Francisco Angel
Writing 340
April 7, 2013
The Hybrid Method: From Vehicles to Homes
Abstract
Demand for energy will begin to increase throughout the globe, especially as
industrialization continues to expand at a rapid pace. As the demand for energy
increases, current energy sources will be exhausted, causing devastating effects to
the environment. These environmental concerns have been addressed by
implementing cleaner energy solutions. However, many clean energy solutions are
not efficient, except for hybrid techniques. These techniques utilize both traditional
and environmentally friendly energy sources. In a sense, it is a compromise between
the environment and efficiency. Hybrid systems have had particular success in the
automotive industry since they have bridged the gap between internal combustion
and electrically derived power. It is now time for home energy use to be analyzed
since it is a major indirect polluter of the environment.
Introduction
Hybrid vehicles have come a long way in terms of efficiency and popularity among
car drivers. Part of the huge success is the increased concern for the environment,
but a huge part of this success is the fact that hybrid techniques have proved to be
extremely efficient through the utilization of two power sources. The time has come
for these hybrid energy approaches to be applied to residential energy systems. As a
matter of fact, car manufacturers have considered applying hybrid technology to
homes [1]. The only concern for implementing these systems is the public’s reaction.
History of Hybrid Vehicle Technology
Hybrid vehicles refer to vehicles that combine both electric and internal combustion
power sources for propulsion. At the start of the 20th century the first documented
hybrid, the Lohner-Porshe Elektromobil, was introduced at the Paris Exposition [2].
Initially this vehicle was strictly electric, however, automotive engineer Ferdinand
Porshe eventually added an internal combustion engine to charge the batteries that
supplied power to the electric motor, hence the first hybrid. Ferdinand’s realization
that batteries would not supply adequate power to the electric motor is a realization
that many engineers presently face with batteries on board vehicles, one of the main
reasons as to why hybrids are preferred over pure electric vehicles [2].
Since the invention of the Lohner-Porshe Elektromobil, there have been other
hybrid attempts by car manufacturers, however, many were not successful
endeavors due to the lack of interest and research funding. Things changed when
hybrid technology was invested heavily in the first decade of the 21st century as an
environmentally concerned market grew at a rapid pace [3]. The initial success of
the hybrid had a lot to do with its marketable image, which in turn allowed car
manufacturers to dedicate a substantial amount of resources for further hybrid
technology research, leading to improved vehicle performance over the years since
the year 2000 [3]. Hybrids have provided excellent gas mileage, where they gained
uttermost popularity during a gasoline crisis when U.S. gas prices tripled between
the years 2006 and 2008 [3]. These vehicles, in the near term, seem to be the best
choice in answering emissions questions, however, it is unknown whether hybrid
vehicles can keep up with long-term competition with more efficient internal
combustion engines and other emerging propulsion alternatives.
How Hybrids Work
The term hybrid can be applied to many objects and methods, describing these as
mixtures of several components. The most well known hybrid is the hybrid vehicle,
which utilizes both a gasoline engine and an electric motor [4]. Both power sources
can be arranged in three different ways: in parallel, in series, or in a dual
configuration. The latter is a combination of both a parallel and series system. In a
parallel hybrid, both the engine and electric motor drive the wheels of the car,
where in a series hybrid the engine generates electricity for electric motor to drive
the wheels [4]. The figure below is a diagram of a parallel hybrid system, which
shows how both power sources do not influence each other.
Figure 1: Parallel hybrid system schematic. The engine and electric motor are completely separated
from each other, but they both supply power to vehicle's wheels [4].
A dual hybrid system has been the most rewarding since the engine is responsible
for both generating electricity and driving the wheels— a mixture of both parallel
and in series systems. Although a dual hybrid system is the most efficient, a parallel
hybrid is the system that can serve as a model for residential homes. Of course the
hybrid vehicle’s components, such as engine and motor, would be replaced by
power generation components for homes. In other words, a hybrid home would only
be a derivation of hybrid vehicle techniques.
From Vehicles to Homes
Applying hybrid techniques to homes can reduce energy costs by creating a system
where multiple power sources exist [5]. Taking the parallel hybrid system as a
model, a hybrid home system would contain two power sources and a battery. The
primary reason as to why a parallel system is the best type of hybrid system for a
home is due to the fact that one power source can be completely shut-down during
appropriate times. In other words, both power sources do not directly rely on each
other. Consider the following system shown in the figure below.
