Vermilion Point Project, Phase One: Communication Infrastructure and Energy Assessment

Ben Martin, Brad Ekin, Eric Hoxie, Jameson Mattice, John Preczewski with Dr. Andrew Jones Lake Superior State University Sault Sainte Marie, MI 49783 Email: [email protected]

Abstract

The Vermilion Point project is an interdisciplinary project between the faculty from Engineering & Technology, Biology, and Parks & Recreation at Lake Superior State University, as well as the Little Traverse Conservancy, a non-profit land-trust company. Currently, Vermilion Point is a remote nature preserve that has no external electrical power and minimal communication to the outside world. The ten-year vision for Vermilion Point is to transform the old on-site life saving station into a self-sustainable facility (in terms of energy, water, waste, and food) for environmental, energy, and recreation research as well as educational outreach.

This paper documents what was accomplished as a senior design project in the first phase of this project. The two main goals were to provide the communication infrastructure for Vermilion Point and to complete a feasibility study for future work. The first expected outcome will be a fully functional communication link that allows the data transfer between the newly installed on- site weather station and LSSU. The second outcome will be an assessment of how the current and future energy needs can be met via various alternative energy sources. This will be supported through the data collected, while minimizing the financial and environmental impacts of the options explored. The remainder of the paper highlights the activities, discoveries, and lessons learned of the first phase of the project.

Team VIPERS (Vermilion Innovation Providers of Energy Research Solutions) has taken the responsibility of the Vermilion Point project for the 2010-2011 school term. The team and project was organized through the Senior Projects Faculty Board at Lake Superior State University (LSSU). The multidisciplinary team of one mechanical and four electrical engineers are coordinating the project with the industrial customer which currently owns and operates the site.

Vermilion Point is located on the south side of the Lake Superior shoreline in the eastern half of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Currently, it is a nature preserve that has no external connection to the power grid and minimal communication to the outside world. In a sense, Vermilion can be treated like a site of a developing country, where all resources are required to be physically brought to the site. In the next ten to fifteen years, the vision is to see Vermilion Point become a fully self-sustained environment implementing alternative energy sources, an established communication network, and a means for possible renewable food and water. An aerial photo of Vermilion Point can be seen in Figure 1.

Figure 1: Vermilion Point, Michigan Aerial Photo

From left to right: Old Lifesaving Station, Storage Shed, Boathouse, Housing Barracks, and Captain’s Quarters

Vermilion Point is used as a key research platform by the departments of Biology, Geology, and Parks & Recreation at LSSU. Current research involves the study of the Piping Plover, beaver habitats, and the study of a natural ecosystem free from human interference and disturbance. The isolation of the nature preserve provides a difficult challenge for any research conducted on-site, supplying little-to-no communication to the outside world and a limited supply of food and electricity for the researchers and students using the site.

The buildings at Vermilion Point provide two forms of communication through the use of a CB radio and very minimal cellular signal strength. The buildings that are in use today are the boathouse and housing barracks (shown in Figure 1). Both buildings are currently powered electrically by a diesel generator which charges a battery bank of four 6 V deep cycle batteries. The batteries are then converted to 110 and 220VAC through two inverters, supplying power to

Proceedings of the 2011 ASEE North Central & Illinois-Indiana Section Conference 2 Copyright © 2011, American Society for Engineering Education all the appliances used on the site. Most of these appliances are old and operate inefficiently, including incandescent light bulbs, electric water heater and refrigerator, an old toaster and microwave, and other small appliances altogether adding up to a worst case scenario of 14 kW.

The Vermilion Point project is set in place to research and propose solutions to these problems using current technology in the fields of alternative energy, cellular communication, and techniques used in the minimization of power consumption. These technologies, once implemented, will provide researchers and students the capability to use the buildings without the need of outside resources to operate the site. Ultimately, the alternative energy solutions and conservation utilized in this project have the potential to be used in almost any setting in the world, from urban areas in the United States, to rural communities in developing countries.

Team VIPERS has taken on the responsibility of providing technical research regarding the implication of alternative energy sources viable for the site and establishing a communication network between Vermilion Point and LSSU. The energy research will include intelligent systems designed for efficiently routing solar and wind energy between storage systems and excess power deposits, optimal locations for alternative energy sources at Vermilion, and the amount of sources needed to effectively supply the site.

