The untapped power: A huge possibility

  • Upload
    s-bera

  • View
    214

  • Download
    0

Embed Size (px)

Citation preview

  • 8/14/2019 The untapped power: A huge possibility

    1/3

    The Power crisis : A green opportunity

    In India 260 million people are living below poverty and more than 390 million people are

    illiterate, the largest pool of illiterate people of the world. Because of illiteracy most of these390 million people are living in extreme poor condition. Some can manage a square mill a day

    but very few can light up their homes during night. Electricity is a luxury to these poor people.Their kids too are devoid of the light of literacy. But the sheer fact is that if a society cannot

    give support to its many poor it can not protect its riches either.

    This extreme dark situation can be altered if we take up this challenge face to face and look up

    the sun for solution. India being in the tropic of Cancer we get good amount of sunlight

    everyday. The average sun time (sun with full intensity) in the entire country varies from 4.5hours to 5.5 hours. Only during monsoon period 60 to 100 days remain partially or completely

    clouded.

    However, during this 300 to 250 days their homes can be lit up with light with little

    investment towards solar power. Of course the state or the benevolent organizations have to

    come forward to take up the challenge.

    With the improvement of the inverter technology and the reduction of the solar photo voltaic

    prices the project here is going to be described is tested ,feasible ,practiced and lucrative.

    In a typical house of a middle class family there happens to be 3 to 4 tube lights, 3 to 4 CFLs ,3 to 4 ceiling fans and 1 or 2 table or pedestal fans.

    Among these the tube lights and the CFLs are run a minimum 5 to 6 hours during night.

    The project shown below is being used to light up 3 nos T5 tube lights and 1 no 5 watt CFLsfor 5 to 6 hours a day without any interruption.

    Well here is the heart of the project: Solar Panels.

    110 watt: From left to right 10 watt , 50 watt and 50 watt (Poly crystalline type. Life:25 years)Maximum output is at 17 volt Cost RS:120/watt Cost=RS: 13200

  • 8/14/2019 The untapped power: A huge possibility

    2/3

    The panels are fitted on the parapet wall of my flat. For fittings simple folded galvanizedchannels (available in any hardware store) is used. They are painted by red oxide and then

    black paint thus giving them a complete protection from the corrosive weather of Mumbai.

    This type of double coatings will be just enough for any other locations in India. Its better if

    some scare-crow sort of things can be fitted on top of it so as to avoid droppings of birds.

    A thorough top surface washing once a week is recommended in the urban area to wash off

    the dust , dirt and birds droppings if any. However, in the rustic area this can be done once in amonth. We have to keep in mind that any blockage, cover of the sunlight will severely impedethe output of the panels.

    Since India is in the tropic of cancer part of the globe, the fixed type simple solar panels will

    invariably be inclined towards north. But the exact angle will be known from the latitude of

    that area.

    It is always essential to use same type of panels whose output voltages are same.

    All the output of the panels are to be wired together to a common terminal where from it willbe brought down inside the room . The wiring to be used is of 14 or 15 SWG copper wire (red

    and black ). Normally single stranded 14 SWG copper wire costs RS:20 / meter. A 50 AMPfuse socket is to be fitted at the end on the positive terminal. Two no diodes are to be used in

    series in the down comer. It acts as a voltage stabilizer for the solar panels.

    The cost detail:

    The 110 watt solar panel @ RS:120/watt

    = 110 *120 = 13200.00

    One no 200 AH tubular battery =7000.0014 SWG copper wire red & black:10 mtr each:400.0025 AMP fuse with base: 100.00

    Transformer less 250 watt inverter : 1800.00

    Installation and fitting:400.002 heavy duty Diodes (PBYR75) = RS:100.00 each

    Cost of Solar panel & Inverter = 23000.00

    -------------------------------------------The cost of 3no T5 rod = 400.00 * 3 = 1200.00

    5 watt CFL 1 nos = 75.00

    Grand Total = 24275.00

    250 watt transformer less Inverter:The transformer less inverters are available in any super market now-a-days. They are used forrunning your laptop from the Car Battery. These are very small and uses no balky transformer.

    It simply converts 12 volt DC to 250 Voltage DC by DC-DC converter after that they makethe 250 voltage DC to 230 volt AC. The loss is very less and can be directly connected to the

    load at one end and the solar panel at the other end. The battery cut off voltage is set at 10.5

    volt however, it starts giving alarm at 11 volt.

  • 8/14/2019 The untapped power: A huge possibility

    3/3

    Lighting:The T5 tube light takes 30 watt with choke and its illumination is 1.5 times the normal T12

    tube light. CFL is not recommended for reading because of its intense glow. However CFLscan be used in the passages and the toilets.

    Field Usage:The above setup works fine for 3 nos T5 tubes and 1 nos 5 watt CFLs for 6 to 7 hours daily.

    On a normal sunny day here in Powai it works for 7 hours and on an otherwise dull day itworks for 5 hours. On a cloudy day it works for 2 to 3 hours.

    Continuous Operation:The system is in operation for more than 16 months as of today. The polycrystalline solar

    panels are absolutely intact and healthy. Only it needs to be cleaned once in a week by water.

    Conclusion:The total cost of the solar panel and the inverter comes about RS :23000.00 and the T5 tubes

    and the CFLs comes about RS:1275.00. The total cost of the entire setup is RS:24275.00.

    There may be little expenditure towards the wiring etc. The installation is simple andeffective. If the state or the voluntary organizations make an effort for its mass production the

    cost will be further reduced.

    Imagine all the 260 million homes are no more dark during night . The small hamlets

    light up in the dark. The children in these homes spend the evening in front of books andbecome busy in doing home works. Let it goes for 10 years and I believe this 260 million

    Indians will create another class of people who will be more healthy and close to nature yet

    wise and sophisticated. Their children will belong to another powerful burgeoning class of

    India.

    Jai hind

    S. BeraPowai / Mumbai