Residential/Small Commercial Monitoring of Solar Thermal- Geothermal Integrated Systems

Transcription

1 Residential/Small Commercial Monitoring of Solar Thermal- Geothermal Integrated Systems Prepared for 2013 Canadian GeoExchange Conference and Trade Show May 2-3, 2013 Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC Presented By: Sean McInroy, Research Technician

2 Who Are We? Lakeland College Two campus s located in Vermilion and Lloydminster (Alberta) Celebrating 100 th anniversary Currently offer an online certificate and diploma program in renewable energy Lakeland College Applied Research Current focus is environmental sciences, agriculture, and renewable energy Recently developed a site specific to applied research at Lakeland called the Centre for Sustainable Innovation Aerial Image of the Lakeland College, Vermilion Campus

3 Centre for Sustainable Innovation (CSI) What is the Centre for Sustainable Innovation? The Centre for Sustainable Innovation is a former farm establishment converted into a research and demonstration site ½ mile west of the Vermilion campus It encompasses: Research offices Site Map: Centre for Sustainable Innovation (CSI) Classroom and conference space Renewable energy research lab Electronics and instrumentation lab Prototype fabrication workshop Bio-energy lab (fall 2013) Tracking and Fixed Solar PV Arrays

4 Renewable Energy Learning Centre (RELC) What is the Renewable Energy Learning Centre? The main building of the Centre for Sustainable Innovation 1980 s farmhouse retrofitted using sustainable building practices Teaching facility, office space, and research lab Renewable Energy Learning Centre (RELC) Integrated Renewable Energy Technologies 10 kw solar PV 3.5 kw micro wind 120 ft 2 solar thermal flat plate array Vertical borehole geothermal system Future integration of phase change materials RELC research lab

5 Site Pictures Bio-gasifier arrival on site winter 2012 Geothermal installation summer 2011 Wireless anemometer installation summer 2012 Conference/classroom space Research workshop

6 Renewable Energy Learning Centre Integrated Systems

7 About the Research Project Project Description Current Test Sites Develop data acquisition and software solutions for monitoring, analyzing, and optimizing integrated renewable energy systems Energy Cabin (Off-grid site) Elk Point Visitor Information Eco Centre Target Demographic Residential and/or small commercial businesses in rural Alberta Renewable Energy Learning Centre Wainwright Residential Site

8 Renewable Energy Learning Centre: Test Site Site Details 4 flat plate solar thermal collectors 3 ton reversible heat pump Array of 18 ground temperature sensors installed with geo-field Flat plate solar thermal collectors PLC prioritizes how solar thermal energy is utilized Excess solar thermal heat is transferred to the geo-field Highly configurable reverse-return geothermal header Closed loop, vertical geo-exchange system

9 Wainwright Residential Test Site Site Details 3 heat pump, vertical borehole geo-exchange system Provides heating, cooling, and domestic hot water Heat pump electricity consumption is significant and a concern of the homeowner s Unobstructed evacuated tube collectors Array of 90 evacuated tube solar collectors recently installed to supplement heating demand Excess solar thermal energy is transferred to the geo-field Paralleled solar thermal pre-heat tanks

10 Integrating Solar Thermal and Geothermal Some questions of interest to our clients and industry partners are: What are the quantifiable benefits of integrating solar thermal and geothermal? What are the seasonal effects? Does integrating solar thermal negatively affect heat pump performance in cooling? What are the local climate effects? What effect does integrating solar thermal with geothermal have on field sizing?

11 Instrumentation Electricity Consumption Egauge energy monitor Heat Flow flow meters and tape-on thermocouples Sensor Data Collection palm-sized single board computer; can accept wireless sensor data, uploads to the web site, and can be remotely configured Data Management custom software and website Flow meter and tape-on thermocouple Single board computer compiles sensor data and uploads to the website Egauge current transformer

12 Progress Update Renewable Energy Learning Centre monitoring equipment installed and capturing data Wainwright equipment to be installed in the next couple of weeks Follow our progress at: Website Features Real-time data Graphical displays Energy reports Site images Virtual tours Real-time, web-based sensor and equipment status data Real-time, web-based graphical display of electrical energy consumption and generation (Egauge energy monitor)

13 Renewable Energy Learning Centre Preliminary Data

14 Temperature Deg C Geothermal Borehole Temperature Measurements in Heating Season (November 2012 to May 2013) T1-20 ft T2-105 ft T3-210 ft 0.00

15 COP 3.5 Heat Pump COP Decrease Over a Constant 90 Minute Heating Period Electric heat pump under analysis NOTE: COP represented by heat pump load side output and electricity consumption of the heat pump only. 0

16 Temperature in C Solar Collector Output April 25th 80 Buffer tank charging Excess heat dissipation cycling on and off Flat plate collector array Supply From Solar Collectors Return to Solar Collectors Buffer Tank Temperature 0

17 Heat Output in W Flat Plate Collector Array Heat Output April 25th Buffer tank charged Excess heat dissipation cycling on and off Points of heat dissipation Point of cloud cover Points of idle heat movement 0

18 Questions? Acknowledgements