WIS168 ENERGY ALTERNATIVES 02/23/1990 04:02 PM D1 447 Lines Agriculture Mechanization/Engineering and Technical Support Services Energy Alternatives (10-20 days) This unit deals with alternative agricultural energy sources. Topics include career opportunities, solar energy, wind power, plant source fuel, waste material fuel, and heat exchangers. Objectives To acquaint students with employment information and career opportunities in the field of alternative energies To develop student understanding of solar energy collection, equipment components, and storage To create student awareness and understanding of wind power technology To explain to students the technology, harvesting, and uses of fuels from plant sources To develop student understanding of the potential, technology, and the positive environmental impact of bioconversion fuel To introduce students to information and a working understanding of heat exchangers To provide students with information and a working understanding of solar collectors. Competencies At the conclusion of this unit, students will be able to explain current employment information such as job descriptions, job availability, personal and educational requirements, working conditions, opportunity for advancement, and other factors relative to potential employment in the alternative energy source industry and relate it to their personal needs and aspirations; describe alternate energy sources useful to agriculture; choose the most economical alternative energy source to satisfy demand; examine each new energy source for potential safety and environmental impact; understand solar collector construction and adjustment; compare active and passive solar heating systems; identify wind power uses, developmental problems, and windmill efficiency; understand how fuels can be generated from plant materials; explain the process of fuel production from animal waste material; distinguish the advantages of manure utilization; identify major energy consuming agricultural operations; and calculate and compare cost efficiencies of heat exchangers and other alternative energies. Subject Matter (Basic skills integration areas are shown in brackets following title.) Careers - Current and future employment needs - Job descriptions - Training requirements - Working conditions - Opportunities for advancement - Other factors Solar Energy [Mathematics, Science] - Solar collectors Flat-plate type 1.air collector 2.cover place collector 3.cover, suspended plate Concentrating type 1.tubed water collector 2.tubeless water collector 3.maintenance - Solar air heaters for livestock housing - Collector efficiency Definition Comparisons - Solar collector composition Cover material 1.glass 2.plastic film or sheets 3.greenhouse grade fiberglass Absorber plates 1.color 2.materials used Casing construction 1.materials used 2.adjustments - Solar energy availability factors Climate Time element Geographic location Solar hours for Wisconsin - Solar energy storage Sensible heat 1.water tanks 2.rock beds Heat of fusion - Solar heating designs Heating load Insulation Heat storage requirements Wind Power [Mathematics, Science] - History Persia - 7th century United States farms and homesteads - 1920 Rural Electrification Administration (REA) - May 1935 - Resources Solar convections and conversions Future wind power trends - Technology Kinetic energy conversion Efficiency Power output Elevation relevancy - Deterants Variable nature of wind Production capacity Current generation frequency Storage Availability - Environmental concerns Fuels from plants [Mathematics, Science] - Vegetative chemical energy Energy content uniformity Energy capacity - Resources Wood Grains Crops and crop residues - Technology Cost efficiency Hybrid plants - Energy farms Algae Water hyacinth Trees Agricultural crops and residue use - Problems Land use Photosynthetic efficiency Bioconversion fuels from waste [Mathematics, Science] - Organic Biomass production Energy potential and conversions Agricultural sources 1.manure 2.wood products 3.agriculture crops and food wastes - Waste fuel benefits Commercial benefit Soil improvement Cost efficiency - Conversions Thermal systems 1.shred and burn process 2.anaerobic heating Biological systems 1.anaerobic digestion 2.other fermentations - Considerations Solid waste disposal credit Soil needs Energy needs Heat exchangers [Mathematics] - Purpose - Types Water heaters Air heaters - Costs Exchanger comparisons Long-run benefits Decreased water heating costs Exchanger capacities Motivational Activities Post a bulletin board display. View films, slides, and videotapes on unit topics Take a field trip to energy conserving industry or business. Invite resource people to give class presentations. Learning Activities Participate in a Supervised Agricultural Experience program. Conduct an energy awareness program for elementary students similar to the Food for America program. Sponsor an energy conservation poster contest for elementary students. Demonstrate how to construct a compost pile for home gardeners. Prepare an exhibit on the insulation of dairy barns. Practice minimum tillage on school or farm plots. Recondition windmills to pump water for livestock. Construct a gasohol exhibit. Prepare and present radio and TV programs on the use and conservation of energy. Write an article on energy conservation and publish it in the local and school newspaper. Prepare and deliver an FFA speech on energy. Conduct an "energy watch" on home fuel and electric bills, and formulate a plan to reduce energy costs. Demonstrate how to weatherstrip and caulk doors and windows. Instructional Materials Textbooks and References Energy Alternatives: A Comparative Analysis of Organic Farms. Norman, OK: University of Oklahoma, 1975. Energy Use and Management in Agriculture by B.A. Stout. Belmont, CA: Brenton, 1984. The Food and Heat Producing Solar Greenhouse by Rick Fisher and Bill Yanda. Sante Fe, NM: John Muir Publications, 1976. Fuel From Farms: A Guide to Small-Scale Ethanol Production. Oak Ridge, TN: United States Department of Energy Technical Information Center, 1980. Gardner's Solar Greenhouse by Ray Wolf. Emmaus, PA: Rodale Press, 1984. Handbook of Homemade Power. New York: Bantam Books, 1974. Solar Energy - Fundamentals in Building Design by Bruce Anderson. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1977. United States Energy Atlas by David J. Cuff and William J. Young. 2nd ed. New York: Macmillan, 1986. Bulletins and Pamphlets The following is available from the American Forest Institute. Green America The following are available from the American Petroleum Institute. Energy and Our Lands The Language of Energy: A Glossary of Words and Phrases Used in the Energy Industry. 877-71600. The following is available from the Bureau of Reclamation. Hydropower: Water at Work The following are available from the Cooperative Extension Service. Energy from the Wind. A3199. Facts on Power Alcohol. A3074. Heat Exchangers for Livestock Housing. A3312. Heating Water with a Milk Cooler Exchanger. A2993. How to Figure Heat Loss and Fuel Costs. A1844. How to Use Electric Energy more Efficiently on the Farm. A2579. Methane Gas from Swine Manure. PIH76. Solar Heating for Milking Parlors. AF2266. Use Solar Energy to Ventilate Livestock Buildings and Dry Grain. A3094. The following is available from the National Science Teachers Association. Energy Sources Fact Sheet The following is available from the New Alchemy Institute. Methane Digesters for Fuel Gas and Fertilizer The following are available from the Northern States Power Company. Alternative Energy Sources and Technologies HydroPower: Energy Made in Wisconsin The following is available from Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service. Solar Heating for Home, Farm, and Small Business The following are available from the Research Products Corporation. Solar Energy Facts. 6009. Solar Heating Systems. 6001. The following is available from the United States Government Printing Office. Tips for Energy Savers. 85-8320. The following is available from the Wisconsin Power and Light Company. Guide to Farm Energy Management Periodicals Alternative Sources of Energy Magazine Mother Earth News Solar Utilization News Wind Technology Journal Windpower Digest Computer Software The following are available from Ag Ed Network, AgriData Resources, Inc. Dairy Waste Management Alternatives. HS87. Tillage and Conservation. HS172. Waste Management Alternatives. HS71. Laboratory Resources The following are available from Northern States Power Company. Alternate Energy Sources . . . Experiments You Can Do . . . from Edison Environmental Experiments . . . from Edison Films, Videotapes, and Slides The following are available from the Bureau of Audio Visual Instruction. Backyard Alternative Energy. 03751 (16mm film, color, 26 minutes). Brumfield Kirby, 1978. Bill Loosely's Heat Pump. 04472 (16mm, film, color, 10 minutes). Bullfrog, 1975. Energy: A Light at the End of the Tunnel. 10305 (16mm film, color, 31 minutes). Coronet, 1981. Energy in Perspective. 02218 (16mm film, color, 21 minutes). BP North America, 1976. Energy: New Sources. 08241 (16mm film, color, 20 minutes). Churchill, 1974. Energy Saving on the Farm. 06481 (16mm film, color, 27 minutes). University of Wisconsin, Depart?ment of Agricultural Journalism, 1981. Energy: The Alternatives. 11736 (16mm film, color, 12 minutes). Media Guild, 1977. Sun Power for Farms. 01769 (16mm film, color, 12 minutes). National Audio Visual Center, 1977. The following is available from Chevron, U.S.A. The Energy Picture. 18184 (VHS videotape, color, 27 minutes). 1982. The following is available from the Exxon Corporation. Energy for the 80's. 16216 (16mm film or 3/4 inch, V-matic videotape; color; 27 minutes). The following are available from the Media Resources Center. Energy: Less Is More. S40173F (16mm film, color, 18 minutes). Churchill Films, 1974. Energy: The Dilemma. S40172F (16mm film, color, 20 minutes). Churchill Films, 1974. The following are available from Los Alamos National Laboratory. Geothermal Energy from Hot, Dry Rocks. Y-286 (VHS videotape, color, 15 minutes). 1978. One with the Earth: Energy from Hot, Dry Rock. Y-320 (16mm film, color, 22 minutes). 1981. The following are available from Modern Talking Picture Service, Inc. Farm Energy: A Profitable Crop. (16mm film, color, six minutes). Farmers Generate More Energy Ideas. (16mm film, color, six minutes). The following are available from the Northern States Power Company. Energy: Electric Power from the Sea. (16mm film, color, 30 minutes.) Volume 13, Issue 4. Science Screen Films, 1984. Energy Where You Least Expect It. (16mm film, color, 28 minutes.) Journal Films, 1982. Engineering: To Capture the Sun. (16mm film, color, 30 minutes.) Volume 16, Issue 5. Science Screen Films, 1987. Harnessing the Sun. (Filmstrip, 14 minutes.) Geographic Society, 1977. Solar Heating. (16mm film, color, 17 minutes.) Electric Power Research Institute, 1981. Water Power. (16mm film, color, 25 minutes.) Neal Livingston, 1981. The following is available from Sandia National Laboratories. New Mexico Passive Solar Buildings. 533 (16mm film, color, 13 minutes). 1978.