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Technologies
TECHNOLOGIES FOR REMOTE POWER APPLICATIONS
This
section offers basic information regarding the various
technologies available for remote power systems and their
applicability for both small and large implementations, as well as
practical information regarding choosing, designing, and implementing
them.
The content draws on the design and field experiences of both VPR's
team of experts and the polar research community. This information is
presented as white papers, product reviews, and (in the future)
engineering calculators.
The basic technology sections are:
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Definition |
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Engine -
Internal combustion engines are a proven technology used worldwide. A
wide selection of fuels are usable, depending on the application.
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Fuel
Cell - A fuel cell is an electrochemical device
that combines hydrogen and oxygen to produce electricity. The process
is clean, quiet, and efficient. A byproduct of the process is water,
however, which can be a problem for deployments in a polar environment.
The technology is still in its infancy, but commercial products are
becoming available. link |
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Hydroelectric
- Small scale turbines can provide a source of electricty at sites
where water can be found in a liquid state for at least part of the
year. link |
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Solar
Electric (Photovoltaic) - Cells made up from two
or more layers of semiconductor material can produce electric power
when excited by photons. The sun is a major source for such photons,
but the process also works for other sources of light. Cells may be
stacked into arrays to meet differnt voltage and power requirements.
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Storage -
Primary and rechargable batteries are often used as a site's sole
source of power or in conjuction with one or more of the available
power generation technologies to provide a reservoir of continuous
power to the load. Ultracapacitors are a new technology that are
finding their way as a replacement for rechargable batteries. link |
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Wind -
Wind-powered turbines are a clean source of power. Special problems
arise with a moving mechanical device in polar regions prone to ice
formation and high wind velocities. Mounting structures also provide
problems for systems that may be located on ice fields well above solid
ground. link |
TECHNOLOGY DEPLOYMENT EXAMPLES
This section provides brief descriptions of systems that have
been
deployed in the polar regions and some basic information of the
specifics
of the technology deployed. Links to responsible agency sites are often
provided to facilitate a deeper exchange of information for others
interested in deploying similar technology.
View
Technology Deployment Examples