To develop an acceptable plan for the site, current and future assessments of Vermilion’s energy needs are necessary, along with weather data to provide information regarding average wind speeds and solar radiation for the site. This paper will outline the data and research collected, along with the actions taken in order to provide the caretakers of Vermilion Point with the information required to establish a fully self-sustained environment.

Weather Station

A major support factor in the research regarding alternative energy solutions is weather data for Vermilion Point and its surrounding areas. The data will provide information on the effectiveness of alternative energy systems, such as wind and solar power, and will heavily influence the needed amount of each supply. The essential areas of data required for these systems are wind speed and direction, and solar radiation.

To determine the most accurate weather conditions at Vermilion Point, a weather station was installed on-site on October 23 of 2010. To obtain a longer time span of relative data, weather data from an additional three weather stations in the area were obtained, Whitefish School’s weather station, [1] and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) weather data from buoys on Lake Superior’s coastline at Whitefish Point Michigan [2] and Grand Marais Michigan. [3] The data obtained through these sources were only used as relative references for the fact that weather conditions can widely vary depending on location.

Selected for its sensor capabilities and low power consumption, the weather station installed at Vermilion Point was the Davis Vantage Pro2. This weather station is separated into a sensory suite and a data logger console, where the sensory suite contains all the weather sensors and the console records weather data and provides a user-friendly interface. The sensory suite is self- powered by a built-in solar cell, and was installed at the highest point on the property (the top of

Proceedings of the 2011 ASEE North Central & Illinois-Indiana Section Conference 3 Copyright © 2011, American Society for Engineering Education the housing barracks) to minimize faulty data caused by tree shade, turbulent winds between buildings, blowing sand, etc. The anemometer is at the highest point possible; approximately sixty feet above ground. This height closely approximates the height of most available wind generators of interest, so the data collected will be relevant in the wind turbine decision process. The data logger console was installed inside the boathouse and communicates wirelessly to the sensory suite. The logger was also equipped with a power supply system to power it throughout the winter months when the site has no power. Aside from providing weather data for the project, the weather station will also provide researchers using the site the ability to correlate their research with weather information year round.

The data regarding wind speed and direction will be the most relevant towards determining the effectiveness and stability of wind turbines. The weather data collected from Vermilion Point (from October 2010 through March 2011) shows an average wind speed in the area of 13 mph with a standard deviation of 8 mph. High wind speeds reaching up to 58 mph, and wind direction averaging westerly (110° with due north as 0°) with occasional northern winds. It should also be noted that during these months the average wind speed is slightly higher than the yearly average, therefore will slightly skew the wind data collected from the site by a small amount when referencing wind turbine information.

The solar radiation data collected from Vermilion Point will be used in supporting viability for different applications of solar panels. The average solar radiation per day (including night) was calculated to be 38 W/m 2 with a standard deviation of 72 W/m 2. This data has only been recorded during the winter of 2010-2011, therefore another resource was used for estimating solar radiation during summer months. According to National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) research on the average daily solar radiation,[4] Vermilion Point averages 291 W/m 2 during summer (June) and 208 W/m 2 during spring and fall (April and September).

Another key aspect of weather data regarding alternative energy is the overlapping of wind and solar data. Figure 2 shows a comparison of the average solar radiation and wind speed in a 24 hour timeframe at Vermilion Point between October 2010 and March 2011. The graph shows that normally, wind speed at vermilion will be lower in the morning and will steadily increase into the evening hours, while the solar radiation, as expected, is the greatest in the early afternoon. This information is a resource that will be used to determine the ratio of solar to wind power to provide the site with during an average day.

Figure 2: Average Solar Radiation and Wind Speed from October 2010-March 2011

This overlapping wind and solar data is also used to determine how often dead spots occur, a time where there is little to no wind and minimal solar radiation to supply energy for the site. Figure 3 shows an example of a week where the wind at Vermilion Point is too slow to produce an efficient amount of electricity (roughly 8 mph), and the solar radiation is averaging 32 W/m 2. According to wind turbine and solar specifications, low points like these could cause potential danger in the upkeep of system charging. Therefore according to these dead spots, the system being developed must be able to store energy to last the site for at least three days.

