SolarPneumaticHybrid:About
From SolarPneumaticHybrid
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Started May 15, 2009
Goals:
- Write How-to Get off the Grid Gradually - Step by Step
- Write How-to Install a Grid Tie Inverter
- Write How-to Install Solar Panels
- Write How-to Install Batteries
- Write How-to Install Wind Turbines
- Write How-to Store Surplus Energy as Compressed Air
- Write How-to Get a Net Metering Solar Power System for Free
- Write product reviews
- Write anything else that might help families with limited income become energy independent
About the Name
I plan on starting with typical off the grid technology, starting with Net Metering and eventually cutting all ties with the Electric Company. Eventually, before the batteries need to be replaced I plan on installing 10 spun carbon fiber "silos" in my yard using a generator/motor and a compressor/pneumatic engine to convert electricity to compressed air and then compressed air back into electricity. Definitely less efficient than just using batteries until you calculate in how the batteries gradually degrade. If I add wind turbines, maybe I can make them drive the compressor directly, bypassing the generator in the turbine and the motor attached to the compressor when I am producing surplus electricity.
So the name comes from my pipe dream of making a car or cars and a tractor or tractors that run on compressed air that when parked in the sun use their own solar panels to recharged their air tanks. I want to build a solar pneumatic hybrid house, car and tractor. All of which would still use batteries, but roughly half or less batteries than what they would require without the compressed air. With spun carbon fiber tanks I believe you could store the same amount of energy as batteries but with less weight. The tanks would take up way more space though.
About the Author
I know nothing about the topic but I plan on using this site kind of like a blog to document my progress towards energy independence. The fact that I don't know much about wiring a house or alternative energy means that if I pull it off and create good easy to follow How-tos, then that will encourage more people to follow my lead. If, on the other hand, I fail miserably then that will let people know the importance of using professional installers and maybe help local and national politicians decide they need to help Americans more than they are now.
