Young Naturalist Award — Aiden: The Secret of the Fibonacci Sequence in Trees
My investigation asked the question of whether there is a secret formula in tree design and whether the purpose of the spiral pattern is to collect sunlight better. After doing research, I put together test tools, experiments and design models to investigate how trees collect sunlight. At the end of my research project, I put the pieces of this natural puzzle together, and I discovered the answer. But the best part was that I discovered a new way to increase the efficiency of solar panels at collecting sunlight!
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The tree design takes up less room than flat-panel arrays and works in spots that don’t have a full southern view. It collects more sunlight in winter. Shade and bad weather like snow don’t hurt it because the panels are not flat. It even looks nicer because it looks like a tree. A design like this may work better in urban areas where space and direct sunlight can be hard to find.
Update: I missed that he was measuring the open-circuit voltage output, not current, for his arrays.
Solar cells are connected in series in photovoltaic modules. If even one cell in a module is shaded, the whole module goes down. Parallel connection would be DC high amperage at negligible voltage. Wiring and inverters do not like that, absolutely and as efficiency.
http://www.sunsoglobal.com/faq/Overview of Solar Panels.pdf
A tree leaf-configured array of solar cells would then be overall efficient for intercepting sunlight, but useless for its conversion to electricity. IT MUST BE FUNDED for it is an alternative energy new hope for mankind to save our children and restore jobs to America!
Stuff to the right of a decimal point matters. Stuff to the left of a decimal point matters more. Social advocacy and Enviro-whinerism do not matter at all.
so if i put a dime on a solar panel it won’t work anymore? (because some area is not getting light) kewl!!!! or do i have to cover an entire “cell”?