POWER MATTER IN NIGERIA

Wow, it's been over seven years I made a post on this blog and so much has taken place in the the Electricity supply industry (ESI) in Nigeria. The industry has been liberalized, and the state owned enterprise split to form privatised Generation companies (GenCOs), Distribution Companies (DisCos) and a transmission Comapny (TCN, owned by the State). others include Bulk electricity trader (NBET) and of course the regulator(NERC). The reform in the nation's ESI is patterned after the UK model of the early 90s and also currently in the early stages with the associated teething problems linked with electricity reforms worldwide. Already, there are lots of discussions ongoing on very fundamental components of a liberalized and market driven power sector such as:

• Mitigating Transmission & Distribution losses to drive efficiency in the ESI.
• Development and integration of embedded generation. Development micro grid in the Nigerian power sector.
• integration of renewable sources such as Solar photo-voltaic power generation and lots more.

 The power sector has witnessed a lot of development as well as controversies in the last 10 years, but one thing is certain, The Nigerian Electricity Industry is revving up powerfully for a positive change

HOW TO ENSURE SAFE AND CONTINOUS POWER SUPPLY.

• STOP DOUBLE FEEDING ON ELECTRICITY LINES.

You double feed when you take supply from two different
transformers substation to the same premises at the same time.
Most people who do this do not realize the harm and the damage
this causes.
It has caused the electrocution of Electric Utility workmen
It has caused the total breakdown of transformers substations
causing total darkness in some localities
It has caused dangerous voltage in some place destroying
appliances.
It is a very good catalyst for fire out-break
Another hazardous practice very similar to this is when electric
generator is connected directly to the mains House wiring
without an effective change-over switch. This is explained more
under the Generators section pg----

ENSURE PROPER ISOLATING DEVICES FROM THE MAINS POWER
SUPPLY ARE IN PLACE AND EASILY ACCESIBLE.
Many people just connect supply from the pole without ensuring
that standard Cut . out fuses are provided in easily accessible
position. Should there be a problem that could make the incoming
supply undesirable; the point of isolation from such supply should
be easily reached.
Also on the basis of cost implication most people do not appreciate
the need for fused or mcb.s distribution boards for household
wiring. This is wrong and should be corrected.

• AVOID IMPROPERLY TERMINATED CONNECTIONS.
It is a common eyesore these days to see quack and unqualified
personnel connect supply lines, cables and electrical circuit without
properly securing such, tightly. You can even see some of these
people use a stick to remove a line from one phase to another or
just patch up a connection once power supply becomes available.
This abnormality is one of the major ingredients for voltage
fluctuations, electrical arcing and fire outbreak. It also does harm
to connected appliances

• AVOID USING SUBSTANDARD ELECTRICAL MATERIALS.
Money spent on sub-standard electrical materials, end up going
down the drain and you end having to pay all over again at higher
cost because of damage such materials would have caused. When
21
it comes to selection of electrical fittings and gadgets, please do
not .economize., because in doing so, you shortchange yourself and
open up your installation to deadly risks.

• NEVER USE AN UNDERSIZED CABLE
When you begin to feel your cable grow continuously warm and
getting hot, know that that heat is also energy being wasted and
you are paying for it. So if the cable is expected to deliver 100W of
electricity but it is becoming unduly hot in the process know that
more energy is being used up.
Secondly, the insulation of such a cable begins to break down and
such cable should be replaced with another one of higher capacity
to avoid disaster.

BENEFITS OF A PREPAID METER

Thank God, the prepaid metering scheme is now in the

country. Rather than rejecting the meter, please accept them

and replace all existing analog meters with these. The prepaid

meters gives the following benefits:

• No one needs to read your meter before you are billed.

• You don.t need to search for or wait for your energy bill

again.

• You can determine and control how much you spend on

monthly electricity bill.

• As long as the meter is not tampered with (and you

wouldn.t do such because it is a crime to do so) you have

no business entertaining PHCN official in your place.

• No one dare threaten you with disconnection notices and

attempts. The fear of getting back home and meeting

your electricity supply line disconnected from the pole is

over.

• No need for fear of theft as the meters are programmed

for every customer uniquely.

• What more, you can even purchase in your name even

when you are in a rented apartment .cos the meter can

be transferred when you move to another location

without stress. Just inform the Utility company and let

everything be done formally and according to procedure.

• When power fails the meter doesn.t bill you, and as long

as electric supply is off, your money is not deducted

• The cost of acquiring the meters can also be spread

across months, making it easier for you to purchase. This

is an arrangement though for customers who are

receiving bills but have no meters installed due to theft,

damage or unavailability of the meters in the past

UNDERSTANDING YOUR ELECTRICITY BILL

I have come to discover that we need to start from the basics before we can really begin to talk about solving the power problem in Nigeria. So I begin this by carefully looking at what makes up the power supply bill.

Yes, the first step is to ensure you are on the Utility billing system

(in this case PHCN). Some people think they are smart when they

prefer bribing officials rather than getting and settling their

electricity bills, if only they know how much they are being shortchanged!

Many people who even have a bill just collect it and only consider

the "PAY TOTAL DUE NOW", then complain that NEPA or PHCN is

wicked. Do you really understand how your electricity bill is

structured? Let.s consider that now.

WHAT ARE THE INFORMATION ON YOUR BILL

1. Account No

This is the number that your Utility company (PHCN) gives to

you and it is peculiar to you alone. However, if you stay in a

building of several apartments owned by a single Landlord, the

different bills may carry the same name but the account

numbers will be different.

Hence, you need to identify and make sure you make payment

on the bill that bears only YOUR OWN ACCOUNT NUMBER.

2. Name

This is the name of the account(s) holder

3. Service Address.

This is address of the place being billed.

4. Due Date

Date reflecting the point up to which you are being billed from

the previous month

5. Meter No

The serial number on your energy meter.

6. ADC

Average Daily Consumption

7. DIALS

The number of digits that will be read from your meter

8. Previous balance

Outstanding debt/credit from the previous month

9. Adjustment

Adjustments made on your bills by the Utility company to correct

either under-billing or over-billing

10. Net Arrears

The Outstanding balance after the necessary adjustments have

been made.

