Alternative Energy
Alternative Energy
(OP)
I am involved in a project, located in a developing country. The project is to produce alternative energy to provide electricity and run air-conditioning system for a 2000 sq. ft. house. Total budget is $2000.00 to purchase equipemnt. Any HELP? IDEAS?





RE: Alternative Energy
RE: Alternative Energy
RE: Alternative Energy
RE: Alternative Energy
did I read the budget correct with $ 2000,00
(two thousand)?
How many kW installed electrical capacity is needed ?
What is the ambient temperature?
Is there biomass (wood) available?
Maybe you can get more specific on this subject.
RE: Alternative Energy
Cheapest way to generate energy is hydro energy ... You can utilize you local sources if available .... Then go to solar energy system.
RE: Alternative Energy
RE: Alternative Energy
There must be a greater need for energy elsewhere
RE: Alternative Energy
For two thousand dollars I suggest you use wind power if wind is available. You will need to store this energy so it can be used when necessary. This will only be a supplement source of energy.
If water energy is available, then that would be the best.
Solar power is costly but could be ideal.
A good source of air conditioning is using latent heat of evaporation of water. A fan blowing some air through a porous membarne which has water flowing down it. You will have money left over.
Regards and best of luck!
RE: Alternative Energy
It can be through micro steam engine concept coupled with biogas support.
The best of it may be dependent on the scope of work u choose.
So good luck,
Navid.H Bokhari
RE: Alternative Energy
In terms of cooling and house design modern technology is just that, modern.
The problem has been around longer than the technology. I was reading a book about ceramic houses (mud brick construction which is fired using a kerosene burner to dry and fuse the blocks... the original designs were Iranian houses but the technique was being used in New Mexico as well.) but the interseting point is that house design has a significant part to play including such devices as wind towers which ensure good air circulation. Courtyards with water fountains etc. Technology is one way with available energy and a budget but that is not to say that many of the tradditional designs haven't had a lot of success addressing the same problems with local skills, materials and conditions. People managed to cool food without refirgerators. Water in a porous pot keeps cool through evaporation. Somewhere among these systems may be the result you need without high tech or you may find that a combination of a tradittional method helped out by a low budget application of technology may produce the resuklts you need. I haven't looked by the centre for alternative technology in North wales probably has a web site with lots of helpfull ideas on construction materials and methods which are based on low tech and traditional materials used in new ways. You may find that they can help with some suggestions based on your environment and resources. The point about the German office building is that they had available water at shallow depth at a useful temperature. try the same thing in some other location and you may find you have geothermal energy in the form of heat!
You might also try some architectural web sites looking for a forum with some good ideas.
RE: Alternative Energy
Such systems can be very efficient. But they also have very high installation costs. There's always a tradeoff.
RE: Alternative Energy
If there is will be plenty of money for fuel, an ordinary generator will give you reliable power. If there is only a little money for fuel, you might consider the stirling-engine fan (e.g. http://www.jerry-howell.com/S-Fan.html). If there is no money for fuel, wind or hydro power are good choices; they have already been "indigenous technology" in cultures all over the world.
RE: Alternative Energy
RE: Alternative Energy
RE: Alternative Energy
I tought one could build this in a modified fireplace chimeney that you could use in winter to heat and in the summer to cool.
RE: Alternative Energy
I don't know if you could do it on your budget for sure.
If you can provide more info on the resources of the place you're at and the conditions, I may have some other ideas.
Good Luck!
John
RE: Alternative Energy
where solar heat circulated the air and evaporation in clay tubes under the lawn cooled it.
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