1,504.15 DECISION MATRIX TABLE Table 3: decision matrix [4] The decision matrix above gives an account of the general engineering requirements that are related to the design of the green power car. It examines the requirements that must be met when making the design. For the alternatives provided, each alternative has a point that has status quo choice, which is a ‘do nothing’ point (shaded black). On the cases where the alternatives have a -, + or nothing, the ratings based on worse, better or equivalent situations respectively [7]. Therefore, when designing the green power car all the factors that must be considered in the design are based on these alternatives as indicated in the decision matrix above (see table 3). CONCLUSION This design considers the aerodynamics of the can when racing. Therefore, stability is key to this design. The car uses solar power, which is meant to make the design more sustainable and lower carbon emissions to the ambient. Further, this design ensures that sustainable plans are met in the design and ensure green power car is purely powered by solar power. References [1] Chiras, D., 2010, Green Transportation Basics, Cananda, New Society Publishers [2] Cranswick, M., 2012, The Cars of American Motors: An Illustrated History, Canada, McFarland. [3] Stanford, J., 2009, The Sports Car: Development & Design, New York, Batsford [4] Webking, R. et al., 2005, LSAT Logic Games, New Jersey, Research & Education Assoc [5] Lewin, T. & Ryan, B., How to Design Cars Like a Pro, New Jersey, MotorBooks International, [6] http://gpshop.theuniprogroup.com/index.php/goblin/electrical.html [7] Mintz, A & Karl, D. Jr, 2010, Understanding Foreign Policy Decision Making, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press. Read More