1. 3 rd Annual Progress Energy Symposium UCF Solar Farm: Photovoltaic Array – Mounting System Project Engineers: Daniel Gould Connie Griesemer Ryan Lewis Jonathan Torres Ryan Tribbey College of Engineering and Computer Sciences Department of Mechanical, Materials and Aerospace Engineering

2. Purpose: UCF’s Climate Action Plan In 2008 UCF spent $12.5 Million in Electrical Consumption – Approximately 4-9% increase annually February 2007 President Hitt took a stand for sustainability and to become a climate neutral campus by 2050 Energy Conservation Energy Efficiency Fuel Switching Renewable Energy Carbon Mitigation

3. UCF Solar Farm – Project Site Area of Site – 3 Acres ; equivalent to 0.6 MW

4. 11 Vertical Panels over Twin Cylindrical Horizontal Rails, 4 Support Posts per Rail (8 total) Total Weight – 917 lbs Overall Size – 38’ 6” x 4’ 9” Distance between arrays – 5’ Total Number of Panels – 3934 Total Number of Arrays - 357

5. Side Profile – Attachment System 1 ft 3.5 ft Bushing Bracket Set at Optimal Angle of 29 o

6. Wind Load Analysis (Wind Flowing Front to Back) Vertical Lift = -4778 lbf

7. Wind Load Analysis (Wind Flowing Back to Front) Vertical Lift = +4132.5 lbf

8. The Final Module

9. Special Thanks To: Sponsor – UCF Sustainability & Energy Management, David Norvell, PE CEM Faculty Advisor: Nina Orlovskaya, Ph.D. Technical Advisors : – Patrick Robinson, Florida Solar Energy Center – James Nelson, Kennedy Space Center College of Engineering and Computer Sciences, Department of Mechanical, Materials and Aerospace Engineering 3 rd Annual Progress Energy Symposium UCF Solar Farm: Photovoltaic Array – Mounting System

10. Project Engineers: Michael Gannon Michael Peffers Muhammed Ali Khan Ahmad Buleybel College of Engineering and Computer Sciences Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science 3 rd Annual Progress Energy Symposium UCF Solar Farm: Photovoltaic Array – Monitoring System

11. Solar Farm - Project Overview Design a panel by panel monitoring system – Monitoring system must be self sustaining – Wirelessly transmit data – Data will be collected every 5 minutes for duration of the day Publish real time information online – Data must be graphed for easy interpretation – Publically accessible

12. Solar Farm - Solar Panels 11 Solar panels used – Sharp Nu-U240f1 – 240 Watts – 37.4 Volts – 8.65 Amps – Weight: 44.1lbs/ 20.0 kg These panels will be connected in a series circuit with one another Locally distributed 64.5 inches 39 inches

13. Solar Farm - Design Goals & Objectives Monitor each panel for: – Voltage – Temp – Current Display data online in real time Transmit data from field to web server wirelessly

14. Solar Farm - Primary Circuit Board This board will handle power to the whole system for all components Change channels on the Multiplexers that were implemented Handle all wireless communication RJ45 Cable 16:1 Multiplexer PIC18F87J11 Optical Sensor System Power Power to whole system

15. Solar Farm - Secondary Circuit Board Board will consist of three separate sensors Voltage, Current, and Temperature All sensors are hardware designed to an accuracy at least ± 1.5% Solar Panel Current Sensor Voltage Sensor Temp Sensor 4:1 Multiplexer

16. Solar Farm - Multiplexer A multiplexer or MUX is a device that combines several electrical signals into a single signal. There are different types of multiplexers for analog and digital circuits. Programming the MUX gives desired values. Figure: Pin Out for 4:1 Mux

17. Actual Secondary PCB Temperature Sensor Voltage Regulator LM351 Op-Amp

18. Solar Farm - Wireless Technology XBee PRO 802.15.4 – Range - Indoor Range 300 ft. - Outdoor Range 1 mile – No monthly fee Low complexity. Perfect for low-data transfer. Very low power requirement. Two modules, transmitter and receiver.

