The Solar Energy Water Environment Nexus in Nevada Tau Beta Pi - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

The Solar Energy‐Water‐ Environment Nexus in Nevada

Tau Beta Pi Annual Banquet UNLV Chapter May 2, 2015

US Energy consumption will continue to rise

Clean Energy: A National Priority

2014 Presidential commitment to advance solar Energy

May 9, 2014: President Announced Commitments and Executive Actions to Advance Solar Deployment and Energy Efficiency

• In Ne va da , sola r flux is a bunda nt a nd e xplora tion of this

e ne rg y sourc e ha s the pote ntia l to sig nific a ntly dive rsify the e c onomy of the sta te .

• Ne va da lie s within the Gre a t Ba sin a nd Moja ve De se rt,

both a re fra g ile e c osyste ms e a sily a lte re d by a nthropog e nic a c tivitie s.

• T

he g e ne ra tion of a ll forms of e ne rg y, e xc e pt wind, re quire s wa te r. Ye t, Ne va da is a n a rid re g ion with limite d wa te r re sourc e s.

Wha t is Ne xus ?

L inka g e s − a mong sola r powe r, wa te r, a nd the e nvironme nt.

Nevada can help meet the nation’s energy needs

Abundant: Sunlight Cloud‐free days Undeveloped Land

Sempra Copper Mountain Solar 1 Plant near Boulder City, NV

GL OBAL SOL AR E NE RGY POT E NT IAL IS L ARGE AND SUST AINABL E

Ne va da is in a unique position - he re the sola r flux is a bunda nt a nd utilizing this e ne rg y sourc e ha s the pote ntia l to sig nific a ntly dive rsify the e c onomy of the sta te .

So urc e : Pe re z e t al., 2009, "A F undame ntal L

• o k At E

ne rg y Re se rve s F

• r T

he Plane t", p.3, PDF (arc hive d). L ic e nse d unde r Pub lic Do main via Wikime dia Co mmo ns

Who a re the PI a nd Co- PIs?

• Dr. Ga yle Da na

Pr inc ipa l Inve stig a tor , Pr

• je c t Dir

e c tor De se r t Re se ar c h Institute

• Dr. Ja c i Ba tista

Co- Princ ipa l Inve stig a tor Unive r sity of Ne va da , L a s Ve g a s

• Dr. Robe rt Boe hm

Co- Princ ipa l Inve stig a tor Unive r sity of Ne va da , L a s Ve g a s

• Dr. Ma rkus Be rli

Co- Princ ipa l Inve stig a tor De se r t Re se ar c h Institute

• Dr. Se rg iu Da sc a lu

Co- Princ ipa l Inve stig a tor Unive rsity of Ne va da , Re no

The Solar Energy-W ater- Environm ent Nexus in Nevada

Duration: 5 years (2013-2018) Am ount: $20M from National Science Foundation (NSF) plus $4M cost share from the Nevada System of Higher Education (NSHE)

Research and Infrastructure Building Grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) awarded to Nevada System of Higher Education

This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under grant number IIA‐1301726

Who a re the othe r pe ople involve d?

• 37 Ne xus re se a rc h fa c ulty
• 5 E

duc a tion fa c ulty

• 1 Post- doc
• 21 T

e c hnic ia ns a nd re se a rc h a ssoc ia te s

• 29 Gra dua te stude nts
• 28 Unde rg ra dua te stude nts
• 5 Ne w fa c ulty me mbe rs
• Hig h te mpe ra ture ma te ria ls (UNL

V)

• Re stora tion e c olog y (UNL

V)

• Re ne wa ble e ne rg y e c onomic s (UNR)
• Adva nc e d wa te r te c hnolog y (DRI)
• Inte llig e nt da ta mining (UNR)

New UNLV Women Faculty Hired

• Dr. Moon
• Dr. Bansal

Why is this re se a rc h ne e de d?

• T
• promote e c onomic dive rsific a tion in Ne va da by

supporting sola r e ne rg y de ve lopme nt.

• It is c ritic a l to unde rsta nd a nd minimize the impa c ts of

sola r e ne rg y de ve lopme nt on Ne va da ’s limite d wa te r re sourc e s a nd the e nvironme nt while a c hie ving e nvironme nta l be ne fits from re ne wa ble e ne rg y.