11. Description

This determines what you are being charged for an a monthly

basis and is as follows:

I. ENERGY

II. FIXED

III. METER MAINT

ENERGY

This is computed from the following parameters:

a. Tariff Code- this determines the rates on which your bill will

be based and is basically structured into four parts for non-

MD customers:

• Single Phase Residential Tariff -------------- R1 or R2

• Three Phase Residential Tariff --------------- R3

• Single Phase Commercial Tariff--------------C1

• Three Phase Commercial Tariff---------------C2

These are the basic categories available, though there might be

some other subdivision as determined by the utility company for

certain areas.

So check your bill, are you placed on the right tariff. If You are a

Single Phase Residential Customer and instead of R1 or R2 you

have C1 on your bills, then it means you are being billed higher

than what you are using, because C1 is for commercial

customers and has a higher rate than R1 & R2.

b. Read Date

Shows the date the present readings recorded on bill was taken

c. Present Reading

Shows your meter reading against the date as recorded by your

utility company

d. Previous Reading

Shows your Meter reading for the preceding month

e. Multiplier

The multiplying factor which essentially would have a value of 1

as long as the accuracy of your Energy meter is not in doubt

f. Consumption

This is the difference between the Present and Previous readings

multiplied by the multiplier to give the value of the total units of

electric energy used for the month

g. Current Charges

Is the product of the Consumption above and applicable Tariff

rate

FIXED

This is the fixed charges the electric utility charges monthly as

long as you remain a customer of the company. It does varies

for the various tariff structures but it is fixed.

METER MAINT

This is also another fixed charge that PHCN introduced some

couple of years back. Though many people have queried the

introduction, as the meter maintenance services it is supposedly

meant for, is never carried out and customers still pay for

Energy Meters, the METER MAINT still remains on the bill and

presently fixed on N100 and N500 for single and three phase

customers respectively.

12. OTHERS

The other vital details on the bill include:

LAR- last actual readings which gives the readings and date your

Meter was physically read and the readings used in the

processing of your bill.

Your tariff structure rate

Reconnection fee, if your supply is disconnected as a result of

default in bill settlement.

SOLVING THE POWER PROBLEM IN NIGERIA

I BELIEVE THE ERRATIC POWER SUPPLY IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS MUST HAVE AGAIN REKINDLED THE CLAMOUR FOR ALTERNATIVE POWER SUPPLY TO THE CONVENTIONAL SUPPLY BY PHCN.
I WAS AT WEBPOWER SOLAR POWER SEMINAR IN THE LAST WEEK OF APRIL AT EXCELLENCE HOTEL, OJODU BERGER. WHEN I SAW THE NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS AND THE ZEAL WITH WHICH PARTICIPANTS FROM ALL OVER NIGERIA SOUGHT TO GARNER RELEVANT INFORMATION, I HAD TO AGREE WITH THE SEMINAR FACILITATOR THAT A REVOLUTION IS ABOUT TO TAKE PLACE.

OBVIOUSLY, MANY SEEMED TO HAVE THEIR HOPES DASHED AFTER DISCOVERING THE INITIALLY HIGH CAPITAL COST NECESSARY TO DEPLOY THIS ALTERNATIVE POWER SCHEME, BUT I BELIEVE THAT THERE IS NO BETTER TIME THAN NOW TO TAKE ON THE CHALLENGES OF EPILEPTIC AND NON-EXISTENT POWER SUPPLY.

LET'S LOOK AT THE PRESENT CHALLENGES, SEE HOW WE CAN OVERCOME THESE AND MOVE ON TO PROVIDE SOLUTION.
CHECK OUT THIS SITE http://www.ecobusinesslinks.com/solar_panels.htm FOR SOLAR PANEL PRICE RANGES

ELECTRITY SOLUTION GUIDE

HURRAY! FINALLY THE MUCH AWAITED ELECTRICITY SOLUTION GUIDE IS NOW FINALLY AVAILABLE IN HARD COPY. IN THIS GUIDE YOU WILL LEARN

• HOW TO DETERMINE YOUR ELECTRICITY BILL EVEN BEFORE GETTING YOUR BILLS
• HOW TO AVOID PAYING PHCN FOR ELECTRICITY YOU HAVE NOT USED
• HOW TO REDUCE YOUR electricity bill BY MORE THAN 50%
• HOW TO CONTINUALLY ENJOY SAFE POWER SUPPLY
• FACTORS TO BE CONSIDERED BEFORE CHOOSING A GENERATOR
• SIZES, TYPES AND GENERATOR TROUBLE SHOOTING
• DC/AC POWER INVERTERS
• APPROPRIATE INVERTER BATTERY

SYSTEM SIZING FOR ALTERNATIVE POWER SUPPLY,AND LOTS MORE

IF YOU ARE REALLY SEEKING AN IMPROVEMENT IN ELECTRIC POWER SUPPLY IN NIGERIA, THEN YOU NEED THIS GUIDE.
INTRODUCTORY PRICE N1,500 (INCLUDING COST OF SPEED POST TO ANYWHERE WITHIN NIGERIA).
PAYMENT PROCEDURE: PAY TO ANY OF THE FOLLOWING BANK ACCOUNTS
INTERCONTINENTAL BANK-0202110000006164
GUARANTY TRUST BANK-903/443550/110
ACCOUNT NAME: OJO ADEBIYI D

AFTER PAYMENT TEXT NAME, ADDRESS AND AMOUNT PAID TO 08053622442 OR EMAIL-payments@beekoph.com
Your Electricity Guide will be sent to you latest 48 hours after payments have been confirmed. When sending mails, please check your inbox and spam folder for replies. If you have any questions, complaints or enquiries please call on 08053622442 or 037780138.
email-ojoadebiyi@gmail.com
See you at the top, remain blessed

WHY ELECTRICITY?

Electricity just like any other product, has certain quality characteristics such as voltage level and tolerance, frequency, environmental performance, …But it also has very unique features.