Figure 3: Solar Radiation and Wind Speed for the week of December 16 th , 2010

Communication

The communication network that will be established for the Vermilion Point project is designed for the transfer of data logger recordings to LSSU, and to allow researchers using the site the ability to broadcast their findings using the internet. The main purpose for connecting the logger to the internet is for the sampling of weather data. For the best analysis, the data logger

Proceedings of the 2011 ASEE North Central & Illinois-Indiana Section Conference 5 Copyright © 2011, American Society for Engineering Education must be set to its maximum sampling capability and record weather data at one minute intervals. The downside of this high sample rate is memory usage, and the logger will overflow within days. The network is designed to allow the data logger the ability to use the greatest accuracy, and allow for all the data to be recorded on a separate device and relayed to the internet.

The device best suited for this application is a Single Board Computer (SBC). The SBC has been designed to implement an already established platform to communicate directly with the data logger to collect and backup a large amount of information. The SBC will then be relay the data through the network to a computer at LSSU once a day (in the interest of conserving energy). Figure 4 shows the basic design of the communication flow of the network designed for the site.

Memory

Weather Data Wireless Internet Station Logger SBC Network LSSU

Figure 4: Communication Network Design Layout

The network is designed to communicate wirelessly, therefore eliminating the need to establish any hard-wired connection to the nearest network (roughly nine miles away). In order to transmit weather data every day, the network will need to be able to transmit data year round. To achieve this, the SBC can be programmed to upload the information at specific times while keeping the system in sleep mode during the downtime hours.

The wireless communication method decided upon was a cellular provider’s 3G data network. The main deciding factors were the low power consuming systems available and practical data speeds (800 kbps-1.2 Mbps download rate, and 200 kbps-400 kbps upload rate). These data speeds will allow for weather data to be easily transmitted to LSSU and will allow researchers at the site to send and receive documents when needed. To overcome low signal strength, the use of a passive Yagi antenna, designed for 3G networks, will provide greater stability for the two radio frequencies used in 3G data transmission (800 Hz and 2500 MHz).

Energy Conservation

The most important aspect of establishing an alternative energy system for a remote site is supplying the needed amount of electrical power. On preliminary trips to Vermilion, the team observed that the average power consumption for the site (during operational season between April and September) was estimated to be 25 kWh per day. Table 1 shows the list of appliances currently being used at Vermilion Point on a day-to-day basis. With the future renovation of the housing barracks, including the addition of a kitchen and living quarters, this power consumption is expected to increase. Team VIPERS will only be proposing alternative energy capable of satisfying the current needs of the site, but will factor in system scalability for future upgrades in expanding energy capabilities.

Proceedings of the 2011 ASEE North Central & Illinois-Indiana Section Conference 6 Copyright © 2011, American Society for Engineering Education Energy Use Energy Use Energy Use Device/Appliance (Peak) (Hours/Day) (Daily) Refrigerator 195 W 14 hr 2.73 kWh Hot Water Heater 661 W 24 hr 15.86 kWh Vacuum 375 W 0.1 hr 0.04 kWh Microwave 902 W 0.1 hr 0.09 kWh Toaster 1500 W 0.1 hr 0.15 kWh Coffee Maker 800 W 2.0 hr 1.60 kWh Television 110 W 3.0 hr 0.33 kWh Box Fan 40 W 8.0 hr 0.32 kWh Incandescent Lighting x6 360 W 8.0 hr 2.88 kWh Water Pump (Single Tank) 1.5 kW 0.5 hr 0.75 kWh Total 24.75 kWh Table 1: Estimated Daily Energy Usage for Vermilion Point

In order to make Vermilion Point as efficient as possible, changes will need to be made to the current infrastructure and appliance usage. Instead of upgrading alternative energy sources to produce more power, simple replacements can be done to reduce the power consumption of the site. A conservation guide for our industrial customer was written to emphasize the importance of energy conservation, which contains suggestions as to what can be eliminated or replaced for more energy efficient items.

Most appliances on the site can be replaced with newer, more efficient appliances that perform the same task. For example, the incandescent lighting on the property can easily be replaced with LED lighting, cutting the energy consumption by almost 98%. Other appliances, such as the refrigerator and water heater, will be more difficult to replace because of the size and installation of the devices. Table 2 is an energy conversation chart generated by using estimations on current technology for the same appliances being used on the site.

