In the framework of a cooperation project between the Solar Energy Research Center in Iraq and Renewable Energy Research Center at RSS, different systems were installed to study their technical and economic feasibility under real conditions. In addition some components manufactured by both countries were integrated in these systems. After completing the Research and Development phase of this project, it was decided to upgrade this station to become a regional training center.
Active and passive design criteria were taken into consideration, when designing the solar house. The solar house is well insulated and faced to the south. The house is designed to benefit from direct solar radiation in the winter season and simultaneously to keep the cooling load as low as possible in summer. The material used is the brick developed by RSS Building Research Center for low cost housing.
Solar Hot Water-Heating System
The system consists of three loops, namely the collector loop, the under-floor heating load loop and the domestic hot water loop. The total maximum heating and hot water load was calculated as 12.29 kW. 65 m2 of locally manufactured solar collector array, storage tank, expansion tank, pumps, Delta-T controllers, three way valve, and several sensors weres utilized to form a system to cover 70% of the total heating load.
The cooling system required for the solar house of Tal-Hassan consists of 3 desert cooling units. The power required for operating each unit was measured at 380 W. The maximum cooling load was calculated at 10 kW. The evaporative air conditioning units are powered by the Photovoltaic system that was installed to cover all loads in the solar house.
Photovoltaic Power Supply System
The photovoltaic power supply system was installed in August 1990. This system consists of a photovoltaic generator, a DC/DC-converter, a DC/AC-inverter, and storage block batteries. The photovoltaic generator consists of 224 PV-modules manufactured by Al-Mansour/Iraq, type SM 36-18 of a total peak power of 7.84 peak.
The DC/AC-inverter is manufactured by Sun Power/Germany, with a total peak power of 10 kW (12 KVA). The storage block batteries consists of 110 batteries and manufactured by FIAMM/Italy, type SMBF/9 lead acid battery (each rated at 2 VDC and 800 Ah).
The photovoltaic pumping system was installed in January, 1990 and designed to pump 40 m3/day from a total head of 75 m. this system consists of a photovoltaic generator, a DC/AC inverter, a pump and a water storage system.
The photovoltaic generator consists of 168 PV-modules type SM 36-18 manufactured by Al-Mansour/Iraq with a total peak power of 5.88 kW. The DC/AC inverter is manufactured by Sun power/Germany with a rated power of 5 kW. The pump used in this system is KSB-UPA 100-4/19 manufactured by KSB/Germany with a rated power of 2.2 kW. The water storage tank size is 110 m3.
Later, in 1999, this system was replaced by another one from the Eldorado project.
For more details about the new system , see Tal Hassan PV Water Pumping Project
Small-Stand Alone wind Farm for Water Pumping at Tal-Hassan.
A small DC-motor starts the rotating phase shifter when sufficient wind speed is detected, building-up the necessary electric grid for the turbines to start up. When they run up to rated speed, they will be connected to the grid through their own control equipment, and then the DC-motor is ordered to stop and disengage from the phase shifter via and overrunning clutch which leaves the phase shifter to be driven by the wind turbines. The power production mode starts and the consumer control begins connecting pumps according to power increase in the wind.
This system was completely assembled and installed at Kharana wind energy testing station in December 87. It was tested for one year and during this period, it produced 50 000 m3 from 100 m dynamic water level and later was moved to Tal-Hassan to deliver the water necessary for irrigation the 50 000 m2 cultvated site.
The small stand alone wind farm for water pumping and the medium technology wind energy converter were a part of German supported project.
Mechanical Wind Pumping System
This system is utilized to pump water in the drip irrigation at the station. The system is designed and manufactured by the Royal Scientific Society in cooperation with local manufacturers.
The system consists of the mechanical wind energy converter and a double acting piston pump with a cylinder diameter of 200 mm and a stroke length of 310 mm. The rated output of this system is 35 m3/h.
Medium Technology Wind Energy Converter
This is an electrical wind energy converter designed to operate in a stand-alone mode with a 10 kW self excited synchronous generator. It is a three-bladed guy wire supported with metal guy and classified as a medium technology WEC manufactured by Herman Bruemmer KG. It is a down wind machine and is considered as fast running. It is designed for water pumping via electrical submersible pumps.
This system was installed at Al-Kharana station in July 1986 as a water pumping system; However, because the WEC lacks the rotor speed control, it could not produce semi constant frequency to drive the pumps. Therefore it was decided to utilize this system for resistive load applications. The system was transferred to Tal-Hasssan to be used for training purposes.