Description
The Horizon Energy Box provides more than 100 possible experiments to give students a complete understanding of fuel cell technologies for renewable energy applications. The included CD-ROM contains curriculum content for 40 hours of classroom activities.
The Energy Box contains a comprehensive mix of alternative energy applications, including:
- Fuel cell and hydrogen experiments
- Wind and solar experiments
- Thermal and electric mobility science experiments
The fuel cell science experiments, which were designed by fuel cell experts, include the PEM hydrogen fuel cell, direct ethanol fuel cell, salt-water fuel cell, and reversible fuel cell—all in one kit. The Energy Box introduces renewable energy with a solar panel, a wind turbine, a temperature cell, and a hand crank generator. A super capacitor is also included, illustrating the latest in energy storage technology. The kits can be used to address Next Generation Science Standards*: MS-PS3-2, HS-PS3-3, HS-PS3-4.
The kits include:
Fuel Cell & Hydrogen
- Ethanol Fuel Cell
- Salt-Water Fuel Cell Kit
- Micro Fuel-Cell Science Kit
Wind & Solar
- Solar Hydrogen Generation Set
- Wind Energy Kit
Other Kits
- Horizon Energy Monitor
- Thermal Power Science Kit
- Super Capacitor Science Kit
- Electric Mobility Science Kit
The experiments, which can be conducted in stations, include:
Solar energy experiments
- Study the effect of heat and cooling on solar panels
- Evaluate the effect of shade on solar panels
- Explore the effect of tilt angle on solar panels
- Find the solar panel’s maximum power point
Hydrogen energy experiments
- Electrolysis mode: generating hydrogen and oxygen from water
- Fuel cell mode: generating electricity from hydrogen and oxygen
- Determining the minimum voltage for water decomposition
- Polarization states for hydrogen fuel cells
Wind energy experiments
- How many blades are best—1, 2, 3, or more?
- Use 3 different curved blade shapes
- Use blades you make yourself
- Evaluate turbine efficiencies
- Measure revolutions per minute (rpm)
- Tuning for maximum power
- Determine how blade angle or pitch affects output power
- Study the process of hydrogen generation
Bio-energy experiments
- Create electricity from ethanol and water
- Exploring polarity
- Ethanol fuel consumption
- Exploring the effect of varying fuel concentrations
- Exploring the effects of temperature
Thermal energy experiments
- Power a fan with 2 heat sources
- Analyze power generation with the Renewable Energy Monitor
- Understand thermoelectric effect
Mechanical/electrical energy experiments
- Explore hand crank energy generation and energy conversion from mechanical to electrical energy
- Explore super capacitor energy storage
- Power a fan with electrical energy from the super capacitor
- Power a fan with mechanical energy from the hand crank
Salt-water energy experiments
- Create energy from salt-water solution and power a fan
- Analyze current and voltage dependence (variations) using different salt concentrations
- Analyze current and voltage dependence (variations) using different temperatures
- Analyze current and voltage dependence (variations) using different fuel volumes
Multi-energy powered car experiments
- Power a car with a hydrogen fuel cell (reversible and mini fuel cell)
- Power a car with a salt water fuel cell
- Power a car with solar energy
- Power a car with a super capacitor and hand crank
- Power a car with different forms of hydrogen (hydrogen gas and hydrogen hydride)
Note: Additional materials may be needed but are not included to maximize the utility of the potential experiments. The Hydrostik Pro can be recharged with the Hydrofill® Pro, which is available for separate purchase (item #759262).