Alternative Energy Projects

We currently use about 18000 kWh per year (avg 50 kWh per day), with electric heat (25%) and hot water (50%), and 5 face cord of firewood for alternative heat. Better basement sealing could probably reduce this 10%. If we put solar panels on the barn roof, a 6 kW unit would pay for itself in 5 years.

Concrete Silo Retrofits

This structure isn’t going anywhere, so use it

Wind Mill Generator

  1. Use old silo for base structure, but otherwise follow a historical build
  2. 24ft diameter wind vanes (4 arms, with auto-furling) should peak out at 7hp
  3. A modern upgrade: a 20ft diameter thrust bearing for it to change direction automatically
  4. Mount generator on top: 5kw Unit, for about 4400 kWh per year
  5. House inverter and electroncs inside and send high-voltage back to house?
  6. There is 12 mph avg wind speed at our house - maybe a little higher on top of silo?
  7. Option 1: connect to grid and net-meter (against zoning, without variance)
  8. Option 2: power certain dedicated devices 1. water pre-heater tank 1. small battery bank and certain appliances 1. compressed air 1. water pump
  9. Calcs

Stirling Engine Solar Powerplant

  1. retrofit the old silo for
  2. housing for a large Stirling engine
  3. engine configuration TBD (ross-yoke beta?) but these are good ideas
  4. custom built 20-30 cf steel fabrication 1. old propane tanks?
  5. working fluid is air 1. cheaply available 1. charged by air compressor
  6. engine drives fly wheel which drives generator head
  7. solar collector to heat air for engine
  8. create collector from metal roofing
  9. use small solar PV powered-pump to ensure engine is self-starting
  10. only moves water when sunny, to avoid nightime cooling
  11. cooling tower to dissipate heat from engine
  12. needs to be insulated from solar collector side?
  13. references
  14. Performance calculations
  15. Wikipedia entry

Stirling Engine Linkages.

Hydrogen Generator

  1. Electrolysis of water
  2. Use deeply submerged tanks to collect the gas, to minimize compression?? Does this work?

Wood gasification using high biomass willows

  1. For powering IC engines
  2. References
  3. UN doc
  4. World Bank

Solar water heater

  1. For preheating hot water supply
  2. Run hot water loop to faucets for instant hot water
  3. Collector design
    1. Insulated box with black metal roofing
    2. Copper pipe loop collects heat in insulated box, transmits heat to water in holding tank
    3. Brine as transfer liquid, so it won’t freeze
  4. Controller design
    1. python-based microcontroller
    2. logic: if temp in collector > temp in heat exchanger, then run pump
  5. Heat Exchanger design
    1. Modified propane tank, with insulation
    2. Collector fluid runs through replacable copper coil inside tank
    3. pressure/heat relief valve

Wood Stove

  1. Set furnace fan to run on timer to distribute heat and run air cleaner

Tractor GenSet

  1. 24 hp can power a 15kw Genset head
    1. Enough to power water heater and well pump at same time
  2. Buy genset head and mount to tractor, driven by mower belt