Engineering Commons^™

A Portable Photovoltaic Water Aeration System, Florida Solar Energy Center, William Young

FSEC Energy Research Center®

Water aeration is a method to improve the water quality in a lake by adding oxygen to the water. Because water aeration systems are often located in remote locations, photovoltaics are ideal for powering these systems. This paper describes a water aeration system powered by photovoltaics that is used in Florida. The portable nature of this system permits the owner to conveniently relocate the system and aerate bodies of water as needed.

Measured Energy Savings Of A Comprehensive Retrofit In An Existing Florida Residence, Florida Solar Energy Center, Charles Withers, Jr.

FSEC Energy Research Center®

Simulation analysis suggests that electricity consumption can be reduced up to 40% in existing Florida homes with judicious use of methods to reduce loads, as well as more efficient equipment. To test this theory, an all-electric home was located in Miami, Florida upon which to perform a variety of retrofits. The total annual electricity consumption in the one year base-line period preceding the study was 20,733 kWh. Although high, this is not unusual for a South Florida home with a swimming pool since pool pumping often accounts 3,000 -4,000 kWh per year. Detailed instrumentation and metering equipment was installed in …

Energy Needs During Disasters: Workshop Summary Report, Florida Solar Energy Center, Gerard Ventre

FSEC Energy Research Center®

When natural disasters, such as hurricanes, earthquakes and floods, occur, thousands of people can be left without homes, electrical power, communications, potable water, and food storage capabilities. Adequate electrical power is imperative for both disaster relief operations and community rebuilding. However, the disaster may have disrupted the commercial power supply to a community, requiring disaster relief agencies to rely on alternative sources of power. Photovoltaic-powered equipment provides electrical power which is renewable, quiet, and safe, and which can be used for many essentials of disaster relief efforts, such as refrigeration, communications and lighting. However, at present, photovoltaic (PV) technology is …

Pv Powering A Weather Station For Severe Weather, Florida Solar Energy Center, William Young

FSEC Energy Research Center®

A natural disaster, such as Hurricane Andrew, destroys thousands of homes and businesses. The destruction from this storm left thousands of people without communications, potable water, and electric power. This prompted the Florida Solar Energy Center to study the application of solar electric power for use in disasters.

During this same period, volunteers at the Tropical Prediction Center at the National Hurricane Center (NHC) and the Miami Office of the National Weather Service (NWS) were working to increase the quantity and quality of observations received from home weather stations.

Many weather data collecting stations are at remote sites, which are …

Demonstration Of Cooling Savings Of Light Colored Roof Surfacing In Florida Commercial Buildings: Retail Strip Mall, Florida Solar Energy Center, Danny Parker

FSEC Energy Research Center®

A series of tests were conducted in seven retail shops in a strip mall in Cocoa, Florida to examine how roof whitening would impact air conditioning load. The roof of the strip mall was conventional: unsurfaced galvanized corrugated metal with R-11 insulation suspended by purlins underneath. Below the insulation was the roof plenum which contained both the air handler and duct air distribution system. Cooling was accomplished in each shop by a dedicated direct expansion air conditioning (AC) system between 3 and 4 tons in size. Each had its air conditioning metered for half of the summer in a baseline …

Photovoltaic Equipment For Disaster Relief, Florida Solar Energy Center, William Young

FSEC Energy Research Center®

Photovoltaic (solar electricity) has been used to power various equipment used in disasters. Previously, no organized program had used photovoltaic powered equipment in disasters. In response to an energy needs study with disaster relief organizations, Sandia National Laboratories for the U.S. Department of Energy sponsored the Florida Solar Energy Center to provide PV equipment to selected disaster relief organizations and evaluate its performance and acceptability. The purpose of the report is to describe the six PV-powered systems that were provided.

Controlling Ventilation And Space Depressurization Inrestaurants Inhot And Humid Climates, Florida Solar Energy Center, Charles Withers, Jr.