The main characteristic of electricity is its high quality, and its resulting capability to serve practically any energy service (light, appliances, motion, electronics, heat) from a single system. The price to pay for this high quality is the conversion loss in the thermal power station, a loss that has been steadily decreasing over the past century, and is now approaching its thermodynamical limit. Serving all energy needs from a single system reduces cost of technical installations to the end-user. The capital becoming available could be used to invest in energy conservation (insulation), energy efficiency (class A+ appliances) or renewable generation.

Replacing electricity with less electricity

The efficiency of appliances to convert electricity into energy services is increasing steadily, and still has improvement potential. For example:

• Losses in refrigeration have been reduced historically by a factor 5, from the levels at the end of the 80’s to the best available technology in class A+ appliances (fig 3).

• Energy use for individual lighting applications can be reduced by a factor 5 or more . Modern lighting solutions are 50-100 times more efficient than candles.

• Distribution transformers, one of the most efficient machines ever designed by man, can still reduce losses by a factor 3-4 through the use of amorphous iron

• In motor driven systems (pumps, compressors, fans, washing machines, electric trains), it is possible to reduce losses by 30% on average.

Using electricity instead of other energy carriers to save primary energy and CO2 emissions

Because of its high quality, using electricity instead other energy carriers can have a boosting effect to save primary energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, even when including conversion losses in power generation:

• The use of high speed electric trains instead of air transport reduces primary energy use per passenger.km by a factor 3 and CO2 emissions by a factor 4.

• Using electric trains instead of diesel trains reduces CO2 emissions by a factor 4 and primary energy use by a factor 2.

• Electric vehicles are twice as efficient as vehicles with internal combustion engines.

• Efficient heat pumps, drawing heat from the underground require 20-40 kWh of electricity to supply 100 kWh of heat; they typically reduce final energy demand for heating by at least a factor 3 and primary energy demand by at least 25%.

• With induction heaters for cooking, 90% of (final) energy goes in the pan, compared to 55% for gas-fired cooking.

• Modern high temperature heating solutions for industrial processes can in some cases save up to 80% of primary energy and up to 60% of CO2 emissions through their efficient use of primary energy.

Electricity for an efficient economy

At the next level, electricity – the only energy carrier that can power the digital economy – enables system-level efficiencies, eliminating or drastically reducing the need for certain energy services:

• Teleworking, reducing the need to commute

• Videoconferencing or webconferencing, reducing the need for travel

• Heating controls for building energy management, ensuring buildings are only heated when needed

• Dimmable lighting systems, ensuring exactly the right amount of light in the right place at the right time

• Process control technologies, especially in industry

culled from http://www.earthtoys.com

HAPPY NEW YEAR! WHERE ARE WE GOING?

HI, THE END OF 2007 TOOK UP MY TIME ON MY FIRST POWER SUPPLY EBOOK AND I WAS UNABLE TO GET ACROSS ON THIS PLATFORM. HOWEVER I HOPE TO MAKE UP FOR THE LOSS OF TIME THIS YEAR.
HOWEVER I WANT TO SHARE THIS CLIP FROM http://pepei.pennnet.com/, SO THAT WE CAN REFLECT ON WHERE WE ARE GOING WITH OUR POWER GENERATION.


China's Three Gorges project generates 61.6bn kWh of electricity in 2007

2 January 2008 - China's Three Gorges hydropower project generated 61.6bn kWh of electricity last year, about 25 per cent more power than in 2006, according to operator China Three Gorges Project Corporation.

To date, the hydropower station had transmitted 207bn kWh of electricity to 11 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions since it started operation in July 2003.
Currently, 21 turbines were operational with a total installed capacity of 13.3 million kW. Five more turbines would be added by year-end. The $22.5bn project was launched in 1993 in the mid-section of the Yangtze, China's longest river. Originally, its plan called for the 26 turbo-generators to produce 84.7bn kWh of electricity annually upon its scheduled completion in 2008. It was now to be expanded further to include six more turbines by 2012.

Hmm China is talking about an installed capacity of 13.3 Million KW while we are struggling to attain 10,000 MW.
Where do we go from here?

Inverters &Price

Above is a typical inverter that can be powered by a 12v battery to give 220v A.C output. The specifications are as given below:

Specifications

Output Wave Form	Modified Sinewave
No-load draw	<0.1a
Efficiency	Up to 90%
Input voltage range	11-15 VDC
Over voltage shutdown	over 15 VDC
Under voltage shutdown	under 10 VDC
Low voltage alarm	Audible at 10.6 VDC
Overload shutdown	Yes
Thermal shutdown	Yes
Short circuit shutdown	Yes
AC receptacle	Two 2-Prong
Warranty	1 year
Inverter weight	4 lbs
Dimensions (W x H x D)	5 x 2.25 x 7.25 in.

The unit has a continuous power of 400W and peak power of 800W .Some appliances or tools, such as ones with a motor, require an initial surge of power to start up ("starting load" or "peak load"). Once started, the tool or appliance requires less power to continue to operate ("continuous load". The price for this aside shipping is $49.99.

ELECTRICITY AND THE DARK CONTINENT

I have been off this page for quite sometimes now cause I have been busy with some other tasks. In recent times Power Supply has again become erratic and you sure can bet that a lot of Nigerians are once again calling for the heads of PHCN officials.
My primary focus on this page is to find alternative power schemes, that the average home user can easily secure to have continual power supply. You only need to see how dark the entire landscape appears once it's night time. In fact, I once saw a satellite picture of the World map showing properly illuminated outline of Europe, Asia and America, however the continent of Africa appeared very dark due to a very low luminance level. So I ask, is inadequate power supply one of the reasons for the 'dark continent' tag on Africa?
So how can the average home user in Nigeria for instance get electricity in the face PHCN inability to satisfy local consumptions?
I have previously on this page examined the choice of an Inverter circuit which helps you to generate electricity from batteries. The inverter goes along with a charger and battery cells. One could make locally depending on wattage for as low as N5,000 or import from Asia or America. I have come to discover that one could get good inverters cheaper from Asia than the US & the UK, but you need to really determine the type of applications you need the inverter for and also calculate your loads. (check previous posts for these). I got an inverter price list from China some months back and the lowest price was $37.
Comments are welcomed

DO YUO KNOW FUEL CELL ELECTRICITY?

