Review of power sources for Alaska DOT & PF road weather information systems (RWIS) : phase I.

Details

• Creators:
  Wies, Richard
• Corporate Creators:
  Alaska University Transportation Center
• Corporate Contributors:
  United States. Federal Highway Administration
• Subject/TRT Terms:
  • Road weather information systems
  • Electric power generation
  • Electrical equipment
  • Fuel cells
  • Solar power generation
  • Wind power generation
• Publication/ Report Number:
  4000(122) ; INE/AUTC 14.07
• Resource Type:
  Tech Report
• Geographical Coverage:
  Alaska
• Corporate Publisher:
  Alaska. Dept. of Transportation and Public Facilities. Research, Development and Technology Transfer
• Abstract:
  This report documents the findings related to a review of power sources for six off-grid Road Weather Information Systems (RWIS) in ; Alaska. Various power sources were reviewed as a means of reliably operating the off-grid RWIS sites throughout the year. Based on ; information collected on current power sources and equipment used at the off-grid RWIS sites, and visits to off-grid installations in ; Alaska, some viable methods of reliable operation were discovered. Power sources included in the study were solar photovoltaics (PV), ; small wind turbines, fuel cells, and thermoelectric generators, all charging a battery bank which powers the weather sensors, cameras, ; and communication equipment. The results showed that while solar PV provides enough standalone power to keep the sites operational ; from early spring to late fall with wind supplementing this somewhat during the transition seasons, a fossil fuel based source is ; necessary to maintain operation through the winter. These findings suggest that a combination of power sources is required for reliable ; RWIS operation throughout the year and is dependent on the location of the site.
• Format:
  PDF
• Funding:
  AKSAS 62084 ; T2-12-18 ; Federal # RI-4000(122)
• Download URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/28012/dot_28012_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 4.86 MB]
• Collection(s):
  University Transportation Centers ; US Transportation Collection
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha256:5bff987d6ab79e696bd7bcbd5daecfec67051171e8dc7e47b68aac91fae00481