Cover Page
2004 URECA! Program
(Undergraduate Research
Endeavors Competitive Awards)
Title of Project: A Study in Microhydro Siting, Installation, Maintenance
and Efficiency
Is this proposed research
associated in any way with academic credit? YES___If yes, please explain the connection fully in the proposal and
establish that the project is eligible for URECA! funding (see Guidelines)
STUDENT PROPOSER
Name:
____Alvin Chan _________E-mail:
_____achan@emba.uvm.edu
Address:
9 Cedar Glen
North; S. Burlington, VT 05403
Department
in which research project will be conducted: Electrical Engineering
Major:
_______Electrical Engineering___________ Year:
Senior
FACULTY MENTOR
Name:
_____Gary Flomenhoft_________________Department: Gund Institute for Ecological Economics
Address:
590 Main St. E-mail: gary.flo@uvm.edu
DEPARTMENT BUDGET MANAGER
Name: Georgia Jeffers Department: CDAE
Address: Morrill Hall E-mail: georgia.jeffers@uvm.edu
Please submit two printed
copies along with an electronic copy of the following (see Guidelines for format and restrictions):
·
This
Cover Page
·
A
project description describing the proposed research
·
A
budget and budget justification (Please refer to Section 5 in the Guidelines, Award Amount and Budget
Contraints)
·
The
student proposer’s resume
·
The
faculty mentor's short c.v.
·
A
statement of prior support (only for students previously supported by URECA!)
By signing this cover page the student proposer and
faculty mentor certify that the proposal was written by the student, that the
faculty mentor assumes fiduciary oversight and responsibility for the operating
budget, and (in the case of a project associated with a course granting
academic credit) that the project is eligible for URECA! funding .
_____________________________________
Student
Proposer’s signature Faculty
Mentor's signature
Please bring two printed, signed copies of this Cover Page with the Proposal, and an electronic version of the proposal on a labeled disc to: Honors College, Allen House, Room 101
by October 15, 2004
ii) Project Description
A collection of 12 students are going to an island in the Caribbean, Dominica to build a micro-hydro system that will serve as an alternative energy source for the Springfield Center for Environmental Protection, Research, and Education (SCEPTRE). The reason for this research is to give SCEPTRE an alternative energy supply other than relying solely on the grid. On the island there is a monopolizing power company and costs for energy are normally very high.
This project actually began in 2001 with a workshop on the island entitled “Sustainable Tourism in Small Islands of the Caribbean”. In that workshop challenges, strategies, and mechanisms to promoting a tourism regime that addressed issues of poverty alleviation, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable development were examined. During that trip it was found out that Dominica, has overwhelming renewable energy resources including hydro, solar, wind, biomass, and even geothermal. However, these resources are fairly undeveloped with 60% of the electricity being produced from diesel generators, with the other 40% coming from one medium sized hydro plant. Because of these issues electricity bills in Dominica are approximately 2-3 times the normal rate in the US. It was felt that micro-hydro would allow people in Dominica to reduce their energy bills, reduce pollution from diesel combustion, take control of their energy supply using local resources, and improve the trade balance of the country.
Dominica, like most Caribbean countries, has a big trade deficit so it is important that the microhydro be exploited as the most affordable type of renewable electricity per unit of output. A workshop was conducted in February of 2003 on micro-hydro electricity production and that is where this project began. In March of 2004, students from UVM went to Dominica to collect data and begin taking the necessary steps to build the micro-hydro system by choosing the location of the turbine, building a base for the turbine, and choosing components.
The goal is to fly down to Dominica at the end of December and over a 3 week period assemble and install a working microhydro system to supply power to SCEPTRE. The hope is that SCEPTRE will rely partly on the microhydro system and partly on the grid. The aim of the project is to have a microhydro system in place that will save SCEPTRE about $10 a day for their power, which will mean that the system will have paid for itself in 1-2 year’s time. The microhydro system that we are to build should last at least 20 years.
This micro-hydro system is to be built with a water turbine that has already been selected. Hundreds of hours of research time have already been expended in preparation for this project. This includes communication between faculty, SCEPTRE, Clemson, and EWB-Syracuse to coordinate the installation. It also includes ongoing fund raising efforts. Most importantly there has been extensive engineering discussions with technical representatives of Sahyadri Energy Systems Private Limited in India and Maryland on turbine and component selection. Technical training has also been scheduled. Last year’s students who went to Dominica to start on this project have already selected a spot for the water turbine to go and an intake tank has already been built in anticipation of the arrival of the micro-hydro system. There have also been calculations done to assure that the microhydro system will work in the area. When the students went to the island last year they calculated flow rate and head and were able to calculate exactly how much power the water turbine would be able to create. They found that given the calculated flow rate and head that they would yield a potential energy of about 27KWH/day. This is more than 1/3 of the total electricity that SCEPTRE uses.