A fuel cell is an electrochemical energy conversion device. A fuel cell converts the chemicals hydrogen and oxygen into water, and in the process it produces electricity.

With a fuel cell, chemicals constantly flow into the cell so it never goes dead -- as long as there is a flow of chemicals into the cell, the electricity flows out of the cell. Most fuel cells in use today use hydrogen and oxygen as the chemicals, unlike batteries. A battery has all of its chemicals stored inside, and it converts those chemicals into electricity too but eventually "goes dead" and you either throw it away or recharge it.

Types of Fuel
CellsThe fuel cell will compete with many other energy conversion devices, including the gas turbine in your country's power plant, the gasoline engine in your car and the battery in your laptop. Combustion engines like the turbine and the gasoline engine burn fuels and use the pressure created by the expansion of the gases to do mechanical work. Batteries convert chemical energy back into electrical energy when needed. Fuel cells should do both tasks more efficiently.

A fuel cell provides a DC (direct current) voltage that can be used to power motors, lights or any number of electrical appliances.

There are several different types of fuel cells, each using a different chemistry. Fuel cells are usually classified by their operating temperature and the type of electrolyte they use. Some types of fuel cells work well for use in stationary power generation plants. Others may be useful for small portable applications or for powering cars. The main types of fuel cells include:

Polymer exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC)
The PEMFC has a high power density and a relatively low operating temperature (ranging from 60 to 80 degrees Celsius, or 140 to 176 degrees Fahrenheit). The low operating temperature means that it doesn't take very long for the fuel cell to warm up and begin generating electricity.

Solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC)
These fuel cells are best suited for large-scale stationary power generators that could provide electricity for factories or towns. This type of fuel cell operates at very high temperatures (between 700 and 1,000 degrees Celsius). This high temperature makes reliability a problem, because parts of the fuel cell can break down after cycling on and off repeatedly. However, solid oxide fuel cells are very stable when in continuous use. In fact, the SOFC has demonstrated the longest operating life of any fuel cell under certain operating conditions. The high temperature also has an advantage: the steam produced by the fuel cell can be channeled into turbines to generate more electricity. This process is called co-generation of heat and power (CHP) and it improves the overall efficiency of the system.

Alkaline fuel cell (AFC)
This is one of the oldest designs for fuel cells; the United States space program has used them since the 1960s. The AFC is very susceptible to contamination, so it requires pure hydrogen and oxygen. It is also very expensive, so this type of fuel cell is unlikely to be commercialized.

Molten-carbonate fuel cell (MCFC)
Like the SOFC, these fuel cells are also best suited for large stationary power generators. They operate at 600 degrees Celsius, so they can generate steam that can be used to generate more power. They have a lower operating temperature than solid oxide fuel cells, which means they don't need such exotic materials. This makes the design a little less expensive.

Phosphoric-acid fuel cell (PAFC)
The phosphoric-acid fuel cell has potential for use in small stationary power-generation systems. It operates at a higher temperature than polymer exchange membrane fuel cells, so it has a longer warm-up time. This makes it unsuitable for use in cars.

Direct-methanol fuel cell (DMFC)
Methanol fuel cells are comparable to a PEMFC in regards to operating temperature, but are not as efficient. Also, the DMFC requires a relatively large amount of platinum to act as a catalyst, which makes these fuel cells expensive.

POWER FROM THE WIND IN INDIA

THE ARTICLE YOU ARE ABOUT TO READ SHOULD OPEN OUR EYES ON ELECTRICITY GENERATION IN AFRICA. INDIANS HAVE RECENTLY BEEN APPOINTED MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS FOR NIGERIA"S TRANSMISSION COMPANY.

Wind Energy Is Growing In India

Power generation from wind has emerged as one of the most successful programmes in the renewable energy sector in India, even as this source of power is emerging as an alternative in fast-growing countries like India and China that are avidly seeking new energy sources.

With a rapidly growing economy, India’s energy needs are increasing, and are largely met by electricity from oil and coal fired power stations.

Industry analysts say that energy is a major input for overall socio-economic development and renewables are expected to play a key role in accelerating development and sustainable growth in the second half of the current century, accounting then to 50 to 60 per cent of the total global energy supply.

Reports suggest that wind generation is the fastest growing energy source in this decade and is expanding at 25 per cent per year. The industry experts recognises India as a new "Wind Superpower".

Available figures suggest that at the end of April 2007 India had 7113.6 MW of wind generating capacity and is the fourth largest market in the world. There are about a dozen wind pumps of various designs providing water for agriculture, afforestation, and domestic purposes, all scattered over the country. The states of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Rajasthan and Maharashtra lead in the field of wind energy

The growth of power generating capacity in India is today driven largely by increasing energy needs. The short gestation periods for installing wind turbines, and the increasing reliability and performance of wind energy machines has made the sector a favoured choice for capacity addition.

South region Tamil Nadu is the state with most wind generating capacity and western Maharashtra is second only to Tamil Nadu in terms of generating capacity. Suzlon has been heavily involved in the state.

The technical potential that is based on the availability of infrastructure, for example the availability of grid, is estimated to be around 13, 000 MW. In India, the wind resources fall in the low wind regime, the wind power density being in the range of 250 -450 W/m. It may be noted that this potential estimation is based on certain assumptions.

With ongoing resource assessment efforts, extension of grid, improvement in the wind turbine technology, and sophisticated techniques for the wind farm designing, the gross as well as the technical potential would increase in the future.

The leading countries in wind power installation are Germany, Spain, the USA, India, and Denmark. India has overtaken Denmark and is the fourth largest wind market in the world.

Wind turbines offered in India range from 250 kW to 2 MW capacities. Currently, there are 7 manufacturers of wind turbine generators in India.

According to a recent study from Emerging Energy Research (EER) entitled Asia-Pacific Wind Power Markets and Strategies 2006-2015, Asia-Pacific is emerging as the new frontier of the global wind industry, with the region expected to add over 46,000 MW of wind power in the coming decade.

In fact, the region’s market leaders - China and India - are expected to add over 41,000 MW between them by 2015. Together they will represent over 80 per cent of the Asian wind market during the period. Japan and Australia will each add between 150 MW and 450 MW per year, followed by less developed markets in South Korea, New Zealand, Taiwan, Pakistan and the Philippines.

