Engineering Commons^™

The Implementation Of Photovoltaic Transportation Devices, Florida Solar Energy Center, William Young

FSEC Energy Research Center®

The Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC) and the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) are currently involved in a program to implement solar electric (photovoltaic) powered applications in the transportation sector. The objective of the program is to encourage the widespread use of cost-effective, transportation related, photovoltaic-powered systems in all areas of traffic control.

Transportation departments have generally relied on conventional practices of using generators, primary batteries, and extensions of utility grid to fulfil their power needs. There exist many remote and conventional electric power requirements within the FDOT that may be effectively satisfied by photovoltaic (PV) power. Applications ranging from …

Rebuilding For Efficiency: Improving The Energy Use Of Reconstructed Residences In South Florida, Florida Solar Energy Center, Danny Parker

FSEC Energy Research Center®

On August 24th, 1992, Hurricane Andrew devastated a large part of South Dade County in Florida. With over 35,000 homes to be rebuilt, there is interest in seeing if these reconstructed residences can be made more energy-efficient.

This report provides a comprehensive assessment of potential energy efficiency improvements for both new and existing homes in South Florida. Over forty energy-efficiency measures were considered in the analysis. Many homes in the effected zone experienced damage to their windows, roofs and the surrounding landscape. As a result, the analysis closely examined options associated with these design aspects. All major end-uses of electricity …

Hurricane Andrew Photovoltaic Traffic Control Relief, Florida Solar Energy Center, William Young

FSEC Energy Research Center®

On August 24, 1992 Hurricane Andrew damaged and destroyed much of south Florida. The storm destroyed buildings, structures, and traffic devices along the highway. Travel was hazardous with debris in the roadway, traffic signals damaged or not working, and signs missing. This disaster offered a unique opportunity to research and evaluate the potential for using photovoltaic power systems in emergency traffic control situations. This report describes the findings of this study completed by the Florida Solar Energy Center sponsored by the Florida Department of Transportation.

Measured Electricity Savings Of Refrigerator Replacement: Case Study And Analysis, Florida Solar Energy Center, Ted Stedman

FSEC Energy Research Center®

There are approximately seven million refrigerator-freezers in the State of Florida. The average demand of these units is at least 1,000 MW. The average life of a residential refrigerator is approximately 20 years (U.S. DOE, 1989). At least 25% of Florida's existing stock are old inefficient units built before the advent of recent appliance efficiency standards. The least efficient are existing models of which approximately 5% of the stock is replaced each year. This represents a significant opportunity for efficiency improvement since recently established standards will greatly improve refrigerator efficiency by 1993 (NAECA, 1987). A number of studies have identified …

Fsec 3.0: Florida Software For Enervironment Computation: V3.0 Draft User's Manual. 01-92, Florida Solar Energy Center, Alp Kerestecioglu

FSEC Energy Research Center®

FSEC 3.0 was developed to support research. It is a general-purpose software package especially designed to simulate complex building science problems. The program offers several unique features.

The major feature is its ability to solve user-defined systems of governing equations. Up to 250 coupled differential equations and their corresponding boundary conditions may be either selected from libraries or defined by the user. The equations may be linear or nonlinear; spatially-lumped or spatially-distributed; steady-state or transient; ordinary or partial. The structure of the software also allows users to incorporate their own routines or programs. Thus, researchers may define their specific problem …

Simplified Sizing Procedure For Solar Domestic Hot Water Systems, Florida Solar Energy Center, Public Information Office

FSEC Energy Research Center®

This procedure was developed to size residential solar water heating systems in Florida.

Energy-Efficient Lighting For Florida Homes, Florida Solar Energy Center, Danny Parker

FSEC Energy Research Center®

Although lighting doesn't constitute a major portion of the average homeowner's electric bill (generally from 3 to 15 percent), you can cut your lighting costs significantly by installing new energy-efficient bulbs. As an added plus for Florida residents, these new bulbs produce less heat, meaning less work for your air conditioner.

Measured Natural Cooling Enhancement Of A Whole House Fan, Florida Solar Energy Center, Danny Parker

FSEC Energy Research Center®

An experimental study was carried out in the summer of 1991 to investigate the natural cooling potential of use of a whole house fan in Central Florida's hot and humid climate. The residential building, in Cocoa Beach, FL, is typical of much of the existing housing stock in Florida: a concrete block structure with R-11 ceiling insulation. The building was ventilated with all windows open during the three month summer test period (June-August). Air temperatures and relative humidity inside the home interior along with exterior meteorological conditions (insolation, wind speed, air temperature, relative humidity) were scanned every five seconds with …

Limiting Solar Radiation Effects On Outdoor Air Temperature Measurement, Florida Solar Energy Center, Robin Vieira

FSEC Energy Research Center®

This experimental study compares various methods of reducing the effects of solar radiation on outdoor air temperature measurements. It indicates that radiation effects can introduce significant measurement error, even with the use of shielding devices and aspiration, and outlines efforts that were taken to lessen the error caused by radiation.

Two separate tests were conducted, one comparing naturally ventilated and fan-aspirated radiation shields, the other comparing seven identical fan-aspirated shields. Results from the first test showed that one of the naturally ventilated shields was generally more effective than a fan- aspirated unit-at some instances of high radiation giving daytime temperatures …

Microchannel Fluid Flow In A Silicon Chip, Ronald R. Ulseth

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

The objective of this study was to analyze theoretically and experimentally the fluid characteristics of forced flow in microchannels. An apparatus was designed and constructed to allow microflow through a 450 μm wide by 17. 5 μm deep microchannel in a silicon chip. The flow through the chip was laminar with Reynolds numbers not exceeding 100. Tuckerman and Pease (1981) theorized that microscopic heat exchangers etched in the back of silicon chips could provide for efficient heat removal from the chips at rates much higher than the conventional methods could attain. The best technologies available provided for heat removal rates …

Non-Destructive Evaluation Of Space Shuttle Thermal Protection System Tile Bond Integrity, George David Mulligan

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

Experimental modal analysis (EMA) is used as a non-destructive technique for the evaluation of Space Shuttle thermal protection system (TPS) tile bond integrity. Finite element (FE) models for tile systems were developed and were used to generate their vibration characteristics (i.e. natural frequencies and mode shapes). Various TPS tile assembly configurations as well as different bond conditions were analyzed. Results of finite element analyses demonstrated a drop in natural frequencies and a change in mode shapes which correlate with both size and location of disband. Results of experimental testing of tile panels correlated with FE results and demonstrated the feasibility …