• Ne va da ne e ds c ybe rinfra struc ture a nd a n e duc a te d

a nd dive rse workforc e to susta in the re ne wa ble e ne rg y industry.

T HE F IVE OBJE CT IVE S OF T HE NE XUS RE SE ARCH

• Obje c tive 1: E

xplore ne w te c hnolog ie s tha t c ould minimize wa te r use a t sola r fa c ilitie s;

• Obje c tive 2: Unde rsta nd e nvironme nta l impa c ts of

sola r e ne rg y proje c ts;

• Obje c tive 3: De ve lop susta ina ble a nd a dva nc e d

wa te r/ wa ste wa te r a pproa c he s to support wa te r ne e ds for sola r e ne rg y de ve lopme nt;

T HE F IVE OBJE CT IVE S OF T HE NE XUS RE SE ARCH

• Obje c tive 4: Improve re lia bility, e c onomic mode ling ,

a nd sunlig ht fore c a sting for re ne wa ble sola r e ne rg y supply;

• Obje c tive 5: De ve lop ne w a nd use e xisting

c ybe rinfra struc ture c a pa bilitie s to a c c e le ra te the Ne xus re se a rc h.

T WO WAYS SOL AR IRRADIAT ION IS USE D T O CRE AT E E L E CT RICIT Y

• Photovolta ic s —E

le c tro nic d e vic e s (“so la r c e lls” o r “PV”) c o nve rt the sun’ s e le c tro ma g ne tic ra d ia tio n d ire c tly into e le c tric ity.

• Sola r

T he r ma l —T

he sun’ s e ne rg y in c o nc e ntra te d (Co nc e ntra te d So la r Po we r - CSP) fo rm he a ts a fluid tha t is the n use d in a n e ng ine to pro d uc e po we r.

Pho to vo ltaic syste ms lo c ate d o n the ro o f o f the UNL V E ng ine e ring Building

Conc e ntra ting Sola r T he rma l Powe r (CSP)

PV AND CONCE NT RAT ING SOL AR PL ANT S IN NE VADA

Photovolta ic (PV)

SOL AR POWE R ME T HODS

Use s mirrors or le nse s to c onc e ntra te the rma l sola r e ne rg y onto fluid- fille d pipe s

Solar Thermal Photovoltaics

Use s ma te ria ls like silic on a nd silve r to c a pture sola r e ne rg y a nd c onve rt it into e le c tric ity. Syste ms c a n be pla na r or c onc e ntra tors.

1 2 3 4 5 6 Solar Collectors Steam generator Turbine Electric Generator Air cooled condenser Pumps 6 5 4 3 2 1

CONCE NT RAT ING SOL AR POWE R (CSP)

E XAMPL E OF SOL AR T HE RMAL

CRE SCE NT DUNE S (T ONOPAH)

Re trie ve d fro m http:/ / so lar-re se rve .c o m/

Coppe r mounta in PV pla nt, Boulde r City Ne llis AF B PV pla nt, Nor th la s ve g a s

E xa mple PV Pla nts

Ma nda la y Ba y Conve ntion Ce nte r Sola r Pr

• je c t – L

a s Ve g a s

“not c onstruc te d ye t”

UNL V Mobile PV Unit

OBJE CT IVE 1- Be nc hma rks* 1 a nd 2

Be nc hma rk 1: minimize c ooling a nd c le a ning wa te r use throug h improve me nts to the powe r pla nt (e .g dry c ooling a nd inc re a sing pla nt e ffic ie nc y. Be nc hma rk 1B: Hire ne w UNL V fa c ulty me mbe r in hig h te mpe ra ture ma te ria ls (Dr. Moon)

• Dr. Bob Boe hm

UNL V

• Dr. Yitung Che n

UNL V

• Dr. Ja e yun Moon

UNL V

Ric k Hurt

UNL V

Da nie lle Noble s

• Dr. Bo e hm’ s Gra d

Stud e nt UNL V

Ka ipo Ke ka ula

• Dr. Che n’ s Gra d

Stud e nt UNL V *Ne xus Re se a rc h T a sks

Dry Cooling Experiment, Year 1

Dry Cooling Study

• Drs. Boehm and Chen (UNLV)

A‐Frame system model geometry

3D Numerical model with swirl inlet conditions velocity vectors (isometric view)

Purpose: improve understanding

• f air‐cooled condenser units in

energy generation systems such as solar thermal power plants to improve energy efficiency and reduce water consumption Developing a numerical model to simulate condensation phenomena coupled with A‐ frame cooling towers Experiments will verify and validate numerical results to assist and modify solar air‐ cooled system designs

Year 2

Improving solar power cycle efficiency by raising high temperature

• High temperature receiver

development using UNLV dish

• system. (Boehm, Chen)
• Incorporating high

temperature coatings (new faculty member Moon).