Report further says that after a good year in 2006 in which around 1800 MW was added, India will retain its position as Asia’s leading wind power market in terms of total megawatts installed until 2015, when it will be overtaken by China.

Wind is a significant source of electricity in Denmark, Spain and Germany. Denmark generates 14% of its total electricity from wind sources, Spain 9% and Germany 5%. Among developing countries, wind was an important source of electricity in India, contributing around 1% to total electricity generation. Globally, wind generated electricity is still less than 1% of total electricity generation.

By T C Malhotra
http://www.poweralternatives.com/nc/power_stories/display_news/article/wind-energy-is-growing-in-india/492.html

UNDERSTANDING SOLAR ELECTRICITY

HI,
I AM SORRY I HAVE BEEN OFF THIS PAGE FOR QUITE SOMETIME NOW, BUT I CAN ASSURE YOU I AM BACK TO SERVE YOU BETTER, BECAUSE I STRONGLY BELIEVE IT'S HIGH TIME AFRICANS FIND WAYS OUT OF THE POWER SUPPLY DEBACLE THAT HAS TRULY KEPT THE CONTINENT DARK. SO I AM CONTINUING WITH ELECTRICITY FROM THE SUN. ENJOY READING AND PLEASE BE FREE TO POST YOUR COMMENTS


Energy from the sun for thousands of years has been harnessed for several purposes. However it is vital that we see this energy in three forms and properly understands the separate applications.

• Solar energy as passive heat: This we receive from the sun naturally and is taken into account in the design of buildings so that less additional heating is required.
• Solar thermal energy: Where the sun's heat provideshot water for homes or swimming pools.
• Photovoltaics (PV): where energy from the sun is employed to createelectricity which runs appliances and lighting.
  

NOTE! PV requires only daylight - not direct sunlight - to generate electricity.

MODE OF OPERATION
Photovoltaic systems through cells convert solar radiation intoelectricity. The PV cell consists of one or two layers of a semiconductingmaterial, usually silicon. When light shines on the
cell an electric field is formed across the layers, hence electricity flows. The flow of electricity is detemined by the light intensity
There are three main types of solar cells viz
• Monocrystalline: made from thin slices cut from a single crystal of silicon. This has a typical efficiency of
15 per cent.
• Polycrystalline: made from thin slices cut from a block of silicon crystals. This has a typical efficiency of around12 per cent.
• Thin Film: made from a very thin layer of semiconductor atoms deposited on a glass or metal base. This has a typical efficiency of 7 per cent.

The PV cells are connected together to form a module. Modules are then linked and sized to meet a particular load (electrical energy demand). The result is a PV array which supplies power to the building it is fitted on. If the building has mains electricity, any excess electricity can be exported to the national grid (as is the case in the US and some parts of Europe).
Alternatively, when demand is high, extra electricity can be purchased from the national grid through the utility companies in addition to the PV electricity. In the event of a mains power failure, PV arrays can be
used to charge batteries.
PV arrays are in a variety of shapes and colours,ranging from grey 'solar tiles' that look like roof tiles, to
panels and transparent cells that you can use onconservatories and glass to provide shading as well as
generating electricity.

BEFORE YOU BUY THAT GENERATOR, READ THIS!

Electric Generator's Basic Principles!
Going shopping for an electric generator can be a daunting task for many people. Everyone
Seems to have their own ideas as to what is the best type of electric generator to buy. There are an enormous amount of makes and models now available, all vying for your money with
attractive colors, housings and price tags. Considering that for a large number of people the
electric generator is going to provide emergency or stand-by power, it is important to walk away from the deal with confidence and peace of mind that the correct decision has been made.

These are key factors that you must consider, which will help simplify the selection process.

1. How much electric power do you require? This of course is where you start from. There is no point in going out and purchasing an electric generator and hope that it is going to produce enough power for all your needs. Although you would be surprised at how many people do exactly that. First you need to determine which electrical devices you need to run and then add up the number of watts hat are required to run them - this will be shown either on manufacturer's labels or accompanying manuals. You also need to determine if they have a starting wattage requirement, such as a refrigerator. If they do, then use this reading instead. Once you have added all these together this will be the minimum wattage your electric generator will need to produce. It is always a good idea to add an extra 20 - 25% to give you some extra leeway

2. Diesel, gasoline, LP or natural gas? There are an enormous amount of gasoline electric generators on the market now which offer great warranties and are perfectly suited for small business, recreation, and emergency use. One thing that should be remembered with them is that they are not usually designed to work for long periods of time under load. If this is what you require of your electric generator then diesel would be a far better option. It is worth considering a diesel electric generator if you are looking for a prime power source. These are more fuel efficient and dependable.

3. Brand name? Recognized brand names which have a good reputation are best. You will have easy access to service centers, support and parts. Yamaha, Honda and Briggs and Stratton are well named brands who produce many different models of electric generator.

4. Emergency shutdown? There are some features that are very desirable on an electric generator which can mean the difference between a seized engine to one that has automatically shut itself down. Low oil shutdown is one of the most important ones and it is activated when the oil level drops below a safe operating level.
Times have changed and more and more people are finding that the electric generator brings them security, convenience and much peace of mind.
Courtesy- indieselgenerators.com

SOLAR ELECTRICITY

HAVE YOU EVER THOUGHT ABOUT SOLAR ELECTRICITY, THAT IS, ELECTRICITY FROM THE SUN?
IN AFRICA THESE IS NOT PREDOMINANT DESPITE THE AVAILABLE AND ABUNDANT SOLAR RESOURCES, BUT SOLAR ELECTRICITY IS A VIABLE ALTERNATIVE TO CONVENTIONAL POWER SUPPLY.

