Progress 10/01/11 to 09/30/12
Outputs
Progress Report Objectives (from AD-416): Use hybrid wind/solar energy systems to economically pump water for irrigation in the Southern High Plains. Develop industrial control algorithms that allow for the safe and efficient integration of biodiesel/wind/solar hybrid systems into agricultural operations for the production of heat and power. WTAMU's Alternative Energy Institute (AEI) will work with ARS-CPRL to assure that work on the cooperative agreement with Sandia National Laboratories/DOE is completed in a timely manner and that the wind turbine test site, and other related facilities are decommissioned (towers dismantled, scrap metal removed, concrete slabs removed, etc.) and surplused by September 14, 2012 as specified in the latest amendments to the cooperative agreement between USDA-ARS and DOE and that all bills are reconciled by September 14, 2012. Approach (from AD-416): Currently, as the size (in kW) of the renewable energy system grows, the wind energy system becomes more economical than the solar energy system. However, for most of the crops grown in the Southern High Plains, a solar energy system is a much better match seasonally to the energy required for irrigation (i.e., highest solar energy is usually in the summer when the overall irrigation energy demand is highest while unfortunately wind energy is normally at its lowest in the summer). The experimental approach will be to construct, operate, and compare wind/solar hybrid systems (both off-grid and on-grid) to conventional power sources. There is a lack of published data on the energy use profiles (15-minute interval) of agricultural operations. This deficiency will be addressed by direct measurement of energy load profiles of three agricultural operations, and determination of which ones have energy requirements that can be met best with wind and solar energy. The renewable energy hybrid systems that are determined to be the best matches for the cooperating operations will be used to develop industrial control algorithms for programmable automation controllers. These algorithms will be evaluated through simulation and then tested. Certification data collection was completed for the redesigned Bergey Windpower 10-kW wind turbine in October 2011, and acoustical data with additional wind screens was collected in 2012. The data collected for certification of the wind turbines included acoustical noise measurement, power curve measurement, and several months of duration testing. These data were submitted to the manufacturer for submission to various small wind turbine certification agencies including: American Wind Energy Association - Small Wind Certification Council (AWEA-SWCC), British Wind Energy Association � Microgeneration Certification Scheme (BWEA-MCS), and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). The data collected were AC power output after the inverter, wind speed at hub height (31 m and 10 m), rotor speed, wind direction at hub height, sound pressure level, barometric pressure, and air temperature. This redesigned wind turbine had a better power curve than the previous Bergey 10-kW grid-tie wind turbine. The acoustical output was also lower due mainly to a difference in electrical loading. This was the first small wind turbine to be certified under both the AWEA-SWCC and BWEA-MCS small wind turbine standards. USDA-ARS-CPRL, Bushland, TX, and West Texas A&M University, Alternative Energy Institute (AEI), researchers finished the beta testing of the Southwest Windpower Skystream 600 wind turbine. The Skystream 600 has a rotor diameter of 4.7 m and is rated at 2.4 kW. This wind turbine was installed on a 13.8-m tower at USDA-ARS-CPRL Bushland, TX. Data collected were wind speed and direction at hub height, AC electrical power output, barometric pressure, air temperature, and sound pressure level. Several modifications were incorporated during the testing at USDA-ARS-CPRL, Bushland, TX, and the wind turbine is still in the development phase. The cooperative agreement between USDA-ARS-CPRL, Bushland, TX and West Texas A&M University, AEI, will expire Sept. 30, 2012, and this cooperative wind energy research will end. The ADODR is in regular contact with the cooperator via e-mail, phone, and face-to-face contacts. The ADODR monitors cooperator expenditure of funds through quarterly check of HHS/NFC accounting systems.
