Vashon
Energy Project
of
LifeSense Institute
Alternative
energy for life |
|
Project Solar
Harvest
Project Solar Harvest:
Preliminary Report
Exhibit Presented at Island
Earthfair, Vashon Island, WA, August 2006
We wish say thank you! to the folks
at Island Earthfair, to Sustainable Vashon for their seed
grant, and to True Value Hardware, Island Lumber and Hardware,
Vashon
Print and Design, and many private donors of cash and materials for
funding this demonstration.
The demonstration was presented by
LifeSense Institute, courtesy of BuildingCircles
Organization, Robert Bornn, and
Jon
D. McWhirter, Ph.D., P.E.).
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LifeSense Institute's
Project
Solar Harvest presented a public demonstration at Earthfair showing
the principles behind the collection, storage and retrieval of energy from
the sun for year-round heat in Northern latitudes. Similar
systems have been commercialized for use throughout much of the world.
These system innovations demonstrated by Project Solar Harvest are
currently under development by Robert Bornn and Jon McWhirter, Ph.D., P.E.
of BuildingCircles Organization. The
demonstration was at Island Earthfair on Vashon-Maury Island, Washington
in August 2006.
Public Education:
At
Earthfair during a period of three plus days (August 4th, 5th, and 6th,
) Robert Bornn and Laura Worth talked with approximately 100 people about
our annual solar heat storage system. There was excellent positive
reception to the concept of storing solar heat in the ground for year-round
use in an aesthetically acceptable, earth-integrated system that would
be affordable to most homeowners.
Except for a
handful of people, no one seemed to already be aware that commercial systems
to store heat in the ground for year-round use are currently in successful
operation throughout much of the world, especially in northern latitude
countries. More than 40 fact sheets with URLs
describing the “state of the art” were distributed.
Exploratory
Research: The simple conceptual “model” performed better than
anticipated for more than three days. Temperature data was gathered
each day and preliminary analysis indicates that the approach is viable.
Even with sub-optimal insulation (this model used 4” of old newspapers),
the system was effective.
The double-paned
windows admitted UV and visible light and served as modest insulation;
40 pounds of recycled metal converted the light to infrared energy (heat);
the metal was floating in a 20 gallon tank of water and transferred its
heat to the water for storage. The model demonstrated that overnight
the storage water retained enough heat to start each day at a relatively
higher temperature than the day before (see
below). By the third day the water storage started at 20°
F. higher than the first day. Ultimately, by 4:00 PM on Sunday the
cumulative heat in the system’s water storage had reached 125° F.
In a full scale system the storage could be in water, earth, or rock and
would exceed 130° - 180° F.
It was helpful
to hear the questions and concerns of people with whom we discussed the
system. Answering questions from the public refined our explanation
of the principles involved in the system for future demonstrations.
It provided information about issues to address that will maximize public
acceptance of this type of system.
Documentation:
Photographic
images of the model Solar Harvester system are available for public
display as needed. Thumbnails and enlargements are also published
on this site.
Future Applications:
This
Solar Harvest annual solar heat storage system is one of many innovations
for sustainability underway through BuildingCircles Organization on Vashon
Island in Washington. BuildingCircles expects to integrate this system
into their BuildingCircles Project .
Time
|
Air
(estimated)
|
Metal
(recycled)
converts solar energy to heat and conducts to water
|
Water
(or soil/rock)
stores heat underground for
use all year
|
Friday
8/5/06 |
. |
. |
. |
1:00 PM
|
92°
F
|
150°
F
|
86.7°
F.
|
2:00 PM
|
--
|
160°
F
|
93.8°
F.
|
3:00 PM
|
--
|
165°
F
|
95.8°
F
|
4:00 PM
|
--
|
170°
F
|
97.2°
F
|
5:00 PM
|
82°
F
|
125°
F
|
102.0°
F
|
|
|
|
|
Saturday
8/6/06 |
. |
. |
. |
1:00 PM
|
85°
F
|
170°
F
|
99.9°
F
|
2:00 PM
|
--
|
175°
F
|
105.0°
F
|
3:00 PM
|
--
|
175°
F
|
107.1°
F
|
6:30 PM
|
82°
F
|
140°
F
|
109.6°
F
|
|
|
|
|
Sunday
8/7/06 |
. |
. |
. |
12:00 noon
|
92°
F
|
160°
F
|
107.0°
F
|
1:00 PM
|
--
|
170°
F
|
111.3°
F
|
2:00 PM
|
--
|
175°
F
|
114.4°
F
|
3:00 PM
|
--
|
180°
F
|
117.0°
F
|
4:00 PM
|
85°
F
|
165°
F
|
125.0°
F
|
+/- 5°
F accuracy
PROJECT SOLAR HARVEST
Project Solar Harvest is a project
of LifeSense Institute. It provides public information about
system inventions and innovations for the collection, storage, and retrieval
of energy from the sun for year-round heat.
-
Imagine: “Neighborhood grids”
to harvest solar heat all year.
-
Facilitate: Make it happen.
-
Share: Make it affordable.
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(Vashon
Energy Project is a project of LifeSense Institute, a nonprofit corporation)
YOUR SUPPORT
We are actively
seeking participants and donors for the Vashon
Energy Project. In-kind-donations (services, materials, and
equipment) are welcome. We anticipate collaboration with a network
of local and worldwide professionals with expertise in relevant fields.
We are forming a dynanmic advisory board to optimize our projects. If
you have interest, please
contact us to join our
mailing list, learn of sponsored informational events, and programs and
activitites.