WAT E R NE E DE D IN SOL AR E NE RGY GE NE RAT ION

Wa te r ne e de d for CSP:

• 800- 1000 g a l/ MWhr – we t c ooling

a nd wa shing mirrors

• 105 g a l/ MWhr – dry c ooling for

wa shing mirrors

CSP ha s a c ooling towe r to c onde nse ste a m. We t c ooling e va pora te s wa te r into the e nvironme nt, while dry c ooling doe s not. PV a nd CSP ha ve sola r surfa c e s tha t ma y ne e d wa shing .

Wa te r to wa sh PV pa ne ls < 1 g a l/ MWhr is

WAT E R USE AND E NE RGY GE NE RAT ION

Muc h le ss wa te r is use d in sola r a nd wind e ne rg y g e ne ra tion, tha n in othe r type s of powe r g e ne ra tion, but for wa te r poor re g ions, suc h a s Ne va da , wa te r use minimiza tion in c le a ning mirrors a nd pa ne ls a nd for c ooling is c ritic a l.

OBJE CT IVE 1- Be nc hma rk 3

Be nc hma rk 3: unde rsta nd dust de position a nd re mova l from pa ne ls a nd mirrors.

• Dr. Vic

E tye me zia n

DRI

• Dr. Spe nc e r

Ste inbe rg

UNL V

Ja son Sylva

• Dr. Ste inb e rg ’ s

Gra d Stud e nt UNL V

Ge org e Nikolic h

DRI

Test stand design

Two components

• Particle and wind characteristics
• Anemometer – wind speed, turbulence
• Particle profiler – optical particle counts
• Impact on PV by attenuation
• Stand to expose several PV‐like glass panels
• Spectrometers scan panels to collect light attenuation information

Intent: Set “industry standard” for testing platform

Exposure Frame Components Spectrometer traverse for testing exposed

OBJE CT IVE 1- Be nc hma rk 4

Be nc hma rk 4: use na note c hnolog y to mitig a te dust a c c umula tion.

• Dr. Kwa ng Kim

UNL V

• Dr. BJ Da s

UNL V

Jiye on Pa rk

• Dr. K

im’ s Gra d stud e nt UNL V

Sa nja na Da s

• Dr. Da s’ Gra d

Stud e nt UNL V

• Total number and mass of particles on surface and percentage covered area was estimated.

Subsequently, total number of molecules and total intermolecular force between particles and surface was estimated solely based upon adhesion force.

• Currently developing Matlab‐base imaging technique to find percentage area covered by particles.
• A laboratory‐scale experiment facility was built to simulate dust accumulation on glass/acrylic

surface.

Dust accumulation process on solid surface and its affect on solar panel performance

Fan → Ball head mount & plates Water out

• Dr. Kim and Jiyeon Park (PhD student) (UNLV)

OBJE CT IVE 1- Be nc hma rk 5

Be nc hma rk 5: use re mote se nsing to de te c t pa rtic le de position on pa ne ls a nd mirrors.

• Dr. E

va ng e los Yfa ntis

UNL V

Konsta ntinos Mouta fis

• Dr. Yfa ntis’ Gra d Stud e nt

UNL V

OBJE CT IVE 1- Be nc hma rks 6

Be nc hma rk 6: e xpa nd CI c onne c tivity a nd c re a te NRDC*- UNL V

• Dr. Ha roon Ste phe n

UNL V

Xia ng rong Ma

• Dr. Jia ng ’ s stud e nt

UNL V

E ric F ritzing e r

So ftwa re De ve lo pe r UNR

Sc otty Stra c ha n

F ie ld a nd Ne two rk T e c hnic ia n UNR

• Dr. Ying ta o Jia ng

UNL V

• Dr. Me i Ya ng

UNL V

*NRDC = Ne va d a Re se a rc h Da ta Ce nte r, with site s a t b o th UNR a nd UNL V