Energy Energy Use Energy Use Device Replacement Use (Peak) (Hours/Day) (Daily) Energy Efficient Refrigerator 52 W 14.0 hr 0.73 kWh Active Solar Heater 100 W 24.0 hr 2.40 kWh Non-Powered Sweeper 0 W 0.1 hr 0.00 kWh New Microwave 500 W 0.1 hr 0.05 kWh New Toaster 875 W 0.1 hr 0.09 kWh Coffee Maker 0 W 2.0 hr 0.00 kWh Box Fan 40 W 8.0 hr 0.32 kWh LED Lighting x6 6 W 8.0 hr 0.05 kWh Water Pump (Double Tank) 1.5 kW 0.25 hr 0.375 kWh Total Energy Use 4.465 kWh Table 2: Estimated Energy Savings for Vermilion Point

According to the information in Table 2, replacing the appliances currently at Vermilion Point with energy efficient devices can potentially reduce the power consumption of the site by almost 85%. This will drastically reduce the amount of needed to effectively supply Vermilion with the required electrical power. The main appliance that still far exceeds all others as seen in Table 1 is the electric water heater. However, the team has found that by switching from the

Proceedings of the 2011 ASEE North Central & Illinois-Indiana Section Conference 7 Copyright © 2011, American Society for Engineering Education water heater to an active solar water heater, which uses sunlight and a small electric coil to heat the water, the power consumption of the water heating system can be cut by almost 14 kWh per day. Appliances, such as the coffee maker and vacuum, can altogether be replaced by using other means such as boiling water using the stovetop and non-powered sweepers.

Another utility that can be greatly reduced in terms of power consumption is the water pump on the property. Currently, there is a 35-gallon pressure tank installed at Vermilion to supply the site with water. If another equally large or larger tank were to be installed, the volume of available water would be dramatically increased allowing the pump to cycle less often. Running the pump less per day saves more energy due to the large amount of power required for the crank-starting of the motor.

Using these conservation techniques, Vermilion Point will be able to implement the use of fewer alternative energy sources to effectively supply the site. Table 3 shows a rough estimate on what will need to be supplied for the boathouse at Vermilion Point in terms of energy.

After Site Conservation Energy Use Boathouse 4.465 kWh Estimated Offset 2.00 kWh Total 6.465 kWh Table 3: Energy Needed to Supply Vermilion Point

Table 3 shows the estimated energy usage of the boathouse after energy conservation techniques have been implemented. A 2 kWh offset takes into consideration estimated errors and energy loss in the storage and conversion of power. This information shows that the alternative systems that team VIPERS will propose for the Vermilion Point project will need to effectively provide, at minimum, 6.5 kWh of energy per day to the site.

Alternative Energy

The first phase of the Vermilion Point project is the research and proposal of alternative energy solutions viable for Vermilion Point. These solutions will provide the site with the required energy needs to become fully self-sustained. To achieve this, the current research has been concentrated towards solar energy and wind power, while keeping in mind other technologies viable for the site such as hydro/wave energy and geothermal energy. The following topics will cover the research of passive and active solar energy and wind power, highlighting the applications for each that are viable for Vermilion Point.

Applications in solar and wind energy can be seen in almost every scenario in the alternative power industry today. From powering calculators, to supplying an entire home with adequate power, alternative energy today has the ability to accomplish many tasks. For Vermilion Point, the task is to have the ability to provide additional power as needed by future renovations. This will include a combination of both solar panels and wind turbines to create a hybrid system that will supply the necessary 6.5 kWh per day.

Proceedings of the 2011 ASEE North Central & Illinois-Indiana Section Conference 8 Copyright © 2011, American Society for Engineering Education Today, the most commonly used solar panel is referred to as photo-voltaic (PV). PV panels absorb sunlight and convert it directly into electricity with no environmental impact. Three areas that effect proper installation of PV panels are the angle of installation, type of PV cell viable for the site, and the amount of panels needed to supply Vermilion Point with the needed energy.

PV panels have the best efficiency when directed perpendicular to the sun throughout the day. According to a solar contractor who has over 30 years of experience in installing solar panels and establishing self-sustainable homes in northern Michigan, the need to daily track the sun’s movement across the sky is not necessary. [5] The panel’s position only needs adjusting as the sun changes its angle from the horizon for an optimal output. During the spring and fall at Vermilion Point, the panels need to be mounted at an angle of approximately 60 degrees with respect to the horizon. During the summer, the panels will produce the optimal amount of energy when positioned horizontally, with a slight angle so rain water can run off. During the winter, the panels should be placed in the vertical position to ensure there is no build-up of snow, to account for the low angle of the sun relative to the horizon, and to allow sunlight reflection off of the snow.

