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re: cooling of pv modules (was calculating windload...)
21 dec 2002
george ghio wrote:
>> i'd bolt together a 32'x14' frame...
>...do you have enough for 50 solar garages.
i have enough now for about 15.
>...50 solar garages soundslike a commercial operation.
yes, on a small scale. it would be nice to build one a week.
>this frame has 5.3 ft centers length wise and 7 ft centers across the
>width. what make solar panel are you using? do they fit this frame?
sharp 165 w, 32.5" (ns) x 62" (ew), with an extra 1/8" for tape between
ns edges and 1.625 (unistrut)+0.25 (tape) between ew edges...
>> 32'
>> p-----------p-----------p
>> | | | | | | | using about 400' of 1.625"x2.4375"
>> | | | | | | | steel unistrut with the inner beams
>> |---+---+---+---+---+---| 14' doubled in each direction.
>> | | | | | | |
>> | | | | | | | the next one might have 25% less steel.
>> p-----------p-----------p
>> south
>>
>> >the tarp frame? how is the tarp kept tight?
>>
>> the south posts (p) would be 9' tall. the north ones would be 18', ie 9'
>> above the level or 2% tilted array. the tarp would be tied to the posts
>> with light enough twine to let it blow loose before the structure tipped
>> over in a great wind. a few bungee cords might be nice.
>
>this tarp fixing sounds great - for a sunshade.
in oz...
>as a reflector it sucks...
we don't need specularity or uniform illumination.
>as a fixed angle reflector on what seems to be a fixed angle solar
>array...well what can i say?...
you can say it's 400x cheaper than pvs :-)
>> >the pipe and fittings that go with the pump?
>>
>> commensurate with the price of the $20 bilge pump.
>
>i don't thik so...
you might thik more...
>> >the water recovery and the waste heat recovery?
>>
>> if the water evaporates, there would be no "recovery."
>
>so you are proposing a total loss system.
that's one version.
>> the water supply would be the pv roof, and maybe
>> a nearby house roof. i can think of 3 applications
>> for "waste heat recovery":
>>
>> 1. swimming pool heating, which might only involve
>> a pipe full of holes near the north edge and a gutter
>> below the north edge. maybe no separate pump...
>
>cost?
that marginal cost would be low, for a 32'x2" pvc pipe
with some holes and a 32' gutter. if new, the extra 27'
of unistrut for the north poles would cost about $90,
and the cost of the tarp is about $50.
>> 2. space heating, with an insulated unpressurized tank
>> for thermal storage and a water-air heat exchanger, eg
>> a hydronic floor or a fan-coil unit.
>
>cost?
more, about $60 for the poly-film pillow. the tank could be
a 4'x8'x8' epdm-lined plywood box in the basement. magic-aire's
$150 2'x2' all-copper shw 2347 duct heat exchanger can transfer
45k btu/hour between 125 f water and 68 f air at 1400 cfm with
a 0.1" h20 pressure drop.
>> 3. making hot water for showers, an extension of (2)
>> with a 42 gallon bare galvanized pressurized tank
>> inside the unpressurized tank to act as a preheater.
>
>cost?
my plumbing supply store sells the galvanized tanks for about
$150. seems high, compared to a whole water heater for $200.
>> >the control for the pump?
>>
>> just wire it up to a panel, basically.
>
>that the best you can come up with is it?
read on.
>>a differential thermostat could improve performance...
>>
>> >temperature sensing for the panels? the anti freeze?
>>
>> draindown, with a $6 freezestat to avoid making ice.
>
>but the pump is wired to a panel and will run any time the sun is out
>even if it is below freezing outside...
that's the reason for the freezestat.
>> >the nuts and bolts?
>>
>> i've got about 500 pounds of unistrut nuts and bolts.
>
>ah yes. steel frame bolted to alloy framed panels what a great idea that is
thanks.
>> >what will it cost?
>>
>> about the same as the rebate, $25k for 5 kw, including labor.
>
>seems to me that your 25k would barely cover the cost of 5kw of panels.
the best price i've found so far is $3.50/w, delivered.
>to turn this concept into a design will take more than you have outlined here.
agreed. i built a model and talked it over with some structural engineers,
and i hope to get some help improving the reflector geometry.
thanks for your helpful questions.
nick
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