3rd Annual Progress Energy Symposium
UCF Solar Farm:
Photovoltaic Array – Mounting System
Project Engineers:
Daniel Gould
Connie Griesemer
Ryan Lewis
Jonathan Torres
Ryan Tribbey
College of Engineering and Computer Sciences
Department of Mechanical, Materials and Aerospace Engineering
Purpose: UCF’s Climate Action Plan
• In 2008 UCF spent $12.5 Million in Electrical
Consumption
– Approximately 4-9% increase annually
• February 2007 President Hitt took a stand for
sustainability and to become a climate neutral
campus by 2050
Energy
Conservation
Energy
Fuel
Efficiency Switching
Renewable
Energy
Carbon
Mitigation
UCF Solar Farm – Project Site
Area of Site – 3 Acres ; equivalent to 0.6 MW
11 Vertical Panels over Twin Cylindrical Horizontal
Rails, 4 Support Posts per Rail (8 total)
Total Weight – 917 lbs
Overall Size – 38’ 6” x 4’ 9”
Distance between arrays – 5’
Total Number of Panels – 3934
Total Number of Arrays - 357
Side Profile – Attachment System
Bushing
3.5 ft
Bracket
1 ft
Set at Optimal Angle of 29o
Wind Load Analysis
(Wind Flowing Front to Back)
Vertical Lift = -4778 lbf
Wind Load Analysis
(Wind Flowing Back to Front)
Vertical Lift = +4132.5 lbf
The Final Module
3rd Annual Progress Energy Symposium
UCF Solar Farm:
Photovoltaic Array – Mounting System
Special Thanks To:
• Sponsor – UCF Sustainability & Energy Management, David Norvell, PE CEM
• Faculty Advisor: Nina Orlovskaya, Ph.D.
• Technical Advisors :
– Patrick Robinson, Florida Solar Energy Center
– James Nelson, Kennedy Space Center
• College of Engineering and Computer Sciences, Department of Mechanical,
Materials and Aerospace Engineering
3rd Annual Progress Energy Symposium
UCF Solar Farm:
Photovoltaic Array – Monitoring System
Project Engineers:
Michael Gannon
Michael Peffers
Muhammed Ali Khan
Ahmad Buleybel
College of Engineering and Computer Sciences
Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Solar Farm - Project Overview
• Design a panel by panel monitoring system
– Monitoring system must be self sustaining
– Wirelessly transmit data
– Data will be collected every 5 minutes for duration
of the day
• Publish real time information online
– Data must be graphed for easy interpretation
– Publically accessible
Solar Farm - Solar Panels
• 11 Solar panels used – Sharp Nu-U240f1
–
–
–
–
240 Watts
37.4 Volts
8.65 Amps
Weight: 44.1lbs/ 20.0 kg
39 inches
64.5 inches
• These panels will be connected
in a series circuit with one another
• Locally distributed
Solar Farm - Design Goals &
Objectives
• Monitor each panel for:
– Voltage
– Temp
– Current
• Display data online in real time
• Transmit data from field to web server
wirelessly
Solar Farm - Primary Circuit Board
• This board will handle
power to the whole
system for all
components
• Change channels on the
Multiplexers that were
implemented
• Handle all wireless
communication
System
Power
RJ45
Cable
Optical
Sensor
16:1 Multiplexer
Power to
whole system
PIC18F87J11
Solar Farm - Secondary Circuit Board
• Board will consist of
three separate sensors
• Voltage, Current, and
Temperature
• All sensors are
hardware designed to
an accuracy at least
± 1.5%
Solar Panel
Voltage
Sensor
Current
Sensor
4:1 Multiplexer
Temp
Sensor
Solar Farm - Multiplexer
• A multiplexer or MUX is
a device that combines
several electrical signals
into a single signal.
There are different
types of multiplexers for
analog and digital
circuits.
• Programming the MUX
gives desired values.
Figure: Pin Out for 4:1 Mux
Actual Secondary PCB
LM351 Op-Amp
Voltage Regulator
Temperature Sensor
Solar Farm - Wireless Technology
• XBee PRO 802.15.4
– Range
- Indoor Range 300 ft.
- Outdoor Range 1 mile
– No monthly fee
•
•
•
•
Low complexity.
Perfect for low-data transfer.
Very low power requirement.
Two modules, transmitter and receiver.
