3rd Annual Progress Energy Symposium

UCF Solar Farm:Photovoltaic Array – Mounting System

Project Engineers:

Daniel GouldConnie Griesemer

Ryan LewisJonathan Torres

Ryan Tribbey

College of Engineering and Computer SciencesDepartment of Mechanical, Materials and Aerospace Engineering

Purpose: UCF’s Climate Action Plan• In 2008 UCF spent $12.5 Million in Electrical

Consumption– Approximately 4-9% increase annually

• February 2007 President Hitt took a stand for sustainability and to become a climate neutral campus by 2050

Energy Conservation

Energy Efficiency

Fuel Switching

Renewable Energy

Carbon Mitigation

UCF Solar Farm – Project Site

Area of Site – 3 Acres ; equivalent to 0.6 MW

11 Vertical Panels over Twin Cylindrical Horizontal Rails, 4 Support Posts per Rail (8 total)

Total Weight – 917 lbsOverall Size – 38’ 6” x 4’ 9”

Distance between arrays – 5’ Total Number of Panels – 3934Total Number of Arrays - 357

Side Profile – Attachment System

1 ft

3.5 ft

Bushing

Bracket

Set at Optimal Angle of 29o

Wind Load Analysis(Wind Flowing Front to Back)

Vertical Lift = -4778 lbf

Wind Load Analysis(Wind Flowing Back to Front)

Vertical Lift = +4132.5 lbf

The Final Module

Special Thanks To:• Sponsor – UCF Sustainability & Energy Management, David Norvell, PE CEM• Faculty Advisor: Nina Orlovskaya, Ph.D.• Technical Advisors :

– Patrick Robinson, Florida Solar Energy Center– James Nelson, Kennedy Space Center

• College of Engineering and Computer Sciences, Department of Mechanical, Materials and Aerospace Engineering

3rd Annual Progress Energy SymposiumUCF Solar Farm:

Photovoltaic Array – Mounting System

Project Engineers:

Michael GannonMichael Peffers

Muhammed Ali KhanAhmad Buleybel

College of Engineering and Computer SciencesDepartment of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science

3rd Annual Progress Energy Symposium

UCF Solar Farm:Photovoltaic Array – Monitoring System

Solar Farm - Project Overview

• Design a panel by panel monitoring system– Monitoring system must be self sustaining– Wirelessly transmit data– Data will be collected every 5 minutes for duration

of the day

• Publish real time information online – Data must be graphed for easy interpretation– Publically accessible

Solar Farm - Solar Panels

• 11 Solar panels used – Sharp Nu-U240f1– 240 Watts– 37.4 Volts– 8.65 Amps– Weight: 44.1lbs/ 20.0 kg

• These panels will be connected in a series circuit with one another• Locally distributed

64.5 inches

39 inches

Solar Farm - Design Goals & Objectives

• Monitor each panel for:– Voltage– Temp– Current

• Display data online in real time• Transmit data from field to web server

wirelessly

Solar Farm - Primary Circuit Board

• This board will handle power to the whole system for all components

• Change channels on the Multiplexers that were implemented

• Handle all wireless communication

RJ45 RJ45 Cable Cable

16:1 Multiplexer 16:1 Multiplexer

PIC18F87J1PIC18F87J111

Optical Sensor

System Power

Power to whole system

Solar Farm - Secondary Circuit Board

• Board will consist of three separate sensors

• Voltage, Current, and Temperature

• All sensors are hardware designed to an accuracy at least ± 1.5%

Solar PanelSolar Panel

Current Current SensorSensor

Voltage Voltage Sensor Sensor

Temp Temp Sensor Sensor

4:1 Multiplexer 4:1 Multiplexer

Solar Farm - Multiplexer

• A multiplexer or MUX is a device that combines several electrical signals into a single signal. There are different types of multiplexers for analog and digital circuits.

• Programming the MUX gives desired values.

Figure: Pin Out for 4:1 Mux

Actual Secondary PCB

Temperature Sensor

Voltage Regulator

LM351 Op-Amp

Solar Farm - Wireless Technology

• XBee PRO 802.15.4– Range - Indoor Range 300 ft.

- Outdoor Range 1 mile– No monthly fee

• Low complexity.• Perfect for low-data transfer.• Very low power requirement.• Two modules, transmitter and receiver.

