How to get solar power continuously and without any interrupt?

Sebastianebilly · 01-30-13, 09:26 PM

Gas prices are bound to increase , I think will never come below $4. Only solar power is the guaranteed clean,affordable ,low prices alternative option.Only problem is it is not available at all time, Can we build a system that can be placed above the clouds and supply us the solar energy on the ground continuously? Any thoughts?

Ryland · 01-30-13, 10:19 PM

Batteries would be cheaper, there is a TED talk about a large scale salt based battery that sounds really promising, they end up being huge and heavy but also cheap.
Otherwise Lead Acid batteries work well and if you over size them they will last 20 years or more.
As a country we've also gotten to a point where our demand has not been increasing in the last few years, we still have peek demand times, but those match up with peek production from solar.

gasstingy · 01-31-13, 07:38 AM

Some people who are smarter than me can explain how tidal and wind power both are caused by the energy of the sun. That said, unless there is a way to have something like a satellite that stays in the same position relative to the sun and not the earth and can transmit power without a physical connection, it will be double tough to accomplish.

Blue Bomber Man · 01-31-13, 02:05 PM

@Gasstingy

Wind and tidal receive energy from the sun do to heating convectional processes.

With wind, air gets heated up near the ground and rises. Mainly due to uneven heating and the Coriolis effect weather systems form and climatic regions take shape.

Tidal is more of a grey area. The sun heats the ocean and creates convection currents. Wind and atmospheric pressure differences cause higher then usual tides. But tidal energy as a whole is probably mostly gravitational energy (this will sound far fetch, but it is not) extracted from the moons slowly declining orbit. Wave power however I would guess is more solar induced then gravimetric.

Regarding satellite power. You could send a satellite into a solar synchronous orbit that could transmit a minuscule amount of power to the earth via microwave transmitter to an earth bound receiver. More then likely it would be better to use a low earth orbit satellite for this function, gyros would keep the panels and transmitter aligned as needed. The panels would also receive much more energy then they would on a rooftop. I doubt this would ever be economically feasible, though with technology it already can be done (and technically already is when a satellite communicates with earth). If mining the moon or asteroids ever becomes feasible then this sort of tech might become viable since the resources would not need to be launched.

Xringer · 02-13-13, 04:02 PM

Traditionally it's done with a large storage tank and lots of hotwater collectors.

I'm storing a little PV Solar power as heat in water.
I'm using my 800w PV array to help heat water in my 40 gallon hot water heater.
It's main heat source is the A7 AirTap (ASHP).

I've been logging power use and weather data on the A7 for almost 2 weeks, (Kill-A-Watt meter)
and even with poor solar conditions, the PV seems to be helping supply hotwater.

Today it was partly cloudy around here, but saw an interesting 'cloud-edge' effect.
The power out of my 800W array suddenly increased to over 1 KW for 15 or 20 seconds.
Then it dropped back down to 700s range.

Maybe I'm going to need a bigger fuse in the PV box...

scottharrison · 03-01-13, 06:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sebastianebilly

Gas prices are bound to increase , I think will never come below $4. Only solar power is the guaranteed clean,affordable ,low prices alternative option.Only problem is it is not available at all time, Can we build a system that can be placed above the clouds and supply us the solar energy on the ground continuously? Any thoughts?

I must say, Solar power is the conversion of sunlight into electricity. I just want to clarify, how to get solar power continuously and without any interrupt? How would it affect?

NeilBlanchard · 03-01-13, 07:37 AM

Actually, tides are caused by the moon orbiting the earth. So, the sun is indirectly involved. Geothermal is from the latent heat left over from when the earth formed and from flexing and movement of the earth's crust, and probably other effects, too.

But most renewable energy all come from the sun's energy; directly or indirectly. Wind tends to increase at night, and biomass energy can be used at various times, and wave and tidal power are pretty consistent. Windy areas (like from Texas all the way up to the Dakotas, and off both coasts) are very consistent. Solar peaks when electricity use peaks.

If Germany can do it, we here in the US can do it much more easily.

MN Renovator · 03-01-13, 09:50 AM

Solar powered off-grid homes have used batteries to provide continuous power. Size the battery for your load and you are set.

OffGridKindaGuy · 03-01-13, 08:30 PM

Shop around and you can find PV for around $1/watt. I paid $5/watt 12 years ago..

Currently, batteries are the only way to store power reasonably. I looked at Ultracapacitors but it would take a bunch of 'um..

Keep your power consumption low and it's very doable. I survive comfortably on 512 watts of PV and 4-6 volt golf cart batteries.. (Total 12 v.d.c. System)

NeilBlanchard · 03-04-13, 03:07 PM

Here's an excellent account of a small solar PV system with a homegrown battery storage system:

http://physics.ucsd.edu/do-the-math/...t-solar-setup/

01-30-13, 09:26 PM	#1
Sebastianebilly Lurking Renovator Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: New York Posts: 2 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	How to get solar power continuously and without any interrupt? Gas prices are bound to increase , I think will never come below $4. Only solar power is the guaranteed clean,affordable ,low prices alternative option.Only problem is it is not available at all time, Can we build a system that can be placed above the clouds and supply us the solar energy on the ground continuously? Any thoughts?

