Assignment
This paper is a technical report. It shall follow IEEE format. You will choose, research, and design the power system of a house not connected to the main power grid that has an average power usage of 3000 Watts and a peak power usage of 10,000 Watts. The power system shall include at least two different technologies such as solar cells and a fuel cell, a wind turbine and a secondary battery, etc. You can choose more than two if you desire. The power system choices to use shall be the following:
1. Secondary Batteries - Select a chemistry
2. Fuel Cells - Select a chemistry
3. Solar Cell Arrays
4. Wind Turbines
The power supplied by the system shall be:
• 120VAC at a max current of 60 amps.
• 220VAC with a max current of 20 amps.
• A maximum power output of 10,000 Watts. That can be divided between the two AC voltages.
You do not have to design any circuitry. For example, you will need some circuitry that will convert the DC output power from your system to the 120VAC and 220VAC. You will need some kind of switching system that switches between your two different sources. Find actual products that will do these functions. Write a 10 page, minimum, paper (written portion) on the power system. The paper will include, and be graded on, the following information.
1. The detailed reasons for your power system choices, i.e. ‘I chose to use a Lithium Ion battery storage system because...', or ‘I chose a PEM fuel cell because...'. A reason of, ‘I chose these systems because I had to write a paper about them...' is not a valid reason.
2. General calculations on how many batteries, how big of a wind turbine, how many solar cells, how many stacked fuel cells, etc. You can find systems that companies have for sale such as a whole house fuel cell but you need to show the details and calculations of why that fuel cell or battery system or solar cell will meet your needs and is large enough.
3. A detailed block diagram showing how your system would be connected together.
4. The advantages of the system you are designing.
5. The disadvantages of the system you are designing.
6. An estimated cost for your system detailed in a spreadsheet or table form. Don't just pick numbers out of the air. Have an estimated cost for each part of the system and how you came up with the costs. If your costs came from systems for sale, show them. If your system is similar to something for sale, detail how you came up with your costs.
Your textbooks are a good reference source for the batteries and fuel cell chemistries. You can research and find two systems that companies are selling and integrate them. You will need to provide sufficient detail on the systems to show that they will do what you need them to do. Charts and graphs are encouraged, but do not give me a report with a few paragraphs of information and 4 or 5 pages of charts, graphs and pictures. The visuals should add to the length of the report, not bring it up to the 10 page length.
Use your imagination for this system. If you cannot find a component for sale by a company, design your own. For example, you cannot find a fuel cell that is the correct size to supply your power. You find that you can get 1 volt and 500mA out of one fuel cell. Your DC to AC inverter requires 50 Volts at 10 amps to generate 120 Volts AC at 4.2 Amps (500 Watts) How many fuel cells would you have to stack in series to generate 50V (50 fuel cells in series) and how many parallel stacks would you need to meet the 10 amp current (20 parallel stacks of 50 cells)? The method of stacking the cells in series and parallel is not part of the problem, just the amount of fuel cells required for that power level is important. Now, that is probably not very practical but it shows me that you are thinking about your requirements.
Your final paper should include all of the things you would need to build your off-the-grid system if you had the resources available. Here are some suggestions that should be in your report
1. Block diagram of your system showing all the main parts and how they are inter-connected.
2. Description of your system, including why you chose this system.
3. Select a location for your system. It can be anywhere in the world that you want it to be.
4. Your system needs to be capable of supplying 3000 watts continuously over a normal day.
Assume that people will be using power for 16 hours a day with a minimal usage for 8 hours.
Your system should be able to supply a peak power of 10,000 watts for at least 5 seconds.
5. A description of each part of your system, how each part works, what are the inputs, what are the outputs, etc.
6. If you are using wind power, an estimate of the average daily wind velocity in your chosen location. You can then calculate the average daily kWh of power generated by the wind.
7. If you are using solar panels, estimates of the average solar energy flux in your chosen location.
If you cannot find the solar flux energy density for your location, the average perpendicular solar
If you are using batteries, give calculations showing your chosen battery solution will support the power requirements of your house. Pick a battery chemistry and give reasons why you chose this chemistry.
8. An estimated cost breakdown of your system in a spreadsheet. If you wish, you can estimate the labor costs for installing the system.
9. Make an estimate of the yearly maintenance of your system. Will your solar cells require periodic maintenance, cleaning, etc? Will your wind mill system require periodic maintenance, etc? How long will your batteries last before they need to be replaced? Is there any periodic maintenance required on the batteries?
10. If you choose to use an off-the-shelf system, you are still responsible for all of the parts described above. You will need an explanation of the system and all it's components.