Energy Systems Commons^™

Needs Assessment: Photovoltaics In Disasters, Florida Solar Energy Center, William Young

FSEC Energy Research Center®

In recent years, solar energy has been used sporadically for disaster relief. Disaster relief organizations knew very little about photovoltaics; therefore, the technology was not included in their plans or operations. Likewise, the photovoltaic (PV) industry has not been directly involved on disaster teams, and did not aggressively pursue associated markets.

However, the Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC) and Sandia National Laboratories (SNL) recently completed an energy needs assessment of disaster response, recovery and mitigation activities. The study found that PV is best suited for specialized or dedicated applications that need to operate for long periods of time. This paper …

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 …

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. …

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 …

History Of Applying Photovoltaics To Disaster Relief, Florida Solar Energy Center, William Young

FSEC Energy Research Center®

Hurricanes, floods, tornadoes, earthquakes, and other disasters can happen any place, any time. Major disasters destroy homes and businesses, and leave many people without adequate medical services, portable water, electrical service and communications. In response to the need for electrical service, solar energy offers a source of quite, safe, pollution-free power. Over the last few years, photovoltaic (solar electricity) power systems have provided energy for various disaster all over the country. Photovoltaics (PV) have been used to power vaccine refrigerators, medical equipment, lighting, radios, fans, communications, traffic devices and other electrical equipment. Previously, photovoltaics have supplied emergency power for Hurricane …

An Interdisciplinary Solar Energy Project, William J. Hutzel

School of Engineering Technology Faculty Publications

An HVAC course, previously offered to students in Mechanical Engineering Technology (MET), has been re-structured to include students in Building Construction Management (BCM). A large project is always an integral part of this course, creating a unique opportunity for collaboration between two distinctly different groups of Technology students. This cooperation is particularly beneficial because MET and BCM graduates frequently cross paths during their professional careers. Many MET graduates operate and service heating, ventilating, and air conditioning equipment that was originally specified and installed by BCM graduates. This paper discusses and evaluates student interactions during a solar …

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

FSEC Energy Research Center®

Hurricanes, floods, tornadoes, and earthquakes are natural disasters that can happen at any time destroying homes, businesses, and natural surroundings. One such disaster, Hurricane Andrew, devastated South Florida leaving several hundred-thousand people homeless. Many people were without electrical service, functioning water and sewage systems, communications, and medical services for days, even weeks in the aftermath of the storm. Emergency management teams, the military and countless public and private organizations staged a massive relief effort. Dependency on electrical utility power became a pronounced problem as emergency services were rendered to survivors and the rebuilding process started.

Many of the energy needs …

Solar Heater For Curing Tobacco Part I: Overview And Theory, J John

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

This is two parl paper. In part one of the papet; an overview on the use Of packed beds on heat collectors To be used in natural convection systems is presented. A brief theoretical background and literature review has also been presented. Theoretical analysis and performance equations are pre- sented in detail. Two zypes of absorbers are proposed for investigation. The firs,' one will be with flow below the absorber and the other with flow "'through " {he absorber. These shall be compared with the conventional flat plate collector. For comparing the performance, packings of different materials, shapes, and sizes …

A Study Of The Thermodynamic And Heat Transfer Characteristics Of Two-Phase Two-Component Flow With Application To A Solar-Assisted Heat Pump, Walid A. Aziz

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Two-phase flow of single component refrigerants has been studied, theoretically and experimentally, for many CFCs, in many industrial applications, including the solar-assisted heat pump system. This study extends the thermodynamic and heat transfer analysis in the phase transition boiling region, to newly proposed refrigerant mixtures, which are candidates for replacing the classical CFCs for future HVAC applications. The goal of this study is to develop a methodology, to design the collector/evaporator tubes of a solar-assisted heat pump, using a binary refrigerant mixture as the working fluid. The method is implemented numerically as a computer algorithm. In order to do that, …

Real Life Applications Of Photovoltaic Power To Hurricane Andrew Relief, Florida Solar Energy Center, William Young

FSEC Energy Research Center®

On August 24, 1992, Hurricane Andrew struck the coast of South Florida and devastated Dade County leaving several hundred-thousand people homeless. Over a million residences were without electrical service, functional water and sewage systems and medical services for days and weeks in the aftermath of the storm. Emergency management teams, medical personnel, the military and countless public and private organizations staged a massive relief effort.