Solar Farm – Wireless Transmission

Solar Farm – Real Time Monitoringwww.ucfprojecthelios.co.cc

Special Thanks To:• Sponsor – UCF Sustainability & Energy Management, Dave

Norvell, PE CEM• Technical Advisor – Dr. Samuel Richie

Mechanical Engineers: Industrial Engineers:

Daniel Gould Amanda LongmanConnie Griesemer Joshua MacNaughtonRyan Lewis Andrew WolodkiewiczJonathan TorresRyan Tribbey

UCF Photovoltaic UCF Photovoltaic Solar Farm ProjectSolar Farm Project

Amanda LongmanJoshua MacNaughtonAndrew Wolodkiewicz

Presentation Outline

Why Photovoltaic?

Goal of the Project

Prototype Design

Forecast Analysis

Conclusions

Future Considerations

Why Photovoltaics at UCF?

• Energy from the sun is renewable

• Power guaranteed for 25 yrs

• Clean, environmentally friendly, and silent

• On-site energy production

• Capacity is available on campus

• President John Hitt engaged UCF in the President’s Climate Commitment

General Reasons UCF-Specific Reasons

• Eckerd College• Florida Atlantic University• Florida Gulf Coast

University• Florida International

University• Hillsborough Community

College• New College of Florida

• Stetson University• University of Central

Florida• University of Florida• University of Miami• University of North Florida• University of South Florida• Valencia Community

College1Obtained from http://www.presidentsclimatecommitment.org/ April 4, 2011

13 Florida Colleges and Universities1

Solar Farm Project Goals

• Conduct a feasibility study of constructing a 3-MW solar farm on the UCF main campus

• 3 MW will supply approximately 15% of the peak energy demand on the main campus (Norvell, 2010)

• Project involves constructing design prototype– Multidiscipline senior design team

(MEs, EEs, and IEs)

Prototype Design• Sharp NU-U240F1

(240 W) Solar Panel– Selection driven by low

shipping costs from local distributor

• Fixed mounting system – Minimal maintenance

• Supports 11 solar panels• Individual panel monitoring

– Allows for immediate control of system malfunctions

Forecast AnalysisPrototype Benefits2

• Take 0.548 vehicles off the road• Eliminate CO2 emissions from 0.339 homes

• Eliminate CO2 emissions from 117 propane cylinders used for home barbeques

• Save UCF $283.30/year

Each year, the prototype (0.003 MW) can:

2 Obtained from http://www.epa.gov/cleanenergy/energy-resources/calculator.html#results, April 4, 2011

Forecast AnalysisTransitioning from 0.003-MW Design to 3-MW Design

• Panel requirements: 11 panels to 12,507 panels– This requires 1,137 arrays– Space is necessary between rows

• Land requirements: 240 sq ft to 653,400 sq ft– 0.006 acres to 15 acres– More than 11 football fields

Forecast Analysis3-MW Design Benefits3

• Greenhouse gas emissions from approximately 623 vehicles

• CO2 emissions from the electricity use of 386 homes

• CO2 emissions from 132,487 propane cylinders used for home barbeques

• $322,110/year from UCF energy bill

3 Obtained from http://www.epa.gov/cleanenergy/energy-resources/calculator.html#results, April 4, 2011

Each year, the 3 MW Solar Farm Can Eliminate:

Future Considerations• Florida weather conditions

• Variation in daily output

Sunny Day

Cloudy Day

Future Considerations

• Advancements in solar technology

– Increased efficiency – Decreased costs

Corner of University Dr. & Econlockhatchee Trl.

2006 – 17% Eff.

2006 – 14% Eff.

1988 – Experimental Thin Film

3.5 kW

3.5 kW

3.5 kW

Photovoltaic Solar Farm Project Outcomes

• Success of this project is greatly influenced by the multidisciplinary nature of the design team

• Additional resources needed for large-scale expansion

• This study supports the University’s commitment of becoming climate-neutral

• Mechanical Engineers designed the mounting system

• Electrical Engineers designed the monitoring and communication system

• Industrial Engineers computed the design forecasts for a 3-MW solar farm

Team Accomplishments

Acknowledgments

Client: Mr. David Norvell• Asst: Gina Spahi

Faculty Advisors • Dr. Christopher D. Geiger (IEMS)• Dr. William J. Thompson (IEMS)• Dr. Samuel Richie (EECS)

Electrical Engineering Design Team

Mechanical Engineering Senior Design Team

Progress Energy

• Kennedy Space Center

Florida Solar Energy Center

Superior Solar

University of Central Florida Corporate Thanks