• What is a statement that summarizes the “macro” version of your problem? What is a statement that summarizes the “micro” version of your problem? In both cases think of an “elevator pitch” version of your problem statements.

Macro: The world needs solar panels to be more efficient in order to keep up with the rise in energy demand while also replacing fossil fuels with renewables as the main source of energy.

Elevator pitch: Only 12% of electricity consumed in the U.S. comes from renewable sources and as a result, our dependency on fossil fuels has caused rising issues such as climate change. A simple, effective, and low-cost solution to ease the transition to renewable sources is increasing the efficiency of current solar panels by applying a phase change material to serve as thermal management thus preventing a decrease in power output.

Micro: Consumers need solar panels to be more efficient in order to generate more energy, lowering the payback period and saving money on energy bills.

Elevator Pitch: Solar panels are considered a high financial investment with many drawbacks, such as not generating enough energy or being weather dependent. A simple, effective, and low-cost solution to make solar panels worth investing in is by increasing the efficiency of current solar panels by applying a phase change material to serve as thermal management thus preventing a decrease in power output.

• Based on your life experience, skills and interests, what would a design process that is both uniquely yours and effective look like?

A design process that is uniquely mine would include identifying and specifying a problem, identifying and specifying a potential solution, creating a prototype, testing the prototype under every possible condition, and then either revising or finalizing.

 

For identifying and specifying a problem, I would first look at a general issue with the world, such as energy. Then I would continue to specify and specify the issue until I get a specific problem I can target for my project. In the case of the energy issue, I would go from energy to energy production to renewable energy to solar energy to solar panels to solar panel efficiency to solar panel efficiency dealing with temperature. I want the problem to be as specific as possible in order to have a clear goal in mind while working on my project.

 

For identifying and specifying a solution, I would first imagine an “out of this world” solution, similar to ideate step in the design thinking process. Then, I would look up solutions on the internet and see if there is anything that relates to the “out of this world” solution. Back to the energy problem, if my “out of this world” solution was to freeze the solar panel for infinity so that the panel operates at the ideal temperature, then phase change materials would be a “real” solution to the problem. This is because phase change materials store and release heat by changing from a solid to a liquid and vice versa.

 

Then, I would design a prototype. Ideally, I would have 6 solar panels total (in reality, we can only afford 2), 3 with phase change materials and the other 3 without it. I would have thermocouples (temperature measuring devices) behind the solar cells (above the insulation) and right before the insolation. I might have also put thermocouples in front of the solar cells to make sure the panels are getting about the same heat/light radiating on the panel. I would also have 2 resistance temperature detectors (RTDs) within the PCM container to keep track of the temperature of the PCM itself. 

 

After designing, I would test the prototypes. I would put all of them in a separate dark room of equal size and same temperature with a heat lamp pointing at each panel. I would measure the energy produced in order to compare the panels with PCM and those without. After I have found out that PCM does help reduce temperature of the panels (which generates more energy than those without PCM), I would design a “semi-final” product and test it under every possible condition. I know from my IDEAS seminars about how little testing can lead to very dangerous consequences (medical devices in the film Bleeding Edge). I want to make sure my solar panels can work and especially not be dangerous/hazardous in every possible condition (rain, snow, hail, heatwave, wildfires, tree branches hitting the panel, strong winds, etc). I would also test how long the solar panel can operate before it becomes dysfunctional. I want to make sure that manufacturers, sellers, and consumers can all trust my project when it comes to the consumer market. 

 

If my testing has shown that PCM fails to make the panel more efficient or the solar panels break down during a certain condition, I would revise my plan to fix the issue. This may involve redesigning the product or looking for another solution. If it passes my testing, I would first show my products to other researchers and professionals to see if my product functions well under their own testing and ensure any problems with the product have been addressed. Then, I would think that my product is ready for the consumer market.

• You have begun to talk to stakeholders for your project, and will continue to do so going forward. For these conversations, list 10 hypotheses for your project that you will need to validate, and 10 assumptions your project is making, and the basis for those assumptions.