Springfield’s current power usage, 60 – 100 kWh/day:
Daily average: 68 kWh
Monthly average: 2040 kWh
Monthly Bill (.80 EC/kWh): $653 (US) $1632 (EC)
EC = 2.5*US$
Range: $576 - $960 (US, monthly)
Savings Range: $230 - $346 (US, monthly)
After Savings: $346 - $614 (US, monthly)
It is strongly
believed that once there is a running micro-hydro system, only then will this
create a domino effect on the actual implementation of micro-hydro systems and
making it widespread in Dominica. This
project has the potential to not only supply SCEPTRE with some alleviation on
their electric bill, but should also show people on the island that there is an
alternative source of energy available that may be cheaper and cleaner than
diesel with a small investment. The
system that we are building should pay for itself in 1-2 years. If a similar turbine were to be bought for a
smaller building needing less electricity it could even take less time. After this time the turbine will be purely
profitable.
iii) Eligibility Statement
This trip is associated with a course in electrical engineering named “Professional Design Issues”. The projects that students normally do in this course are in the laboratory and involve the programming of different electronic and robotic devices to perform simple tasks. Building a micro-hydro system will provide a research component beyond what could be expected in the laboratory. This project goes beyond the laboratory and into the real world. Building this micro hydro system will not only be a great learning experience but will also give a real world sense of accomplishment to the student researchers.
Building
a micro-hydro system in a developing country such as Dominica will provide
multiple benefits as a research project.
First, the experience of coordinating an international development project
involving appropriate technology in conjunction with international
partners. Secondly, the system will be
of much greater significance in Dominica than if built locally in Vermont. Lastly, by building a working system in
Dominica it provides a real life application to what we are learning in the
classroom.
IV Budget Page
1) Hydro Turbine $1500
Shipping from India
-along with items 2, 3, 4, 5, 8 $ 750
Associated Parts:
2) 600 feet of #6-3 Electrical Wire $1350
3) 2 Belts for the Belt Drive $ 15
4) Oil Filled Pressure Gauge $ 65
5) Gate Valve $ 50
6) Hydro Breaker Panel $ 50
7) Wiring for Panel $ 50
8) Transfer Switch $ 80
9) Laser Level $ 50
10) 2 Roundtrip flights to Dominica $3000
11) 3 Weeks of Parking at Logan Airport $ 300
11) Travel to/from airport and work-site $ 120
12) Exit fees from Dominica $ 80
13) Local Transportation $ 600
14) Room and Board $1155
Total Cost: $9215
Allocated Credit
UVM $ leftover from
Renewable Energy Workshop Course $1000
UVM Service Learning Grant $1000
Clemson $3000
600 feet of PVC pipe $ 0
Total Credit: $5000
+ 600 feet of PVC pipe
Cost – Credit
(9215-5000): $4215
Request: $3000
V Budget Justification Page
1) Hydro Turbine
This is the main part of a micro-hydro system. This is where the energy is generated. We are ordering from a company based in India called Sahyadri Energy Systems Private Limited. Deepak, a co-partner in the company continuously gives us free technical information and advice for the project. He will offer free training in November for the group of 13 people involved in the project
2) 600 feet of #6-3 electrical wire
This type of wire has 3 conductors and 1 ground to run from the turbine to the junction box at the actual guesthouse to provide power for certain appliances.
3) 2 Belts for the Belt Drive
Belts are not included with the turbine. 1 is needed for operation and 1 will be a spare.
4) Oil filled Pressure Gauge
This is needed at the inlet to the turbine to measure water pressure.
5) Gate Valve
This is also needed at the inlet to divert water if work needs to be done on the turbine.
6) Hydro Breaker Panel
This is for appliances to be powered by the turbine where item 2 wire is run to from the turbine.
7) Wiring for Panel
Wiring from this panel to the main panel where the other appliances are grid-powered is needed. When the turbine does not produce enough power for the hydro loads, the hydro loads are powered by the grid.
8) Transfer Switch
This is to switch all hydro loads to be powered by the in case of maintenance of the micro-hydro system.
9) Laser Level
A device to aid in surveying accurately and proper alignment of installations.
