06-08-2013, 12:17 PM
Development of Sustainable Power for Electrical Resources – SuPER System
Development of Sustainable .ppt (Size: 442 KB / Downloads: 48)
Background - Electrification
Electrification – National Academy of Engineering’s top engineering achievement for the 20th Century
Estimated 1/3 of population (now, 6B) do not have access
Significant proportion of remainder does not have reliable access to battery or grid
18,000 occupied structures on Navajo Nation lack electrical power (2001 legislation)
Background - Significance
Impact of electrification significant
Transformation of Western world
Thomas Hughes: Networks of Power
People who caused change
Social Impact – standard of living
Recognized by National Renewable Energy Laboratory in late 1990s
Village Power Program
Development of microfinancing
Background – Moore’s Law
Stand-alone solar photovoltaic system technology is mature, e.g., Sandia Handbook
Application of Moore’s Law to development of SuPER system
Solar cell development: commercial and research lab
Estimate 5% per decade with base of 16% in 2005
Implies 25% efficiency in 2025
DARPA RFP: 1000 units of 50% efficiency
Background – Solar and DC Power
Conclusion
Solar photovoltaic is poised for leapfrog technology
Many development tools available
Expectation of future efficiencies
Sustainable power source
Digital control of standalone system
DC is power of future
Decentralized
Matched to source and loads
Technical Description of SuPER System - requirements
Solar Panel requirements (abbreviated)
Size: 1, 2, 4 sq m modular design
Voltage (DC); 12V, 24V, 48V
Fixed tilt @ latitude + or – 15 deg
Modularity: parallel/series, interface DC sources
Maintenance
Measurements: voltage/current; spectral and temporal characterization; temperature
Control and status module requirements (abbreviated)
Digital development technology: example is Altera FPGA/NIOS with uclinux OS, internet I/F
Switching of array power with conditioning
User display/interface
Digital control algorithms: maximum power point tracking (MPPT), softstart for power switching
Safety and grounding
Enclosure with environmental conditioning
Student Involvement
Initially work with resources available
Adequate for start, just lengthens schedule
Plan to acquire support for not only additional resources, but also students
Faculty to provide continuing direction through “generations” of students working on SuPER project
Why? Broader Impact of SuPER Project
Provides family owned electrical power source
Only electrical power source for family
Increasing power resource with time
With financial business plan: $2-3 per month for all electrical power needs
Decentralized, sustainable development of electrical power in poorest countries
SuPER system potential resource for raising standard of living of poorest to par with rest of world
Broader Impact
Priority and focus on developing sustainable electrical resource for poorest people
Success will provide model for people in developed nations
Recognize commitment to status quo
Centralized AC power generation with distribution
Review current PG&E bill
Replace with sustainable distributed DC power