Solar Impulse Lands in StLouis Lambert Field

For those who have not been following the path of the Solar Powered Airplane, Solar Impulse.  The Solar Powered Airplane safely landed in StLouis at Lambert Airport last night. After a 21 Hour 21 Minute Flight!

Solar Impulse Visit at Lambert - St. Louis Int Airport - 6-7th of June 2013 

Solar Impulse St Louis, MO

With the severe weather we have been having in the region lately, I have been concerned for the planes and pilots safety for this monumental occasion.  I'm sure that there was some turbulence that the pilot and staff were forced to navigate on the 3rd Leg of the Journey across America from Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas to Lambert Field in StLouis.  Nevertheless the plane landed safely and can be viewed at the impromptu hanger that was built for the solar powered plane-41 Banshee Rd 63145

Time Line of the Trip Flight: Dallas KDFW - St. Louis KSTL

• Pilot: Bertrand Piccard, Initiator and Chairman

  Take off time: June 3nd 04:06AM CDT (UTC-5)

  Landing time: June 4th 01:28AM CDT (UTC-5)

  Flight duration: 21h21min

  Average ground speed: 49 km/h (26.3 kt)

  Highest altitude reached: 7,315 m(24,000 ft)

  Flight Distance: 1040 km (~562 NM)

Here is a link to the directions / map for the Solar Impulse viewing at the Lambert Field 

Directions:

Take 1-170 to Exit 9A Airport Rd.

Go west to McDonnell Blvd.

Go north (right) to Banshee Rd.

Go west (left) on Banshee for approximately .6 miles

Signs will be in place at event entrance. 

41 Banshee Road, StLouis MO 63145

Viewing Times Thursday and Friday-6-7th of June 2013- While the viewing is free pre-registration is required.

Solar Impulse Visit at Lambert - St. Louis Int Airport - Thursday 6th of June 2013 

St Louis | View map

Come and see Solar Impulse's solar airplane, HB-SIA, at Lambert - St. Louis International Airport.

Solar Impulse Visit at Lambert - St. Louis Int Airport - Friday 7th of June 2013 

St Louis | View map

Come and see Solar Impulse's solar airplane, HB-SIA, at Lambert - St. Louis International Airport. 

Keeping the pilot awake

Bertrand landed at Lambert-St. Louis International airport at 01:28 AM CDT (UTC-5), Tuesday June 4^th, completing his longest ever flight (21 hours 21 minutes).

The mobile hangar, a concept developed by Solar Impulse and being used for the first time during a mission, is setup and waiting to welcome the solar aircraft in its cocoon as soon as the Ground Crew haul it off the runway. This inflatable hangar was deployed after the one provided by Lambert-St. Louis was rendered inoperable by violent storms that struck the city and the airport this past weekend.

St. Louis was chosen as the destination for the third leg of this Across America mission for historic and symbolic reasons. St. Louis is best known for the “Spirit of St. Louis” who, piloted by Charles Lindbergh in 1927 completed the first non-stop flight from New York to Paris. This flight was made possible by St. Louis businessmen including the namesake of Lambert-St. Louis International Airport, Albert Bond Lambert.

During today’s flight, there were a couple of memorable calls from the ground to the cockpit. This first one was from Erik Lindbergh, Charles’ grandson. They had a chance to discuss the importance of exploration and of inspiring younger generations to take a chance and become pioneers of and for the future. They also got to exchange thoughts on the future of aviation while they spoke about meeting again in Washington D.C. at the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum under Erik’s grandfather’s “Spirit of St. Louis” and Bertrand’s “Breitling Orbiter”.

The other call was from Alan Nichols, President of the Explorer’s Club. He said he wished he could be up there, with Bertrand. At every stopover, chapters of the Explorer’s Club organized visits to see the solar airplane and they will hold a reception for Solar Impulse in New York City. Flag n°50 of the Club is travelling with André and Bertrand Across America – The same flag travelled to Morocco onboard HB-SIA during the 2012 Crossing Frontiers mission.

The best part of the flight, however, was the incredible response rate we got from Solar Impulse supporters who took to heart the call to “Keep the Pilot Awake”. A campaign launched by our Social Media and Community Engagement manager, Elâ Borschberg, over 600 people (and counting) responded with words of encouragement, via email, to the pilot and, more importantly, jokes to make him laugh. 

In keeping with the green and eco friendly nature of the Solar Powered Plane I plan to take my girls grand-kids to the event via the StLouis Metro Transit use the Metro Trip Planner for a green alternative to view the Solar Powered Plane. 