HOW DO WE GET SOLAR ELECTRICITY?-
Using solar power to produce electricity is not the same as using solar to produce heat. Solar thermal principles are applied to produce hot fluids or air. Photovoltaic principles are used to produce electricity.
A solar panel (PV panel) is made of the natural element, silicon, which becomes charged electrically when subjected to sun light.
Solar panels are directed at solar south in the northern hemisphere and solar north in the southern hemisphere (these are slightly different than magnetic compass north-south directions) at an angle dictated by the geographic location and latitude of where they are to be installed.
This electrical charge is consolidated in the PV panel and directed to the output terminals to produce low voltage (Direct Current) - usually 6 to 24 volts. The most common output is intended for nominal 12volts, with an effective output usually up to 17 volts. A 12 volt nominal output is the reference voltage, but the operating voltage can be 17 volts or higher much like your car alternator charges your 12 volt battery at well over 12 volts. So there's a difference between the reference voltage and the actual operating voltage.

Let’s consider some fallacies about the solar cells

1. PV is too costly and will never compete with "the big boys" of power generation. Besides, you can never get the energy out that it takes to produce the system.

The cost of producing PV modules, in constant dollars, has fallen from as much as $50 per peak watt in 1980 to as little as $3 per peak watt today. This causes PV electricity costs to drop 15¢-25¢ per kilowatt hour (kWh), which is competitive in many applications

2. Solar electricity cannot serve any significant fraction of world electricity needs.

PV technology can meet electricity demand on any scale. The solar energy resource in a 100-mile-square area of Nevada could supply the United States with all its electricity (about 800 gigawatts) using modestly efficient (10%) commercial PV modules.

3. Solar electricity can do everything — right now!

No way. Solar electricity will eventually become a major player in the world's energy portfolio. The industry just doesn't have the capacity to meet all demands right now. But assuming that the proper investments are made now and are sustained, the industry will become significant in the next few decades.

4. Photovoltaic is a polluting industry.
The PV industry is neither "squeaky clean" nor a major environmental, safety, or health problem. When it comes to emissions, PV's electricity-generating portion of the fuel cycle is the clear winner versus fossil fuel sources.

Watch out for more details in subsequent posts, but if you need more details, please contact me. I would be showcasing some inverters in the maeket shortly and the price ranges. I will also be comming up with some special packages on inverters and others very soon.

YOUR INVERTER'S BATTERY

We can not really talk about the inverter without talking about the battery which powers it (though in some application we shall be seeing later, this may not be necessary). Here are tips you need to know about the battery

HOW LONG CAN MY BATTERY POWER THE INVERTER?
As how long as you want your load to run? The load to be supported by the inverter can be determined. After this is known, specific calculations can be made to determine the proper battery bank size.

WHAT TYPES OF BATTERIES ARE APPROPRIATE FOR MY INVERTERS?
There are two principal types of batteries: starting and deep-discharge. Batteries can be either sealed or non-sealed (vented).
Deep discharge types
The battery types recommended for use in an inverter system are: Flooded Lead Acid
(FLA), Sealed Gel Cells (GEL), Sealed Absorbed Glass Mat (AGM); and alkaline types
such as Nickel-iron (NiFe) and Nickel-Cadmium (NiCad).
Starting Automotive (starting) batteries
Are designed to provide high starting current for short periods of time and are not appropriate for inverter applications.

Deep-cycle Flooded Lead Acid (FLA)
Description- A flooded lead acid battery is designed to be deep-discharged before being recharged, making it suitable for inverter applications. Flooded batteries require periodic maintenance consisting mainly of adding distilled water to the cells.

Sealed Batteries (Gel and AGM)
Description- Gel Cell and Absorbed Glass Mat (AGM) batteries are sealed and do not require the addition of distilled water. Since these batteries are valve regulated, over-charging can
cause irreversible damage.

NiCad and NiFe Batteries
These types of batteries can be used but may not be the best for your inverter for the
following reasons:
• Alkaline batteries, such as NiCad and NiFe types, have a nominal cell voltage of 1.2
volts per cell, whereas most inverters and battery chargers are optimized for use with lead acid
batteries having a nominal 2.0 volts per cell (that is, 12 cells for a 24-volt system and
24 cells for a 48-volt system).
• Alkaline batteries require a higher charge voltage to fully recharge, and drop to a
lower voltage during discharge compared to a similarly sized lead-acid type battery.

Battery Capacity Ratings
Amp-hour capacity-
Every deep cycle battery has a capacity which is measured in amp hours. Amp hours are a measure of current flow over time. An amp-hour figure is derived simply by multiplying
current (amperes) by the amount of time the current flows (hours) andare frequently referred to by the abbreviations A-h

Discharge rate
Deep cycle batteries have their amp-hour rating expressed as "at the x-hour rate". This is
an average rate of current flow that would take x number of hours to discharge the
batteries. Common amp-hour figures are at the 6-hour rate, the 20-hour rate and the 100-
hour rate. A battery is classified as having fewer amp-hours if is being discharged at a
faster rate, such as the 6-hour rate. There is an inevitable amount of heat associated with
the flow of current through a battery. The higher the amount of current, the greater the
amount of heat generated. The heat is energy which is no longer available to the battery to
power loads. Hence, at a higher discharge rate, the batteries effectively have fewer amp
hours available. Generally the 20-hour rate is the most common one.

CCA rating-Starting batteries are rated in CCA (Cold Cranking Amps), or other types of "cranking
amps". This expresses battery capacity in terms of its ability to provide large amounts of
current instantaneously to start an engine. It has no time factor, such as hours, taken into
account. This is one reason that starting batteries are not appropriate for inverter systems.
However, batteries such as marine starting batteries, are rated in both CCA and amp
hours. This type is appropriate.

Running time and size
The battery bank’s size determines the length of time the inverter can supply AC output
power. The larger the bank, the longer the inverter can run and the longer the recharge
time.
Depth of discharge. In general, the battery bank should be designed so the batteries do not discharge more than 50% of their capacity on a regular basis. Discharging up to 80% is acceptable on a limited basis, such as a prolonged utility outage. Totally discharging a battery can reduce its effective life or permanently damage it.

Battery Configurations
The battery bank must be wired to match the inverter’s DC input voltage specifications. In
addition, the batteries can be wired to provide additional run time. The various wiring
configurations are:

1. Series Wiring batteries in series increases the total bank output voltage. This voltage MUST
match the DC requirements of the inverter or inverter and/or battery damage may occur.
2. Parallel Wiring the batteries in parallel increases the total run time the batteries can operate the AC loads. The more batteries connected in parallel the longer the loads can be powered from
the inverter.
3. Series-Parallel Series-parallel configurations increase both the battery voltage (to match the inverter’s DC requirements) and run-time for operating the AC loads. This voltage must match the DC requirements of the inverter.