10) 2 Roundtrip Flights for 1 UVM students to Dominica
Alvin Chan is leading the installation and will make a trip for 3 weeks over winter break to install and train people how to maintain the system. Another 1 week trip will be taken during spring break to ensure installation is successful and collect statistical data.
11) 2 taxi fares to/from airport and work-site
Taxi ride is needed to get to/from airport.
12) 2 Exit fees from Dominica.
This is a requirement upon leaving the country.
13) Local Transportation
$200/week for 3 weeks.
14) Room and Board
$55/day for 3 weeks.
Allocated Credit
1) UVM $ leftover from Renewable Energy Workshop Course
Leftover money from the 8 students of the Spring 2004 CDAE 195 course decided to reinvest the leftover funds to install a micro-hydro system.
2) UVM Service Learning Grant
Professor Gary Flomenhoft applied and won a Service Learning Grant for Alvin to help fund the project.
3) Clemson
Since Clemson owns the guesthouse and research facilities of SCEPTRE, they will provide a lot of funding.
4) 600 feet of PVC pipe
Courtesy of BBL Engineering – Syracuse. SUNY Syracuse’s Chapter of Engineers Without Borders found a company willing to donate pipe.
Cost – Credit
(9215-5000): $4215
Request: $3000
This requested amount will assure completion of this project successfully.
VI Resume w/
Relevant Coursework
Alvin Chan achan@emba.uvm.edu
______________________________________________________________________________
9 Cedar Glen North; South Burlington, VT 05403; Phone: (518) 593-9878
Objective:
To raise enough funds to install a microhydro system in Dominica.
______________________________________________________________________________
Education:
UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT (UVM), Burlington, Vermont
Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering, minor in Mathematics
_____________________________________________________________________________
Experience:
Microhydro Project
Leader, Springfield Guesthouse, Dominica Spring
04-Present
Computer Engineering Intern, Lockheed Martin, Syracuse, NY Summer 2003
Math Tutor, The UVM Learning Cooperative, Burlington, VT Fall 2002-Present
Cashier, Flaming Wok, Plattsburgh, NY July 1997-Present
______________________________________________________________________________
Relevant Coursework:
Renewable Energy Workshop in Dominica
Professional Design Issues
Electronics 1, 2
Linear Circuit Analysis 1, 2
Sophomore/Junior Electrical Engineering Laboratory
Introduction to Engineering Mechanics
Principles of Economics
Introduction to Statistics
Data Structures
Graphical Communication
______________________________________________________________________________
Computer Skills:
AutoCAD 2000 MS Visual C++ MS Excel w/ VBA MS Outlook
Multisim 2001 Assembly MS Powerpoint w/ VBA MS Word
PSPICE 6.0 MS Visual Basic 6.0 Pascal Basic
VII Mentor’s
Curriculum Vitae
GARY FLOMENHOFT
Gund Institute for Ecological Economics, University of Vermont
590 Main Street, Burlington, VT. 05405-0088
Phone: 802 656-2996 Fax: 802 656-2995
http://www.uvm.edu/giee
University of Maryland School of Public Affairs, College Park, MD
MA in Public Policy
Certificate in Ecological Economics
Dec 2001
Advisor: Herman Daly
Tufts University, Medford, MA, Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering, 1977
Concentration: Production and Design
Research Associate, Gund Institute for Ecological Economics, University of Vermont. 2002-present. Primary author, Earth Shareholder Report. Consultant to Scale Project.
Program Assistant (Acting Program Officer), U.S. Dept. Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Empowerment Zone/Enterprise Community Initiative, Wash, D.C. 2000-2001.
Co-Founder and Vice-President, Institute for Geonomics (Geonomy Society: 501c3), 1990-present. Research and education on common assets: democratic rights to ownership of natural capital, property tax-shift, eco-taxes, public dividends, and equilibrium economics.
Policy and Media Coordinator, Mindy Lorenz Congressional Campaign, Santa Barbara, CA, 1990 and 1992.
Outreach Director, Southern CA, Green Party Organizing Committee, 1985-89. Founding member of CA and US Green party.
The Triumph of Pareto, : Upcoming in Selected proceeding of USSEE conference
2003, Elsevier Publications
Geotopia: Eco-tax Strategies to a Sustainable Society, Land and Liberty, U. K., Spring 2001
Tom Paine Was Right, Basic Income
Must Come From Ground Rent,
Proceedings of the Basic Income European Network Conference, Vienna, Austria,
1996
A Dynamic Equilibrium Leisure Society, Humanist Sociologist, Penn State University, 1994
Adjunct Instructor, University of Vermont (UVM) School of Public
Administration. Courses: Non-profits and the Environment, Energy Policy
Adjunct Lecturer, UVM Dept. of Community Development and Applied
Economics, Courses: Solar Building Strategies, Energy Alternatives
Co-instructor, UVM School of Natural Resources. Community Currency
Class.
