January 22nd 2011Bandar Seri Begawan - Three Institut Teknologi Brunei (ITB) students have created a homespun solar water heating panel for use in Brunei homes which they say could be marketed and sold to local manufacturing companies for mass production. Produced for less than $1,000, the solar panel is significantly cheaper than more sophisticated models made overseas which utilise more expensive materials, said Ihsan Ismail, a mechanical engineering student at ITB. Ihsan, along with fellow mechanical engineering students Md Al-Amin Zainal Abidin Nasir and Md Hasnoor Baharudin, designed and fabricated the solar water heating panel as part of their final year project for their higher national diploma (HND). "Our aim with this project is to increase awareness locally of how to utilise solar energy. (During our research) we have not come across anyone who has solar panels installed in their homes," said Md Al-Amin. Made of glass and copper tubing, the homespun panel allows solar radiation to pass through the glass cover and strike an absorber plate to turn the radiation into usable heat. This heat is in turn absorbed by the water passing through the pipes and stored in water tanks. So far the device only manages to heat water during the daytime, but Md Al-Amin said improvements could still be made to the design, such as the addition of a capacitor which would store energy collected during the day for use at nighttime. "Brunei has an abundance of sunshine every day, and it is a great loss if it is not utilised," said Md Al-Amin. "This, along with suggestions from our lecturers, is what prompted us to do this project." Ihsan added that they also received advice from the Department of Electrical Services that encouraged them to explore ways in which solar energy could be used to power everyday activities in the home. "They were supportive of the project and encouraged us in the process because they said we all need to find ways to cut down electricity consumption in Brunei," said the mechanical engineering student. "This is something that could reduce electricity consumption and electricity bills in the long run." The project took six months from design to manufacturing and was carried out by the students themselves who sourced and purchased the materials. Asked whether they plan to manufacture and sell the solar panels locally, the duo replied that while they have no plans to make further models, there is a possibility they could sell the patent to a manufacturing firm who in turn could mass produce the product for the local market. "We are waiting to see whether there is any interest from local companies. But so far we are very proud of what we have achieved in this project," said Ihsan. -- Courtesy of The Brunei Times
Source: BruDirect.com - Saturday, 22 January 2011 07:58
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