Hypotheses:

1. Commercial grade Calcium Chloride Hexahydrate, CaCl2* 6H2O, as a phase change material (PCM) has the necessary latent heat of fusion to maintain solar panels at a constant temperature.
2. Placing a PCM behind a solar panel will increase the energy efficiency of the panel and serve as an energy storage mechanism.
3. Putting a heat sink behind the PCM will further increase the efficiency of the solar panel.
4. Solar panels combined with PCM will have a lower chance of undergoing damage at different temperatures and seasons. 
5. Solar panels with PCM will be more efficient than solar panels not integrating PCM under similar climate conditions.
6. Solar panels with PCM will have a higher life-expectancy than solar panels without PCM.
7. The commercial grade Calcium Chloride Hexahydrate will have a constant heat of fusion throughout the life-expectancy of the solar panels.
8. The box containing the PCM will be structurally able to withstand any weather conditions.
9. Solar panels with PCM will be affordable to customers and there is an economic value of the addition of PCMs. 
10.  The materials used to create the PCM will be ethically sourced and have a factor of recyclability.

 

Assumptions:

1. Commercial grade CaCl2* 6H2O has a fairly constant heat of fusion on the basis that commercial grade CaCl2* 6H2O is impure.
2. Commercial grade CaCl2* 6H2O will not produce any gas on the basis that commercial grade CaCl2* 6H2O has a high heat of vaporization.
3. The experimental and control solar panels will be exposed to the same conditions on the basis that a heat lamp will be hitting both panels at the same time.
4. The efficiency of solar panels decreases thus resulting in a power drop as temperature increases. The graph below from a previous study demonstrated that as the temperature increased from 28 degrees celsius to 80 degrees celsius there was a significant decrease in power in crystalline silicon solar cells.  
5. PCM can be used to extract heat from solar panels. A study in Indonesia demonstrated that a solar panel combined with a PCM decreased the temperature of the panel by 10 degrees celsius (1).
6. PCM can increase the efficiency of the solar panel. A study in Malaysia demonstrated that a PV-PCM panel resulted in an increase from 8.3% to 10.1% (1). 
7. The use of PCM and fined heat sinks will contribute to the thermal management of the solar panel. A study conducted in New Zealand on photovoltaic cells using PCM infused graphite and alumnium fins and demonstrated that a constant temperature could be maintained over a period of time (2).
8. Approximately 10 thermocouples (T/C) will be necessary for temperature detection
9. Using 2 resistance temperature detectors (RTDs), although more precise than T/Cs, will be sufficient to keep costs down.. 
10. We will need insulation around the T/Cs and RTDs.

Question 1: Review the six focus areas in the Sustainability Strategic Plan 2030. Identify and describe in detail how your project aligns with one or more of the focus areas. Be sure to think outside of the box. Each project aligns with more than one focus area, although it might not be immediately obvious.

The six focus areas in Lehigh University’s Sustainability Strategic Plan 2020-2030 are Climate Action, Educational Experience, Culture & Engagement, Health & Wellness, Campus Operations, and Focused Leadership. Our project most closely aligns with the following focus areas:

Climate Action

In the renewable energy category, Goal 11 aims to transition 100% of Lehigh’s electricity consumption to renewable energy in 2023 through on-campus and off-site projects. Goal 12, similarly, is designed to find renewable energy opportunities to offset natural gas usage. Since we intend to adhere phase change materials (PCM) to Lehigh’s existing photovoltaic panels (PV), the efficiency of these panels is expected to increase. Our impact will be increased solar energy generation to offset natural gas usage. The facilities being powered by solar panels are on the upper campus. By demonstrating that the energy efficiency of the solar panels can increase, more active buildings on campus such as first-year dorm buildings including Dravo, Drinker, and Taylor House could implement solar panels.

Educational Experiences

Our project is part of the Campus Sustainable Impact Fellowship program. Thus, it falls under Goal 6, which involves launching the program and merging it with Lehigh’s goals regarding sustainability while also promoting active learning and research. Our project clearly uses our “campus as a living lab,” so Goal 7 is applicable. We utilize the university’s infrastructure and operations to research PCM and its impact on the solar energy currently generated on campus. We are working at the Energy Research Center (ERC) with the director, Dr. Romero, and collaborating with graduate students to learn more about the challenges with PCM and how to use it to achieve the sustainability goals laid out in the strategic plan. We have learned that one major challenge will be the validity of the commercial-grade PCM.

Culture & Engagement

Projects like ours and the rest of those in the CSIF program will help attract, recruit, and admit other talented and diverse students with a sustainability mindset. Our project is buttressing the skill sets needed to excel after graduation. Although it might not be readily apparent and not a goal we are directly working towards, our project also meets Goal 6 by equipping us with socio-cultural experiences for a job market and world increasingly more concerned with sustainability.

