How to Use this Web Log

1. Browse through articles by clicking on "Older Posts" below each article in the center column.
2. Search through the Blog Archive at the lower right-hand column.

3. Read Editor's articles to the right.
4. Get Technical help in the lower left hand column.
5. Efficiency and low-waste strategies in the lower right column.

Friday, May 15, 2009

Solar Workshop Notes

Light On The Earth

The Solar Option

Can We Live Lightly on the Earth?

Combustion of fuel and depletion of resources are the foundation of our economic prosperity and high standard of living.

The Industrial Revolution - A cauldron of unintended chemistry and the decimation of the natural world.

Can we have prosperity and a high standard of living some other way?

Yes, if we want to, we have the technology to live in balance with the eco-system.

The only question is:

Are we capable of changing our habits to preserve the natural world and to have enduring prosperity?

That is our Choice.

The Solar Option
We have light on the earth.
Let’s use it.

With up to a 40 year life, solar-electric panels are the most durable, low maintenance and reliable technology ever devised by man.
And with no moving parts!!

How many products in your house have a 25 year warranty?
Solar-electric panels do.


But, Isn’t it too expensive?

Not if we design the systems wisely!

The system I live on cost less than the price of a three year old, used economy car.

Yet I have all of the modern amenities.

I expect the system to last up to 40 years.

I expect far greater reliability than the power grid.

Energy security is a side benefit.

What are the three pillars of a practical solar energy system?

Efficient equipment

Low-waste strategies

Solar energy technology

Why Efficient Equipment?

Constant efficiency improvements in energy-using equipment allows us to get the desired result with ever smaller energy use.

Appliances, lighting fixtures, tools and systems can use a large or small amount of energy to perform the same function. Of course less is better!

Added bonus: as a rule, the less energy an appliance uses, the longer it will last.

The less energy you need the smaller and less expensive your solar energy system will be.

Low Waste Strategies

Our waste of energy must come to an end.

We may be wasting as much as 50% of the energy we use.

Leaving energy appliances running when they are not being used cannot be tolerated. This means participation by every person in the household and the use of switches and timers to prevent waste of energy.

A change in habits is a small price to assure the health of the natural world!!!

Reduce energy use through Efficiency

Products are labeled with their energy use

Specified in watts

Specified in watts/unit time

Specified in voltage and amps which can be multiplied to approximate watts

Can be directly measured during use with a Kill-a-watt meter

Calculating energy efficiency

If you start with a given amount of energy, efficiency describes what percentage of the energy actually performs the desired function and what part is wasted.

If an appliance is 80% efficient that means that 20% is wasted.

In a calculation you can multiply by .80 in order to get 80%.




For instance, a refrigerator of 20 cubic feet that requires 1000 watt/hours per day is more efficient than a 20 cubic foot model that requires 2000 watt/hours per day.

The first model requires:

1000wHr / 20 cf =50 wHr/cf/day

The second model requires:

2000wHr / 20 cf =100 wHr/cf/day

What is a solar energy system?

Electrical generation using solid-state (no moving parts) photovoltaics with solid-state electronic conditioning devices and electrical energy storage

Thermal Solar (heating) devices to heat water and air, to dry clothes and foods, as well as cooling by evaporation.

Solar technology can reduce the use of polluting forms of energy use by 80-95%.

How to reduce energy requirements

1. Efficient equipment

2. Reduce waste by use of switches, timers and a frugal energy ethic.

3. Reduce energy use procedures starting with the most energy intensive appliances.

The Order of Energy Intensivity

1. Space heating and cooling (furnace/air conditioning)

2. Water heating

3. Refrigeration

4. Water pumping (where applicable)

5. Washer and dryer

6. Lighting

7. TV

8. Power Tools (occasional use)

9. Desktop Computers; Laptop computers; Printers/scanners

10. Microwave (occasional use); Cooking

11. Small electronic devices (cordless phones, rechargeable digital cameras, cell phones, etc)

Energy type in order of value

Electrical Energy – Has a higher cost to obtain but is more useful because of its speed of transmission and ease and length of storage. It can be converted to a wide range of uses.

Heat Energy (below the boiling point) is more readily available and easily collected but it dissipates rapidly. It is not economically convertible to electricity.

Solar heating and cooling utilizing passive solar and ventilation

Insulation, calking and ventilation

These are cost-effective ways to reduce the amount of energy needed from expensive active equipment.

Double or triple glazed windows reduce heat transfer through window glass.

Insulation in roof floor and walls minimize heat loss or buildup.

Calking reduces drafts and leakage of heat.

Ventilation adds temperature control as it allows cool air to be pulled in down low as heat is expelled up high.

Active or automated ventilation utilizes sensors, fans and mechanized closures and allows heating and cooling functions to be controlled without human input.

Water heating

The biggest bang for your buck!

On average the 2nd biggest energy user in your household.

Normal hot water systems use one component – a heater/tank utilizing electricity or gas to heat the water.