Impacts
(N/A)
Publications
|
Progress 10/01/10 to 09/30/11
Outputs
Progress Report Objectives (from AD-416) Use hybrid wind/solar energy systems to economically pump water for irrigation in the Southern High Plains. Develop industrial control algorithms that allow for the safe and efficient integration of biodiesel/wind/solar hybrid systems into agricultural operations for the production of heat and power. Determine the potential power output of identified electricigens-microbial consortia in low- (H-cell type) and high-power (ministack-type) fuel cells using various types and forms of 'manure fuels.' Approach (from AD-416) Currently, as the size (in kW) of the renewable energy system grows, the wind energy system becomes more economical than the solar energy system. However, for most of the crops grown in the Southern High Plains, a solar energy system is a much better match seasonally to the energy required for irrigation (i.e., highest solar energy is usually in the summer when the overall irrigation energy demand is highest while unfortunately wind energy is normally at its lowest in the summer). The experimental approach will be to construct, operate, and compare wind/solar hybrid systems (both off-grid and on-grid) to conventional power sources. There is a lack of published data on the energy use profiles (15-minute interval) of agricultural operations. This deficiency will be addressed by direct measurement of energy load profiles of three agricultural operations, and determination of which ones have energy requirements that can be met best with wind and solar energy. The renewable energy hybrid systems that are determined to be the best matches for the cooperating operations will be used to develop industrial control algorithms for programmable automation controllers. These algorithms will be evaluated through simulation and then tested. Determine and characterize which microbial communities are capable of generating electricity from manure wastes. We will first attempt to isolate known electricigens from beef- or dairy-cattle manure wastes using sediment microbial fuel cell design (SMFC). This should lead to the identification of microbes intimately involved in the production of electricity. Wind turbine certification data collection was completed for the Bergey Windpower 10-kW wind turbine. This included acoustical noise measurement, power curve measurement, and several months of duration testing. These data were submitted to the manufacturer for submittal to various small wind turbine certification agencies including: American Wind Energy Association - Small Wind Certification Council (AWEA-SWCC); British Wind Energy Association (BWEA); and International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). This redesigned wind turbine had a better power curve than the previous grid-tie Bergey 10-kW grid-tie wind turbine, and also had lower acoustical output than the previous Bergey 10-kW wind turbine design. ARS and West Texas A&M University researchers are also in the initial testing of a redesigned Southwest Windpower 2.4-kW wind turbine. The early production version of the machine is installed, and refinement of the control system is ongoing. Most of the instrumentation (including the data logger) were damaged by a lightning strike in May 2011, but fortunately the beta testing had been completed on this wind turbine. We are currently waiting on the arrival of a new wind turbine with an updated control system before beginning installation of new instrumentation. The ADODR is in regular contact with the cooperator via daily face-to- face contacts, e-mail, and phone. The ADODR monitors cooperator expenditure of funds through quarterly check of accounting systems.
Impacts
(N/A)
Publications
|
Progress 10/01/09 to 09/30/10
Outputs
Progress Report Objectives (from AD-416) Use hybrid wind/solar energy systems to economically pump water for irrigation in the Southern High Plains. Develop industrial control algorithms that allow for the safe and efficient integration of biodiesel/wind/solar hybrid systems into agricultural operations for the production of heat and power. Determine the potential power output of identified electricigens-microbial consortia in low- (H-cell type) and high-power (ministack-type) fuel cells using various types and forms of 'manure fuels.' Develop on-farm hydrogen production and containment systems. Approach (from AD-416) Currently, as the size (in kW) of the renewable energy system grows, the wind energy system becomes more economical than the solar energy system. However, for most of the crops grown in the Southern High Plains, a solar energy system is a much better match seasonally to the energy required for irrigation (i.e., highest solar energy is usually in the summer when the overall irrigation energy demand is highest while unfortunately wind energy is normally at its lowest in the summer). The experimental approach will be to construct, operate, and compare wind/solar hybrid systems (both off-grid and on-grid) to conventional power sources. There is a lack of published data on the energy use profiles (15-minute interval) of agricultural operations. This deficiency will be addressed by direct measurement of energy load profiles of three agricultural operations, and determination of which ones have energy requirements that can be met best with wind and solar energy. The renewable energy hybrid systems that are determined to be the best matches for the cooperating operations will be used to develop industrial control algorithms for programmable automation controllers. These algorithms will be evaluated through simulation and then tested. Determine and characterize which microbial communities are capable of generating electricity from manure wastes. We will first attempt to isolate known electricigens from beef- or dairy-cattle manure wastes using sediment microbial fuel cell design (SMFC). This should lead to the identification of microbes intimately involved in the production of electricity. A redesigned 2.4-kilowatt (kW) permanent magnet alternator (PMA) wind turbine was installed on a 45-foot tower; on an adjacent tower, various instruments were installed to measure the wind turbine performance and its electrical system. We measured wind speed, wind direction, AC electrical power, and turbine rotor speed. The wind speed and wind direction were measured by an anemometer and wind vane mounted at hub height of the wind turbine. All these data were recorded on a data logger. Initial data recorded on the redesigned 2.4-kW turbine show improved power production at lower wind speeds compared with a previous design. The 5-meter rotor diameter prototype blade set resulted in higher torque than the generator could resist and resulted in a redesign to the 4.7- meter rotor diameter and a new generator for the current testing. A 12-kW PMA wind turbine was installed on a 100-foot lattice tower; on an adjacent tower instrumentation was installed to measure the wind turbine performance and its electrical system. The wind speed and wind direction were measured by an anemometer and wind vane mounted at hub-height of the wind turbine. We also measured the AC electrical power between the turbine and the grid connection, along with the air temperature, and barometric pressure. All data were recorded on a data logger. Sound and power production data have been obtained on this 12-kW turbine. The ADODR is in regular contact with the cooperator via e-mail, phone, and face-to-face contacts. The ADODR also monitors the cooperator's expenditure of funds through quarterly check of the accounting system.
Impacts
(N/A)
Publications
|