SPAM: RE: DC heat? [RE-wrenches]

Christopher Freitas --- OutBack Power cfreitas at outbackpower.com
Mon Nov 21 19:29:58 PST 2005


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Todd Cory wrote:
> 
> Why not gain 200 to 200% and use a heat pump?

That is what Ian was suggesting in his message - with a 3:1 COP you 
essentially have a 300% increase in the heat produced per watt consumed. 
  

The challenge is keeping the amount of dump load proportional to the 
output of the windturbine(s).  This is a little easier to do with a 
hydro system as it operates more steady state.  With an AC or DC  
resistive heat load you can PWM it or at least turn it on and off every 
minute or so - heat pumps will not tolerate this and should be left on 
for relatively long periods of time.  

One solution is to use several small AC powered heat pumps which can 
then "follow" the turbines power production better.  The unfortunate 
nature  of a heat pump is that a small one is almost as expensive as a 
larger unit.  Most of the cheap small ones are actually "portable" air 
conditioners which draw about 10 amps AC at 120VAC - there also are 
several brands of water heater heat pumps which might be an option.  

Here in western washington where it usually is above 40F heat pumps are 
an option.  If much of the winter is below 40F - forget it. Utilizing 
partially heated air from a greehouse or other passively heated space is 
another way to improve the performance in a cold climate.   


Christopher Freitas
OutBack Power Systems, Inc.
cfreitas @ outbackpower.com  
www.outbackpower.com
Arlington WA USA
Tel 360 435 6030  

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