A solar hot water system adds a few components to dramatically reduce energy cost. Thus there is a rapid payback.

What about cloudy weather?

Solar energy creates heat when light strikes a dark surface. Higher energy visible wavelength excites the dark surface which then radiates a lower frequency, non-visible light called infrared. Infrared is heat.

A hot water system is sized for cloudy conditions. Since solar does not always provide enough, a practical system also uses backup in the form of electric or gas.

The simplest system is best.

Roof or ground mount?

Pump or thermo-siphon (uses no pump)?

Proximity to point of use.

Type of backup

Flat plate collector

The simplest and most economical form of solar water heater.

Thermo-siphon system

The simplest, most elegant design.

The most durable and efficient system

Ground mount gives easy access for occasional cleaning

Allows close proximity to point of use

Allows a simple thermo-siphon system with no pump to break down.

Less plumbing, means less costly installation and no holes in the roof to leak.

Backup system

Instantaneous hot water heater is the best.

Solar acts as a pre-heater reducing energy use.

Extremely cost effective.

Heating air with solar energy

Very cost effective

Simplest form of collector

Heat living space or the intake air to a clothes dryer.

Passive heating

Allow the house to be the solar collector.

Refrigeration

After hot water, it is usually biggest energy user.

Keep refrigerator in a cool place!!!

Use Energy Star Appliances for best performance to cost ratio.

Use a 20 Amp appliance timer on your fridge for reduced energy use.

Avoid high-cost solar specialty refrigerators. They cost too much and are harder to get repaired.

Keep it full to store the cold.

Water Pumping

Uses quite a bit of energy per unit time.

Pressurizing water pumps are only used when water is running and so use less.

Washing machines use pumps which partially accounts for their relatively high energy use.

Small pumps like those for aquariums use relatively small amounts of electricity but are sometimes on 24/7, so it adds up.

Washer and dryer

Laundry equipment is fairly energy intensive.

Use Energy Star appliances

Use liquid detergents, cold water and short wash cycles for most applications.

Use a solar assisted gas dryer in a solar electric house.

Lighting

Use compact fluorescent or LED lights whenever possible. Use compact fluorescent bulbs that have globes to avoid mercury contamination.

Avoid lights that are hot to the touch. This indicates low efficiency.

Do not leave lights on when they are not required.

Energy consumption of light bulbs

Television

The larger the set the more electricity it uses.

A 32 inch LCD flat screen TV uses about 100 watts

A 24 inch model uses 60 watts.

Standby mode uses a lot of energy.

Eliminate these parasitic losses with a switchable power strip.

Power Tools

My solar energy system has no problem handling the occasional use of power tools.

Table saw, circular saw, chop saw, drill, rechargeable tools, sanders all operate without a problem.

Same is true of most kitchen appliances.

Computers and printer/scanners

Laptops use much less energy than desktops.

My laptop uses about 20 watts compared to up to 250 watts/hr for a desktop computer.

Some larger laptops use up to 90 watts/hr.

Printers/scanners use a very small amount of electricity. But they have standby energy use. Use a power strip to completely shut it down when not in use.

Desktop vs. Laptop

Based on two hours use per day:

Annual Desktop energy usage: 500wHr x 365 days/year = 182.5 kwHr/year

Annual Laptop energy usage: 180wHr x 365 days/year = 65.7 kwHr/year

Energy Savings by using a laptop 182.5 kwHr – 65.7 kwHr = 116.8 kwHr/year

By reducing your use 116.8 kwHr/year you require approximately 90 watts less of solar generating capacity. At about $8.00/watt installed, this amounts to $720 less solar generating equipment.

Small appliances

All work well with solar since their use is occasional and total energy use is low over time.

The Photovoltaic (PV) Electrical Generation System

Electricity generated from light

Proportional to the amount of light

1000 watts/square meter on a sunny day

PV panels are from 15-22% efficient

Crystalline and multi-crystalline varieties

Photovoltaic Panels

The best have a 25 year power warranty

The most durable active product devised by man with an expected life of up to 40 years

100-300 peak watts per panel

High-watt panels are physically larger but heavier and harder to handle

Smaller panels are easier to handle but require more connections and more installation expense

System Types

If your system is connected to the power grid and can sell power to the electric company it is called a grid-tied system.

If your system does not sell power to the grid but is independent or is connected but only uses the grid power as backup, it is called an independent system.

A hybrid system has elements of both types

Grid-tied vs. Independent System

Grid-Tied Components

Independent System Components

The difference between the two types of system

Batteries

Used properly they have 90%+ efficiency and a 10-15 year life.

What to expect from batteries

As an example, I paid $1200 for my batteries that give me 5-10 KwHr of storage at 90% efficiency.

I expect them to last at least 10 years. That is a cost of about $10 per month.

There are new batteries in development with 1/10th the weight, 1/5th the cost per kwHr and that could last up to 40 years. They have a claimed 95% throughput efficiency and are completely no-maintenance and environmentally friendly.

