News & Resources
Solar around the world
The solar-powered plane which completed a round-the-world journey
Latest technology and smart design were applied and great efforts were made to make it possible. Firstly, the plane’s airframe was constructed with lightweight thin materials that weighs 2.3 tonnes, about the same as a standard family car. Its light weight allows it to be powered with as little power as possible being much more energy efficient. Its super-wide wings (72m wide) allow it to take advantage of air currents to glide without the need for much power.
It'll also fly much slower than jet planes do, so it could carry smaller, lighter batteries to store energy at night. To generate enough power for the flight, the wings of Solar Impulse 2 were covered with 17,000 solar panels, which gather enough energy to save for night-time flying. Other new technology was used, including a specially made thermal foam used to control the temperature. This technology has already been used in some fridges too.
Solar Impulse 2 cruised at a speed of between 50-100 kilometres per hour depends on the brightness of the sun and can climbed up to 29000 feet at daytime. It completed the 42,000 km journey from 2015 – 2016 which began and ended in Abu Dhabi. This flying attempt demonstrates was used to promote the use of renewable energies and energy efficiency.
This year, Solar Impulse has signed an agreement with US-based start-up with a Spanish subsidiary for a “new use” of the machine.
References:https://aroundtheworld.solarimpulse.com
https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/30916599
Image Source:
https://advancedtech.airliquide.com/
.png)
.png)