FSEC Energy Research Center®

Testing was performed in 9 restaurants to identify uncontrolled air flows and pressure imbalances, building and duct system airtightness, building air barrier location, pressure differentials, building air flow balance, and ventilation rates. All restaurants are depressurized under normal operating conditions, ranging from -1.0 to -43 pascals. Space depressurization is a function of exhaust fan flow rates, missing or undersized make-up air, intermittent outdoor air caused by the cycling of air handlers, dirty outdoor air and make-up air filters, and building airtightness. Ventilation rates were found to be high, generally exceeding ASHRAE 62-1989 minimum recommended levels. Pressure imbalances and excessive ventilation …

Moving Mountains With Good Research - A Case Study, Florida Solar Energy Center, Ross Mccluney

FSEC Energy Research Center®

Mountains can be moved by good ideas based on good research. A wonderful example comes to us from, of all things, the Naval Facilities Command (NAVFAC), headquartered in Washington, DC. This agency of the Department of Defense is responsible for some $5 billion per year in new and retrofit construction, with naval facilities all over the globe. The federal government alone is responsible for $50 billion per year of construction, which Terry Emmons of NAVFAC claims is half of total U.S. construction. It seems that the Navy has 120,000 buildings around the world, some buildings, or groupings, are the size …

Batteries And Charge Control In Stand-Alone Photovoltaic Systems, Florida Solar Energy Center, James Dunlop

FSEC Energy Research Center®

This report presents fundamentals of battery technology and charge control strategies commonly used in stand-alone photovoltaic (PV) systems. This work is a compilation of information from several sources, including PV system design manuals, research reports and data from component manufacturers.

Details are provided about the common types of flooded lead-acid, valve regulated lead-acid, and nickel cadmium cells used in PV systems, including their design and construction, electrochemistry and operational performance characteristics. Comparisons are given for various battery technologies, and considerations for battery subsystem design, auxiliary systems, maintenance and safety are discussed.

Requirements for battery charge control in stand-alone PV systems …

Needs Assessment For Applying Photovoltaics To Disaster Relief, Florida Solar Energy Center, William Young

FSEC Energy Research Center®

When disaster strikes, such as a hurricane, flood, tornado, or earthquake, it can leave many people without adequate medical services, portable water, electrical service and communications. It can be as destructive as Hurricane Andrew, which left several hundred-thousand people homeless. Those fortunate enough to survive the disaster could be without local utility power and other services for long periods of time as services are restored.

When such disasters occur, emergency management teams, the military, and many public and private organizations respond with massive relief efforts. Dependency on electrical utility power becomes pronounced as emergency services are rendered and rebuilding begins. …

Energy Efficiency For Florida Educational Facilities: The 1996 Energy Survey Of Florida Schools, Florida Solar Energy Center, Danny Parker

FSEC Energy Research Center®

A detailed survey of energy use and related physical and operational characteristics of Florida's public schools has been completed. A mailed survey instrument was sent to all 2,512 schools throughout the state in March 1996. A total of 1,298 surveys were returned -- a response rate of approximately 52%. Of these some 680 provided matching utility data. The survey data was analyzed to create a school energy use profile as well as to identify characteristics that may influence efficiency. Based on our findings, the total annual energy cost for the Florida school system totaled $205 million in 1995. As shown …

The Effect Of Residential Equipment Capacity On Energy Use, Demand, And Run-Time, Florida Solar Energy Center, Jo Ellen Cummings

FSEC Energy Research Center®

Installed central air conditioning system capacities in 368 recently-built Florida homes were compared with Manual J load values calculated from house audit data. Over 50% of the homes had installed systems with a cooling capacity greater than 120% of the calculated Manual J value. Thirty-one percent of the 78 heat pump homes in this study had installed heating capacity greater than 120% of the calculated Manual J value. Using submetered data from the air conditioning system, a definite increase in peak energy use was observed for systems sized over 120% of Manual J calculations. The effect of system sizing on …

Photovoltaic System Design Course For Savannah State College: Course Evaluation, Florida Solar Energy Center, Gerard Ventre

FSEC Energy Research Center®

This report describes the evaluation of a course entitles Photovoltaic System Design (PVSD), which was presented by the Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC) to faculty members of Savannah State University (SSU). This distance education (DE) course was delivered via a two-way audio/video delivery system from FSEC to SSU. This course evaluation report is included as one of the deliverables in a contract awarded to SSU and FSEC as part of the Advanced Communications Technologies Satellite research project sponsored by the NASA Lewis Research Center, Cleveland, Ohio.

