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2008 Texas Solar & Hydrogen Fuel Cell Race Car Event Details
1st Annual
Booz
Allen Hamilton
San Antonio High School Science Bowl,
February 25, 2006
The National Science bowl is a national academic math and
science quiz bowl competition for high school teams.
One
of approximately 68 regions throughout the US. The
event will be open to any current public, private or home school team or
science club in Bexar County Texas and the surrounding
area. The event is scheduled to take place on February 25, 2006
at John Jay High School, 7611
Marbach Road, San Antonio, TX.
4th
Annual South Texas Middle School Science Bowl, May 5-6,
2006
The Middle School Science bowl is a national competition
consisting of (1) an academic math and science quiz bowl
and (2) a model hydrogen fuel cell car competition for
middle school teams. One of 28 regional competitions in
the US. The event is open to any current public, private or home middle school
team or science club in Texas, Oklahoma, Arizona and
Louisiana. The event is scheduled to take place on May 5 -6, 2006
at the Northside Activity Center, 7001
Culebra Avenue, San Antonio, TX.
10th
Annual
CPS
Energy
Texas Solar Race Car Event, May 20, 2006
The Junior Solar Sprint
(JSS) is a nationwide educational
event guided by the US Department of Energy National
Renewable Energy Laboratory in Colorado. The Texas Solar
Race Car Event was created in San Antonio and has been
hosted in San Antonio by Rayburn Middle School in
Northside ISD and The MITRE Corporation since 1997. Over
fifty (50) elementary and middle schools throughout the
state have built model solar race vehicles and competed in
the Texas Solar Race Car Event. The event is open to any public, private, or home elementary or middle
school team or club in Texas. The event is scheduled
to take place on May 20, 2006 at Farris Stadium, Highway
1604 and Hausman Road, San Antonio, TX.
Solar Car Race Rules
Each school or organization should have 1 car per every 3
to 5 team members.
- Each vehicle may only use one motor and solar panel
which must comply with the specification provided in
Attachment 1. Note that any previous or new kit obtained
from the Junior Solar Sprint vendor will comply with
these specifications.
- The vehicle must be safe to contestants and
spectators, e.g., no sharp edges, projectiles, etc.
- A space of 3 cm x 3 cm must be available on the side
of the car where an assigned vehicle number can be
placed.
- The sun’s light is the only energy source that may
be used to power the vehicle. No batteries or energy
storage devices are permitted.
- Any energy-enhancing devices, like mirrors, must be
attached to the vehicle.
- The vehicle must be steered by the track’s guide
wire (e.g., 50 lb fishing line or string). The vehicle
must be easily removable from the guide wire, without
disconnecting the guide wire. Vehicles may be connected
to the guide wire using one of the following:
- Using a removable connecting device such as an
eyelet attached to the vehicle
- Using velcro attached to the vehicle. The guide wire
will contain a permanently connected lightweight tube
with velcro.
- The vehicle must have a chassis that is three
dimensional. The solar module cannot be used as the
chassis of the car. Axles and wheels can not be bolted
to the solar cell.
Track Specifications
The length of the race course is 20 meters over level
terrain.
Racing lanes must be at least 60 cm wide.
A guide wire will be located in the center of each lane
of the track and will not be more than 1.5 cm above the
track surface.
The track will be a hard, smooth level surface.
Race Conduct
Contestants only will be permitted in the race area. One
team member will be at the start position and one shall be
at the finish position. Other team members, teachers,
mentors and spectators may either be in the stands or in
the race track holding area.
At race times, vehicles will be placed behind the
starting line with all wheels in contact with the ground.
Teams have a maximum of 2 minutes from announcement of the
heat to have their vehicle ready to race.
The contestants must cover the solar module with an
opaque material (e.g., a file folder) without touching the
module.
At the start of the race, the contestants will remove
the opaque covering to allow the solar module to generate
electricity for powering the vehicles.
An early or push start may result in disqualification or
re-running the race. The race judges will determine if a
contestant is disqualified or if the race must be rerun.
The race will start when the official signal is given.
The winner of the race will be the first vehicle to cross
the finish line or the farthest car down the lane.
During initial heats, the judges may declare multiple
wins or losses.
One member of each team must wait at the finish line to
catch the vehicle.
Team members may not accompany or tough the vehicle
while it is racing on the track. Vehicles stalled on the
track may be retrieved after the end of the race has been
declared.
Vehicles and team members must remain at the finish line
until the winning order of the race has been established.
Vehicles that change or cross lanes will be disqualified
(at the discretion of the race judges).
