The White Mountain Energy Project: Bringing 21st Century Energy Technology to the Barcroft Field...
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The White Mountain Energy Project: Bringing 21st Century Energy Technology to the Barcroft Field Station 1 White Mountain Research Station, Bishop, CA 2 Advanced Power and Energy Program , UC Irvine Frank L. Powell 1 John T. Smiley 1 Scott Samuelsen 2 BarcroftPow erBreakdow n forAugust13 through A ugust31 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 8/13/2004 0:00 8/14/2004 0:00 8/15/2004 0:00 8/16/2004 0:00 8/17/2004 0:00 8/18/2004 0:00 8/19/2004 0:00 8/20/2004 0:00 8/21/2004 0:00 8/22/2004 0:00 8/23/2004 0:00 8/24/2004 0:00 8/25/2004 0:00 8/26/2004 0:00 8/27/2004 0:00 8/28/2004 0:00 8/29/2004 0:00 8/30/2004 0:00 8/31/2004 0:00 9/1/2004 0:00 D ate and Tim e D em and (kW ) B arcroftTotal Pow er(kW ) P AC E Building Observatory Sm all A nim al Building Telescope B uildings © ADVANCED POWER AND ENERGY PROGRAM, 2005 B arcroftSim ulation R esults -1 W interM onth 0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600 1800 2000 Base -Electric H eat H ydronic H eating Hydronic H eating + 2 30kW M TG s Electric H eat+ 10kW PV Hydronic H eating + 10kW PV COST Savings from B ase kW h from G rid (/10) Peak kW (*10) B arcroftSim ulation R esults -1 W interM onth w ith N O G rid 0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 Base - Electric H eat 2 30kW M TG s 2 30kW M TG s + H eat R ecovery 2 30kW M TG s + H R + 4000gal TES 2 30kW M TG s + H R + 4000gal TES + 10kW PV 2 30kW M TG s + H R + 4000gal TES + 10kW PV + 60kW h EES 2 30kW M TG s + H R + 6000gal TES + 10kW PV + 60kW h EES 2 30kW M TG s + H R + 6000gal TES + 10kW PV + 60kW h EES -H igh M TG Output COST Savings from Base Total P ropane Microturbine Generators are low- maintenance, low emissions, and co- generate hot water for high overall efficiency Below: Capstone Model C-30 (photo: Capstone Turbine Corporation) Flexible solar panels cover the curved roof of the Pace Laboratory at Barcroft, generating approximately 50 kilowatt-hours per day of electricity on sunny days. The roof curvature ensures that summer and winter generation rates are similar. The APEP team installed the panels in June 2007, draping them across the roof. Power from the solar panels is stored and converted to usable AC power by the inverter -battery system shown above. The system runs off stored battery power for several hours, depending on the electrical load. In fall 2007 the system worked in tandem with a portable diesel generator, which ran 5-7 hours per day, saving well over 1000 gallons of diesel fuel and several thousand pounds of CO2. In 2008 the propane microturbine generator will replace the diesel unit, improving efficiency and lowering cost. Hydronic heating system installed in summer 2006 The schematic below illustrates the hydronic heating system installed at Barcroft. The 5000 gallons hot water storage and solar hydronic panels will be added as funds become available. At the heart of the system are two propane- powered “Lochinvar” boilers (see photo above) that are highly efficient at all demand levels and which are specially modified for high elevation operation. Example of power monitoring data from 2004. This kind of detailed record is used for simulating power demand scenarios under different conditions. In October 2004, we simulated winter heating demand by turning electric heaters on and off. For example, the simulation began at 8 am and ramped up to full capacity at around 9:30. The APEP team has developed a quantitative dynamic simulation model which illustrates the costs and benefits of integrating distributed energy resources into the system. The simulations show that the proposed system can readily convert to a permanent off-grid system. This is important as our grid connection is aging, and replacement would be prohibitively expensive. Benefits to WMRS Simulations indicate that WMEP will create many benefits for Barcroft operations: •Triple redundancy for space heating, providing an important safety margin for winter operations. •Triple redundancy for electrical service, with a battery-backed system for core electrical functions such as lighting, propane heating and communications. •Capability to keep station open all winter using stored propane and environmental energy sources •Capability of going off-grid completely when buried line fails permanently •Modular design facilitates later upgrades in capacity and energy source, including experimental sources such as fuel cells, hydrogen generators, etc. •Capacity to add wind turbines, solar PV and solar hydronic modules to provide clean, renewable energy generation. As these capabilities are added the propane costs and electric bills will decrease •The new energy sources will provide high quality “clean” electric power •Reduction in overall energy costs of 20% or more, potentially reaching 90% savings •The new system will provide a platform for energy systems research, education and