This page contains a Flash digital edition of a book.
SunnySideUp vFinal 3/9/09 12:24 Page 42
SUNNY SIDE UP
A fridge for all seasons
Sunny Side Up is where we discuss unusual and innovative uses of photovoltaic
technology. Despite the focus on industrial scale energy supply, the PV industry
will require longer term assimilation into consumer hearts and minds through
clever adaptation of the technology. This edition we highlight a young female
inventor who has applied the earliest use of the sun’s energy with modern
Issue IV 2009
engineering to create a solar powered fridge.
Emily Cummins is a 21 year old student from the develop a system of storing and cooling food
United Kingdom who has been inventing ‘things’ without the use of electricity. Her research led her
since the age of four when her beloved grandfather to develop a very ancient idea of cooling food with
-pv-management.com placed a hammer into her tiny hands. She has a modern twist to increase the efficiency. Not
never looked back and has been feted a number content with just designing, Emily then spent five
.solar
of times in her short life as a sustainable designer, months in Africa after graduating, so as to improve
www
entrepreneur (highlighted due to her youth and her invention. She is currently working on the next
gender) and all round good role model for young generation model.
42
people and engineering.
Emily performed various scientific tests to find the
most suitable sustainable materials to use, taking
into account; efficient function, the amount of
energy used to produce the materials, availability
and cost. The first fridge produced at school is a
fully working model. The size is perfect for
transporting medicines but could be manufactured
on a larger scale, as the theory would still work.
The fridge is manufactured in a cylindrical shape
as there are fewer areas where bacteria can build
up. The storage area is lifted from an inner cylinder
meaning less cold air is lost as the cold air sinks.
Between the outer cylinder and the inner cylinder
is an open compartment where any medium
capable of holding water can be placed. The
medium would usually be sand, wool or soil and is
packed into the gap and then water is added.
When the fridge is placed in a warm environment,
the sun’s energy causes the water to evaporate
Emily’s recent invention has seen her profile from the medium. As the water/medium mix is held
increase even more as she has won a number of against the inner cylinder, heat is removed in the
awards and accolades for her latest offering. The form of energy. Due to heat transfer the inner
solar powered refrigerator that saw the engineering cylinder becomes cooler. The reduced temperature
community and the media flock to this young lady and completely dry environment of the inner
as an individual who was coming up with such chamber makes it perfect for the storage of
positive ideas at such a young age, in a field of perishables as it will allow items to be kept fresh
interest often dominated by men. for longer.
Emily was inspired to develop the fridge whilst still Although not the regular use of solar to create
a design student after hearing the CEO of a energy, Emily deserves to be applauded for
sustainable company give an inspired talk. Emily furthering the use of PV as a sustainable source of
began a number of experiments to see if she could energy for all the world’s people.
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44
Produced with Yudu - www.yudu.com