The staff at the Florida Solar Energy Center and SANDIA National Laboratory responded to the disaster with photovoltaics (solar electric) powered equipment to assist in the relief effort. Electricity generated by these systems were used …

Monitored Performance Enhancement Of A Radiant Barrier Automobile Window Shade, Florida Solar Energy Center, Danny Parker

FSEC Energy Research Center®

The Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC) has monitored several automobiles in order to investigate how hot interior temperatures in parked cars might be reduced through the use of improved technology car shades. We observed interior temperatures in un-shaded stationary automobiles in Cape Canaveral, Florida to commonly reach 150° F and dashboard temperatures to rise to nearly 200° F. We found the addition of a conventional cardboard car shade behind the automobile windshield on sunny days to reduce the interior air temperatures by an average of 15° F. Dashboard temperatures were reduced by 40° F.

We found radiant barrier system (RBS) …

Radiant Energy Transfer And Radiant Barrier Systems In Buildings, Florida Solar Energy Center, Philip W. Fairey

FSEC Energy Research Center®

In Florida and other southern climates we depend on a number of strategies to keep heat out of buildings. Mostly, these affect heat gains by conduction or convection. In the average house, insulating walls and ceilings primarily restricts conduction. Double-glazed windows restrict both conductive and convective heat gain. We have largely ignored radiation - the third means of heat transfer - except in using window treatments and coatings that reflect, absorb or shade from solar energy. But research points to exciting potential for reducing heat gain in buildings by controlling radiation transfer in walls and ceilings through the use of …

Solar Ovens And Cookers, Florida Solar Energy Center

FSEC Energy Research Center®

Solar ovens work much like solar collectors used in domestic water heating systems. Both collect solar radiation, convert it to heat and transfer it to another substance. Solar ovens, however, focus the sun's rays with reflective surfaces on one point. The object of the sun's energy in the solar oven is the food.

Photovoltaics: A Question And Answer Primer, Florida Solar Energy Center, Ingrid Melody

FSEC Energy Research Center®

Of all the solar energy technologies, photovoltaics (PV) show the greatest promise for worldwide acceptance and application. Their universal appeal lies in the fact that they generate electricity from the sun. Working photovoltaics have no moving parts, are relatively simple in design, need very little maintenance and are environmentally benign. They simply and silently produce electricity whenever they are exposed to light.

Photovoltaic Cells: Common Power Source For Tomorrow?, Florida Solar Energy Center, Arthur Litka

FSEC Energy Research Center®

The word "photovoltaic" combines the scientific terms "photo", meaning light, and "voltaic", meaning voltage. Together, the terms mean voltage generated by light energy. Specially treated silicon, or another substance, is manufactured in such a way that when light strikes it electricity is produced. The cells have no moving parts, and they are durable. They are commonly called solar cells.

Design And Analysis Of A Hybrid Thermoelectric Solar Collector, Kay Eddie Shaheen

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Theses & Dissertations

A conventional flat-plate collector is modified by imbedding thermoelectric power generators between the absorber plate and flow tubes in parallel finned-tube passes. As solar energy cascades through these generators a temperature differential between the hot and cold junctions of the device produces direct current electricity. Energy not converted to electric power is converted away for use in domestic space and/or water heating.

A parametric study is performed on the steady-state model via computer program in order to find values of design variables that maximize electric power production for purposes of driving pumps, fans, and ·controlling devices. The results of this …