The mounting structure for the panel will be composed of a three-position adjustable rack that can easily be changed according to the time of the year. Another recommendation from the contractor was to mount the structure on the south side of the boathouse. According to snow drift and wind patterns at Vermilion Point, the rack will need to be mounted 10 to 15 ft away from the boathouse. This will account for falling snow from the roof that could potentially cover the solar [5] panels. A lightning rod will also need to be installed to protect and ground the solar panel.

The types of PV solar cells are divided into three categories; monocrystalline, polycrystalline, and amorphous. [6] The amorphous cell panels are built the best for winter weather, and are the least expensive, making an optimal choice for Vermilion Point. The panel is efficient in snowy weather due to the bypassing of diodes on each cell, therefore producing power when it is partially covered by snow. Additionally, the structure of panels can withstand hail and blowing sand from the UV-stabilized polymers that are framed with an aluminum [7] casing.

Along with PV panels the hybrid system will have the design constraint of having the wind turbines produce approximately 85% (5.5 kWh) of the energy needed at the site from April through the September months. The 85% is an average amount of power and will fluctuate daily depending on much sun radiation and wind speed is produced. The need of this for this constraint is based on the discovery of dead-zones from Figure 3 and the fact that wind is more prevalent at Vermilion. The solar panels will produce the remaining power needed, about 1 kWh. The solar panels will produce the optimal amount of power needed when the site is being used in the summer months. A setup that would fulfill this energy need would be four 50 W panels, which produce an average of 1 kWh with an estimated cost of $1400 for the entire array. According to NREL’s data provided regarding solar radiation for the spring, summer, and fall months at Vermilion Point, an estimate of the total power output in kWh per day is depicted in Table 4. [4] The area of each panel is .9 m 2 with a combined total area of approximately 3.6m 2, providing an average of 1 kWh per day during this time frame. [8]

Proceedings of the 2011 ASEE North Central & Illinois-Indiana Section Conference 9 Copyright © 2011, American Society for Engineering Education Months Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sept kWh per Day 0.9 0.9 1.3 1.1 0.9 1.1 Table 4: Amorphous Panel Energy Output

Another form of solar energy viable for Vermilion Point is thermal solar energy. One of the highest power consuming appliances on the property is the water heater. To address this problem, there are potential ways to install a heating system based on solar thermal energy collection. Since there will be a continuous supply of electricity via the implemented alternative energy, an active solar water heating system is a feasible option for Vermilion Point. In active systems, closed loop solar water heaters are an optimal choice because they are suited for colder climates where the risk of pipe freezing is high. This potentially viable system for Vermilion Point can provide a load for the batteries to dispel to when the system is over-charged. Figure 5 illustrates the basic connection and components of an active, closed-loop solar water heater.

Figure 5: Active, Closed Loop Solar Water Heater [9]

Team VIPERS proposes the use of an active solar water heater at the site, due to the possibility of extremely cold temperatures. Using the active solar water heater eliminates the risk of pipes freezing from standing water. As a fail-safe, a controller will be implemented to regulate the temperature of the water. If the temperature drops below 32°F, the controller will activate an electric heater to regulate the temperature. The electric heater will also be used as a means to dissipate potential excess energy generated by the solar panels or wind turbines.

Another source for alternative energy in the hybrid system is wind power. Wind power is a feasible alternative energy source that would have immediate benefits at Vermilion Point. The site is a prime location for wind energy production with a mean wind speed of 13 mph. Using this average, the type of wind turbine can be determined based on the diameter of the blades and the amount of energy Vermilion Point will need. Figure 6 is a graph provided by Build It Solar [10] that depicts, for an average system, the amount of energy per year a wind turbine can generate compared to the diameter of the blades and wind speed.

Figure 6: Active, Closed Loop Solar Water Heater [10]

The graph illustrates that for a larger blade diameter, more power can be produced per year. According to the Vermilion Point weather station, the peak wind speed recorded was 58 mph. Winds this high can damage wind turbines that are not equipped with either a mechanical or electrical breaking system, or a furl system that would change the direction of the turbine to slow the spin of the rotor. Although larger diameter wind turbines generate more electricity, greater torques can be generated from longer blades in turbulent wind conditions. Sand dunes at the site may generate turbulent airflow conditions causing premature bearing failure due to fatigue as the blades alternately bend. Additionally, Vermilion Point is a wildlife preserve so the effect on the ecosystem has to be taken into account. Wind turbines have a statistically low incidence of wildlife impact. Surprisingly, wind turbines account for less than one percent of bird fatalities. This is important to consider because of the large population of the endangered Piping Plover [11] (Charaderius Melodus) in the immediate area .