19. Solar Farm – Wireless Transmission

20. Solar Farm – Real Time Monitoring www.ucfprojecthelios.co.cc

21. Special Thanks To: Sponsor – UCF Sustainability & Energy Management, Dave Norvell, PE CEM Technical Advisor – Dr. Samuel Richie Mechanical Engineers: Industrial Engineers: Daniel Gould Amanda Longman Connie Griesemer Joshua MacNaughton Ryan Lewis Andrew Wolodkiewicz Jonathan Torres Ryan Tribbey

22. UCF Photovoltaic Solar Farm Project Amanda Longman Joshua MacNaughton Andrew Wolodkiewicz

23. Presentation Outline Why Photovoltaic? Goal of the Project Prototype Design Forecast Analysis Conclusions Future Considerations

24. Why Photovoltaics at UCF? Energy from the sun is renewable Power guaranteed for 25 yrs Clean, environmentally friendly, and silent On-site energy production Capacity is available on campus President John Hitt engaged UCF in the President’s Climate Commitment General Reasons UCF-Specific Reasons

25. Eckerd College Florida Atlantic University Florida Gulf Coast University Florida International University Hillsborough Community College New College of Florida Stetson University University of Central Florida University of Florida University of Miami University of North Florida University of South Florida Valencia Community College 1 Obtained from http://www.presidentsclimatecommitment.org/ April 4, 2011 13 Florida Colleges and Universities 1

26. Solar Farm Project Goals Conduct a feasibility study of constructing a 3-MW solar farm on the UCF main campus 3 MW will supply approximately 15% of the peak energy demand on the main campus (Norvell, 2010) Project involves constructing design prototype – Multidiscipline senior design team (MEs, EEs, and IEs)

27. Prototype Design Sharp NU-U240F1 (240 W) Solar Panel – Selection driven by low shipping costs from local distributor Fixed mounting system – Minimal maintenance Supports 11 solar panels Individual panel monitoring – Allows for immediate control of system malfunctions

28. Forecast Analysis Prototype Benefits 2 Take 0.548 vehicles off the road Eliminate CO 2 emissions from 0.339 homes Eliminate CO 2 emissions from 117 propane cylinders used for home barbeques Save UCF $283.30/year Each year, the prototype (0.003 MW) can: 2 Obtained from http://www.epa.gov/cleanenergy/energy-resources/calculator.html#results, April 4, 2011

29. Forecast Analysis Transitioning from 0.003-MW Design to 3-MW Design Panel requirements: 11 panels to 12,507 panels – This requires 1,137 arrays – Space is necessary between rows Land requirements: 240 sq ft to 653,400 sq ft – 0.006 acres to 15 acres – More than 11 football fields

30. Forecast Analysis 3-MW Design Benefits 3 Greenhouse gas emissions from approximately 623 vehicles CO 2 emissions from the electricity use of 386 homes CO 2 emissions from 132,487 propane cylinders used for home barbeques $322,110/year from UCF energy bill 3 Obtained from http://www.epa.gov/cleanenergy/energy-resources/calculator.html#results, April 4, 2011 Each year, the 3 MW Solar Farm Can Eliminate:

31. Future Considerations Florida weather conditions Variation in daily output Sunny Day Cloudy Day

32. Future Considerations Advancements in solar technology – Increased efficiency – Decreased costs Corner of University Dr. & Econlockhatchee Trl. 2006 – 17% Eff. 2006 – 14% Eff. 1988 – Experimental Thin Film 3.5 kW

33. Photovoltaic Solar Farm Project Outcomes Success of this project is greatly influenced by the multidisciplinary nature of the design team Additional resources needed for large-scale expansion This study supports the University’s commitment of becoming climate-neutral

34. Mechanical Engineers designed the mounting system Electrical Engineers designed the monitoring and communication system Industrial Engineers computed the design forecasts for a 3-MW solar farm Team Accomplishments

35. Acknowledgments Client: Mr. David Norvell Asst: Gina Spahi Faculty Advisors Dr. Christopher D. Geiger (IEMS) Dr. William J. Thompson (IEMS) Dr. Samuel Richie (EECS) Electrical Engineering Design Team Mechanical Engineering Senior Design Team Progress Energy Kennedy Space Center Florida Solar Energy Center Superior Solar University of Central FloridaCorporate Thanks