Sunday 31 March 2013

TeStiNg PV m0duLe

OBJECTIVE

  • To estimate the IV curve characteristics of PV module
  • To estimate the power curve characteristics of PV module

METHOD
  1. Firstly, I have to construct the circuit as given in the experiment sheet
  2. The solar have to face the fake solar perpendicularly
  3. Then, get the readings of voltage and current by using varying the variable resistor (10k ohm)
  4. Next, the readings is recorded in Table 4.3 
  5. Lastly, plot the graf

RESULT


CONCLUSION

From the graph, it shows the IV curve of photovoltaic. This experiment being conduct under ambient temperature, 31oC. This reading being measured by using multimeter. For conduct this experiment, fake solar had been used to replace the sun to get a continuously reading. The result is influence by the variable resistor since the setting of the variable resistor is changes. When doing this experiment, I have to careful varying the variable resistor since it easy to damage if the input is high.

Saturday 23 March 2013

Pr0t0tyPe

OBJECTIVE

  • To build a project prototype

METHOD
  1. Firstly, prepare all the equipment that are needed
  2. Build the prototype

RESULT



CONCLUSION

 When doing this prototype, it take a few days when suddenly not enough equipment to complete it. I have to go to the hardware shop for twice. Finally, here the prototype.

Wednesday 13 March 2013

tHerMal pAstE

OBJECTIVE
  • To understand more about thermal paste


METHOD
  1. Find the information on the Internet


RESULT


Thermal paste, heat paste, heat sink paste or heat sink compound is a viscous fluid substance, originally with properties akin to grease, which increases the thermal conductivity of a thermal interface by filling microscopic air-gaps present due to the imperfectly flat and smooth surfaces of the components; the compound has far greater thermal conductivity than air (but far less than metal). In electronics, it is often used to aid a component's thermal dissipation via a heat sink....


Thermal conductor types:

Thermal greases use one or more different thermally conductive substances:
  • Ceramic-based thermal grease has generally good thermal conductivity and is usually composed of a ceramic powder suspended in a liquid or gelatinous silicone compound, which may be described as 'silicone paste' or 'silicone thermal compound'. The most commonly used ceramics and their thermal conductivities (in units of W/(m ·K)) are: beryllium oxide (218), aluminum nitride (170), aluminum oxide (39), zinc oxide (21), and silicon dioxide (1). Thermal grease is usually white in colour since these ceramics are all white in powder form. These figures are for bulk material, not thermal grease.
  • Metal-based thermal grease contain solid metal particles (usually silver or aluminum). It has a better thermal conductivity and is more expensive than ceramic-based grease.
  • Carbon based. There are products based on with carbon-based conductors, using diamond powder, or short carbon fibers, they have the best thermal conductivity and are generally more expensive than metal-based thermal grease.
  • Liquid metal based. Some thermal pastes are made of liquid metal alloys of gallium. These are rare and expensive.
  • Phase Change Metal Alloy (PCMA) is not a "grease" but another type of Thermal interface material. The design consists of a sealed alloy metal pad that needs to be "reflowed" under high heat (typically 90-100C.) The alloy on the inside of the seal will change phases, and fill all the micro-voids. Since this material is made of mostly metal alloy, the thermal properties of this interface material are very good.
All but the last classification of compound usually use silicone grease as a medium, a heat conductor in itself, though some manufacturers prefer use of fractions of mineral oil.All these compounds conduct heat far better than air, but far worse than metal. They are intended to fill gaps that would otherwise hold air, not to create a layer between component and heatsink—this will decrease the effectiveness of the heatsink. Ideally perfectly smooth and flat metallic surfaces would not need heatsink compound.

Purpose:

Thermal grease is primarily used in the electronics and computer industries to assist a heat sink to draw heat away from a semiconductor component such as an integrated circuit or transistor.
Thermally conductive paste improves the efficiency of a heatsink by filling air gaps that occur when the imperfectly flat and smooth surface of a heat generating component is pressed against the similar surface of a heatsink, air being approximately 8000 times less efficient at conducting heat than, for example, aluminum (a common heatsink material). Surface imperfections and departure from perfect flatness inherently arise from limitations in manufacturing technology and range in size from visible and tactile flaws such as machining marks or casting irregularities to sub-microscopic ones not visible to the naked eye. Thermal conductivity and "conformability" (i.e., the ability of the material to conform to irregular surfaces) are the important characteristics of thermal grease.
Both high-power handling transistors, such as those in an audio amplifier, and high-speed integrated circuits, such as the central processing unit (CPU) of a personal computer, generate sufficient heat to benefit from the use of thermal grease to improve the effectiveness of a heatsink. The need for heatsink compound can be minimised or removed by lapping the surfaces of the hot component and the matching heatsink face so that they are virtually perfectly flat and mirror-smooth.[citation needed] Computer overclockers, who increase computer speed by measures which increase heat production, resort to lapping and other extreme cooling methods such as water-cooling.

Application and Removal:

Computer processor heatsinks utilize a variety of designs to promote better thermal transfer between components. Some thermal greases have a durability up to at least 8 years. Flat and smooth surfaces may use a small line method to apply material, and exposed heat-pipe surfaces will be best prepared with multiple lines.
Excess grease separating the metal surfaces more than the minimum necessary to exclude air gaps will only degrade conductivity, increasing the risk of overheating. Silver-based thermal grease can also be either slightly electrically conductive or capacitive; if some flows onto the circuits it can cause malfunctioning and damage.
Over time, some thermal greases may dry out, have reduced heat transferring capabilities, or set like glue and make it difficult to remove the heat sink. If too much force is applied the processor may be damaged. Heating the grease by turning the processor on for a short period often softens the adhesion. It is recommended that thermal grease be re-applied with each removal of the heatsink.
Silicone oil-based thermal grease can be removed from a component or heatsink with an alcohol (such as rubbing alcohol) or acetone. Special-purpose cleaners are made for removing heatsink grease and cleaning the surfaces.
Measurement tools allow to determine exactly the height of applied thermal grease.
or can visit this site to know more.....

to apply thermal paste: http://www.wikihow.com/Apply-Thermal-Paste
removal: http://www.techpowerup.com/articles/overclocking/134