Jim Baughn

Sources of Power - Preview Human and Animal Power Fire Introduction to electricity Mechanical Generators Wind Power Water Power Solar Power Fuel Cells Nuclear Power Types of Fuel Safety Questions

Source of Power If you have enough people, enough time and enough personal power, You could build a pyramid.

Source of Power Horses, Mules, Oxen and other draught animals supply power to pull wagons, plows, grinding wheels and carry people.

Sources of Power - Fire Fuel Wood Coal Gasoline Natural Gas Syngas Power Generation Heat boiler Steam Turbine, Wheels, Propeller Thermocouple

A Quick Introduction to Electricity Two Types Thomas Edison’s Direct Current Flashlight Great amount of loss when being transmitted over wire Nikola Tesla’s and Westinghouse’s Alternating Current Used in household appliances However internally many appliances use DC Can be sent for many miles will little loss

A Quick Introduction to Electricity Electricity’s Route From a Source – Must supply enough power for the load To a Load – Must be the same type of current as the Source Power Formula P(power) =I (Current) * E (Voltage) Most homes consume Kilowatts (thousands of watts) of power

Fuel Driven Generators Fuel can be gasoline, propane or gasified biomass They can be manually started (pull rope) Electrically started Auto started

AC Generators

Ground System

Solar Power Expansion

Generator Problems Finite source of fuel If electric start, you must maintain the battery and terminals Run the generator at a minimum of once per month or mix “Stablize” with the fuel If it is a pull start generator, it is much easier to start when warm, keep it in a warm location, wheel it out to use (CO2 is a bad thing.)

Sources of Power - Wind Wind Power Kit – About $800 Coleman sells a wind turbine kit 600 watt wind turbine Multiple Function Charge Controller Will need batteries and An expensive tower

Indiana Wind Power

Sources of Power - Water Micro Hydro 10 feet of fall with 20 gallons/minute 40 Watts 100 Feet of fall with 100 gallons/minute 1100 Watts If you plan to dam a stream, even on your own land, be prepared for lots of red tape. Mechanically you will be cleaning out debris from the screens As long as the water runs, electricity will be generated 24/7

Solar Power – Heat Source Sun heated systems that turn a steam turbine Mechanically complex Devices to heat water One used to see such devices on roofs Not so much anymore Solar Cooker

Solar Power - Photoelectric Solar Panels convert photons from the sun into electricity The Electricity is sent to a charge controller if using batteries to store the power for when the sun doesn’t shine Batteries store the power An inverter is used to convert the DC to AC for most household appliances

Coleman 55 Watt Solar Generator Kit Three solar panels Cables Mounting Frame 7 Amp Charge Controller 200 Watt Inverter No Batteries In the range of $350 I am using two combined with 2 Trojan T-105 Batteries to operate my communications equipment and computers Trojans cost $150 each

Solar – Grid Tie System Lease a whole house solar system Energy you don’t use is sent into the commercial power system. During those times, your meter runs backward Saves most of the commercial electric cost However, there is not provision to save the power When the Commercial system goes down, at night you will have no power.

Sources of Power - Nuclear Try to obtain Plutonium Red Tape Plant would not fit on your land, unless you are a Texan Dad expected atomic batteries to be developed

Sources of Power – Fuel Cells Alkali fuel cells operate on compressed hydrogen and oxygen. They generally use a solution of potassium hydroxide (chemically, KOH) in water as their electrolyte. Hydrogen and Oxygen are the fuel DC electricity and heat are produced This is an example of one of about six types of fuel cells. There are kits available for a few hundred dollars

Types of Fuels - Gasoline Fill containers to about 95% Cap containers tightly Only use gasoline containers Store out of direct sunlight at about 80 Degrees Do not store near an ignition source (gas furnace or water heater for example.) Use a stabilizer or use gasoline regularly (once a month test of the generator for example.) Don’t have all containers empty when the power goes out!

Type of Fuel - Diesel Ensure that the fuel is not in contact with any surfaces containing zinc or copper or compounds containing those metals (eg. Brass). Establish a regular fuel maintenance program to ensure that water and dirt is removed from storage tanks. This will also remove any chance for fungus to grow. Water should be drained from the storage tanks weekly. The frequency can be extended if the tank shows no tendency to collect water but should be done at least monthly. Tanks should be kept full to reduce the space for water to condense. Regularly turn the fuel over. If possible, plan the fuel usage so that it will all be used within 1-5 years and replaced with fresh fuel.

Types of Fuel - Propane Store in a well ventilated area Store way from any ignition source Store so the relief valve is in direct contact with the vapor. Standard propane tanks should be stored vertically.

Syngas using Gasification A method of converting wood to gas much like propane. A fire is build A tank, with a ‘nozzle’, containing wood scrap is placed in the fire The wood goes thorough a process producing syngas. The resulting vapor can then piped to an engine set up to run gas vapor.

FEMA’s Simplified Gasifier

Safety Batteries under charge emit hydrogen (remember the Hindenburg?) Do not place arc producing items above the batteries Fuse the batteries close to the terminals with DC fuses Use the proper size cables Tiewrap cables together Keep AC away from DC in separate breaker boxes Use AC breakers for AC only Use DC breakers and fuses for DC only

Questions?