public interpretation. •Reliability and efficiency increase as each component is added – synergy causes the whole to be greater than the sum of the individual components. The key to this synergy is the parallel operation of thermal water storage, battery electric storage, and programmable control systems. When connected to the commercial power grid, the ability to net- meter power also results in cost savings. University of California Project Goals and Results to Date The Goal of the White Mountain Energy Project is to improve energy quality and reliability, increase safety, reduce costs, and test innovative technologies at WMRS field stations. The first phase of this project was to assess the energy situation at the upper field station at Barcroft (and secondarily, Crooked Creek). The energy situation at Barcroft (prior to 2006) was problematic for several reasons: •Electricity bills were very large, totaling approximately $15,000 in 2002. Much of the electricity was used to heat buildings, an expensive and inefficient use of electricity. •The power distribution system from the buried power lines ran independently to four distribution points. Running backup power from the main station out to these points was not supported. •Certain users of the station required 3-phase current. This was not available in any form. •The electrical service was unreliable and difficult to repair, causing serious safety concerns in winter. Power surges and voltage changes frequently damaged electronic equipment. For example, in 2006 and 2007, grid electric power was only available for 7 weeks total! To carry out this project, WMRS teamed up with Professor Scott Samuelsen and associates in the Advanced Power and Energy Program (APEP) at UC Irvine. Results to date: The WMEP team has monitored power consumption at Barcroft and Crooked creek, analyzed energy needs via monitoring and simulation, researched energy alternatives, and monitored a photovoltaics test bed on the Barcroft Pace Lab roof (see panels at left). The team submitted a proposal to the Field Stations and Marine Laboratories (FSML) Improvement Program of the National Science Foundation (NSF) for funding the core systems of the WMEP, including a hydronic heating system, backup microturbine generators, and a solar photovoltaic system. This proposal was fully funded in spring 2006. In summer 2006 the propane-powered hydronic heating system was installed and tested. In summer 2007 the solar photovoltaic and battery-inverter systems were installed and the power redistribution system completed, so that all station facilities are powered by the new system. In the upcoming summer (2008) the microturbine generator and the monitoring and controls system will be installed. Funds are also being sought to complete the system, including the hydronic Thermal Energy Storage system. (Above) Monitoring and Control System Schematic of proposed WMEP monitoring and control system. System must connect via diverse communications protocols including RS-232 serial, modbus, ethernet TCP/IP and others. A user-friendly display will be set up in the hallway which shows current status and statistics for the system. A web-interface will also be available on the internet. (Above) System design This schematic shows the basic design of the WMEP. We also plan to design a user-friendly display for use by staff and students, located in the hallway next to the dining room. Analysis System Components Project Description Barcroft Station, with Sierra Nevada in the distance ©Paul Kennedy photo Installing metering equipment at Barcroft Observatory, with White Mt. Peak in the background. ©Paul Kennedy photo 1b. boiler 1a. boiler 11. heat exchanger 12. hot water storage, 5000 gal. Pace Lab DEG room TES room Hydronic manifold Thermostat – controlled valves Hall display Sunny boy A Sunny boy B Outback Inverter system Boiler A Micro- Turbine generator Automatic transfer switch Sunny boy web box Serial port switch Outback mate Boiler B Propane flow Propane flow KWH meters Thermostat Control box Labview tablet computer display Main switch Media converter switch Gen. room switch Data logger device TCP/IP modbus RS-232 Communications closet Generator room Water temp switch Inverter bank (15KW) hot water heat storage liquid propane storage 6000 gallons electric battery bank 50 KWhr storage Micro- turbine generator boilers (2) boiler control system future rooftop solar hydronic panels rooftop solar photovoltaic future wind turbine Exhaust bypass Propane vaporizer grid power in @ 12 KV Transformer monitoring and control system transformer AC supply to station Grid-tie inverters switch Portable diesel generator Heat Exchanger Trans- former 2008 2007 2008 2006 Baseboard radiators (6 thermostat-controlled zone circuits) To large animal building To small animal building Valves, gauges, pumps
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Transcript of The White Mountain Energy Project: Bringing 21st Century Energy Technology to the Barcroft Field...
