Trying to develop solution for off-grid machine shop

[viper]

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

[damncows]

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.

[Matthew Jones]

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

[Cherryman]

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

The relatively low energy density of pumped storage systems requires either a very large body of water or a large variation in height. For example, 1000 kilograms of water (1 cubic meter) at the top of a 100 meter tower has a potential energy of about 0.272 kW·h (capable of raising the temperature of the same amount of water by only 0.23 Celsius = 0.42 Fahrenheit). The only way to store a significant amount of energy is by having a large body of water located on a hill relatively near, but as high as possible above, a second body of water. In some places this occurs naturally, in others one or both bodies of water have been man-made. Projects in which both reservoirs are artificial and in which no natural waterways are involved are commonly referred to as "closed loop".

You have to raise a lake to get some useful power!

[Matthew Jones]

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

[Energy Creator]

Energy

Hello Viper

I think the easiest way is to use solar cell’s in combination with wind energy.

The solar cells are the cheapest in china if you by a lot say 100 panels of 250 watt you pay maybe $0,80 a watt. ( check Alibaba.com )

Store the power not in expensive solar battery’s but in 2e hand forklift battery(a renovate one ) these are deep traction battery’s in 6 volts cells.
You can find a battery of 24 volt 500A for say $1000,- ( this battery weights +/- 500 kg / 1.102,31 lbs


The wind generators you can make your self in a easy and cheap way.
I made a DVD how to make these Generators.

Check out www . Energy-Creator .com

I am building now on this little micro generator windmill.


The materials of the generator cost maybe $ 40,-
This is the smallest one I made so far, it gives 0,5 to 1 amp.
So you got to build a lot of them or build a bigger generators
How bigger you build the generator how cheaper pro watt it will be.


Cheers

Brian
Energy Creator, Home build PMG Gnerators / alternators