Guest Lecturer, UVM Dept. of Environmental Studies, Ecological
Economics
Guest Lecturer, UVM Dept. of Economics (Stephanie Seguino),
Ecological Economics
Guest Lecturer: Electric Vehicle Entrepreneurship. Environmental Entrepreneurs Program, New College, Santa Rosa, CA. 2002
Guest Lecturer: Electric Vehicle Entrepreneurship. Entrepreneurship Program, R.H. Smith School of Business, U. Of Maryland, College Park, MD. 2001
Teaching Assistant, Quantitative Aspects of Public Policy (Statistics), University of Maryland School of Public Affairs, College Park, MD, 2001
Seminar Coordinator, Ecological Economics Student Group, University of Maryland School of Public Affairs, College Park, MD, 2000-2001
Guest Lecturer: Electric and Hybrid Vehicles. Appropriate Technology, Humboldt State University, 93, 94, 95
Guest Lecturer: Space Program and Politics. Technology and Values, Sonoma State University, 1993
Guest Lecturer: Green Economics. Environmental Studies, UC Santa Barbara, 1991, 92
Vocational Instructor (AutoCAD), West Valley Occupational Center, Woodland Hills, CA, 2000
Substitute Teacher, Santa Barbara, CA School District, 1991, 92
Instructor, Energy Conservation and Solar Technology, Colorado Mt. College, Steamboat Springs, CO, 1981
Substitute Teacher, Nauset Regional School District, Cape Cod, MA 1979-80
Assistant Coordinator of Alternative Education, Nauset Regional High School, Eastham, MA, 1978-79
Solar Heating Installer, Macs Solar, Santa Barbara, CA, 1991-92
Environmental Engineering Consultant: 1983-91
Director, Tuna-Dolphin Campaign, Earth Island Institute, Santa Barbara, CA, 1990
Solar Consultant, Designer, and Installer: Eco-Home Project, Los Angeles, CA, 1984-89
Systems Engineer: Ecological Life Systems Institute, San Diego, CA, 1984-89
Director: Steamboat Renewable Energy Center, Steamboat Springs, CO, 1981
Owner, InnEVations.com, High Performance Electric Vehicles, Santa Rosa, CA, 96 to present
Project Awards:
Tour de Sol Commuter Class, 3rd place: 1998
Sun Day Challenge, Disney World Florida, 1st place: 1998
APS Electric Racing, 2nd, 3rd place: 1996, 1997
Director, MendoMotive Electric Vehicles. Ft. Bragg, CA. Electric Vehicle conversion and parts sales, 1993-96
Awards:
Environmental Award, Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science, 1995
Transportation Innovation Award, Sri Lanka Ministry of Transportation, 1997
Production Manager, R&D Engineer, Solar Electric Engineering, Santa Rosa, CA. Electric Vehicle
manufacturing, 1991-92.
Engineer/Owner, G.F. Products, Santa Barbara, CA. Product patenting and marketing, 1987-1991.
Sr. Test Engineer, Hughes Aircraft Corp., El Segundo, CA. Satellite assembly and testing, 1986-87.
Sr. Test Engineer, TRW Corp., Redondo Beach, CA. Satellite assembly and testing supervisor, 1983-85.
Volunteer, Roaring Fork Energy Center: Aspen, Colorado, 1980
Volunteer, Windstar Foundation, Snowmass Colorado, 1980
Volunteer, SANE/FREEZE Nuclear Weapons Committee, 1983-1987
Volunteer, Clamshell Alliance, New Hampshire, 1977
Volunteer, "The Ride", Handicap Van Service, Boston, MA, 1977
MS Office, AutoCAD 13, 14, 2000, Web authoring software and Html
French, some German and Spanish
Pamela Glekas, Director, Empowerment Zone/Enterprise Community/Renewal Community Programs, US Dept. Housing and Urban Development, 202-708-6339 x 4449
Dr. Herman Daly, University of Maryland School of Public Affairs, 301-405-6330
Dr. Steven Fetter, University of Maryland School of Public Affairs, (301) 405-6355
Dr. Robert Costanza, Gund Institute for Ecological Economics, 802 656-2906