OBJE CT IVE 2

Unde rsta nd E nvironme nta l Impa c ts of Sola r E ne rg y Proje c ts

Re trie ve d fro m http:/ / a-z-animals.c o m/

E nvironme nta l Impa c ts of Sola r Pla nts on Ne va da ’s E nvironme nt

Sola r e ne rg y proje c ts, a s be ing imple me nte d on the a rid la nds of Ne va da , must ove rc ome nume rous e nvironme nta l c ha lle ng e s. Sola r pla nts oc c upy la rg e a re a of la nd a nd fa una a nd flora ha bita t de struc tion is like ly to oc c ur, if the impa c ts a re not a voide d or prope rly ma na g e d. More knowle dg e a nd stra te g ie s a re ne e de d for re duc ing a nd mitig a ting e nvironme nta l de g ra da tion from sola r e ne rg y de ve lopme nt.

OBJE CT IVE 2- Be nc hma rks 1 a nd 2

Be nc hma rk 1: unde rsta nd popula tion dyna mic s of org a nisms influe nc e d by sola r e ne rg y fa c ilitie s. Be nc hma rk 2: unde rsta nd mic roc lima te c ha ng e

• n the de se rt pla nt

c ommunitie s due to sola r insta lla tions.

• Dr. Da le De vitt

UNL V

Bria n Bird

F ie ld T e c hnic ia n UNL V

L . Apoda c a

• Dr. De vitt’ s Gra d

Stud e nt UNL V

• Dr. Bre tt Riddle

UNL V

Meteorological Tower

Heat pulse technique to measure transpiration velocity in stems

The 10 m towers are more than meteorological towers, as they also have soil and plant sensors

• Soil water content, matric potential, temperature, salinity and soil heat flux.
• Plant level NDVI, leaf canopy temperature and transpiration velocity.

OBJE CT IVE 2- Be nc hma rks 4 a nd 5

Be nc hma rk 4: unde rsta nd soil c rust de g ra da tion a nd mitig a tion.

• Dr. He nry Sun

DRI

• Dr. Ha roon Ste phe n

UNL V

• Dr. Ma ry Ca blk

DRI

Ma sih E da la t

• Dr. Ste phe n’ s Gra d

Stud e nt UNL V

Be nc hma rk 5: re mote se nsing of pre Syn a nd post insta lla tion of sola r pla nt.

OBJE CT IVE 3

De ve lop Susta ina ble a nd a dva nc e d wa te r/ wa ste wa te r a pproa c he s to support wa te r ne e ds of sola r e ne rg y de ve lopme nt

Solar Arrays and Rainwater Harvesting?

• Solar arrays change the

way rain reaches the soil

• Rainwater concentrates

along drip lines ‐> “concentrated infiltration”

• “Concentrated

infiltration” leads to deeper infiltration ‐> more water is stored, less water evaporates

• Solar arrays: The long

sought structures for rainwater harvesting?

Membrane Distillation, cont.

Surface Tension Property Measurement

• Comparison of Measurement Methods
• Optical Method using tensiometer (pendant drop method)
• Maximum Bubble Pressure Method
• Working Fluid (Pentanol/Water mixture, Pentanol: 0.25 ~ 1.8 wt%)

Optical (Pendent Drop) Method Bubble Pressure Method

OBJE CT IVE 3- Be nc hma rk 1

Be nc hma rk 1: unde rsta nd e ne rg y inte nsity for tra nsport a nd tre a tme nt of wa te r a nd wa ste wa te r.