Solar Farm – Wireless Transmission
Solar Farm – Real Time Monitoring
www.ucfprojecthelios.co.cc
Special Thanks To:
• Sponsor – UCF Sustainability & Energy Management, Dave
Norvell, PE CEM
• Technical Advisor – Dr. Samuel Richie
Mechanical Engineers:
Industrial Engineers:
Daniel Gould
Connie Griesemer
Ryan Lewis
Jonathan Torres
Ryan Tribbey
Amanda Longman
Joshua MacNaughton
Andrew Wolodkiewicz
UCF Photovoltaic
Solar Farm Project
Amanda Longman
Joshua MacNaughton
Andrew Wolodkiewicz
Presentation Outline
Why Photovoltaic?
Goal of the Project
Prototype Design
Forecast Analysis
Conclusions
Future Considerations
Why Photovoltaics at UCF?
General Reasons
UCF-Specific Reasons
• Energy from the sun is
renewable
• On-site energy production
• Clean, environmentally
friendly, and silent
• President John Hitt engaged
UCF in the President’s
Climate Commitment
• Capacity is available on
• Power guaranteed for 25 yrs
campus
13 Florida Colleges and Universities1
• Eckerd College
• Florida Atlantic University
• Florida Gulf Coast
University
• Florida International
University
• Hillsborough Community
College
• New College of Florida
1Obtained
• Stetson University
• University of Central
Florida
• University of Florida
• University of Miami
• University of North Florida
• University of South Florida
• Valencia Community
College
from http://www.presidentsclimatecommitment.org/ April 4, 2011
Solar Farm Project Goals
• Conduct a feasibility study of constructing a
3-MW solar farm on the UCF main campus
• 3 MW will supply approximately 15% of the peak
energy demand on the main campus (Norvell, 2010)
• Project involves constructing design prototype
– Multidiscipline senior design team
(MEs, EEs, and IEs)
Prototype Design
• Sharp NU-U240F1
(240 W) Solar Panel
– Selection driven by low
shipping costs from local
distributor
• Fixed mounting system
– Minimal maintenance
• Supports 11 solar panels
• Individual panel monitoring
– Allows for immediate control
of system malfunctions
Forecast Analysis
Prototype Benefits2
Each year, the prototype (0.003 MW) can:
• Take 0.548 vehicles off the road
• Eliminate CO2 emissions from 0.339 homes
• Eliminate CO2 emissions from 117 propane cylinders
used for home barbeques
• Save UCF $283.30/year
2
Obtained from http://www.epa.gov/cleanenergy/energy-resources/calculator.html#results, April 4, 2011
Forecast Analysis
Transitioning from 0.003-MW Design to 3-MW Design
• Panel requirements:
11 panels to 12,507 panels
– This requires 1,137 arrays
– Space is necessary between rows
• Land requirements:
240 sq ft to 653,400 sq ft
– 0.006 acres to 15 acres
– More than 11 football fields
Forecast Analysis
3-MW Design Benefits3
Each year, the 3 MW Solar Farm Can Eliminate:
• Greenhouse gas emissions from approximately
623 vehicles
• CO2 emissions from the electricity use of
386 homes
• CO2 emissions from 132,487 propane cylinders used for home
barbeques
• $322,110/year from UCF energy bill
3
Obtained from http://www.epa.gov/cleanenergy/energy-resources/calculator.html#results, April 4, 2011
Future Considerations
• Florida weather conditions
• Variation in daily output
Variation in AC Power Output (MW)
3
2.5
2
Average Day
MW 1.5
SunnyDay
Day
Great
Cloudy
Bad
DayDay
1
0.5
0
7:21 AM
10:22 AM
1:22 PM
Time
4:22 PM
7:22 PM
Future Considerations
• Advancements in
solar technology
– Increased efficiency
– Decreased costs
3.5 kW
3.5 kW
3.5 kW
Corner of University Dr. & Econlockhatchee Trl.
Photovoltaic Solar Farm
Project Outcomes
• Additional resources needed for
large-scale expansion
• This study supports the
University’s commitment of
becoming climate-neutral
• Success of this project is greatly influenced by the
multidisciplinary nature of the design team
Team Accomplishments
• Mechanical Engineers
designed the mounting
system
• Electrical Engineers
designed the monitoring and
communication system
• Industrial Engineers
computed the design
forecasts for a 3-MW solar
farm
Acknowledgments
University of Central Florida
Corporate Thanks
Client: Mr. David Norvell
•
Progress Energy
Asst: Gina Spahi
Faculty Advisors
•
•
•
Dr. Christopher D. Geiger (IEMS)
Dr. William J. Thompson (IEMS)
Dr. Samuel Richie (EECS)
Electrical Engineering Design
Team
Mechanical Engineering Senior
Design Team
•
Kennedy Space Center
Florida Solar Energy
Center
Superior Solar