The White Mountain Energy Project: Bringing 21st Century Energy Technology to the Barcroft Field Station
1White Mountain Research Station, Bishop, CA2Advanced Power and Energy Program , UC Irvine
Frank L. Powell1 John T. Smiley1 Scott Samuelsen2
Barcroft Power Breakdown for August 13 through August 31
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9/1
/20
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Date and Time
De
ma
nd
(k
W)
Barcroft Total Power (kW) PACE Building Observatory Small Animal Building Telescope Buildings
© ADVANCED POWER AND ENERGY PROGRAM, 2005
Barcroft Simulation Results - 1 Winter Month
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200
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800
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1200
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2000
Base - ElectricHeat
Hydronic Heating Hydronic Heating+ 2 30kW MTGs
Electric Heat +10kW PV
Hydronic Heating+ 10kW PV
COST Savings from Base kWh from Grid (/10) Peak kW (*10)
Barcroft Simulation Results - 1 Winter Month with NO Grid
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500
1000
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Base -Electric
Heat
2 30kWMTGs
2 30kWMTGs +
HeatRecovery
2 30kWMTGs + HR+ 4000gal
TES
2 30kWMTGs + HR+ 4000gal
TES + 10kWPV
2 30kWMTGs + HR+ 4000gal
TES + 10kWPV + 60kWh
EES
2 30kWMTGs + HR+ 6000gal
TES + 10kWPV + 60kWh
EES
2 30kWMTGs + HR+ 6000gal
TES + 10kWPV + 60kWhEES - High
MTG Output
COST Savings from Base Total Propane
Microturbine Generators are low-maintenance, low emissions, and co-generate hot water for high overall efficiency Below: Capstone Model C-30 (photo: Capstone Turbine Corporation)
Flexible solar panels cover the curved roof of the Pace Laboratory at Barcroft, generating approximately 50 kilowatt-hours per day of electricity on sunny days. The roof curvature ensures that summer and winter generation rates are similar. The APEP team installed the panels in June 2007, draping them across the roof.
Power from the solar panels is stored and converted to usable AC power by the inverter -battery system shown above. The system runs off stored battery power for several hours, depending on the electrical load. In fall 2007 the system worked in tandem with a portable diesel generator, which ran 5-7 hours per day, saving well over 1000 gallons of diesel fuel and several thousand pounds of CO2. In 2008 the propane microturbine generator will replace the diesel unit, improving efficiency and lowering cost.
Hydronic heating system installed in summer 2006 The schematic below illustrates the hydronic heating system installed at Barcroft. The 5000 gallons hot water storage and solar hydronic panels will be added as funds become available. At the heart of the system are two propane-powered “Lochinvar” boilers (see photo above) that are highly efficient at all demand levels and which are specially modified for high elevation operation.
Example of power monitoring data from 2004. This kind of detailed record is used for simulating power demand scenarios under different conditions.
In October 2004, we simulated winter heating demand by turning electric heaters on and off. For example, the simulation began at 8 am and ramped up to full capacity at around 9:30.
The APEP team has developed a quantitative dynamic simulation model which illustrates the costs and benefits of integrating distributed energy resources into the system.
The simulations show that the proposed system can readily convert to a permanent off-grid system. This is important as our grid connection is aging, and replacement would be prohibitively expensive.
Benefits to WMRS
Simulations indicate that WMEP will create many benefits for Barcroft operations:•Triple redundancy for space heating, providing an important safety margin for winter operations.•Triple redundancy for electrical service, with a battery-backed system for core electrical functions such as lighting, propane heating and communications. •Capability to keep station open all winter using stored propane and environmental energy sources•Capability of going off-grid completely when buried line fails permanently•Modular design facilitates later upgrades in capacity and energy source, including experimental sources such as fuel cells, hydrogen generators, etc.•Capacity to add wind turbines, solar PV and solar hydronic modules to provide clean, renewable energy generation. As these capabilities are added the propane costs and electric bills will decrease•The new energy sources will provide high quality “clean” electric power•Reduction in overall energy costs of 20% or more, potentially reaching 90% savings•The new system will provide a platform for energy systems research, education and public interpretation.•Reliability and efficiency increase as each component is added – synergy causes the whole to be greater than the sum of the individual components. The key to this synergy is the parallel operation of thermal water storage, battery electric storage, and programmable control systems. When connected to the commercial power grid, the ability to net-meter power also results in cost savings.
