Project 2 Nakuru Cell Tower The League of Extraordinary Engineers Dominick D’Angelo Scott Whiteman Jason Ellis
Project 2Nakuru Cell Tower
The League of Extraordinary EngineersDominick D’Angelo
Scott WhitemanJason Ellis
Problem Statement As a team, our objective is to create a base to
power a cell phone tower in an area where it is not possible to do so, because of limited or nonexistent grid. We plan to use sustainable energy sources along with a diesel generator and a sodium metal halide battery to generate energy, efficiently and cost effectively. Our design will be easy to implement in developing regions that will benefit from the use of this with limited resources.
Introduction
Roughly 300,000 inhabitants Important Educational Center
◦Egerton and Kabarak Universities Economy
◦Agriculture Coffee, wheat, barley, maize and beans
◦Manufacturing◦Tourism
63% cell phones 27% landline access
Research(Nakuru)
Possible Renewable Energies
Wind Technologies◦Average wind speed is not consistently equal
to 12 mphSolar Technologies◦Best option due to solar data, close to
equatorHydroelectric Power◦Not enough moving water to power system◦Lake Nakuru is really the only option
Research
Solar Panels◦Sunflex Grade A 100 W◦PV Size (4 kW)◦Amount Needed (40)◦Cost ($380.00/Unit)
Charge Controller◦Outback Flexmax 80 Charge Controller◦48 VDC System◦Recommended: 4000 W◦Cost ($684.00)
Components
Battery◦Amount (1)◦Type (A1)◦Cost ($7,000)◦Capacity (12.4kwh)
Inverter◦AIMS 5000 Watt power
inverter
◦Volt and Amp meters on front panel to monitor your battery voltage and current usage
Components
Diesel Generator◦Durostar D57200Q (6000 W)◦Run Time (12 Hours)◦Cost ($1000.00)◦Efficiency (20%)
Fuel Tank◦LiquiDynamics Horizontal Fuel Storage Tank◦Capacity (275 gallons)◦Cost ($800.00)
Components
Efuel
Ec
c
Ebatt
Charge Controlle
rRenewable
EnergyEre
Generator
Eg
Batteries
Ec Ed
DC LoadsBTS
DC to AC
Inverter
AC Loads
Ea
c
Einv
Edc
Mode 1: No renewable energy, load drawn from batteries. If batteries empty, use
generator.
Charge Controller
Renewable Energy
Ere
Generator
Eg
Batteries
Ec Ed
EfuelDC
LoadsBTS
DC to AC
Inverter
AC Loads
EacEinv
Edc
Ecc
Ebatt
Mode 2: Renewable energy less than loads, deficit drawn from batteries. If batteries empty, use generator.
Charge Controller
Renewable Energy
Ere
Generator
Eg
Batteries
Ec Ed
EfuelDC
LoadsBTS
DC to AC
Inverter
AC Loads
EacEinv
Edc
Ecc
Ebatt
Mode 3: Renewable energy exceeds loads, excess put into batteries. If batteries full, dump excess.
Battery capacity < 12 kWh will dump excess electricity.
Battery capacity at or > 12 kWh will have no dump, but require more fuel to heat initially
Analysis
0 4 8 12 16 200
100200300400500600700800 Optimal Battery Capacity
4kw system
Battery Capacity (kWh)
Dies
el Fu
el N
eede
d (g
al)
From the 4th-9th year, our hybrid plan is most cost effective
Up until the 4th year the All Diesel is most efficient
After the 9th year, the All Renewable is most effective
Analysis
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 240
50,000
100,000
150,000
200,000
250,000
300,000
350,000
All DieselAll RenewableInnovation
Analysis
Turbine output
PV output
Generator
Turbin
e outp
ut
PV ou
tput
Genera
torDum
p0
2,0004,0006,0008,000
10,000
Turbine output 0kwhPV output 8,028kwhGenerator output 3,621kwhGenerator fuel 380galGenerator hours 3,233hrDump energy 81kwh
PV Array Size 4kwBattery Capacity (effective) 12kwh
0.31°S and 36.0500°ELocation
SketchUp Model
Roof◦ Slanted for weather◦ Shades roof, thus creating cooler internal
temperature◦ Open space beneath panels creates cooling effect
Ventilation◦ Air flow (Through hut)
Location◦ Connects rural and urban communities
Take-Away