By the time your first set of lead-acid batteries is used up, these new types should be available.

Batteries require periodic addition of distilled water.

Direct Current (DC) vs. Alternating Current (AC)

Normal household current is AC

DC is generally used in boats and recreational vehicles and is stored in batteries

AC appliances are more durable and readily available

The inverter changes the DC from your panels into AC for your house.

How much energy is available from the sun?

Variation during the day

Average Annual Variation

Average retail price per peak watt of PV panels

Panel rating

PV panels are sized to their peak output capacity.

On a clear day at noon, if the panel is perpendicular to the sun’s rays, it should put out an amount in watts that is very close to the rated output of the panel.

The actual output varies with panel mounting angle, cloud cover and time of year (length of day)

How panels are mounted

Fixed-angle, roof Mount

How panels are mounted

Fixed-angle, ground mount

How panels are mounted

Sun-tracking, ground mount

The best mounting system

Panels and all other components mounted together

Benefits of mounting everything in one location

Lower cost of wiring and less losses in the wiring

Ease of access and maintenance

Ease of access reduces cost of repairs

Ease of maintenance reduces cost of maintenance making it more likely

Safer

Lower overall installation cost

Does not interfere with or penetrate house roofing system

Maintenance issues

All solar panels must be cleaned on a regular basis. At least every 3 months. Don’t believe anyone who says they are self cleaning!!

This means using a soft broom to clean the surface and rinsing with water. Not so easy if the panels are on an inaccessible roof.

Maintenance issues, cont’d

Not so easy to clean or inspect if panels are put together in a huge array with no space between panels for access.

Maintenance, cont’d

If you must roof mount, something like this makes more sense.

The problem with roof mounting

The fasteners that penetrate the roof are a cause of possible roof leaks (40 years is a long time).

To replace the roofing will require the complete dismounting of your solar panels.

In the event of a house fire the firemen wanting to make an opening in your roof to save the house make have to destroy your solar panels.

Cleaning and repairs are more difficult on the roof.

Designing system for long life

Photovoltaic systems last 30-40 years

Any system with that kind of life expectancy must be designed for ease of use, low cost of maintenance and repairs

An improperly designed or installed system can cause what should be a trouble-free technology to become just the opposite

Monitoring your independent system

In normal use, you only need to monitor one number, the DC voltage.

This meter must be mounted in a highly visible location like the kitchen

What type of meter?

LED meter with 3/4 to 1 inch numerals

Mounted in central location such as the kitchen

Always visible even in the dark

Two digits to the left of the decimal point gives the range of sensitivity necessary

By observing how this number responds to energy use you will learn how your system works and will have early warning of any malfunctions

Monitoring Grid-tied systems

The best monitoring system for grid-tied applications is an internet based system that comes with the EnPhase micro-inverter system. http://www.enphaseenergy.com/products/products/micro-inverter.cfm

One inverter per panel allows remote monitoring and assessment of each panel’s performance over time. This maximizes the output of your panels.

Micro-inverters generally have a longer life expectancy due to minimal heat dissipation.

Other inverter systems may have similar monitoring systems.

Charge controllers

These devices control the output of the PV panels.

On an independent system they control the charging of the batteries and include multiple monitoring functions.

On grid-tied systems they are included as a part of the inverter and maximize the power obtained from the panels.

Inverters and inverter/chargers

Inverters are electronic devices that change Direct Current (DC) electricity into Alternating Current (AC) electricity.

Life expectancy is 10-20 years

Warranties are from 2-10 years

Inverter specifications

Continuous output in watts

Short-term surge capacity

Input (DC) voltage

Efficiency

True Sine Wave or Quasi-Sine wave

Company reliability in the marketplace

Monitoring and trouble shooting features

Backup For Independent Systems

Use the grid with a battery charger (least expensive if you are already connected).

Use a generator in an enclosure with an inverter/charger.

Automated vs. Manual operation

Using Peak Sun Hours to Size Your System

Peak sun energy occurs between 11:30 AM and 12:30 PM on a cloudless day. This is one peak sun hour.

The annual average daily number of peak sun hours is different in each location depending on latitude, cloud cover and elevation.

This information is available on charts and allows estimates of expected energy availability for sizing a solar system.

Variables

You can further refine this chart by estimating your energy-use habits. If you are careful in the way you use energy, these figures will work well. If you are an average householder, you can add 15% to these figures. If you don’t pay any attention to how you use energy, then you can double these estimated system costs.

Which demonstrates conclusively why energy efficiency and low-waste strategies can pay off in a big way.

Additional Benefits

These estimates of cost do not include the tax credits available from State and Federal government.

Tax benefits can reduce the overall cost of the system by 30% or more. U.S. Tax incentives can be found here:

http://www.dsireusa.org/

Independent systems provide energy security in the form of uninterruptible power.

Internet Resources

http://www.solar-nation.org/

http://www.homepower.com/home/

http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/home

http://lightontheearth.blogspot.com/