Apparatus will be judged on objective as well as subjective basis.
Elimination Round
Ten teams will compete simultaneously in each elimination round.
Teams will be given a time of 30 minutes each for direct exposure to solar radiation.
Participants should adjust their apparatus so as to get maximum possible exposure. It should be noted that participants are not allowed to manually adjust their apparatus once start of the competition is declared.
At the end of 30 minutes, air of 100 liters per minute flow rate will be passed through the heat exchanger for 1 minute and the temperature of the air will be measured at the center of the outlet of the apparatus.
The teams will be ranked on the basis of temperature reached of the air per unit aperture area per average direct insolation of the device.
Direct insolation is the solar radiation that is transmitted directly through the atmosphere to the earth's surface without interacting with atmospheric components. It shall be calculated using an intensity meter.
Average Direct insolation shall be the mean of Direct insolation values calculated after every minute for the 30 minutes that each apparatus would be exposed to direct sunlight.
Aperture area is defined as the maximum projected area of the apparatus’ outermost dimensions in the direction of sun-rays at the time of competition.
The teams will have to mention the aperture area of their apparatus in the abstract itself together with the process through which they have arrived at such a result. The same would be checked by the organizers at the time of competition itself.
The top 10 teams from the elimination round will be chosen for the final round.
Final Round
This round measures heat duty per unit aperture area per average direct insolation of the apparatus.
Average Direct insolation shall be the mean of Direct insolation values calculated after every minute for the 20 minutes that each apparatus would be exposed to direct sunlight.
A pipe of inner diameter 8mm and outer diameter 14mm will be provided at the venue for both water and air flow. The pipe provided will be approximately 1.5 m above the floor surface. It is advisable that participants use a flexible inlet pipe with appropriate dimensions to fit in the above mentioned pipe. Apparatus should be equipped with an outlet pipe so that flowing water can be collected in container kept on the ground.
Teams have to focus their device to optimum solar exposure before start of the round. They are not allowed to make any adjustments once the start of the competition is declared.
A time period of 20 minutes will be provided for exposure to sun rays.
At the end of time period of 20 minutes participants need to open valve for water inlet and shall be given a maximum of 1 minute time to set the flow rate which they feel is optimum for their apparatus. Note that participants are not allowed to readjust flow rate or anyhow change it once set.
Initially 10 liters of water will be allowed to pass through the apparatus, after which heat duty of apparatus will be measured.
Heat duty = Temperature rise x Flow rate.
Temperature Rise = Temperature of water flowing from outlet of apparatus - Temperature of water provided at inlet.
Flow rate = weight of water flowing through outlet pipe in a time period of 1 minute.
Apparatus with maximum Heat duty per unit aperture area per average direct insolation will score maximum points in objective judging criteria.
(Aperture area is as defined in 3.1.6)
Only teams those qualify for final round under objective judging will be judged subjectively.
Subjective judging will be based on following criteria:
Concept: The technical details involved in the device with proper reasoning as to why such a design is conceptualized; should be explained. Mathematical formulation should be used wherever it is necessary and appropriate.
Aperture area: Participants need to mention the aperture area and the process through they arrived at the mentioned result.
Fabrication process: Participants need to explain materials used for fabrication of apparatus and reasons for selecting that particular material. Aspects like long lastingness, availability and costs should be thought of.
Outstanding quality: This includes any outstanding quality of the device (e.g. in terms of its installation, effectiveness, cost, ease of mass production etc.), if any.
Team that scores maximum combined points from objective and subjective judging will be declared as winner.