Renewable Energy Tech:
Heat and Power
Nathan Siegel
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Bucknell University
Solar Scholars Workshop
5/12/2012
Outline
• Energy Usage
• Heating With Solar
• Non-Solar Energy Solutions
Energy Usage
• What “type” of energy do
you use and how much
does it cost annually?
– Perform a basic audit
(Kill-A-Watt), look at
utility bills.
• Heating can be a major
energy cost
– Depends on Weather,
Construction, Type/Fuel
Space Heating
Everything Else
(TV, Computer, Lights, AC)
Estimated Heating Costs
2010-2011 Sandia Park, NM
Type: Propane, radiant floor
Construction: 2100 ft2 , Frame Constr. (2001)
Average Temperature: 42oF
Energy: 55 MBtu (91,690 Btu/ga)
Heating Cost : $1800 (600 ga at ~$3/ga) or $33/MBtu
2011-2012: New Berlin, PA
Type: Oil, forced air, with one room electric baseboard
Construction: 1800 ft2 , Brick (~1880)
Average Temperature: 39oF
Energy: 57 MBTU (139,000 Btu/ga)
Heating Cost: $1462 (411 ga at $3.6/ga) or $26/MBtu
𝑘𝑊ℎ𝑟
293
𝑀𝐵𝑡𝑢
𝐸𝑙𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑦 = $0.10/𝑘𝑊ℎ𝑟
𝐸𝑙𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑐 𝐻𝑒𝑎𝑡 = $29/𝑀𝐵𝑡𝑢
How quickly would you pay off an alternative heating system?
Weather Data: http://www.wunderground.com/cgibin/findweather/getForecast?query=zmw:17855.1.99999
Source: http://www.nrel.gov/gis/femp.html#about
Heating With Solar
• A Range of Options
– Passive Solar
Architecture
– Trombe Wall
– Solar Air Heater
– Solar Liquid
Heater
– Combination
– Storage/No
Storage
A home designed for solar heating in the winter
Source: electrictreehouse.com
Heating With Solar
• A Range of Options
– Passive Solar Architecture
– Trombe Wall
– Solar Air Heater
– Solar Liquid Heater
– Combination
– Storage/No Storage
A Trombe wall providing heat and storage
Source: consumerenergycenter.org
Heating With Solar
• A Range of Options
– Passive Solar Architecture
– Trombe Wall
– Solar Air Heater
– Solar Liquid Heater
– Combination
– Storage/No Storage
Active solar air heater with rock storage
Source: warmair.com
DIY Air Heaters
• Air heaters can be made
from relatively
inexpensive materials:
–
–
–
–
Wood box
Polyiso insulation
Polycarb or glass window
Aluminum cans
Soda can solar air heater
Source: rimstar.org
Soda can solar air heater
Source: Bucknell Solar Scholars
Heating With Solar
• A Range of Options
– Solar Liquid Heater
– Combination
– Passive Solar Architecture
– Trombe Wall
– Solar Air Heater
– Storage/No Storage
Solar liquid heater schematic for a radiant floor system
Source: radiantec.com
Heating Liquids: Flat Panel
• Years of operation in the field
• Relatively inexpensive
Heating Liquids: Evacuated Tube
• Relatively new technology
• Low loss
• Cost (Sunmaxx 30): $1,450
• $8/MBtu in Philly over a 25 year
service life
Sunmaxx 20 evacuated tube heater
Sources: siliconsolar.com,
www.sunmaxxsolar.com
Bucknell’s Water Heating System
• http://linux.bucknell.edu/~altenergy/
Two Heliodyne panels on Mod 3, Bucknell
http://www.heliodyne.com/index.html
http://www.heliodyne.com/industry_professionals/downloads/2011%20Product%20Guide.pdf
Non-Solar Energy Solutions
Biomass: Another Heating Option
• Carbon neutral
• Uses waste
• Relatively inexpensive
• System Specs
–
–
–
–
140 Tons/week wood chips
18,000 lb/hour steam (60 psig)
Saves $600,000/year
Six to eight year payback
Steam generator at Evangelical Hospital
Sources: L.Z.Leighton
http://lancasterfarming.com/news/princesses/-Hospital-s-BiomassBoiler-Heats-Facilities--Will-Accommodate-Growth-
DIY Micro-Hydro
• If you have running
water, you can make
power
• All you need are:
– Some civil engineering
– A turbine wheel
– An electric motor (auto
alternator)
– Pulleys
– Wires to the load.
Micro hydro with a water wheel
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OvJW_zNyVCw&feature=related
DIY Micro-Hydro
• Buy or make a Pelton
Turbine that connects to the
generator
• System runs “around the
clock”
Micro hydro generating station
Sources: yousavegreen.com
A Pelton wheel turbine generator
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TmTGnO_E0pY
Sources: energyalternatives.ca
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r7DFDrFbWT4&feature=related
Questions?
Backup
Cost in $/sq ft:
$48
Sunmaxx specs