Do you need an inverter

Having gone through the load estimation in the previous posts, I want to continue with the alternatives.
I start with an indepth treament of the Power Inverter and will be showcasing available product types

What is an inverter?
An inverter is a device that takes the power from your DC battery source and through certain electronic circuitsconverts it to household AC electricity providing you the power to run appliances such as televisions, lights, computers, and power tools wherever you may be. Simply, an inverterboosts your 12/24/48 volt battery power to 110/240 AC power.

Mode of operation
An inverter boosts your DC power 10 to 20 times by switching the power to create pulses of electricity in AC. This switching process is generally done by high frequency electronic components called power mosfets.
There are two forms of electric wave output generated by an inverter, pure or true sine wave and modified sine wave viz PureSine and Modified sine wave

Pure Sine wave is the same as the power you have in your home. It is very clean and is the best for performance.This smooth pure sine wave is most efficient. Therefore, appliances such as TVs, computers and stereos run cleaner and easier. Also, Pure Sine wave generates less heat than other waveforms.


Modified Sine wave output tries to imitate pure sine waves but comes up a little short. Nevertheless, modified sine wave inverters have their advantages which include ability to run appliances and equipment such as power tools, non-digital microwave oven, lights, and other motor driven loads.

The main demerit to modified sine wave output is slight interference. This interference can be seen on some televisions and computers. It will not cause any damage, but can be a little annoying.However modified sine wave inverters will run most appliances, and are very affordable.

What determines my choice?
Your load. If you want to run a 800-watt machine, a 250-watt inverter will not do the job. When choosing an inverter determine what you want to run and then get the inverter that delivers the appropriate power you need. Most appliances have their power rating printed on them or their packaging. A simple equation to help determine the power you need is as follows:
Volts (110/230) x Amps = Wattage

Will it run my batteries dead?
Running an inverter certainly takes power from your batteries, Once your battery drops to certain point the inverter should give an alarm to let the user know battery power is getting low. If the inverter continues to operate, drawing more power, some designs will turn itself off to ensure you have enough power in your battery . It is important to note that to get the best performance from an inverter a good battery source is needed.

For more details, contact me
POWER SYSTEMS ENGINEER
ojoadebiyi@gmail.com
2348053622442

How much electricity?

Naturally, electrical usage will vary from model to model, so remember that the table in the last posts are just to guide with approximated estimates. But now that you know how to find out how much electricity things use (from the previous post), it's best to make your own table. Remember that the maximum amount of electricity your appliance uses will be printed on the appliance! (BUT do not forget the points noted in that post.)

Appliances with capabilities of creatingor removing heat use the most electricity. In the table below, appliances that make things hot are listed in red and ones that make things cold are listed in blue. As you can see, together they dwarf everything else on the list.
5000 watts Electric oven
5000 watts Clothes dryer (electric)
3800 watts Water heater (electric)
3500 watts Central Air Conditioner (2.5 tons)
1500 watts Microwave oven
1500 watts Toaster (four-slot)
900 watts Coffee maker
800 watts Range burner
500-1440 watts Window unit air conditioner
200-700 watts Refrigerator
60-100 watts Light bulb (energy hog because houses have lots of lights, and it's
easy to leave them on when they're not being used)
Fans 100 watts Floor fan or box fan (high speed) 15-95 watts Ceiling fan (Bigger fans and faster speeds use more energy.
140-330 watts Desktop Computer & 17" CRT monitor 1-20 watts Desktop Computer & Monitor (in sleep mode)
120 watts 17" CRT monitor
40 watts 17" LCD monitor
45 watts Laptop computer
Other 60-100 watts Regular light bulb
4-165 watts Video game (While playing game, 30W for PS2, 70W for XBox, and 165W for XBox 360.
55-90 watts 19" television 18 watts Compact fluorescent light bulb 4 watts Clock radio

calculate how much a given appliance is costing you per month or per year.

Of course, knowing that your refrigerator uses, say, 500 watts when the compressor's on doesn't tell you how much energy it uses in a month, because the compressor's not on 24/7.

Here are some basic strategy you can use in cutting down on your electricity usuage
(1) Use space heaters to heat only the rooms you're in, rather than a central system that heats the whole house, and turning off the heat when you're not home.
(2) Use ceiling fans instead of the air conditioner if you don't already have ceiling fans
(3) Use a clothesline or a laundry rack instead of a dryer
(4a) Wash laundry in cold water instead of hot
(4b) Wash laundry in warm water instead of hot
(5) Use a spin dryer to dry your clothes
(6) Replace regular light bulbs with compact fluorescents
(7) Sleep your computer when you're not using it
Aggressive Strategies
(8) Replace 1990 fridge with 2004 model
(9) Replace a CRT computer monitor in a home office with an LCD display
RESOURCEShttp://michaelbluejay.com/http://www.generatorsales.com/

Can I find out how much electricity my equipment uses?

If the truth must be told, the cost of electricity is very high and most of the state-owned utility cannot realy be efficient if they keep on operating a low-tarrif regime. Had it been that people are realy made to pay for the real cost in a country like Nigeria, most of the wastages being experienced in the midst of acute shortage would have been curtailed.

Before we can begin to talk of viable and economical alternatives to conventional supply, we must take a cursory look at our individual electricity consumption, with a view to finding means for reduction before we undertake to provide credible alternatives, this I also believe would also make everyone appreciate and fully utilze the benefits inherent in Electricity Prepaid Metering

So how do you know the amount of electricty you consume. The shortcut is to just look at the label which also carries the name plate! Almost everything you can plug into the wall has such label that says how much electricity it uses. (It may be printed directly into the plastic or metal.) You may have to hunt for the label. It's often located on the bottom or side of the device, or possibly where the power cord enters the unit. If the device is powered with an
AC/DC adapter, the electrical rating is usually listed on the adapter itself.