The turbines specifically must be constructed on a solid foundation considering the high winds that are present at the site. With the predominant north to northwest wind, the turbines must also be installed where structural wind obstruction is not present. The location of installment the team proposes is on the north east-side of the boathouse by having the wind turbine attached to an aluminum pole to the corner of the building, extending roughly 50 feet above the ground. The aluminum pole will then be bracketed to the building and rigidly secured using a tripod technique. The location will have limited DC line loss due to being directly above the battery bank and inverter. Being above the roof line, the wind turbine will also be free of obstructions that would block the wind. This method will be cheaper than a standalone mounting structure and would also avoid disturbing the preserve by bringing in machinery to excavate and construct a foundation.

In the area of wind energy, Team VIPERS suggests the use of smaller diameter wind turbines equipped with a mechanical braking and/or furl system. A 12 ft diameter horizontal axis wind turbine (HAWT) has the ability to generate an average of 6.6 kWh per day of electricity in an

Proceedings of the 2011 ASEE North Central & Illinois-Indiana Section Conference 11 Copyright © 2011, American Society for Engineering Education average wind speed of 11 mph. [12] This system would cost approximately $6000. Although wind speed fluctuates and is never at a consistent velocity, energy independence can be created through energy conservation and storage through the implementation of wind turbines and solar energy systems.

Overall, with both solar PV cells and wind turbines implemented at Vermilion Point, sustainable energy for the site can be achieved. With both the use of amorphous solar cells and a HAWT implemented, an average of roughly 7.6 kWh can be supplied to the site with the majority coming from the wind generator. According to the weather data, the wind speed is more dependable and will produce energy constantly while the solar array can only produce energy during certain times of the day. This will provide the boathouse with the needed energy to maintain a sustainable environment for researchers and students residing at the site, and will no longer require the use of the diesel generator. However, the generator will not be removed and can therefore be used as a fail-safe if by chance the hybrid system cannot support the site for a period of time.

Integration

The ability to integrate the harnessed power is somewhat more important than harnessing the power itself. A major step towards making Vermilion Point a truly self-sustainable site is to provide electricity through clean solar and wind energy conversion. This being the case, the new system will need to be integrated into the existing wiring of the boathouse and barracks. Fortunately, there is a battery and inverter system already set up for use with the diesel generator. This existing system serves as both a connection point as well as a template for the new system.

The new system consists of four parts: energy conversion, the battery charge controller, batteries, and the inverters. The first step in integrating this new system is providing the energy through means of solar and wind energy conversion. From there the generated electricity is used to charge batteries through a charge controller or dumped to the hot water tank when the batteries are fully charged. 110 VAC electric current is supplied to the boathouse and barracks by ways of an inverter, which converts the DC current of the batteries. Each of these components are discussed in the following paragraphs. Alternately, the 24 VDC power from the batteries could be used to power lights and small appliances, creating less energy waste.[13]

After the conversion of sunlight and wind to electrical current, the electricity is directed to a charge controller. A charge controller is used to maintain the proper charging voltage on the batteries regardless of the potential surge in current from a sunny day or a strong wind. For the new system, a tiered “dump load” will be implemented. This would consist of another bank of four batteries and a hot water heater. The charge controller would then maintain both banks of batteries at the optimum charge level. If both banks are charged, instead of overcharging the battery banks, the controller would direct the incoming electricity to the water heater. The water lines will be drained during the winter months so the excess power will be transferred to a resistive heater. It will be possible, and the most cost-effective, to reuse the current system installed at Vermilion, which utilizes two high-end charge controllers.

Proceedings of the 2011 ASEE North Central & Illinois-Indiana Section Conference 12 Copyright © 2011, American Society for Engineering Education To store the energy effectively for later use, another battery array needs to be installed. There are several different types of batteries to choose from. Weighing the options, the team proposes to use another bank of four Surrette Solar 6V deep-cycle batteries wired in series for an overall voltage of 24 VDC. Adding these would cost around $4600 but would extend the storage capacity in preparation for more and more demand in the future. These are the same type of batteries as the ones that are currently installed and have proven their durability and effectiveness at the site already. In order to control the flow of power to and from the battery banks, smart switches will need to be implemented. The will cost approximately $2000.

