Over the next few months, I will be discussing my research progress pertaining to the cost benefits or detriments of converting Old Main so that it primarily uses wind energy. I will be comparing the feasibility of many individual roof wind turbines versus one or a few very large ground-based turbines.
If anyone has any suggestions to where I might look, or has some interesting information, please mention it.
Brandon,
ReplyDeleteWhen I was doing co-op last summer at BCLC the contractors from Advanced Electrical Systems Ltd. were also working there. There was some talk about adding wind turbines to the building, but I think it got nixed do to the cost. I also know that they were doing some work at TRU, and I believe they were working on Old Main. You might be able to talk to someone from the company and get an opinion on the fiscal feasibility of adding wind power to the system. Hope that helps.
Hey Brandon
ReplyDeleteI came across this book while doing some of my own research for renewable energy. It might help you. Its in the TRU Library
TJ 820 .M38 2006
Wind energy : fundamentals, resource analysis and economics
Mathew, Sathyajith.
Thanks Jordan!
ReplyDeleteI actually have that book in my backpack right now. Funny that you would mention it, though. It's an awesome reference.
Kale, do you have any personal contacts who I should talk to (name/phone number/email)?
I'd love to talk to them!
They have just put a large solar tracking photovoltaic array on the roof of the BCLC. I guess it was more cost effective than a wind turbine. Ben Giudici was involved in that too. Make sure you contact him.
ReplyDeleteHey Brandon. i was searchin on the internet and i think i may have found a book that may help you out.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.chapters.indigo.ca/books/Wind-Energy-Basics-Guide-Home-Paul-Gipe/9781603580304-item.html?ref=Search+Books%3a+%2527wind++energy%2527
"If you take out the killings, Washington actually has a very low crime rate."
- Marion Barry, mayor of Washington, D.C.
Hey Brandon,
ReplyDeleteI found a journal article called The energy yeild of roof mounted wind turbines. It looked very interesting. Look up Mertens, S. (2003). The energy yeild of roof mounted wind turbines [Electronic Version]. Wind Engineering, 27(6), 507. If you have any troubles I can try sending you the weblink, it's just really long. You can search around that journal too for other articles. Hope it helps out.
Hey Brandon,
ReplyDeleteI’ve been thinking about your project, and I was wondering if there was enough wind in Kamloops to convert Old Main so that it primarily uses wind energy. I went to the bcwildfire website:
http://bcwildfire.ca/AboutUs/Organization/Kamloops/Climate/
to see what the average wind speed for Kamloops was, and I found it to be, “11.9 km/h with the prevailing direction being from the east”, which comes out to about 3.31m/s. I thought the average mean wind speed would have to be over 5 m/s to generate sufficient energy to be considered a supplemental or replacement source for electricity.
I’m curious of what your solution to that might be... maybe you can place your wind turbines higher, to catch more wind?
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteHere a vertical axis wind turbine. Hopefully this will some more ideas on types of turbines. :D
ReplyDeletehttp://www.sciencedirect.com.ezproxy.tru.ca/science?_ob=MiamiCaptionURL&_method=retrieve&_udi=B6V4S-4TY8W57-1&_image=fig7&_ba=7&_user=742544&_coverDate=05%2F31%2F2009&_alid=889631168&_rdoc=5&_fmt=full&_orig=search&_cdi=5766&view=c&_acct=C000041223&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=742544&md5=05708ec6c1ebc32ccc180b7cb35fb205
Heres some more info.
ReplyDeleteCLN Machining & Fabricating Ltd.
http://www.clnfabricating.com/
http://www.tradekey.com/product_view/id/865233.htm
I don't have the name of anyone who was working on TRU, and most of the guys who were working at BCLC were just journeymen, but here's the company phone number:
ReplyDelete(250) 374-7557
Wow, thanks for all the input!
ReplyDeleteDale, I have attempted to call Ben since I first got his reference. He doesn't answer his phone or reply to his messages.
As previously discussed, I will be contacting his co-worker Paul at Riverside Energy Systems.
Amanda, thanks for the article! I actually have it printed out already. It was difficult to find one so related to my topic, but it is definitely very useful!
Irene, good information! I've previously searched for information regarding the wind velocity near the university, and found that there is a weather station right behind the AE building. The wind velocity from there is slightly above the "recommended minimum wind velocity" for wind turbines (3 m/s).
It may pose a problem, but that'll be part of my research assignment. Too late to change topic again.. xP
Vu, thanks for the pricing webpages! Very useful!
Kale, is that phone number for Advanced Electrical Systems Ltd or BCLC?
Sorry, that's the phone number for Advanced.
ReplyDelete*Correction*
ReplyDeleteThe wind velocity from *above Old Main is* slightly above *3.2 m/s average, which is well above* the "recommended minimum wind velocity" for wind turbines *(2 m/s)*.
Here's an article on wind energy from The Province.
ReplyDeleteThe Global Race to Harness Wind
Hey Brandon
ReplyDeleteHeres a book that you might find useful; Solar Technologies for Buildings.
Sorry Pat! Solar power was my old topic; wind power is my new one.
ReplyDeleteUnless that book is related?