Trying to develop solution for off-grid machine shop
Started by viper · · 6 posts · last reply 26 February 2012
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#1 ·
We are an engineering/manufacturing firm that specializes in a few different fields. We are wanting to build a shop in the country where 3ph power is either not available to too costly to get. Regardless of this, we have personal goals to create our own electric power. I have plenty of power transmission experience and we also design electronics here. In short, we are not easily detoured by complexity or design but we are certainly looking for solutions that make financial sense.
We are in Kansas and have a lot of wind here. We have considered the build of 1-2 wind generators but the real problem here is consistent power and we do not have a cost effective way to store large amounts of power economically. We have also looked at some type of steam generator system but was informed by several people that there is substantial maintenance with these systems and may be difficult to balance with transient loads like we might see from large CNC machines.
I think wind can certainly create the amount of "NET" power that we require but the real problem is power storage right now. I have considered everything from wind to extract Hydrogen, creating of Ethanol for fuel, compressed air, heated water, etc. Just no solid ideas yet. We really need a system that is mostly self regulating. Obviously Wind is exciting because we could easily store the power in batteries and build an inverter for nice, reliable power but this does not make financial sense with larger systems.
Our goal is a minimum of 100KVA of power and optimally a system of 250KVA. We will also power both our homes on the property as well as the shop and if we had enough electric on hand, we would use it for building heat as well.
If I have placed this thread in the wrong forum, please let me know. I am new here.
thanks -
#2 ·
Trying to develop solution for off-grid machine shop
prairieturbines.com its grid tied but looks like good starting point and resonable priced. old thread but may help someone. -
#3 ·
Water towers are the most effective means of storage yet. Almost a 98% return on your power. There is plenty of info on it if you look around.
Matt -
#4 ·
You have to raise a lake to get some useful power!Matthew Jones wrote:
Water towers are the most effective means of storage yet. Almost a 98% return on your power. There is plenty of info on it if you look around.
Matt -
#5 ·
Nope.
They are using small systems all over Brazil to store energy. The reference you have there is for a large scale system. Megawatts.
Solar/Wind powered pumps and micro turbines and the ability to store few thousand gallons to Tens of thousands of gallons water.
Its the perfect low cost high efficiency battery.
Do more than search Google's front page, and you might learn something.
Matt -
#6 ·
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