Challenges protesting the winner order of the heat must
be made before the races judges begin the next heat. All
challenges must come from the team members who are
actively competing. The decision of the race judges are
final.
Judges have the option to inspect cars prior to the
final heat or at any time during/after the heats are
completed.
Attachment 1
Solar Panel and Motor Specifications
Photovoltaic Module. Six solar cells in series to produce
an output voltage (Vmax) of not less than 2.76 volts @ 3
watts; the final determination shall depend on motor
selection and availability.
- Module dimensions shall not exceed 5" by 13"
- Cells shall be mounted on corrugated plastic
0.125" thick, such as Cor Plast, and the cells
encapsulated in a clear polymer, such as Crystal Sheen.
- Module shall weigh less than 110 gm.
- Connections to the cells can be at one end or both
ends of the module. The leads should be as simple as
solder tabs so that alligator clips can be used to make
connections
Motor. 1.5 to 3.0 volts @ 3 watts (+5% or -0% on
variability of performance).
- Shaft diameter 1.5-2.0 mm - 2.0 mm preferred.
- Motor diameter 25-35 mm.
- Current under 1 amp to 1.5 amps.
- Stall torque 125 gm/cm.
- Speed no load 5000 rpm.
Model Hydrogen Fuel Cell
Car Race Competition Rules
Purpose
The Department of Energy (DOE) and General Motors (GM)
are very interested in ensuring that all students understand
the hydrogen economy and how a fuel cell works. General
Motors depends on an educated work force to succeed in an
increasingly dynamic, technologically complex and
competitive environment. The hydrogen fuel cell competition
engages sixth, seventh and eighth grade students to design,
build and race model hydrogen-powered cars steered by guide
wires. Each team is provided a fuel cell car kit. Students
are encouraged to use math and science principles, together
with their creativity, in a fun, hands-on educational
program that stimulates enthusiasm for science at a crucial
stage in their education.
Hands-on design has a different feel from textbook
problem solving or even traditional science labs. There is
no single correct answer, any number of solutions developed
by students can work. DOE and GM have found that students
are excited about generating ideas in a group and then
building and modifying models based on these ideas. Students
can see for themselves how changes in design are reflected
in car performance. Teachers/coaches will have the
opportunity to guide their students through a process
similar to those used by professional design engineers.
The goals of the program are as follows:
- Present science concepts in a fun and exciting way.
- Give students a chance to interact with engineers and
scientists.
- Stimulate creative thinking through a hands-on design
project.
- Help students to experience the satisfaction of
creating a working machine and the excitement of
entering it in a competition.
The objective of the hydrogen fuel cell car competition
is to design and build a vehicle that will complete a race
in the shortest possible time. The fuel cell enables you to
produce hydrogen from the solar cell. During the race the
hydrogen will be used to produce electricity to power the
car.
Teams use a fuel cell kit to design and build a hydrogen
powered vehicle that will race on a 20-meter course. The
winner of the competition will be the team whose vehicle is
the top finisher in a series of head-to-head,
double-elimination rounds. Awards will be given to the top
three fastest cars.
NOTE: All cars must be built by the students with limited
assistance from the coach or other adults. This is a
student competition!
Race Components
There are two components to the race.
1. Speed race: Heats will be run in a series
of head to head double elimination rounds until the top
three cars have been identified. Students will be given
time to refine their car and experiment with different
types of wheels and altering the plastic chassis.
Regional Hydrogen Fuel Cell Car Competition: It
is suggested that the only modification allowed for
the regional competitions are the wheels.
National Hydrogen Fuel Cell Car Competition:
There will be an Open Class where the
students will be provided different chassis bodies,
gears, wheels, axles, electrical connection wires, and
motors. In the open class the students must use the fuel
cell, solar panel and gas tank provided in the kit.
There will also be a Stock Class, where the
students will build the kit and only modify the
wheels.
NOTE: Hydrogen is flammable. Mixing hydrogen and
oxygen can be explosive. Consequently, all teams must
use the gas tank provided in the kit. No additional
hydrogen storage tank will be allowed in the
competition.
2. Hydrogen knowledge: Students must be able
to answer a series of inquiry based questions that test
their knowledge of fuel cell and hydrogen technologies.
Materials
3. Fuel cell car kits will be provided to the 20
winning regional teams following their regional event.
The regional winning teams can develop a plan and design
to bring to the national event
TBD. No completed cars can be brought to the
national event, only the plans and designs.
4. The vehicle must be the team’s design and can be
altered using materials provided to the teams at the
National Middle School Science Bowl. Students will not
be allowed to bring previously built vehicles; new
vehicles must be constructed on-site as part of the
Science Bowl competition.
