Grid tie with Diesels? [RE-wrenches]

[Geoff Greenfield]

Thanks for the clarification Jeff and the shared project Steve.  Sounds like
some Major power! How large of a battery bank are you looking at?
Inverters?  3-phase?

My rough guess/assumption about the "tone" question is that it would be
similar to a "normal" sized system - the inverters sense a genny input and
go through transfer protocol.  Does this mean phase synch?  I've never
wondered this before (Chris F?).  

Obviously the battery buffer can allow for generator efficiency increase
with them running at their "sweet spot", although there are probably a lot
of other issues (preventing short cycling... lots of cold starts vs longer
run times).  

The naïve and hopeful part of me wanted a simple "home run" of injecting
battery free PV into the stiff diesel grid, reducing load and fuel
consumption on the genny.  This may still make sense on a much larger scale.
I have never seen it but I hear rumors of an SMA "white paper" about some AC
buss system on a Greek Island.

For a brighter energy future,

Geoff Greenfield
President
Third Sun Solar & Wind Power Ltd.
340 West State street, Unit 25
Athens, Ohio 45701
(740) 597-3111   fax: (740)597-1548
www.third-sun.com

Clean Energy - Expertly Installed

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 11 Apr 2007 03:32:29 +0000
From: Steve Johnson <stevejohnson at comcast.net>
Subject: RE: Grid tie with Diesels?



Geof,
I'm budgeting a system like this too, but with a 500 kw diesel genset 
(proposed by others).  This genset would be transfer switched to another 
system backed up with a 225 kw diesel which is in tandem with some 
inverters with batteries and some grid-tied and AC coupled with PV.  
Maybe 60 kw PV.
When the 225 diesel generator is on it would run close to full bore, say 
80% or so, charging batteries and running the grid.  When batteries get 
charged it shuts off.
The grid tied PV and battery/inverter systems would operate the system 
quietly as long as capable.  When batteries get to 50% the 225 diesel 
kicks in and supplies grid while charging batteries, then shuts off 
again.  This is just a preliminary design and no I haven't done a 
successful (or unsuccessful) project like this before.

The battery inverters would have to set the "tone" for the grid as they 
are the only thing always available.  But if they set the grid standard 
then how can the genset match it?  This is where I am stuck. But then it 
is late . . .


Steve Johnson
LightWave Solar Electric


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