FW: [pvusers] Newbie questions

["kirk" <kirk@3rivers.net>]

 

-----Original Message-----
From: kirk [mailto:kirk@3rivers.net]
Sent: Wednesday, August 28, 2002 5:34 PM
To: 'Christopher Moss'
Cc: 'pvusers@crest.org'
Subject: RE: [pvusers] Newbie questions

8 kW diesels around $3000--$3500 new.

A friend of mine bought a low hours US mil surplus 5kW for $2000. Governor is very good on this machine but it is air cooled. Water cooled is much easier to cogen with.

 

Basically any high compression diesel.

I look for 180 grams per horsepower hour as decent performance.

Caterpillar is 230grams on their generator package--12 kW as I remember.

Look for 20:1 compression. There is a discussion of compression and fuel economy in the free book Micro Cogeneration.

Micro Cogeneration group at Yahoo groups too.

 

University of Toronto did some life cycle tests and found 4% canola added to diesel reduced wear 40%. That would reduce costs even further.

If you are interested in this try

Biofuel at Journey to Forever:

http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html

Biofuels list archives:

http://archive.nnytech.net/

 

Kirk

 

 

-----Original Message-----
From: Christopher Moss [mailto:chris@solatrontechnologies.com]
Sent: Wednesday, August 28, 2002 12:15 PM
To: kirk
Subject: Re: [pvusers] Newbie questions

How much for the equipment?

----- Original Message -----

From: kirk

To: pvusers@crest.org

Sent: Wednesday, August 28, 2002 10:58 AM

Subject: RE: [pvusers] Newbie questions

>When operating a generator you must factor in the life cycle cost of the fuel plus wear and tear on the equipment. I believe its around $0.60 per kWh.

 

 

http://www.innerlodge.com/Energy/Micro_Cogeneration/

 

Download Deja 3.1 as it is the viewer.

Then read Micro Cogeneration.

7 cents a kWhr includes amortizing eqpt and maintenance.

 

Kirk

-----Original Message-----
From: Ron Byrd [mailto:byrdelc@directcon.net]
Sent: Wednesday, August 28, 2002 8:22 AM
To: Christopher Witmer
Cc: pvusers@crest.org
Subject: Re: [pvusers] Newbie questions

Wow! Do you really want to connect that to the grid?

my battery is a 6,600 lb. (3,000 kg) 48v battery

There is always energy loss when converting from A/C to D/C and back again. Also you have to maintain the batteries witch loose energy constantly. When operating a generator you must factor in the life cycle cost of the fuel plus wear and tear on the equipment. I believe its around $0.60 per kWh. That's the same thing for the battery system. If you plan to charge battery bank of peak at $0.08 cents per kWh and use that energy on peak when the rate is $0.30 per kWh then you may be able to justify your systems operation. Interesting system, seems like it would have more value as a back up for a telco operation. Have you try to find someone that interested in a big 48V back up?

Christopher Witmer wrote:

I am planning to build a PV electric system at my home and am trying to
get a handle on running (operating) costs. For the first several months
I shall be running the system without PV panels -- they shall actually
be the last part of the system that gets installed. (It's a long story.)

So now I need to think about what I'm going to do with this system until
the panels are installed.

Without taking into consideration the initial equipment expenses, IN
GENERAL, is it cheaper to recharge the battery using off-peak
electricity purchased from the local electrical grid, or is it cheaper
to recharge using my DC generator?

Again ignoring the initial equipment expenses, can I expect to save
money by running off the battery/inverter (recharging as needed), or
would I be ahead financially by sticking with electricity purchased from
the electrical grid?

I know the cost of fuel and commercial electricity, as well as many
other factors, enters into this picture, but I'm just asking for a
general "rule of thumb" opinion.

By the way, my battery is a 6,600 lb. (3,000 kg) 48v battery (never
used) from a telco that downsized. Ditto for the DC generator, which
runs on propane/natural gas (although I could also substitute a diesel
engine).

Thanks!

Christopher Witmer

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