Post by account_disabled on Feb 19, 2024 3:21:28 GMT -5
Using the operating principle of some hydroelectric plants, a housing complex in the French region of Pas-de-Calais has made its common areas self-sufficient from an energy point of view. A curious installation that explores an alternative to batteries for residential electricity storage.
The concept is identical to that of reversible or pumped storage hydroelectric plants, those hydroelectric plants that move water from reservoirs located at different heights to accumulate it or produce electricity.
Composed of three 11-story buildings, the Goudemand residence in Arras, built in 1975, has been the subject of frequent renovations. But this time, the social owner Pas-de-Calais Habitat speaks of a “revolution”.
Water to store electricity.
In this residential area, the principle Phone Number List is applied on a very small scale. The 11-story, 30-m-high building replaces the mountain. Its roof acts as an upper tank: it accumulates up to 60 cubic meters of water in 200 square meters and 30 cm deep. The lower tank consists of 5 underground plastic tanks with a total capacity of 10 cubic meters. Both tanks are connected by a pump and a turbine.
When the system needs to be charged, it turns on first. This 1500W multistage pump draws water from basement tanks and delivers it to the rooftop pool to store electricity in the form of gravitational potential energy. Instead, to discharge, water from the roof falls into the tanks through a small 450 W Pelton turbine, which generates electricity.
Efficiency compared to batteries.
The pump is powered by two vertical axis mini wind turbines with a power of 500 W and a 2200 Wp photovoltaic system, also installed on the roof.
Its variable output is first stored in a small bank of lead-acid batteries with a capacity of 24 kWh. It is only pumped when the batteries are 100% charged. Then, once the batteries are discharged, the hydroelectric system goes into turbine mode to recharge them.
According to research by engineer Guilherme de Oliveira e Silva, published in Water Power Magazine, the useful storage capacity of the system is only 3,500 Wh. Its efficiency would be between 25-35%, very poor compared to the 70-80% claimed by large mountain pumping facilities and the 90% of batteries.
The system as a whole guarantees that the common areas of the residence, with the exception of the elevators, are 100% autonomous.
The concept is identical to that of reversible or pumped storage hydroelectric plants, those hydroelectric plants that move water from reservoirs located at different heights to accumulate it or produce electricity.
Composed of three 11-story buildings, the Goudemand residence in Arras, built in 1975, has been the subject of frequent renovations. But this time, the social owner Pas-de-Calais Habitat speaks of a “revolution”.
Water to store electricity.
In this residential area, the principle Phone Number List is applied on a very small scale. The 11-story, 30-m-high building replaces the mountain. Its roof acts as an upper tank: it accumulates up to 60 cubic meters of water in 200 square meters and 30 cm deep. The lower tank consists of 5 underground plastic tanks with a total capacity of 10 cubic meters. Both tanks are connected by a pump and a turbine.
When the system needs to be charged, it turns on first. This 1500W multistage pump draws water from basement tanks and delivers it to the rooftop pool to store electricity in the form of gravitational potential energy. Instead, to discharge, water from the roof falls into the tanks through a small 450 W Pelton turbine, which generates electricity.
Efficiency compared to batteries.
The pump is powered by two vertical axis mini wind turbines with a power of 500 W and a 2200 Wp photovoltaic system, also installed on the roof.
Its variable output is first stored in a small bank of lead-acid batteries with a capacity of 24 kWh. It is only pumped when the batteries are 100% charged. Then, once the batteries are discharged, the hydroelectric system goes into turbine mode to recharge them.
According to research by engineer Guilherme de Oliveira e Silva, published in Water Power Magazine, the useful storage capacity of the system is only 3,500 Wh. Its efficiency would be between 25-35%, very poor compared to the 70-80% claimed by large mountain pumping facilities and the 90% of batteries.
The system as a whole guarantees that the common areas of the residence, with the exception of the elevators, are 100% autonomous.