[ANSS-netops] ANSS-netops Digest, Vol 59, Issue 1

[Croker, David]

Hi Mitch,

I'm afraid there is no magic solution.  Greg and Philip touched on most
everything.  Probably the biggest question to ask is whether the cost of
any upgrade is worth the expense for these rare occasions.  Nominal 25+ day
autonomy is already a lot.

The only other change that I can see is the traction being gained (and thus
lowering of prices) of the MPPT-style solar regulators.  We are going to
start installing those at sites with shading issues to get the most out of
our panels.

It's worth everyone keeping their eye on new alt-energy technology with the
recent push in the tech market.  Recently I read an article about a new
wind generator for an RV-sized application that was small and efficient,
but still wouldn't come to market for a couple years.  It won't be long
before something else will come along that will dramatically help us at a
price we can afford.

Dave


------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
USGS - Earthquake Science Center - NCSN Field Operations Manager
David S. Croker                                                    office
(650) 329-4697
345 Middlefield Rd, MS 977                                      fax (650)
329-4732
Menlo Park, CA 94025                                             cell (650)
465-4334
email: croker at usgs.gov           Quake info: http://earthquake.usgs.gov/

On Mon, Jan 5, 2015 at 6:49 AM, Greg Steiner <vlf at cablerocket.com> wrote:

> Climatic events like you are currently experiencing in the midwest occur
> every 10 years or so.You are experiencing the so called perfect storm. the
> last big ones occurred during strong el-nino years.It doesn't help that
> these cloudy periods coincide with cold weather that already has reduced
> the capacity of the batteries.
>
> The only sure cure least expensive way is to increase the capacity of the
> battery plant to account for it. Even in cloudy weather, solar panels put
> out some power. Increasing the available panel size to at least carry the
> load during the day would help, but it is a diminishing return for the
> added cost.
>
> Burying the batteries deeper to keep them warmer would increase their
> capacity, but to be effective they would need to be well below the frost
> line, and that in itself would prove problematical when venting and
> replacement are considered, especially in light of the high water table.
>
> Small wind generators could help a lot, but in the soft sediments of the
> embayment you would pay a big price for it in increased seismic background
> noise that they cause.
>
> Natural gas fired thermoelectric generators are a possibility for critical
> stations, but they can get expensive, 1-2K$. They are the go to source in
> the Canadian networks. Their broadband stations are deeply buried and deep
> snow, limited winter daylight time and cold were the obstacles to be
> overcome.
>
> The only other non power line solutions are primary batteries such as
> lithium or air cells that could be switched in electronically when needed.
>
> Greg Steiner
>
> On 1/5/2015 6:00 AM, anss-netops-request at geohazards.usgs.gov wrote:
>
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>> Today's Topics:
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>>     1. solar power problems (Mitchell M Withers (mwithers))
>>
>>
>> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>>
>> Message: 1
>> Date: Sun, 4 Jan 2015 14:07:45 +0000
>> From: "Mitchell M Withers (mwithers)" <mwithers at memphis.edu>
>> To: "anss-netops at geohazards.usgs.gov"
>>         <anss-netops at geohazards.usgs.gov>
>> Subject: [ANSS-netops] solar power problems
>> Message-ID: <1420380464747.41875 at memphis.edu>
>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
>>
>>
>> Many of our stations run on battery and solar and that normally works
>> well.  We have a routine battery replacement cycle to make sure they don't
>> get old.  Theoretically, we should be able to run with zero solar for about
>> 25 days.  But this has been an unusually dreary winter in the southeast and
>> we haven't had much sun for the past two months or more.  I'm wondering
>> what others do in areas with limited sunlight to power stations that don't
>> have AC available?
>>
>> Mitch
>>
>> Center for Earthquake Research and Information (CERI)
>> University of Memphis                Ph: 901-678-4940
>> Memphis, TN 38152                   Fax: 901-678-4734
>>
>>
>>
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>> End of ANSS-netops Digest, Vol 59, Issue 1
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