Campus Operations

Our project also aligns with Campus Operations, Goal 30, which is to develop standards on operating buildings and facilities in a sustainable and energy-efficient manner. Once our project increases the efficiency of the existing panels, it could lead the university to assess whether there are opportunities to use phase change materials in other novel ways. 

Focused Leadership

Goals 6 and 7 pertain to helping the university achieve recognition for its sustainability focus. In the aggregate, with all the other projects as part of the CSIF program, our project does help demonstrate the university’s commitment to sustainability. 

Question 2: Identify the key Lehigh University-based and external stakeholders for your project.

We have identified the following stakeholders for our project. Internally, we believe they are: Lehigh University’s Energy Research Center, Office of Sustainability, and Facilities. Externally, we believe the City of Bethlehem would be interested in our plan and design.

For each stakeholder:

Describe what their interest in your project might be.

• A greater understanding of ways to increase solar panel energy output (Energy Research Center)
• Ways to increase renewable energy usage at Lehigh (Office of Sustainability/Facilities)
• Saving energy expenses (Facilities)
• Lowering the payback period of solar panels as the efficiency of panels increases (Facilities)
• Understanding our project and finding ways to incorporate it into the City’s Climate Action Plan demonstrating the sustainability efforts occurring within the City’s footprint (City of Bethlehem)

What resources might they provide?

• Funding (Internal resources)
• Data and statistics of student interest in solar panels (Office of Sustainability)
• Expertise/Recommendations (Energy Research Center)
• Software programs and materials needed (Energy Research Center)
• Place to conduct experiments (Energy Research Center)
• Marketing opportunities (City of Bethlehem)
• Connection to additional external resources (City of Bethlehem)

 How does your work further their goals?

• Assists Lehigh’s goal to offset 100% of the university’s electricity consumption with renewable energy in 2023 (Office of Sustainability)
• Reduces Lehigh’s environmental footprint (Office of Sustainability)
• Increases research on energy and renewable energy (Energy Research Center)
• Energy costs saved would be invested into Lehigh University’s mission (All)
• Reduces the City’s environmental footprint through the City’s most prominent property owner (City of Bethlehem)

How might you engage with them?

• Email (All)
• In-person meeting with them (All)
• Virtual meeting (All)
• Attend the Bethlehem Environmental Advisory Council meeting (City of Bethlehem)

1.List the top 20 questions your team needs to answer to advance the venture forward. Categorize the questions if necessary.

1. How do we incorporate sustainability as a core tenet of the project?
2. Do we have baseline data?
3. What are the short-term steps needed? 
4. Who and what are all the resources available to us?
5. What training is needed to achieve the project goals? 
6. When can all the new group members receive adequate training, and who will facilitate it?
7. When do we need to order materials, and who do we contact?
8. What are the next steps if the material we chose as a PCM isn’t optimal?
9. What is a thermocouple?
10.  What is our goal for the thermocouple experiment?
11. How do we adhere a PCM to a photovoltaic panel?
12. What is the best way to design the model and on which software?
13. How long will it take for the product to be developed and ready for use?
14. How much more efficient will these photovoltaic panels with PCM be compared to standard panels?
15. How much electricity will the photovoltaic panels with PCM generate?
16. How much money will the PCM-PV panels save the university in electricity costs?
17. Will the efficiency of the panels outweigh the cost of implementing the PCM?
18. What is the overall cost for all of the materials and processes needed to produce our project?
19. Are there any grants available to offset project costs?
20. What are the next steps after creating a successful project?

2.Develop and Visualize the Theory of Change (Logic Model) for your venture.

CIMT_LogicModel_Worksheet

3.Develop a M&E plan for your venture.
Clearly list all assumptions.

• Resources are available through the Energy Research Center
• Experiments can take place at the Energy Research Center
• Funds are available for purchasing materials for the prototype
• The finished prototype can be tested on the solar arrays on Goodman Campus
• Software is available for use via LTS
• Graduate students are available and willing to help facilitate experiments and train group members on equipment to be used for the project

Identify short-term and long-term success metrics.

