[RE-wrenches] gravity storage of excess PV generation

[Hilton Dier via RE-wrenches]

A one metric ton weight on a 30 meter tall tower has a potential energy of 81 
watt hours. I’d stick with batteries. 

The only places gravity storage works are where you have “free” height and huge 
amounts of free weight. That is, an existing lake at a good elevation for 
pumped storage.

But on that note, it’s cheaper to buy and opportunistically fill a 1,000 gallon 
plastic storage tank than to buy the batteries needed to fill that storage tank 
on demand. Store the final product if you can. 

Hilton Dier III
Renewable Energy Design
Missisquoi River Hydro LLC
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Re: [RE-wrenches] Outback vfx 3648 question

[Steve Higgins via RE-wrenches]

Hey Jay.

The AC input Amps should be the "Total" Amperage the inverter uses for
pass-thru and charging.   Having the AC In at five and the Charger at five
may be what is causing the pulsing.   Something else to consider the
charging output of the inverter is not monitored very closely so there is a
chance of sugaring/pulsing, but usually, 20-30 seconds is the most you can
see it fluctuate.   I have seen this in the field myself as well.

So if the Generator has a max peak of 10 amps output, I would set up the AC
input at 8 to 9 amps and the charging amps to 4-5.




 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Steve Higgins ⋅ Technical Services Manager
t +1.902.597.4020  m +1.206.790.5840
f +1.902.597.8447  e st...@surrette.com










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On Wed, Jan 4, 2023 at 6:07 AM Jay via RE-wrenches <
re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org> wrote:

> Hi john
>
> Good to hear from you.
>
> Your system charges at above Outback programmed amp setpoints?
> And in a sort of cyclical way?  Sometimes it’s normal for an hour then
> will go to 2x charge rate then back down then maybe 1.5.
>
> I talked to a senior Outback tech and they haven’t heard of this issue.
>
> But if you say is true, how do you adjust the settings so it won’t trip
> the generator breaker?
>
> This one is already at 5aac on ac input and 5 aac on charge and it will
> still, not often trip the generator breaker.
>
> Thx
> Jay
>
>
>
> > On Jan 3, 2023, at 8:13 PM, John Blittersdorf via RE-wrenches <
> re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org> wrote:
> >
> > Jay,
> > I have seen this a few times but usually with a generator that is not
> > designed for hard wired system.  I have a Ryobi
> > work generator that does this on both of my outback systems.  It says
> > in the instructions that it is not to be used for stationary
> > applications (ie normally grounded systems).
> >
> > John
> >
> >> On Tue, Jan 3, 2023 at 9:16 AM Jay via RE-wrenches
> >>  wrote:
> >>
> >> Has anyone had a vfx sort of not pay attention to it charging current
> settings,
> >>
> >> I have a customer who’s older vfx will do the following
> >>
> >> Settings are 5 amps ac, 5 amp ac  charge
> >>
> >> It’ll run at about 10 amps dc charging
> >> Then randomly go up to 30 amps dc then back down. Maybe 15 seconds
> >> Later go up to 25 amps and back down. Kinda all over the place
> >>
> >> Then will stay at the lower amps for some period of time.
> >>
> >> I’m thinking it’s a hardware problem?
> >>
> >> And given the age a new board set is probably in order.
> >>
> >> Thoughts?
> >>
> >> Thx
> >> Jay
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Re: [RE-wrenches] gravity storage of excess PV generation

[Jerry Shafer via RE-wrenches]

Kirk, wrenches,
There are several gravity storage systems out there in the renewable energy
industry. I did water lift and drain back through lift pumps and
hydro-electric. No different than all storage systems, it's all about
capacity. Great talks
Jerry

On Wed, Jan 4, 2023, 7:23 AM Kirk Herander via RE-wrenches <
re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org> wrote:

> Happy New year All,
>
> I'm sure most have heard of this technology, using excess PV-powered
> motors to raise large weights to the top of a tower, then slowly lowering
> them to release energy, the motors now rotating as generators.
>
> I've only read articles of a few of these under construction on a utility
> scale. I wonder if this has been tried on a smaller scale anywhere.
> Thoughts? Resources? Thanks.
>
> --
>
> *Kirk Herander / **kirkh@vermont.solar *
>
> *Owner|Principal, VT Solar, LLC*
>
> *Celebrating our 32st Anniversary 1991-2023!!*
>
> *www.vermont.solar*
> 
>
> dba Vermont Solar Engineering
>
> 802.863.1202
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[RE-wrenches] gravity storage of excess PV generation

[Kirk Herander via RE-wrenches]

Happy New year All,

I'm sure most have heard of this technology, using excess PV-powered motors
to raise large weights to the top of a tower, then slowly lowering them to
release energy, the motors now rotating as generators.

I've only read articles of a few of these under construction on a utility
scale. I wonder if this has been tried on a smaller scale anywhere.
Thoughts? Resources? Thanks.

-- 

*Kirk Herander / **kirkh@vermont.solar *

*Owner|Principal, VT Solar, LLC*

*Celebrating our 32st Anniversary 1991-2023!!*

*www.vermont.solar*


dba Vermont Solar Engineering

802.863.1202
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Re: [RE-wrenches] Outback vfx 3648 question

[Jay via RE-wrenches]

Hi john

Good to hear from you. 

Your system charges at above Outback programmed amp setpoints? 
And in a sort of cyclical way?  Sometimes it’s normal for an hour then will go 
to 2x charge rate then back down then maybe 1.5. 

I talked to a senior Outback tech and they haven’t heard of this issue. 

But if you say is true, how do you adjust the settings so it won’t trip the 
generator breaker?

This one is already at 5aac on ac input and 5 aac on charge and it will still, 
not often trip the generator breaker. 

Thx
Jay



> On Jan 3, 2023, at 8:13 PM, John Blittersdorf via RE-wrenches 
>  wrote:
> 
> Jay,
> I have seen this a few times but usually with a generator that is not
> designed for hard wired system.  I have a Ryobi
> work generator that does this on both of my outback systems.  It says
> in the instructions that it is not to be used for stationary
> applications (ie normally grounded systems).
> 
> John
> 
>> On Tue, Jan 3, 2023 at 9:16 AM Jay via RE-wrenches
>>  wrote:
>> 
>> Has anyone had a vfx sort of not pay attention to it charging current 
>> settings,
>> 
>> I have a customer who’s older vfx will do the following
>> 
>> Settings are 5 amps ac, 5 amp ac  charge
>> 
>> It’ll run at about 10 amps dc charging
>> Then randomly go up to 30 amps dc then back down. Maybe 15 seconds
>> Later go up to 25 amps and back down. Kinda all over the place
>> 
>> Then will stay at the lower amps for some period of time.
>> 
>> I’m thinking it’s a hardware problem?
>> 
>> And given the age a new board set is probably in order.
>> 
>> Thoughts?
>> 
>> Thx
>> Jay
>> ___
>> List sponsored by Redwood Alliance
>> 
>> Pay optional member dues here: http://re-wrenches.org
>> 
>> List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org
>> 
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>> http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org
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>> other:
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