• Dr. Ja c i Ba tista

UNL V

• Dr. Ya hia Ba g hzouz

UNL V

• Dr. Sa mi F

a da li

UNR

• Dr. Sa jja d Ahma d

UNL V

• Dr. Me hdi

E te za di- Amoli

UNR

Christophe r Hic ks, Dr. Ba g hzo uz’ s Gra d Stud e nt, UNL

V

Ha mid Khoda ba nde hlou, Dr. F

a d a li’ s Gra d Stud e nt, UNR

Me hrda d Ma jidi, Dr. E

te za d i-Amo li’ s Gra d Stud e nt, UNR

OBJE CT IVE 3- Be nc hma rk 2

Be nc hma rk 2: me mbra ne distilla tion

• f sola r fa c ility wa te rs.
• Dr. Ja c i Ba tista

UNL V

• Dr. Sa g e Hibe l

UNR

Va hid Va nda di

• Dr. Pa rks’ s

Gra d Stud e nt UNR

• Dr. Cha nwoo Pa rk

UNR

Sa roj Na pit

• Dr. Hib e l’ s

Gra d Stud e nt UNR

Ke vin Sa lls

• Dr. Hib e l’ s

Gra d Stud e nt UNR

Bha umik Pa re kh

• Dr. Pa rks’ s

Gra d Stud e nt UNR

OBJE CT IVE 4- Be nc hma rk 1

Be nc hma rk 1: unde rsta nd e ne rg y g e ne ra tion in la ndholding s.

• Dr. Ya hia

Ba g hzouz

UNL V

• Dr. Sa mi

F a da li

UNR

Christophe r Hic ks

• Dr. Ba g hzo uz’ s

Gra d Stud e nt UNL V

• Dr. Me hdi

E te za di- Amoli

UNR

Me hrda d Ma jidi

• Dr. E

te za d i- Amo li’ s Gra d Stud e nt UNR

Ha mid Khoda ba nde hlou

• Dr. F

a d a li’ s Gra d Stud e nt UNR

Sc he ma tic Dia g ra m of UNL V Mic rog rid

T he mic ro g rid is b e ing d e sig ne d a nd b uilt a t the UNL V So la r Site . I nitia lly, two d istrib ute d re so urc e s (a 12 kW fla t-pla te PV syste m a nd a 15 kVA d ie se l- po we re d g e ne ra to r) will b e insta lle d . F uture e xpa nsio n will inc lud e a b a tte ry e ne rg y sto ra g e syste m.

OBJE CT IVE 4

Improve re lia bility, e c onomic mode ling , a nd sunlig ht fore c a sting for re ne wa ble a nd sola r e ne rg y supply

Clo uds o ve r the Blac k Ro c k De se rt b y Standle y White

OBJE CT IVE 4- Be nc hma rk 2

Be nc hma rk 2: fore c a st sola r irra dia nc e .

• Dr. E

ric Wilc ox

DRI

http:/ / www.nr e l.gov/ g is/ sola r .html

Yupe ng Sha n

• Dr. Wilc o x’ s Gra d Stud e nt

DRI

No ima g e a va ila b le

Sola r E ne rg y Re lia bility a nd Mode ling

T he Sta te of Ne va da ’s Re ne wa ble Portfolio Sta nda rd c a lls for 25% e ne rg y g e ne ra tion from re ne wa ble sourc e s by

• 2030. T

he re is a ne e d to inve stig a te the re ne wa ble re sourc e s tha t a re a c c e ssible to Ne va da utilitie s, ide ntify a re a s whe re the e xpa nsion of the se re ne wa ble s c a n be a c hie ve d e c onomic a lly, a nd ope ra te the se utilitie s inde pe nde ntly from the powe r g rid during powe r outa g e s.

OBJE CT IVE 4- Be nc hma rks 3 a nd 4

Be nc hma rks 3 a nd 4: e c onomic a na lysis of sola r/ re ne wa ble e ne rg y proje c ts a nd hire ne w fa c ulty in re ne wa ble e ne rg y e c onomic s a t UNR.

• Dr. T

homa s Ha rris

UNR

HOW MUCH SOL AR POWE R IS INST AL L E D IN NE VADA?

• In large plants of many types there are over 500 MW installed,

including

• 75 MW solar thermal trough plant “Nevada Solar One” near

Boulder City

• 110 MW solar thermal tower plant “Crescent Dunes” near

Tonopah

• Over 200 MW of PV plants “Copper Mountain 1 and 2” near

Boulder City

• Several other smaller plants
• There are also many small PV systems on buildings
• For comparison, Hoover Dam is 2000MW

Solar Hot Water Heater Display: Standing, Flat‐Folding Stand, with Table‐ Top Stands Coming Soon Clamp‐Style Thermocouples

• n the Hot and Cold Sides

With a Hand‐Held Dual Digital Display

Quick‐ Connects at all Tube Connection Points

Hand‐Held DC Displays

Provides Visual Changes with Varying Degrees of Panel Shading Flashing Low‐Voltage Lights and CPU Fans with LEDs

Additional Kits, Including DC/AC Kits, are

• n the Way!

NEXUS Solar Kits in Action