Impact Of Evaporator Coil Air Flow In Residential Air Conditioning Systems, Florida Solar Energy Center, Danny Parker

FSEC Energy Research Center®

The performance of conventional split system residential air conditioners is highly dependent on adequate air flow across the evaporator coil. Sufficient air flow is necessary to achieve a proper balance between sensible and latent cooling capacity. Typical target air flow rates are approximately 350 - 450 cubic feet per minute per ton (581 - 747 L/S per kW) of cooling capacity. The authors have measured the air flow across the coil in 27 installations in Florida. Both flow hood and strip heat resistance methods were used to measure air flow with an established protocol. The installations measured ranged in capacity …

Solar Water Heating: A Question And Answer Primer, Florida Solar Energy Center, David Block

FSEC Energy Research Center®

Solar water heating is a technology that every homeowner can use to save dollars on utility bills. Questions most frequently addressed to the Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC) about solar water heating are answered below. Please note that many replies are general and more explanation may be required for those with individual questions. For additional information, contact the FSEC

Solar Water Heating Options In Florida, Florida Solar Energy Center, John Harrison

FSEC Energy Research Center®

This document is intended to acquaint Florida's general public with typical methods of heating household water by means of the sun. The types of solar systems discussed are pumped (both direct and indirect), thermosiphon and integral collector storage.

Identifying Air Flow Failure Modes In Small Commercial Buildings: Tools And Methodologies For Building Commissioning Diagnostics, Florida Solar Energy Center, James Cummings

FSEC Energy Research Center®

A recent study of small commercial buildings in central Florida found that uncontrolled air flow -- including duct leakage, return air imbalance, and exhaust air/make-up air imbalance -- is widespread. Of 70 buildings studied, only 1 was identified as having no significant uncontrolled air flow. The causes of uncontrolled air flow include failure of design, poor workmanship, O&M problems, HVAC commissioning failures, materials degradation, and building retrofits. This study also found that the consequences of uncontrolled air flow are often quite severe and varied -- including high utility bills, occupant thermal discomfort, high humidity, mold and mildew growth, moisture damage …

Solar Hot Water Energy And Cost Savings For Typical Florida Residential Installations, Florida Solar Energy Center, David Block

FSEC Energy Research Center®

The following table presents energy and cost savings for four typical Florida solar water heating systems. Exact savings by a consumer may vary as much as plus or minus 25 from these numbers for numerous reasons. These include hot water usage, storage tank type, thermostat settings, solar system size, collector placement and local weather conditions. Computer simulations were used to generate the energy data.

Solar Heating Of Swimming Pools: A Question & Answer Primer, Florida Solar Energy Center, Charles Cromer

FSEC Energy Research Center®

Solar pool heating is one of the most economically attractive solar technologies in Florida today. If you are interested in heating your pool, or can no longer afford heating it with fossil fuel alone, consider installing a solar pool heater.

The following information helps answer the most frequently asked questions concerning solar pool heating in Florida. Keep in mind that much of this information is "rule of thumb"; your individual situation, if analyzed in detail, may differ somewhat from the general application. A more detailed analysis of pool systems is provided by the publications listed in the bibliography.

Evaluation Of Resources And Energy Systems At Fort Jefferson Garden Key, Dry Tortugas National Park, Florida Solar Energy Center, James Dunlop

FSEC Energy Research Center®

This report presents an evaluation of the resources and energy systems at Fort Jefferson, located on Garden Key in Dry Tortugas National Park, Florida. Conducted by Florida Solar Energy Center staff on June 11-12, 1997, this evaluation builds on a prior evaluation conducted in May 1989. The purpose of this evaluation was to document the energy and resource needs at the site, and to identify possibilities for reduced costs through conservation measures and renewable energy options.

Approximately 700 kWh of electrical energy is used at Fort Jefferson on a daily average, supplied exclusively by diesel-fueled generators. Average diesel fuel consumption …

Batteries And Charge Control In Stand-Alone Photovoltaic Systems. Fundamental And Application, Florida Solar Energy Center, James Dunlop

FSEC Energy Research Center®

This report presents an overview of battery technology and charge control strategies commonly used in stand-alone photovoltaic (PV) systems. This work is a compilation of information from several sources, including PV system design manuals, research reports, data from component manufacturers, and lessons learned from hardware evaluations.