Figure 2: Diagram demonstrating a potential hybrid home system. Both the fuel converter (left) and
solar panels (right) supply power to the home, where the excess energy is stored in the battery (center).
Original image.
This sort of system can be applied to any home regardless of size. In this system
there is a fuel cell converter, a solar panel, and a battery. Once again, both power
sources run parallel to each so they do not affect each other in any direct way, but
they do connect to the battery that stores any excess energy that is collected or
converted. The purpose of the system is to place most of the load demand on the
solar panel(s), perhaps with a 60%/40% (solar/fuel cell) ratio in order to reduce
the cost of the fuel that must be replenished every so often. The only time the fuel
cell converter will be running at full capacity is when energy demand is high in the
home, perhaps during hours when the Sun has already set, since the solar panels
cannot collect energy without the Sun. Exactly like a parallel hybrid vehicle system,
this hybrid home system would completely shut-off any power generation from the
fuel cell converter during times when there is not a significant demand for energy.
For example, a hybrid vehicle in a parallel configuration typically shuts-off the
internal combustion engine when the vehicle travels at low speeds or if it is at a
complete stop, which has yielded impressive gas mileage numbers. In terms of the
hybrid home system, the solar panel will be taking on most of the energy demand
unless there is a substantial energy need or if there is not enough sunlight on a given
day. Throughout the power generation process, any excess energy will be stored in a
battery, therefore, whenever there is enough energy stored, the fuel cell converter
will slow down on the fuel consumption. Every component within this stated hybrid
system stems from existing technology, allowing for potential implementation.
Fuel cell converters need a fuel to convert chemical energy to electrical energy,
which can be a significant cost in replenishing the fuel. To make the fuel cell
converter a much more valuable component of the system, the exhaust heat from
the electrochemical reaction can be used to warm the domestic water supply, thus
reducing the cost of water heating. On the other hand, solar panels are expected to
collect as much energy as possible during daylight since there is no direct cost in
converting the Sun’s energy to electrical energy.
Developing a hybrid system for a home is not a simple task, but the outcome can be
very great. Unlike vehicles, residential homes vary and are rarely the same. For
instance, there can be homes that do not have many appliances, whereas there can
be homes that have every possible appliance [5]. There are also homes that are
significantly larger than other homes, where energy usage can vary greatly, adding
more to an already complex situation. Compared to vehicles, you get what engineers
designed the car to be. This leads to the question on whether to market hybrid home
systems as custom-made systems or as built-in systems to newer homes.
Future
The future of hybrid energy techniques highly depends on its expansion into other
areas, particularly in deriving similar systems to fit residential energy needs. For the
time being, hybrid vehicles have satisfied the needs of cleaner and more fuelefficient vehicles. However, it is not very probable that hybrids will outcompete
much more fuel-efficient and high-performing internal combustion engine vehicles
in the near future [3]. This can easily bury hybrid techniques in a sea of science and
engineering ideas, hence why it should be pushed into the area of residential energy
needs. When it comes to residential homes, hybrid energy systems can be marketed
as individually sold systems based off of maximum power generation levels. [6] It
seems that in the near future, every home will be generating their own power,
making the grid more and more obsolete, which will create a huge need for home
energy systems. Hybrid energy systems are not only efficient but are very clean
energy sources.
References
[1] "Toyota Eyes 'Hybrid Home'" Ward's Auto World Sept. 2009: n. pag. Web. 2 Apr.
2013. <http://search.proquest.com.libproxy.usc.edu/docview/196365040>.
[2] Anderson, Curtis D., and Judy Anderson. Electric and Hybrid Cars: A History.
Jefferson, NC: McFarland, 2005. Print.
[3] Hantula, Richard, and Debra Voege. How Do Hybrid Cars Work? New York: Chelsea
Clubhouse, 2010. Print.
[4] Underhill, William. "Hybrid Homes." Newsweek [New York] 20 Sept. 2004, 144th
ed., sec. 12: E18-20. Print.
[5] Patterson, Brian. "Hybrid Cars Meet Hybrid Buildings." Environmental Design and
Construction 14.5 (2011): 50-51. Web. 6 Apr. 2013.
<http://search.proquest.com.libproxy.usc.edu/docview/872192783>
[6] Horst, Gale R., Jiannong Zhang, and Andriy D. Syvokozov. Total Home Energy
Management System. Whirlpool Corporation, assignee. Patent 60389013. 13 June 2003.
Print.