GE Telecommunications BaseWiruca, Nicaragua

Team 7: Section 12Ricky Schaffer

Mike StanowskiAdriana Philip

Submitted to Dr. Colledge

Table of Contents

• Project Background• Ideas and Analysis• Design Specifications• Cost Analysis• Social Implications• Summary

Recognizing the Need

• Provide a reliable means of cell phone service to small villages such as Wiruca, Nicaragua.

Defining The Problem

• To find an inexpensive and environmentally friendly way of supplying power to a telecommunication system.

Gantt Chart

Background InformationWiruca, Nicaragua• 48 families• All are coffee growers • Earnings $100/mth/house• Disposable income of $10/mth/house• No electricity• No cell phone service, but have cell phones for use when traveling• If power were available, they would power: TV, radio, lights, fan• Current cell phone tower/system costs: $300,000-$500,000 per tower/equipment

and $90,000 for the energy system to power it (solar system producing 30 kW/hr/day. (32 solar panels – each 200 W and 24 volts)

• Other nearby communities recently put in a solar system for $17,000 for 200 people.

• Diesel fuel is $1/liter

Background Information (cont’d)• Security guard protecting each cell phone tower installation 24 hours each day.• The current protection building for the equipment is built by a subcontractor which the

telecommunication firm employs. • Rated for hurricane and earthquake conditions in the country.• The community pays 1.7 Cordobas/hr for the first 25 kW-hr. They pay x Cordobas for the

second 25 kW-hr. They pay y Cordobas for the third 25 kW-hr, and so on.• The generators currently employed are located inside the building for security and weather

reasons.• The area is mountainous – used for growing coffee. There are micro-hydro systems located in

surrounding communities.• The communities and the university are VERY interested in establishing businesses around

the power generation systems.• If power lines are run from the power generation system – there MAY be regulatory concerns.

Many efforts are taken to install similar systems, and if they produce less than 13.v kVolts, there are USUALLY no problems from regulators.

• CLARO is the cell phone service provider.

Sodium Metal Halide Battery• Lasts about 15 years (around 2500 cycles)• Temperature Range: -40⁰ C to 55 ⁰ C• It takes 7.5 hours at 150 amps to recharge the sodium metal halide battery once it

has discharged (used) 80% of its energy capacity.

• Temperature – 270C-350C (inside the case)

• Voltage – 1.8-3.4V

• Current- 20-100A

• Cell power – 100-200W

• Resistance (initial) – 7-10mΩ

• Pressure- 1-2 atmospheres

Possible Design Solutions

• Required– NaMx Battery– Power Generator

• Alternative Energy– Geothermal– Wind– Solar– Micro-hydro

Screening Matrix

Criteria

Weighted Matrix

Final Decision

• Solar and Wind combination.• Provides most feasible option with minimum

cost and maximum output.

Source Wind Turbine Solar Panels

% Efficiency 42 15

Rated Capacity (W) 1200 225

Maximum Power Generated per unit (W) 504 33.75

Quantity 3 38

Total Output Generated (W) 1512 1282.5

Wind Energy Specifications

• Skystream Turbine (GE subsidiary) • Rated Capacity: 2.4 kW• Weight: 170 lb (77 kg)• Rotor Diameter: 12 ft (3.72 m)• Direction of Rotation: Clockwise looking upwind• Blades: 3-Fiberglass reinforced composite• Rated Speed: 50 - 325 rpm• Maximum Tip Speed: 216.5 ft/s (66 m/s)• Survival Wind Speed: 140 mph (63 m/s) • Cost: $6,212 x 3 = $18,636

Solar Energy Specifications• Electrical Parameters

-Optimal Power output: 225 watts-Power output tolerances: +/- 3%-Module Efficiency: 13.8%-Power Output: 38 W-Voltage at Pmax (Vmpp): 29.5 Volts-Current at Pmax (Impp): 7.63 Amps-Operating Conditions-Operating temperature: - 40 to + 90C-Max. wind load: 50 psf-Max. snow load: 113 psf-Mechanical Characteristics-Dimensions (L x W x D): 65" x 39" x 2" (1650 x 990 x 50 mm)-Weight: 43.7 lbs (19.8 kg)

• Cost: $516.90 x 38= $19,976.81 + Labor

Solar Panel Angle CalculationsMonth Degrees From Vertical

January 62

February 70

March 78

April 86

May 94

June 102

July 94

August 86

September 78

October 70

November 62

December 54

Generator Specifications

• GE Product• Running Watts (W)-7000 (LP) • Surge Watts (W)-10500 (LP) • Operation-Fully Automatic• Voltage (V) 120• Amps-58.3/29.1 (LP)• Cost: $2289

Supplying the Battery With the 84 watts per square meter

• Insulation– Internal Insulation (thermal and electrical) to

maintain necessary internal temperature• Generator to supply needed power

Additional Loads

• Lighting– Three 30W Halogen CFL Bulbs– Total: 90W– GE Product– Cost: 8 x $9.31 = $74.48

Hut Specifications• Houses generator and battery• Cement Walls

– Fire resistant– Capable of handling various weather conditions– Cost of cement: ((15 ft x 15 ft)x2)=450sqft x $2 = $900 + (4x(15ftx8ft) x

$2=$960 + (4( .5 ft x 15ft x 8ft) x $2= $480– Total Cost = $2340

• Security– Barbed Wire Fence: $1.50 per foot– Total Fencing: 100 ft (25 ft sides around the hut)– Total Cost = $150

• Total Hut Construction Costs: $2490 + Labor

Estimated Total Startup Cost

• Wind System, Solar System, Generator, Lights, and Hut Construction

• $43,466.29 + Labor

Prototype

Schematic of Telecom Base Station

Time Value of Money

• Diesel Power is a constant flow of cost of $1/liter.

• Rate of inflation is currently 1.7% • Alternative energy is a one time large cost and

some small additional maintenance costs• Diesel Power is becoming more and more

expensive as alternative energy becomes less and less expensive

Social Implications

• Widespread use of cell phones would allow residents of Wiruca better access to areas around them for trading purposes

• Eventually could move Nicaragua out of developing status and increase global competitiveness

• Would increase global communication

Summary

• Green telecom station in Wiruca, Nicaragua. • Best option: Solar-Wind Hybrid• Estimated Total Startup Cost: $43,466.29

References• http://portsmouthrienergy.com/A2.pdf• http://www.bonanza.com/booths/magnet4less/items/1_2KW_Max_Hybrid_Wind

_Turbine_Generator_24V__Controller• http://www.solarhome.org/solarpanelsbywatt.aspx• http://solarelectricityhandbook.com/solar-angle-calculator.html• http://www.1000bulbs.com/product/56637/FC30-29392.html• http://www.docstoc.com/docs/9121223/GE-PowerPoint-Template• http://www.solarhome.org/yinglisolaryl225p-29b225watt20voltsolarpanel.aspx• http://www.pasturemanagement.com/electricfencing.htm • http://www.magnet4less.com/product_info.php?products_id=643 • http://www.homestandbygeneratorsystems.com/products/aircooled/7kW-Automa

tic-HGS-040315GEC-0/