Practical trainee
Life on the ISS depends on their energy budget. In addition to small quantities of fuel being transported consuming, primarily supplies the sun all life support systems and aggregates. The International Space Education Institute modified its power supply with the Jesco von Puttkamer school, the workshops and the Habitat (Space Hotel) on sun. So the young scientists get an idea of ??sustainable energy use. Since this week the solar power plant was installed on the roof. It is divided into 3 components: - 30 m² photovoltaic (6.6 kilowatts) Thus, in future, the amount of energy used is produced to operate the "Jesco von Puttkamer school" and their departments themselves. Excess electrical power is fed into the network. Electricity consumption during the night will largely be refinanced. On very sunny days, excess heat from the solar thermal energy has to be dissipated. This is fed to a 2000 liter / 530 gal hot water tank for showering and washing. In the transitional seasons even bleigt left some heat for a basic supply of heating the rooms. Excess heat is dissipated in the summer to heat the outdoor pool (38°C / 100°F temperature in the pool are possible). On cloudy days and in snow adds a mini-cogeneration plant from "Ecopower" the energy-budget in the basement. This consists of a single-cylinder 4-stroke engine and is driven by natural gas. A generator replaces the complete power of the photovoltaic to 5 kW. In addition, it produces a fundamental requirement of 12 kW hot water to recharge the hot water tank and basic operation of the heater. So this powerstation adds 120 kWh electricity and 288 kWh for wamwater per day! The heating of all buildings on campus takes in the winter months, a natural-gas powered energy-efficiency heating of "Junkers" with a peak power of 100 kW. This benefit is especially important for the heating of the workshops on the Campus. An own subterranean district heating pipe ensures the transport of energy. So the steady weekly technical after-school-activities with students are now also possible in the cold months. Carger for the selfmade NASA-E-Rover and pugs for E-Cars on the Campus´ parking lot are in preperation. The win with this intelligent system saves circa 400-800 euros (US$ 450-900) / month are used to promote the youth work of the institute and its young scientists. An online monitor published in the house and on the website the result of this captive power plant. So the young scientists who are learning here, their sponsors and the Space-hotel guests are able to see the energy balance of this house. If necessary they can adapt their life and work to the rhythm of the sun and its environment. Similarly the astronauts and cosmonauts living aboard the ISS, are doing the same. The namesake of this school "Prof. Jesco von Puttkamer" was the 1st ISS-director for 14 years long. So this technology is honoring his work and life for young scientists Thanks to Aizhigit Tabanov (Young Engineer for Aerospace, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan) for his cooperation in the realization of the project: (https://www.facebook.com/groups/NASA.summercamp/?fref=ts) Thanks to Dr. Loeser from the company Dr. SOL Solarsystems in Leipzig (http://www.drsol.de). more photos: |