Sponsors: University of Nevada at Las Vegas, National Renewable Energy Labs, U.S. Department of Energy
Real-time Data Collection, Archiving, and Analysis for the Nevada Solar Dish Power Project
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| Advanced Parabolic Trough Pilot Project Sponsors: University of Nevada at Las Vegas, National Renewable Energy Labs, U.S. Department of Energy Real-time Data Collection, Archiving, and Analysis for the Nevada Solar Dish Power Project |
Solargenix is constructing a 64 MW solar plant near Boulder City, Nevada, that utilizes an advanced parabolic trough design. This project was initiated to test some of the necessary component engineering work prior to the start of the 64 MW plant installation. As part of the work, two Solar Collector Assemblies (SCA's) are being erected, exclusive of the receiver tubes and only partially outfitted with parabolic mirrors, so that mechanical testing can be completed, proper fit and function can be demonstrated, and installation methods can be verified and improved. Receivers and additional parabolic mirrors may be added at a later time so that the SCA's can also be tested for thermal performance in the future. Included in the equipment to be tested at the site are Advanced Local Controllers (AdLoC's), which have been newly developed, to control the sun tracking of the parabolic troughs using a new hydraulic-based drive system.
As part of the scope of work for the project, data logging instrumentation is needed to measure and record weather, solar insolation, battery voltages, and tracking parameters of the SCA's. Because of the remote location of the test site and the absence of utilities the instrumentation is solar powered and uses cellular technology to transmit the data to a web-based data collection system with real time capabilities. This website was developed to give access to the data and the real time displays.
Site Location
U.S. Highway 95 to Searchlight, Nevada, runs north-south through Eldorado Valley and at the northern end of the valley it intersects U.S. Highway 93 approximately half the distance between Boulder City, Nevada and Henderson, Nevada. Traveling south from the intersection, 12.3 miles, the Solar Test Facility is located on Eldorado Valley Drive approximately 2 miles west of U.S. Highway 95.
The current data for the site can be viewed in the following continuously updated plots:
[Data Tables for the current day and current tracking parameters are accessible on the secure pages.]
Weather, Direct Normal Irradiance, battery voltages, and tracking data for the site are archived monthly and are available as comma delimited text files on a secure page. These files are rather large and may take time to download.
The data files include the following data taken in one minute intervals: Date and time [yyyy-mm-dd hh:mm:ss], Record Number, [The following 72 columns of data are proprietary tracking data for the trough AdLoC's], (starting in column 75) Average Dry Bulb Temperature [degrees C], Average Relative Humidity [percent], Wind Speed [meters per second], Wind Direction [degrees], Precipitation Total [millimeters], Average Direct Normal Irradiance [watts per square meter], System Battery Voltage [DC volts]. The header for the files as a text file is 2004 data header.
| Oct 2004 | Nov 2004 | Dec_2004 |
During January 2005 the instrument building's photovoltaic system battery voltage was added to the data collected. This addition added another column at the end of the data file as Photovoltaic System Battery Voltage [DC volts]. The revised header for the files as a text file is 2005 data header.
| Jan_2005* | Feb 2005 | Mar 2005 | Apr 2005 |
| May_2005 | Jun_2005 | Jul_2005* | Aug_2005 |
| Sep_2005 | Oct_2005 | Nov_2005 | Dec_2005 |
| Jan_2006 | Feb_2006 | Mar_2006 | Apr_2006 |
| May_2006 | Jun_2006 | Jul_2006 | Aug_2006 |
| Sep_2006 | Oct_2006 | Nov_2006 | Dec_2006 |
| Jan_2007 | Feb_2007 | Mar_2007 | Apr_2007 |
| May_2007 | Jun_2007 | Jul_2007 | Aug_2007 |
| Sep_2007 | Oct_2007 | Nov_2007 | Dec_2007 |
Note: Transients have been noticed in some values particularly temperature (we are still working on it). *During the month of January 2005 a fault in a test program being run on the data logger caused the appended data to be deleted. Also during July a program problem caused the loss of data for the 8th thru the 11th Because of this the January and July data are incomplete.
Web Camera
Images are not currently displayed.
System Overview
An overview of the system is represented here.
Instrumentation
The data collection system uses a Campbell Scientific Incorporated (CSI) CR23X Micrologger for data acquisition. The data logger is connected to an AirLink Communications Raven CDMA C3210 cellular modem. The system is powered by a 12 volt, 75 amp/hour deep cycle lead acid battery which is recharged by a CSI model MSX64R regulated solar panel. The dry bulb temperature and relative humidity are measured using a CSI model HMP45C temperature and relative humidity probe. Wind speed and direction are measured using a CSI Met One 034B-L Windset. Precipitation is measured with a CSI model TE525 Tipping Bucket Rain Gage. Data from the Advanced Local Controllers (AdLoC's) are sent to the datalogger using a serial port connection.
The direct normal irradiance (DNI) is measured with a Eppley Normal Incidence Pyrheliometer (NIP) mounted on a Li-Cor model LI-2020 Automatic Solar Tracker. This is powered by the 12 volt battery through a 12 to 18 volt DC power converter.
Web camera images are taken with 4 Silent Witness SWC20 Series CCTV cameras. These are connected to an Axis Communications model 2400+ Video Server. The video server is connected to an AirLink Communications Raven CDMA C3210 cellular modem. Additional remote color images are taken using an Axis Communications model 2100 Network Camera which can also be connected to the Raven modem.
Links
UNLV Center for Energy Research UNLV Department of Mechanical Engineering
National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) Home Page NREL - Concentrating Solar Power Research
US Department of Energy Home Page
Campbell Scientific Inc. AirLink Communications Axis Communications
Contacts
Site Disclaimer:
The data on this website was compiled by the University of Nevada, Las Vegas Department of Mechanical Engineering, Center for Energy Research, using data believed to be accurate, however a degree of error is inherent in all data. The data is distributed "as is" without warranties of any kind, either expressed or implied, including warranties of suitability to a particular purpose or use.
The University of Nevada - Advanced Parabolic Trough Pilot Project is a Nevada Southwest Energy Partnership (NSWEP) technical project.
NSWEP's activities have traditionally focused on a range of technical projects and recent efforts have focused on the creation of renewable energy centers (RECs) at three Nevada universities — the Desert Research Institute (DRI), the University of Nevada – Las Vegas (UNLV) and the University of Nevada – Reno (UNR). Together with the State of Nevada and the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory, NSWEP is working with private industry, public utilities and other energy organizations to promote renewable energy research and development in Nevada and throughout the American Southwest.