Solar Impulse is a Swiss long-range experimental solar-powered aircraft project, and also the name of the project's two operational aircraft.

1. THE SOLAR IMPULSE

2. CONTENTS
1. Overview of Solar Impulse
2. Technical Specs of Solar Impulse
3. Introduction to Solar Impulse
4. Pictorial Representation of Solar Impulse
5. How does Solar wings work?
6. Representation of propellant of Solar Impulse
7. Power Storage
8. Electrochemical Cell
9. Fuel Cell
10. Electric Motor
11. Principles of flight
12. Will Solar Planes Ever Replace Jet Engine Planes
13. Advantages and Disadvantages Of Solar Plane
14. Conclusion
15. Bibliography

3. QUICK OVERVIEW OF SOLAR IMPULSE
Manufacturer: Solar Impulse
Main Partners: Solvay, Omega, Schindler and ABB.
Origin: Switzerland
Number of Units Built: 02
First Fleet: 3rd December 2009
First International Flight: 13 May 2011
Mode Of Propellant Used: Solar Energy
Distance Travelled: 40,000 Km, (without fuel)

4. TECHNICAL SPECS
 Number of Crew: 01
 Length: 21.85 m (71.7 ft)
 Wingspan: 63.4 m (208 ft)
 Height: 6.40 m (21.0 ft)
 Max. takeoff weight: 2,000 kg (4,400 lb)
 Take-off speed: 18.89 knots ( 35 kmph)
 Energy Generated By: 4X electric motors, 4 x 21 kWh lithium-ion batteries
 Cruise speed: 56.15 knots (104 kmph)

5. INTRODUCTION TO SOLAR IMPULSE
 The very first solar aircraft manufactured was a prototype named as “Solar Impulse 1 (HB-SIA)”
and was developed in 2009 by the team of Bertrand Piccard and André Borschberg.
 Solar Impulse 2 (HB-SIB) is the upgraded version of Solar Impulse, and successfully completed its
first flight in June and was constructed at Dübendorf, Switzerland. Flight testing was completed in
2014.
 Coming to is construction, so Just below the wings there are four(4) cowlings each with a set
of lithium polymer batteries, a 10 HP electric motor and one twin-bladed propeller of diameter of
3.5m
 The fuselage and wing is constructed with lightweight thin materials, such as carbon fibre and
honeycomb sandwich panels that reduced the weight of a carbon layer from 80g/m² to 25g/m².

6. PICTORIAL REPRESENTATION OF SOLAR IMPULSE

7. HOW DOES THE SOLAR WINGS WORK?
 To make solar energy we require a medium which convert solar energy to electrical energy
so that the propellers are able to run at optimum speed for which they have been designed.
 Solar-powered photovoltaic (PV) panels convert the sun's rays into electricity by exciting
electrons in silicon cells using the photons of light from the sun. This energy generated is
taken to electric motor where they drive the shaft to which the propeller is mounted. (17,248
cells were used which were as thin as hair )
 When manufacturing solar powered vehicle one more important thing that has to be taken
in account is “Solar Irradiance”.
 Solar Irradiance is a measurement of solar power and is defined as the rate at which solar
energy falls onto a surface. The unit of power is the Watt (abbreviated W). In the case
of solar irradiance, we usually measure the power per unit area, so irradiance is typically
quoted as W/m², that is, Watts per square meter.

8. REPRESENTATION OF PROPELLANT OF SOLAR IMPULSE 2

9. POWER STORAGE
 As soon as the engine of the plane starts the consumption of fuel
starts exactly at the same time since it’s a case of the solar plane
we have to make sure that it can store sufficient energy to fly
during the night hours, in that case, we require very well
developed power storage.
 There are number of ways to store energy like Chemical,
Electrochemical, Electrical, Mechanical, Thermal.
 But in the case of solar airplane we require a most efficient and
trusted option for storage and hence in this criteria we’ll choose
“Electrochemical batteries and Fuel Cells”

10. ELECTROCHEMICAL BATTERIES
 An electrochemical cell is a device capable of
either generating electrical energy from chemical
reactions or using electrical energy to cause
chemical reactions.
 WORKING: In the process of the reaction,
electrons can be transferred from the zinc to the
copper through an electrically conducting path as
a useful electric current. An electrochemical
cell can be created by placing metallic electrodes
into an electrolyte where a chemical reaction
either uses or generates an electric current.

11. FUEL CELL
 A fuel cell is an electrochemical cell that converts
the chemical energy of a fuel (often hydrogen)
and an oxidizing agent (often oxygen) into
electricity through a pair of redox reactions.
 WORKING: A fuel cell works by passing hydrogen
through the anode of a fuel cell and oxygen
through the cathode. At the anode site, the
hydrogen molecules are split into electrons and
protons.
 *A fuel cell on a solar airplane stores energy
during the daytime and starts to consume it in
dark that is during night.*

12. ELECTRIC MOTOR
 An electric motor is an electrical machine that converts
electrical energy into mechanical energy.
 There are number of motors available depending upon the
work that has to be taken in account whether you require high
torque, type of source, constant cycles, AC motor, BLDC motor,
stepper motor etc.
 But here in the case of solar airplane we require “DC Motor”
because it will be gaining its energy from DC source that is the
power supplied from the battery.
 Advantages of a DC motor work very efficiently well in this
case, which are
1. High starting torque
2. Quick start and stop
3. Variable speed with voltage
4. Cheaper.

13. PRINCIPLES OF FLIGHT.
 Forces under which an aircraft flies
are:-
1. Lift.
2. Gravity.
3. Drag.
4. Thrust.

14. WILL SOLAR PLANES EVER REPLACE JET ENGINE
PLANE?
 Now-a-days passengers are keep on
increasing day by day and the reason
why they prefer airways just because to
save time,
 Interrupting this full speedy cycle with
one slow speed aircraft will worse the
aviation industry and indulge in huge
losses.
 Since it’s a good step towards
environment but still we require more
and more development toward all these.
 We are still developing green
technologies in order to achieve a
greater, cleaner and brighter future.

15. ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF SOLAR PLANES
# Advantages Of Solar Plane:-
1. Pure use renewable resources
2. 100% pollution free source
3. One time investment is required because source of
energy is of no cost.
4. Can be stored in moderate amount.
# Disadvantages of Solar Plane:-
1. All depends upon the flying location and co-ordinates
2. Huge space is required for mounting of panels
3. Energy related technical snag may occur at night.

16. FLIGHT PLAN OF SOLAR IMPULSE

17. CONCLUSION
 Coming all the way through this long flight of
presentation I would like to conclude that taking a
step towards nature by bringing these significant ideas
to reality will bring a huge change once and for all.
 The day when we’ll achieve this technology in proper
requirement, requirement like speed, storage, working
etc. we’ll be giving one of the greatest gift to nature.
 It’s not that we’ll be completely dependent of solar
energy because the source of energy that is “sun” will
also extinguish one day, that’s what our scientists say.

18. BIBLIOGRAPHY
1. https://solarimpulse.com/
2. https://www.youtube.com/
3. https://aroundtheworld.solarimpulse.com/adventure
4. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_Impulse