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Autonomous Power Monitoring System for Solar Exhibition Trailer by UB Green

The UB Green team, led by Walter Simpson at the State University of NY at Buffalo, is developing a solar-powered exhibition trailer equipped with the innovative Power Gnome system. This autonomous data center monitors key performance metrics such as PV array voltage, current output, and battery state of charge. Its real-time display and logging capabilities educate visitors on solar energy usage and efficiency, while interactive features allow for hands-on design experiences. The project aims for practical validation of solar power production and understanding visitor energy consumption.

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Autonomous Power Monitoring System for Solar Exhibition Trailer by UB Green

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  1. Power Gnome... never generate kilowatts of power alone. State University of NY at Buffalo EE: 494 Capstone Design Spinelli, Yore Fri. May 04, 2007: Final

  2. Mandate for design • UB Green under Walter Simpson are developing a solar powered exhibition trailer. • Specification: April 30th 2007 • Construction: Fall 2007 • Photovoltaic power production to reach 2.8 kilowatts / hour • Consumption will vary • But how do we keep track of it all…..?

  3. …. The POWER GNOME! • A autonomous datacenter that monitors: • PV array voltage • the main power bus voltage • PV array current output • Charge controller output current • Main power bus output current

  4. PV Trailer Power Layout

  5. Characteristics • Real-time oscillo-graph display • Automatic time/date stamped logging • Open format/Excel readable • Practical Validation of PV power production

  6. Education • ‘How Efficient Am I?’ template • Visitor estimation of home power use and potential savings • PV Sizer • Allow visitor psudo-design of PV system • PSPICE • Visitor demo of EE design software

  7. Entertainment • Spool Multimedia playlist to PV trailer PA system • Queue conservation and environment action videos • Able to display a 640x480 video and maintain normal operations

  8. State of Charge Monitor • Sample half-rail voltage • 60% depth of discharge, audible alarm • 80% depth of discharge, cut off all power • Obviously, also disables power to the Gnome, but reserve monitor continues to function • Final product has built in Hysteresis (relay pull-in vs. drop-out) • Power returns at 40% depth of discharge

  9. Bringing the Gnome to Life • PV environment dictates  extreme low power • VIA C3 Eden embedded microprocessor @ 11 watts • Carbon Neutral item @ Pentium III / Gen 1 P4 performance • Complete item nominal @ 34 watts

  10. Design Highlights • Current flow measurements @ the mV level • Utilize operational amplifiers to ramp into a 0 to 5 volt working range . • Inverting Differential design implemented for PV panel output current & charge controller output current.

  11. Design: Sensory Drivers

  12. Design: State of Charge Monitor

  13. Programming Highlights • MS-Dos Batch configuration of bootup, system maintenance, etc. • Modified initialization files for ‘Tracer DAQ’. • Autolaunch with predefined trace configuration and logging parameters. • How-To guide for ‘quick-n-easy’ startup.

  14. Known Issues: • [1] - Tracer DAQ suffers buffer overflow - Solutions: a- MCC SDK b- further analysis of initialization routine to rectify issue. ** Gnome will be ready for practical use after this is addressed.

  15. Demonstration • Startup • Real-time display • Log system • How Efficient am I? • PV Sizer (region 695 = WNY) • State of Charge Monitor

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