If the label only gives the number of amps and not the number of watts, you can calculate the watt by multiplying the amps by 240v to get the number of watts. (Amps x Volts = Watts, England, Nigeria and other countries use 240 volts instead of 120v while most U.S. electricity is 120 volts. So a hot plate that uses 6 amps uses 6 x 240 = 1440 watts. If you are in the US or you appliance is powered by a step-down transformer of 240/120v , use 120 in
your calculations.) Note that if a device is powered by a converter (one of those great big plugs), then the converter has converted the electricity from AC to DC, so you need to multiply by the DC voltage, not the AC voltage of 120.

For example, if the device says "INPUT 8V, 0.5A", then that's 8 volts x 0.5 amps = 4.0 watts. You may have noticed that appliances may be labeled 110, 240 or 415 volts. Appliances are actually designed to accept a range of
voltages, between 110-415 volts, and the exact voltage coming out of your electrical socket can vary depending on conditions at the power plant and in your own home. Let's just agree that when we say 240 volts, we understand that it's actually a range from
220-240. And just use 240 for your calculations (except in the US other 120-volt countries).

• Please also note that
  The amount of electricity listed on the label is the maximum amount that the appliance will ever use. For example, a 300-watt refrigerator will only run at 300 watts when the compressor's running (which is when it makes that humming sound, indicating that it's actually chilling the air inside). Most of the time the fridge just sits there, using only 5 watts or so for its electronics. If the amount of work done by a device varies up and down, then so does its energy use. (e.g., a stereo that can be turned up or down, an oven that can be set at various temperatures, a fridge that sometimes runs and sometimes doesn't, a computer that sometimes spins its various drives and sometimes has to use more of its brainpower, etc.) The label on computers is particularly useless; a computer labeled
  at 200 watts probably uses only about 65.
  
• Many consumer items are advertised according to their power output, not input. That means the stereo that says 40 watts on the box might actually require 55 watts to make 40 watts of sound (assuming the volume setting was set to highest), and your 900-watt microwave oven might actually use 1500 watts (on its highest setting). That's because all electrical devices are inefficient - they have to use some extra energy to do what they do.
  
• Knowing how much electricity a device uses at a given moment doesn't tell you how much it's using in a month, because it's probably not running 24/7 (and if it is running 24/7 like a fridge, it's probably not using the maximum amount of electricity, as we discussed earlier).

• Some devices use a small amount of electricity even when they're not on. For example, VCR's and microwaves draw a small amount to power the time display. This amount is often 5 watts or less. Devices which run off transformers also draw a small amount of power. And of course, electricity consumption of a device varies from brand to brand, and condition to condition.
  

You can calculate your electricity consumption using the table below
Calculate your electric cost

Device /Wattage

Refrigerator (1/4 HP) 500

Freezer (1/4 HP) 600

Sump Pump 800

Water Pump (1 HP) 1900

Water Pump (2 HP) 2500

Table Fan 800

Window Air Conditioner 1200

Central Air (10k BTU)* 1500

Central Air (24k BTU)* 3800

Central Air (40k BTU)* 6000

Computer System: CPU, Monitor, Laser Printer 1500

UPS System 2000

CD Player 100

VCR 100

Radio 100

Television 300

Receiver 420

Microwave 800

Blender 300

Coffee Maker 1500

Electric Plate (1 element) 1500

Toaster (2-slice) 1000

Dishwasher (Hot Dry) 1500

Electric Oven 3410

Iron 1200

Washing Machine 1150

Gas Clothes Dryer 700

Electric Clothes Dryer 5400

Hand Drill (1/4 inch) 350

Hand Drill (1/2 inch) 600

Skill Saw (7.25 inch) 1800

Band Saw (14 inch) 1100

Circular Saw (6.5 inch) 800

Sawzall 750

Drills (3/8 inch) 440

Air Compressor (1 HP) 1500

High-Pressure Washer (1 HP) 1200

Submersible Pump (400 gph) 200

Electric Chainsaw (1/2 HP) 900

1/6 HP Motor 300

1/4 HP Motor 400

1/3 HP Motor 475

1/2 HP Motor 650

3/4 HP Motor 900

1 HP Motor 1000

1-1/2 HP Motor 1700

5 HP Motor 5000

Hair Dryer 1200

Electric Water Heater* 4000

Don't rely on these results without understanding the limitations. For example, your computer might use more or less electricity than my computer.
RESOURCES
http://michaelbluejay.com/
http://www.generatorsales.com/

WHY YOU SHOULD PREFER THE INVERTER

• THE INVERTER IS FREE FROM THE USUAL NOISE POLLUTION INHERENT IN GENERATORS.
  
• IT IS EQUALLY DEVOID OF AIR POLLUTANT ASSOCIATED WITH GENERATORS.
  THERE IS NO NEED TO WORRY ABOUT FUEL.
  
• IT CAN BE MANUFACTURED LOCALLY AND ONE WOULD READILY FIND IMPORTED ONES AROUND.
  
• THE INVERTER MODULE IS COMPACT AND CAN BE POSITIONED EASILY.
  

DISADVATAGES

• THE EFFICIENCY OF THE INVERTER IS DETERMINED BY THE SIZE AND AH-RATING OF THE BATTERY CONNECTED TO IT.
  
• THE SIZE AND VALUES OF COMPONENTS USED DETERMINES THE MAXIMUM LOAD THAT CAN BE DRAWN FROM THE INVERTER.
  

HOWEVER YOU CAN SPECIFY THE TYPE YOU WANT BY FURNISHING THE MANUFACTURER WITH THE SIZE OF YOUR EQUIPMENT AND THE TOTAL LOAD YOU WOULD BE DEMANDING.
MOST LOCALLY MADE INVERTERS TODAY IN NIGERIA THAT WILL CARRY THE SAME LOAD AS THE POPULAR GASOLINE 650VA GENERATORS GOES FOR BETWEEN N5,000 TO N10,000 ($40-$80). AND ALL THE ADDITIONAL COST FOR MAINTENACE AND FUELING ARE NO LONGER NECESSARY.

IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN GETTING ONE CONTACT ME-
OJO ADEBIYI D
08053622442
ojoadebiyi@gmail.com