DESIGN OF A RENEWABLE ENERGY BASED POWER SYSTEM FOR A ZERO-ENERGY VISITORS' CENTER

摘要

The work presents the design and building of a hybrid, solar and wind powered system, which will provide electricity to a "zero energy visitors' center" (ZEVC). The hybrid energy system and the "Leed" certified visitors' building will be located on the Van Ness campus of the University of the District of Columbia. The system is intended to increase the viability and deployment of renewable energy technologies by way of disseminating in the community at large, valuable information on the benefits brought to society by renewable energy sources. The proposed system will serve as a practical demonstration of the operation of a combination of solar and wind energy sources. Through the visitors' center, a variety of audiovisual systems will be operated for demonstration and educational purposes. The proposed project is expected to deliver up to 2,000W (Watts) of electric power from an array of photovoltaic (PV) solar modules, and up to 900 W of electric power from a wind turbine generator, to give a total of 2.90 KW of electricity. This hybrid system will power a 600 square-foot mobile visitors' center with a self-maintained cooling system, and equipped with a big screen television, and other small appliances. The electricity generated from the hybrid system will also be used to light up selected areas of the university's campus at night, to improve students and public safety. In addition, the system will power a DC/AC submersible pump placed in a large (800 gal.) transparent water tank, where the pumped water will be recycled back for demonstration purpose. This project will include a two-axis solar tracking photovoltaic power system for maximum conversion efficiency. Under the utility power company permit, the wind/solar system can also be net metered, so that any surplus energy will be tied to the grid. The entire design of the zero energy visitors' center and the hybrid solar/wind system is handled by University students from the various engineering and applied sciences disciplines.