Converting the DC signal from the batteries into usable 110 VAC is accomplished through a device called a power inverter. Currently at Vermilion, there are two Trace Engineering DR3624 power inverters. The reason for two of them is to allow for 220 VAC to be used in the bunkhouse and barracks. These power inverters are very effective with 94% peak efficiency and an automatic search feature that will only supply power when it is needed. They are both modified sine wave inverters, meaning they do not produce a clean 110 VAC signal. While pure sine wave inverters are ideal suppliers of 110 VAC, they will not be used due to cost. Only a handful of devices could be affected such as digital clocks and laser printers. Since these devices are not used at the remote site, the pure sine wave inverters were deemed unnecessary. The modified sine wave inverters currently at Vermilion will continue to be used in the new system and are already a great step towards conserving energy at Vermilion Point. Alternately, keeping the electricity in 24 VDC form and distributing it throughout the boathouse and barracks will also be an avenue for supplying electricity to the site. The technology behind this is still limited at this time but has promise to advance. [13]

Conclusion

The Vermilion Point project is an on-going vision that will one day lead to Vermilion Point, Michigan becoming a fully self-sustainable environment. The results from this phase of the project have allowed team VIPERS’ industrial customer see a glimpse at the possibilities of instituting a self-sustainable environment at Vermilion Point.

Using weather data from the installed weather station at Vermilion and its surrounding areas, team VIPERS has provided a proposal detailing the research including the best sources of alternative energy, how many sources will be needed in order to supply the site, how to integrate the alternative sources with the existing system, the optimal locations for the installation, and a conservation guide to improve the site’s power consumption. With the use of amorphous solar cells and a horizontal axis wind turbine implemented at Vermilion, an estimated average of roughly 7.6 kWh can be supplied to run all the necessary appliances in the boathouse for an estimated hardware cost of $15000. This project does not end here, however. With the completion of this phase, our industrial customer and future teams from LSSU will have a solid foundation to build upon in which to transform Vermilion Point into a truly self-sustaining site, whose design could become an example to developing regions around the world.

[1] Weather Underground. Whitefish School, Paradise, MI History. Retrieved February 8, 2011, from http://www.wunderground.com/weatherstation/WXDailyHistory.asp?ID=KMIPARAD2

[2] NOAA Buoy Information for WFPM4, Whitefish Point MI. Retrieved February 9, 2011, from http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/data/realtime2/WFPM4.txt

[3] NOAA Buoy Information for GRMM4, Grand Marias MI. Retrieved February 9, 2011, from http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/view_text_file.php?filename=grmm4h2009.txt.gz&dir=data/historical/stdmet/

[4] National Renewable Energy Laboratory. Average Daily Solar Radiation Per Month June, Retrieved February 8, 2011, from http://rredc.nrel.gov/solar/old_data/nsrdb/redbook/atlas/

[5] Suchey, Bob. Solar Panel Manager. Personal interview. 4 Feb. 2011.

[6] "Solar PV Photo Voltaic Solar FAQ." Solar Water Heaters | Solar Air Conditioning | PV Solar Panels | Solar Heating | Solar Thermal. Web. 08 Feb. 2011. .

[7] "Unisolar Solar Panels: Are They Right For Your Solar Needs?" Solar Power Beginner: See What the Sun Can Do for You. Web. 08 Feb. 2011.

[8] "Sunforce Amorphous Solar Panel — 50 Watt, Model# 50043 | Amorphous Solar Panels | Northern Tool Equipment." Portable Generators, Heaters Stoves, Power Tools, Welders | Northern Tool Equipment . Web. 11 Feb. 2011. http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200381709_200381709

[9] U.S. Department of Energy. Energy Savers: Solar Water Heaters. Retrieved February 4, 2011, from http://www.energysavers.gov/your_home/water_heating/index.cfm/mytopic=12850 .

[10] Build It Solar. Wind Power Projects. Retrieved March 16, 2011 from http://www.builditsolar.com/Projects/Wind/wind.htm

[11] Summary of Anthropologic Causes of Bird Mortality, Proceedings of the 2002 International Partner’s In Flight Conference

[12] Piggot, H. (2009). The Axial Flux Windmill Plans”. A Wind Turbine Recipe Book, 4.

[13] IEEE Spectrum Magazine, “Edison Vindicated”, Retrieved February 8, 2011 from http://spectrum.ieee.org/energy/the-smarter-grid/directcurrent-networks-gain-ground/1