Brussels, March 30, 2015--- In the heart of the Paris Cité des sciences et de l’industrie, Solvay is exhibiting the prototype Solar Impulse 1, the solar plane which carried out a large number of missions, including a flight across America in 2013 without using a drop of fuel.
In March 2014 Solvay became the owner of this first solar plane. A true "flying laboratory", the plane conveys a message, raising people's awareness to the challenges of the energy transition and sustainable mobility, and illustrating in a very concrete way the solutions that chemistry can provide towards developing a "low-carbon" economy".
“Exhibiting Solar Impulse 1 at the Cité des sciences et de l'industrie gives the plane a second life, sending out an optimistic message to younger generations that the impossible can be made possible by audacity, innovation and clean technologies. From its home in Paris, Solar Impulse 1 will thus be accompanying its big brother Solar Impulse 2 in the latter's ambitious round-the-world flight. The plane thus has great symbolic value, all the more so on account of the COP 21 to be held this year”, said Claude Michel, head of the Solar Impulse partnership at Solvay.
The Paris Cité des sciences et de l’industrie, Europe's No.1 science museum welcoming close to two million visitors each year, is exhibiting Solar Impulse 1 in its main hall, backed up by a specific multimedia show and a flight simulator for kids.
Since joining the Solar Impulse project as its leading partner in 2004, Solvay has constantly played an active role, making available its scientific competence and know-how in particular to develop advanced materials. A large number of the challenges facing Solar Impulse involve research and development fields in which Solvay is involved, such as renewable energy and sustainable mobility.
Commissioned in December 2009, the prototype Solar Impulse 1 made 77 flights, establishing 8 FAI (Fédération Aéronautique Internationale) records in the course of its 480 flight hours. Unveiled in April 2014, the second version of the plane, Solar Impulse 2, took off on its round-the-world solar-powered flight in March 2015. Starting out from Abu Dhabi on 9 March and after a short flight to Muscat, the capital of Oman, Solar Impulse 2 flew over to Ahmedabad in India on 10 March. From there, it flew to Varanasi (India) and Mandalay (Myanmar). It is currently flying to Chongqing in China. The next stages will take it to Nanjing (China) and to Hawaii after a very long five-day and five-night flight. From there, it will fly across America and over the Atlantic to Europe or North Africa, before heading back to Abu Dhabi.
Solvay, Solar Impulse's technology partner
15 products, 25 different applications, 6 000 components
To reconcile light weight and performance under extreme climatic conditions where temperatures fluctuate between -40 °C and +40°C, Solvay has been involved in several fields:
Harvesting energy:
- An ultra-thin (17 microns) polymer film based on Halar® ECTFE is used to protect the solar panels and the 18,000 photovoltaic cells from moisture, making the Solar Impulse 2 totally watertight.
- The small gaps between the solar cells are taped over by high-tech Solstick Solef® PVDF , making them completely flexible and enabling them to follow the movement of the wings.
Storing energy:
- Solvay's Solef® PVDF is used to help store energy in the lithium-ion batteries weighing 640 kg. Energy density has also been increased - from 240 Wh/kg in SiI to 260 Wh/kg in Si2.
Optimizing fuel consumption:
- As a lubricant, Fomblin® PFPE provides mechanical equipment with top resistance to wear and tear and corrosion, thus reducing maintenance requirements and energy consumption.
- The cockpit's fairing is made from ultra-lightweight polyurethane insulation with a special foaming agent, Solkane® 365 MFC.
Making the structure lighter:
- The wings have a honeycomb structure based on Torlon® PAI, sandwiched between two carbon-fiber sheets. This composite structure covered with impregnated paper combines excellent mechanical properties (robustness, torsion, bending, vibration) with an incredibly light weight.
- The fastenings and screws used to attach the various wing components are manufactured using such high-strength lightweight materials as KetaSpire® PEEK and PrimoSpire® SRP.
- The light fittings on the wings and cockpit equipment housing are made from Polyamide 6 Sinterline™. These highly complex, custom-built components are produced by 3D printing, using Solvay's new selective laser sinteringprocess.
And for the pilots' well-being:
- Their underclothes are made from Emana®, a fiber based on polyamide 6.6 which stimulates the microcirculation of blood and improves muscle performance.
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As an international chemical group, SOLVAY assists industries in finding and implementing ever more responsible and value-creating solutions. Solvay generates 90% of its net sales in activities where it is among the world's top three players. It serves many markets, varying from energy and the environment to automotive and aeronautics or electricity and electronics, with one goal: to raise the performance of its clients and improve society's quality of life. The group is headquartered in Brussels, employs about 26,000 people in 52 countries and generated 10.2 billion euros in net sales in 2014. Solvay SA (SOLB.BE) is listed on EURONEXT Brussels and EURONEXT Paris (Bloomberg: SOLB:BB - Reuters: SOLB.BR).
