26) Woodchips & a Norwich Bifacial Tracker - December '17
The new woodchip pile exceeded all expectations. The chart below shows the amazing results after three weeks. On November 24th, the 50 gallons of water in the tank was at 45°, essentially the same as the spring it came from. The next day I soaked the woodchip pile with 150 gallons of whey from the cheese company. Check out the steady rise in water temp. After a little more than three weeks it had risen to an astounding 130° despite an outside temperature of -2°.
Date: Outside Temp: Water Tank Temp:
11/24/17 35° 45°
11/26/17 32° 46° <- Added 150 gallons of whey
12/1/17 40° 55°
12/3/17 32° 69°
12/4/17 32° 80°
12/8/17 40° 103°
12/9/17 29° 120°
12/10/17 30° 128°
12/14/17 9° 126°
12/1717 -2° 130°
We'll keep monitoring the temp through the winter and add more whey to the chips if necessary. In the spring we'll get more chips, bury the 300 gallon tank and really see what's going to happen. In this shot you can see how the heat rising through the mound has melted the two feet of snow atop the pile. The 300 gallon tank can be seen in the background.
In early December, Rob Adams, one of the senior members of the SolaFlect team invited us over to check out his solar tracker. over in Norwich His array is made up of the new bifacial panels, the same we'll be installing later this month.
In contrast to regular panels, bifacial are actually translucent. Sunlight passes right through the gaps in the plates.
