Energy Experience Design Challenge 2008 Final Rally

On May 24th all the registered teams in the Energy Experience Design Challenge 2008 gathered at the Falls Brook Centre to setup their solar thermal water heating systems and determine which team had created the most effective system. 

The weather was not great, ambient temperatures in the 11-12 degrees Celsius range with overcast conditions for most of the day.  This did not stop the Photovoltaic modules from producing enough power to run their pumps and circulate the water in the 16 litre buckets through each teams hand crafted solar thermal collectors. 

In the end the team from Carleton North High School came out on top having raised the temperature in their bucket close to 15 degrees Celsius over a five hour period.  That rise in temperature means that their system captured 1,004,160 Joules or 278.9 Watt-hours of energy and averaged 55.8 Watts of thermal power production.  Not bad considering the weather. 

For more information on the design competition or to find out how to participate next year check out www.fallsbrookcentre.ca/experience.