The Wawashang Complex on the East Coast of Nicaragua is a typical example of remote area that can benefit from off-grid renewable energy solutions. No power grid reaches the Complex, but many buildings are electrified by dislocated systems of photovoltaic modules and batteries with gasoline generators as backup. The non-governmental organization FADCANIC is trying to exploit better the natural resources in order to provide power to further activities and make energy supply less expensive, more reliable and sustainable. The purposes of this thesis are: to measure the electricity consumption of Wawashang, to analyze the present energy supply, to assess the available renewable energy resources focusing on hydropower and to design a micro hydropower installation. In February 2013 a trip to Wawashang was made to collect the necessary data. The measurement of power consumption, taken by the use of clamping current meters, has shown a peak power demand of about 17kW. The present energy system has low e ciency due to an absent centralization of the photovoltaic system, the frequent use of gasoline generators, wrong locations of photovoltaic modules and poor maintenance. The analysis of the local resources reveals that more potential could be exploited. Besides the already used solar energy, biomasses and micro hydropower generation in State Creek could be interesting options for power generation. Concerning biomasses, coconut husks and shells, sugar cane, excrements and waste wood should be considered as energy source in the future. The hydropower potential was measured by inexpensive tools, i.e. a wooden folding ruler and a borrowed current meter. The Creek offers a site with a low head of 3 to 5m over a distance of 200m and a water flow of 100-200l/s at the beginning of the dry season. The power obtained through micro hydropower could benefit either a farmer’s house by the river or a coconut grinder or support the photovoltaic system of the Complex, whenever solar irradiation is low. This thesis presents the turbines that could be used in such low head systems, in a power range between 0.2 and 3kW . A 1kW turbine has been proposed for two alternative waterway preliminary designs, one of which using pipes and the other a wooden channel. Such solution appears satisfactory, as it can deliver power to the coconut grinder during the day and electrify the farmers house at night.
Il Complesso di Wawashang, sulla costa orientale del Nicaragua, costituisce un esempio di zona remota che potrebbe beneficiare di un sistema energetico off-grid. Le abitazioni del Complesso, non raggiunte dalla rete elettrica nazionale, sono elettrificate per mezzo di pannelli fotovoltaici, batterie e generatori a benzina. L’organizzazione non-governativa FADCANIC sta cercando di utilizzare in maniera ottimale le risorse naturali per poter fornire energia per più attività e rendere il sistema energetico meno caro, più adabile e sostenibile. Gli obbiettivi di questa tesi sono: misurare il consumo elettrico di Wawashang, studiare il sistema energetico attuale, analizzare le risorse di energia rinnovabile disponibili e proporre il progetto di un impianto micro idroelettrico. E ́ stato effettuato un sopralluogo a Wawashang in Febbraio 2013 per raccogliere i dati necessari. Le misure di consumo elettrico, ottenute con current meters agganciati ai fili elettrici, hanno rivelato un picco di domanda di 17kW. Inoltre, il sistema energetico attuale è risultato inefficiente a causa della mancata centralizzazione del sistema fotovoltaico, dell’utilizzo di generatori a benzina, dell’inaccurato posizionamento di pannelli fotovoltaici e della cattiva manutenzione. L’analisi delle risorse ha evidenziato la potenzialità di sfruttamento di altre fonti energetiche, a parte il fotovoltaico, quali biomasse e micro idroelettrico nel fiume State Creek. Nell’ambito delle biomasse, si dovrebbero considerare noci di cocco, canna da zucchero, escrementi e scarti della lavorazione del legno. Il potenziale idroelettrico di State Creek, misurato con strumenti a basso costo (metro ripiegabile e micromulinello), evidenzia che il fiume offre un punto con salto geodetico tra 3 e 5m, lungo una distanza di 200m e un flusso di 100-200l/s all’inizio della stagione secca. Possibili beneficiari dell’energia ottenuta grazie all’installazione micro idroelettrica potrebbero essere la casa del guardiano del fiume, un trituratore di cocco o l’intero Complesso di Wawashang, quando l’irradiazione solare è al minimo. Inoltre, sono state analizzate turbine con potenze da 0.2 a 3kW, utilizzabili in un sistema con salto geodetico limitato e proposta una turbina da 1kW per un progetto preliminare di condotta d’acqua, sia con tubature che con canale aperto. La soluzione sembra essere adeguata alle necessità energetiche locali, siccome può fornire energia per triturare il cocco durante il giorno e la sera per la casa del guardiano.
Off-grid energy system for Wawashang : analysis of consumption, energy resources and design of a micro hydropower installation
BONINELLA, MARCO
2013/2014
Abstract
The Wawashang Complex on the East Coast of Nicaragua is a typical example of remote area that can benefit from off-grid renewable energy solutions. No power grid reaches the Complex, but many buildings are electrified by dislocated systems of photovoltaic modules and batteries with gasoline generators as backup. The non-governmental organization FADCANIC is trying to exploit better the natural resources in order to provide power to further activities and make energy supply less expensive, more reliable and sustainable. The purposes of this thesis are: to measure the electricity consumption of Wawashang, to analyze the present energy supply, to assess the available renewable energy resources focusing on hydropower and to design a micro hydropower installation. In February 2013 a trip to Wawashang was made to collect the necessary data. The measurement of power consumption, taken by the use of clamping current meters, has shown a peak power demand of about 17kW. The present energy system has low e ciency due to an absent centralization of the photovoltaic system, the frequent use of gasoline generators, wrong locations of photovoltaic modules and poor maintenance. The analysis of the local resources reveals that more potential could be exploited. Besides the already used solar energy, biomasses and micro hydropower generation in State Creek could be interesting options for power generation. Concerning biomasses, coconut husks and shells, sugar cane, excrements and waste wood should be considered as energy source in the future. The hydropower potential was measured by inexpensive tools, i.e. a wooden folding ruler and a borrowed current meter. The Creek offers a site with a low head of 3 to 5m over a distance of 200m and a water flow of 100-200l/s at the beginning of the dry season. The power obtained through micro hydropower could benefit either a farmer’s house by the river or a coconut grinder or support the photovoltaic system of the Complex, whenever solar irradiation is low. This thesis presents the turbines that could be used in such low head systems, in a power range between 0.2 and 3kW . A 1kW turbine has been proposed for two alternative waterway preliminary designs, one of which using pipes and the other a wooden channel. Such solution appears satisfactory, as it can deliver power to the coconut grinder during the day and electrify the farmers house at night.| File | Dimensione | Formato | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Thesis Marco Boninella.pdf
accessibile in internet per tutti
Descrizione: Thesis text
Dimensione
12.18 MB
Formato
Adobe PDF
|
12.18 MB | Adobe PDF | Visualizza/Apri |
I documenti in POLITesi sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
https://hdl.handle.net/10589/107641