Short Term:

• Learn all the software needed for the project 
• Measure the efficiency of existing solar panels planned for Goodman Campus using the National Renewable Energy Lab’s System Advisory Model (SAM) software
• Decide which PCM is suitable and the appropriate mixture needed
• Build a prototype including the PCM container using SolidWorks, a computer-aided 3D design software
• Verify and test the prototype on existing PV panels measuring heat reduction from PCM and whether there was an increase in electricity generated

Long Term:

• Measure the efficiency of the PCM photovoltaic panels over a longer period of time
• Measure the amount of electricity generated from the panels per day, month, and year
• Evaluate costs/money saved as a result of the PCM-PV panels

(Optional) identify specific methods to measure the metrics.

1). For awareness and vision, my team will define a clear project statement to maintain sustainability as a focal point and as a constant reminder for the team to remain focused. Since we are trying to see how the Lehigh University campus can benefit from a more efficient solar panel, we would ask students and faculty on campus what sustainability means to them through gathering and analyzing data from OIRAS and the Office of Sustainability in order to gauge the interest of the student population on campus regarding renewable energy. Then we would collaborate with clubs on campus like Lehigh REC to raise awareness of the possible benefits/plans of PCM and photovoltaic panels.

For baseline analysis/assessment, my team needs to clearly identify the purpose of the project, the results we expect to achieve in a certain amount of time, the potential customers and stakeholders, and potential locations where the PCM and photovoltaic panels could be installed. Then we will set clear outcomes for the 3 paired students, each team measuring the PCM properties, PCM engineering design, and thermocouple and data acquisition through experiments. We would then analyze the data from those experiments and come together as a team in order to draw conclusions and find areas of improvement.

For creative solutions, we would need to analyze the data from the experiments to determine whether or not Calcium Chloride Hexachloride can be used as a PCM for photovoltaic panels. If we can prove that it can be used as a PCM, we can begin designing a space on the photovoltaic panels at Goodman campus to install the PCM and then track data gathered and determine whether PCM can be used in alternative ways, such as in buildings in order to keep heat inside (lowering its cost of energy). If we can not prove that Calcium Chloride Hexachloride can be used as a PCM, we would either modify the Calcium Chloride Hexachloride to suite our needs on the photovoltaic panels or research other materials that has the necessary properties needed to be used as a PCM for photovoltaic panels in order to increase efficiency.

For deciding on priorities and devising a plan, we would develop a schedule before performing the experiments, outlining what we hope to measure and the results we hope to achieve. Then we would keep track of the progress of the experiments, analyze the results to see if any improvements are needed, and debrief in the weekly meetings to keep everyone informed of any issues, concerns, or alternative methods of approach.

2). The three metrics of success for the environmental stewardship pillar is measuring the increased efficiency of photovoltaic panels through implementing the PCMs, quantifying the amount of energy from fossil fuels and the amount of greenhouse gases avoided through the implication of photovoltaic panels with PCMs, and determining how willing Lehigh’s decision-makers will be to adopt these new photovoltaic panels after seeing the high efficiency rates. The three metrics of success for the social equity pillar is measuring how installing these more efficient solar panels will influence Lehigh student’s views and behaviors (Will it reduce eco-anxiety? Will they become more interested in climate change and energy?), calculating the impact of our project and our insights on the community (both on campus and outside of campus), and evaluating the improvements of the student’s standard of living due to the university’s energy cost saving due to the results of our project (possibly investing in a better student education on energy awareness and sustainability). The three metrics of success for the economic prosperity pillar is assessing the reduction of costs for the university through using more efficient solar technology, determining additional alternatives for PCM such as integrating it to other mechanical systems to decrease energy demand for cooling, and researching whether this project can cause economic growth.

3). With the design strategy, we can use an integrated design process to serve as a framework to approach our project collaboratively, use regenerative design to equip a particular system with the capacity to revitalize its own energy source, and use systems thinking to view the interdependent characteristics of what we are doing, identify the root causes of reoccurring problems in our design, and flag unintended consequences. With the buy strategy, photovoltaic panels are a renewable resource and we can use safer materials as the PCM rather than other more toxic materials. With the make strategy, we can use resource efficiency to ensure that only necessary materials were used in our design (to remain good stewards of the environment) and use addictive manufacturing to add the PCM component to already existing solar panels. With the sell strategy, we can apply the leasing model for our project, since leasing is a current business model for solar panels. With the disposal strategy, we can use a take-back program to ensure the panels with spent PCM are collected and repurposed (reducing waste) and use deconstruction and disassembly to ensure that parts and components could be extracted for the value they retain.