5. For the Stock Class: All original car parts
included in the fuel cell car kit will be used for the
hydrogen fuel cell competition. Only the wheels may be
modified for the competition. For the Open Class: The
original fuel cell, solar panel and gas tank must be
used. The rest of the car will be built from other
provided materials at the National MSSB.
Vehicle
Specifications
6. The vehicle must be safe to contestants and
spectators, e.g., no sharp edges, projectiles, etc.
7. The vehicle must fit the following dimensions: 30
cm. by 60 cm. by 30 cm.
8. Decals of the sponsor organizations (provided by
national competition) must be visible from the side on
the body of the car. A 3 cm. by 3 cm. space must be left
for the assigned car number.
9. Energy Source: The electricity needed for the
electrolysis procedure must by provided by the solar
cell which will be charged using incandescent lamps if
the sun is not available. Caution: If you are
using incandescent lamps, do not exceed 300 watts since
holding the solar cell close to the lamp can destroy the
cell and make it inoperable. The
minimum distance from the solar cell to the
incandescent lamp should be 8 inches. The solar
cell is separated from the vehicle after the charging is
complete. The electrolysis will be completed in a
designated charging area prior to the start of the race.
The only energy source permitted on the vehicle is the
fuel cell with the hydrogen that was produced from the
electrolysis procedure.
10. Steering: An eyelet must be attached to the
bottom, front, or side of the car. An example of a
possible design is illustrated below. A guide wire, 1
cm. (+/- .05 cm) from the surface of the track, will go
through the attached eyelets on the car, serving as the
steering mechanism, and keeping the car in its lane. The
vehicle must be easily removed from the guide wire,
without disconnecting the guide wire. This is the only
allowable method of steering the car. No radio control
is permitted in the cars. Lane changing or crossing will
result in disqualification.
Glue the eyelet to the bottom of your car near the front
(or use two eyelets--one near the front and one near the
rear). The guide wire will pass through the eyelet to keep
your car in its lane.
Track
Specifications
11. The length of the race course is 20 meters over
flat terrain.
12. Race lanes are at least 60 cm. wide.
13. The guide wire will be located in the center of
the track and will not be more than 1.5 cm. above the
track surface.
14. The track is a hard, flat, smooth surface such as
a tennis court or running track. A large sheet of rolled
material, i.e., plastic, heavy paper, roofing paper
(half-lap), or hardwood taped or bolted together may be
used to cover an uneven surface.
Race
Conduct
- Charging Station: The solar cell in the kit must
provide the electricity needed for the electrolysis
procedure. The solar cell is separated from the vehicle
after recharging. Incandescent lamps or the sun will be
used with the solar cells to produce hydrogen to fuel the
cars.
- Race Day Electrolysis Procedure:
Before the
scheduled race start, all teams must report to the
designated charging station with their fuel cell car and
solar cell. Distilled water will be provided at the charging
station for the electrolysis process. All gas tanks for the
fuel cells must be completely filled with water prior to the
electrolysis procedure, and at no time after electrolysis
may any of the water be discarded. Removal of any of the
water from the gas tank container will result in
disqualification. There is no time limit on the
electrolysis procedure–a team may report to the charging
station as early or late as practical; however, teams must
be ready to start their race at the specified time. The
solar cell is to be used for electrolysis only; it may not
be used to charge up any auxiliary power systems, or stored
on the vehicle in any way. The only energy source permitted
on the vehicle is the fuel cell with the hydrogen that it
produced from the electrolysis procedure.
- At race time, the vehicle will be placed behind the
starting line with all its wheels in contact with the
ground. No more than two team members will be allowed in
the start area.
- An early start or push start may result in
disqualification or a re-run of the heat. The
determination will be left to the race judges.
- The Lead Official will announce the start of the race
and will verify with the Start Officials that the students
have their cars hooked to the guide wire and the fuel cell
leads attached to the motor.
- All vehicles will be started when the official signal is
given. The winner of the heat will be the first vehicle to
cross the finish line or the car farthest down the track
when the race is called.
- During the initial heats, the judges may declare
multiple wins or losses.
- One team member must wait at the finish line to catch
the vehicle.
- Team members may not accompany or touch the vehicle on
the track. Vehicles stalled on the track may be retrieved
after the end of the race has been declared by the Lead
Judge.
- The vehicle and team member must remain at the finish
line until the order of the race has been established.
- Lane changing or crossing will result in
disqualification.
- Challenges must be made before the race judges begin the
next heat. All challenges must come from the team members
who are actively competing and directed to the lead judge.
The decisions of the race judges are final.
- Judges will inspect cars prior to the final heat
or at anytime during/after heats.
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