02-13-13, 04:02 PM	#5
Xringer Lex Parsimoniae Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Woburn, MA Posts: 4,918 Thanks: 114 Thanked 250 Times in 230 Posts	Heat water during the day for use at night Traditionally it's done with a large storage tank and lots of hotwater collectors. I'm storing a little PV Solar power as heat in water. I'm using my 800w PV array to help heat water in my 40 gallon hot water heater. It's main heat source is the A7 AirTap (ASHP). I've been logging power use and weather data on the A7 for almost 2 weeks, (Kill-A-Watt meter) and even with poor solar conditions, the PV seems to be helping supply hotwater. Today it was partly cloudy around here, but saw an interesting 'cloud-edge' effect. The power out of my 800W array suddenly increased to over 1 KW for 15 or 20 seconds. Then it dropped back down to 700s range. Maybe I'm going to need a bigger fuse in the PV box... __________________ My hobby is installing & trying to repair mini-splits EPA 608 Type 1 Technician Certification ~ 5 lbs or less..

03-01-13, 08:30 PM	#9
OffGridKindaGuy Hi-Tech Hillbilly Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Ohio Posts: 97 Thanks: 1 Thanked 16 Times in 15 Posts	Shop around and you can find PV for around $1/watt. I paid $5/watt 12 years ago.. Currently, batteries are the only way to store power reasonably. I looked at Ultracapacitors but it would take a bunch of 'um.. Keep your power consumption low and it's very doable. I survive comfortably on 512 watts of PV and 4-6 volt golf cart batteries.. (Total 12 v.d.c. System) __________________ If it don't, I'll always think it shoulda..

01-30-13, 10:19 PM	#2
Ryland Master EcoRenovator Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Western Wisconsin. Posts: 913 Thanks: 127 Thanked 82 Times in 71 Posts	Batteries would be cheaper, there is a TED talk about a large scale salt based battery that sounds really promising, they end up being huge and heavy but also cheap. Otherwise Lead Acid batteries work well and if you over size them they will last 20 years or more. As a country we've also gotten to a point where our demand has not been increasing in the last few years, we still have peek demand times, but those match up with peek production from solar.

01-31-13, 07:38 AM	#3
gasstingy Journeyman EcoRenovator Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Arab, AL Posts: 491 Thanks: 109 Thanked 49 Times in 43 Posts	Some people who are smarter than me can explain how tidal and wind power both are caused by the energy of the sun. That said, unless there is a way to have something like a satellite that stays in the same position relative to the sun and not the earth and can transmit power without a physical connection, it will be double tough to accomplish.

01-31-13, 02:05 PM	#4
Blue Bomber Man Lurking Renovator Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 24 Thanks: 3 Thanked 5 Times in 5 Posts	@Gasstingy Wind and tidal receive energy from the sun do to heating convectional processes. With wind, air gets heated up near the ground and rises. Mainly due to uneven heating and the Coriolis effect weather systems form and climatic regions take shape. Tidal is more of a grey area. The sun heats the ocean and creates convection currents. Wind and atmospheric pressure differences cause higher then usual tides. But tidal energy as a whole is probably mostly gravitational energy (this will sound far fetch, but it is not) extracted from the moons slowly declining orbit. Wave power however I would guess is more solar induced then gravimetric. Regarding satellite power. You could send a satellite into a solar synchronous orbit that could transmit a minuscule amount of power to the earth via microwave transmitter to an earth bound receiver. More then likely it would be better to use a low earth orbit satellite for this function, gyros would keep the panels and transmitter aligned as needed. The panels would also receive much more energy then they would on a rooftop. I doubt this would ever be economically feasible, though with technology it already can be done (and technically already is when a satellite communicates with earth). If mining the moon or asteroids ever becomes feasible then this sort of tech might become viable since the resources would not need to be launched.

03-01-13, 07:37 AM	#7
NeilBlanchard Journeyman EcoRenovator Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Maynard, MA Eaarth Posts: 383 Thanks: 78 Thanked 39 Times in 32 Posts	Actually, tides are caused by the moon orbiting the earth. So, the sun is indirectly involved. Geothermal is from the latent heat left over from when the earth formed and from flexing and movement of the earth's crust, and probably other effects, too. But most renewable energy all come from the sun's energy; directly or indirectly. Wind tends to increase at night, and biomass energy can be used at various times, and wave and tidal power are pretty consistent. Windy areas (like from Texas all the way up to the Dakotas, and off both coasts) are very consistent. Solar peaks when electricity use peaks. If Germany can do it, we here in the US can do it much more easily.

03-01-13, 09:50 AM	#8
MN Renovator Less usage=Cheaper bills Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 939 Thanks: 41 Thanked 116 Times in 90 Posts	Solar powered off-grid homes have used batteries to provide continuous power. Size the battery for your load and you are set.

03-04-13, 03:07 PM	#10
NeilBlanchard Journeyman EcoRenovator Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Maynard, MA Eaarth Posts: 383 Thanks: 78 Thanked 39 Times in 32 Posts	Here's an excellent account of a small solar PV system with a homegrown battery storage system: http://physics.ucsd.edu/do-the-math/...t-solar-setup/