University of California
Project Goals and Results to DateThe Goal of the White Mountain Energy Project is to improve energy quality and reliability, increase safety, reduce costs, and test innovative technologies at WMRS field stations. The first phase of this project was to assess the energy situation at the upper field station at Barcroft (and secondarily, Crooked Creek). The energy situation at Barcroft (prior to 2006) was problematic for several reasons:
•Electricity bills were very large, totaling approximately $15,000 in 2002. Much of the electricity was used to heat buildings, an expensive and inefficient use of electricity.•The power distribution system from the buried power lines ran independently to four distribution points. Running backup power from the main station out to these points was not supported. •Certain users of the station required 3-phase current. This was not available in any form. •The electrical service was unreliable and difficult to repair, causing serious safety concerns in winter. Power surges and voltage changes frequently damaged electronic equipment. For example, in 2006 and 2007, grid electric power was only available for 7 weeks total!
To carry out this project, WMRS teamed up with Professor Scott Samuelsen and associates in the Advanced Power and Energy Program (APEP) at UC Irvine.
Results to date: The WMEP team has monitored power consumption at Barcroft and Crooked creek, analyzed energy needs via monitoring and simulation, researched energy alternatives, and monitored a photovoltaics test bed on the Barcroft Pace Lab roof (see panels at left). The team submitted a proposal to the Field Stations and Marine Laboratories (FSML) Improvement Program of the National Science Foundation (NSF) for funding the core systems of the WMEP, including a hydronic heating system, backup microturbine generators, and a solar photovoltaic system. This proposal was fully funded in spring 2006. In summer 2006 the propane-powered hydronic heating system was installed and tested. In summer 2007 the solar photovoltaic and battery-inverter systems were installed and the power redistribution system completed, so that all station facilities are powered by the new system. In the upcoming summer (2008) the microturbine generator and the monitoring and controls system will be installed. Funds are also being sought to complete the system, including the hydronic Thermal Energy Storage system.
(Above) Monitoring and Control System Schematic of proposed WMEP monitoring and control system. System must connect via diverse communications protocols including RS-232 serial, modbus, ethernet TCP/IP and others. A user-friendly display will be set up in the hallway which shows current status and statistics for the system. A web-interface will also be available on the internet.
(Above) System design This schematic shows the basic design of the WMEP. We also plan to design a user-friendly display for use by staff and students, located in the hallway next to the dining room.
Analysis System Components
Project Description
Barcroft Station, with Sierra Nevada in the distance ©Paul Kennedy photo
Installing metering equipment at Barcroft Observatory, with White Mt. Peak in the background. ©Paul Kennedy photo
1b. boiler1a. boiler
11. heat exchanger
12. hot water storage, 5000 gal.
Pace Lab
DEG room
TES room
Hydronic manifold
Thermostat –controlled valves
Hall display
Sunny boy A
Sunny boy B
Outback Invertersystem
Boiler A
Micro-Turbine
generator
Automatic transfer switch
Sunny boy web box
Serial port
switch
Outback mate
Boiler B
Propaneflow
Propaneflow
KWH meters
ThermostatControl box
Labviewtablet
computer display
Main switchMedia converter
switch
Gen. room switch
Datalogger device
TCP/IP
modbusRS-232
Communications closetGenerator room
Water temp
switchInverter bank (15KW) hot water heat
storage
liquid propane storage6000 gallons
electric battery bank50 KWhr storage
Micro-turbine generator
boilers (2)
boiler control system
future rooftop solar hydronic panels rooftop solar
photovoltaic
future wind turbine
Exhaust bypass
Propane vaporizer
grid power in @ 12 KV
Transformer
monitoring and control system
transformer
AC supply to station
Grid-tie inverters
switch
Portable diesel
generator
HeatExchanger
Trans-former
2008
2007
2008
2006
Baseboard radiators (6 thermostat-controlled zone circuits)
To large animal buildingTo small animal building
Valves, gauges, pumps