Added June 13, 2013
Solar Impulse will be taking off from Lambert-St. Louis International Airport (MO) for Washington Dulles (VA) tomorrow Friday June 14^th around 4 AM CDT (UTC-5). Piloted by André, it's expected to be a challenging flight due to high cross and headwinds. Because of this, Solar Impulse will do a pit stop at Cincinnati Municipal Lunken Airport (OH) in order to change pilots, rest and take-off the following morning with better weather conditions. With Bertrand at the controls, the solar airplane will take-off the next morning, Saturday June 15^th around 8 AM EDT (UTC-4) and land in the nation's capital sometime after midnight EDT (UTC-4). 

Stay Tuned for Further Details on the #Solar Powered Airplanes StLouis Visit.

Thank you for stopping by St Louis Renewable Energy. Feel free to comment in the section below or contact Scotts Contracting- St Louis Home Improvement Projects and Energy Reducing Needs Get Your Green Building Tips and Resources at St Louis Renewable Energy Green Blog

Eliminating Solar Panel Fires from Wire Faults

What could have stopped the solar panel fire on the Webster Grooves School in StLouis MO?

 Solar Panels that utilize the M215 MicroInverters made by Enphase Energy could have stopped the Solar Panel fire before the fire started.

I realize that is a rather boastful statement made by someone who promotes, sells, and installs Solar PV systems for the StLouis Region and chooses to utilize Green Building in all their Construction Activities.

But the Great Minds behind [The Next Generation of Microinverter] the Enphase M215 MicroInverters that provide 96% CEC efficiency equals more energy production also built the M215 MicroInverter with a GFI [Ground Fault {Detection} Interrupt] shut off.  Similar to GFI Electrical Outlets pictured in the photo below.

Must Have For Safety  GFI Electrical Plugs are required by all USA building codes and are located in your Kitchen, Bath, and Laundry Rooms and other areas close to water sources- Scotty, Scotts Contracting

All M215 MicroInverters will shut off if there is a fault detected. inside of every microinverter is a GFI (Ground fault {detection} interrupt) switch and if there is a fault, it will stop exporting power within 30 milliseconds per UL1741standards.

• {Scotty Adds-

• Just Like the GFI electrical plug in your Bathroom and Kitchen works!
• I had to look up 30 milliseconds to see how fast it was and here's what wiki supplied: 

• 20 milliseconds — cycle time for European 50 Hz AC electricity or mains grid
• 24 milliseconds — minimum ignition time for a U.S. Rockets company solid rocket motor
• 31.25 milliseconds - a hundred twenty-eighth note at MM = 60
• 33.3 milliseconds — the amount of time one frame lasts in 30fps video
• 41.708 milliseconds — the amount of time one frame lasts in 24fps video or film (actually 23.976fps for most films)
• 50 milliseconds — cycle time for the lowest audible tone, 20 Hz}

Enphase Energy M215 MicroInverter

Overview

The Enphase M215 is the world’s most efficient microinverter.

Based on Enphase’s third generation technology, the M215 incorporates the latest innovations in power electronics and custom microchips to deliver 96% CEC efficiency and a range of patented performance features that maximize the performance of 60-cell solar modules.

In addition, the M215 is light weight and offers a “single-bolt” mounting bracket that makes installation easier than any other inverter on the market. 

{Scotty-Faster, Safer, and Requires Less Labor on the Installation-Translates into saving for the Client on the  Installation and produces more Clean Energy ! }

General Features other than the 25 year limited warranty (PDF)

• Integrates with Enphase Engage Cable

• CSA listed per UL 1741/IEE1547

• Works with 60-cell modules ONLY

• M215 Metrics

• 96% CEC efficiency

• Output power: 215W

• Recommended max input power: 270W

• MPPT Range: 22-36V

• Low-voltage operation capability

  Learn more about the Great Product at the following Links

• Enphase Brochure – System Overview Download
  
• Enphase Certification – M215 Microinverter CSA Certificate Download
  
• Enphase Certification – M215 Microinverter VDE License (Part 1) Download
  
• Enphase Certification – M215 Microinverter VDE License (Part 2) Download
  
• Enphase Datasheet – Engage Cable Download
  
• Enphase Datasheet – M215 Microinverter Download
  
• Enphase Installation and Operations Manual – Engage Cable Download
  
• Enphase Installation & Operations Manual – M215 Microinverter  Download
  
• Enphase Quick Install Guide – M215 Microinverter Download
  

Here's my conversation with the Good People of Enphase Energy and links to the Articles about the Solar Fire

Scotty:

“Recently in St Louis, MO a solar panel supposedly caught on fire on the roof of a local school...it hasn't made much news other than deemed solar fire on school. Could one of your Innovative MicroInverters215 sensed the ground fault and stopped the production of electricity and thus eliminated the fire since it would have stopped creating electricity? There is a few local builders who have been considering adding solar but have raised questions in re. Thank you for your time and assistance. Scotty”

Enphase Energy 1st response:

Hello Scotty,
Thank you for contacting Enphase Energy!
That's a scary situation! Sorry to hear that it happened!
Safety is one of the aspects of our system that we are very proud of. The old style of solar array uses solar panels in series, which ends up with High Voltage DC wiring. Our Microinverters converter the DC to AC right at each panel, which is inherently safer. Here is a link to our informational page that speaks to our safety, which also has a link to PDF:
http://enphase.com/explore/enphase-technology/safe/
Here also is a link to a video demonstration on our YouTube channel, which shows the difference between a DC and AC arc fault:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKtmPMjrbVA
Please let me know if you have any other questions.

Rob Tierney
Inside Sales
Enphase Energy

Scotty:

Thank you for responding to my question.  I'm already a fan of the M215.  Can the M215 sense a ground fault and stop producing electricity?

 "Could one of your Innovative MicroInverters215 sensed the ground fault and stopped the production of electricity and thus eliminated the fire since it would have stopped creating electricity?"

Thank you for your time and assistance.

Scotty 

Enphase Energy (2nd Answer):

Yes! Our Microinverters do detect ground faults and halt production. 

Please let me know if you have any other questions, or if there is anything else I can do to assist. 

Thanks,

Rob Tierney

Enphase Energy (3rd Answer from Contact Form on their website):

Hi Scotty, 

The inverter will shut off if there is a fault detected. inside of every microinverter is a GFI (Ground fault detection interrupt) switch and if there is a fault, it will stop exporting power within 30milliseconds per UL1741 standards. 

If you'd like to watch the recorded session of the webinar feel free to use the link below. That link will take you to all of the recorded sessions that we have. 

https://enphasetraining.webex.com/ec0606l/eventcenter/recording/recordAction.do?siteurl=enphasetraining&theAction=archive

Jarett

Enphase Energy (4th Answer via a Twitter Post)

Enphase Energy ‏@Enphase

If a phase line drops, units stop producing immediately @stlhandyman @chjch I was just on their site and;@Enphase  and asked the same question.

• Contact Enphase via Twitter: Enphase Energy ‏ @Enphase

• By Email
  
• 
  

  Rob TierneyInside SalesPhone: (877) 797-4743, ext 8128RTierney@EnphaseEnergy.com
  

  
  

  Jarett Skeffington 
  

Solar Panel Fire Articles

• . @StLHandyMan See this? Solar panel fire: MT @ksdknews: Webster HS- Damage minimal. Finals week NOT in jeopardy. pic.twitter.com/cEM0udKqYv
  

  • 
    Webster Groves School District May 18

Solar panels on the roof of Webster Groves High School caught fire today. The fire, which was contained, caused no interior damage. Some water used to put out the fire seeped into a classroom.

The cause of the fire has not been determined.

The High School will have classes on Monday.

Like I wrote earlier the Great Minds at Enphase have already factored this safety feature into the Design and Construction of their Innovative MicroInverter the M215. Couple that with the great and timely feedback from their Websites, Twitter Accounts, and Email Correspondence-

Whats not to Love about the Dynamic and Innovative Products at Enphase Energy!

Scotty writes on June 5th 2013-2 Typos were corrected-GDFI-to GFI.

Thank you for stopping by St Louis Renewable Energy. Feel free to comment in the section below or contact Scotts Contracting- St Louis Home Improvement Projects and Energy Reducing Needs Get Your Green Building Tips and Resources at St Louis Renewable Energy Green Blog

Public Comments Sought-Environmental News

Public Comments Sought on Proposed Coal Ash Cleanup Settlement with Rotary Drilling Supply in Jefferson County, Mo.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE-Environmental News

(Lenexa, Kan., May 30, 2013) - EPA Region 7 and Rotary Drilling have reached a proposed agreement to address environmental impacts from the unauthorized disposal of approximately 140,000 tons of coal ash from the Rush Island Power Plant owned and operated by Union Electric Company (d/b/a Ameren Missouri). EPA is accepting public comment on the settlement pursuant to the federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA).

In an administrative order on consent (AOC), EPA alleges that the dumping of the coal ash on property owned by Rotary Drilling Supply, Inc., located in Jefferson County, Mo., impacted wetlands, an unnamed tributary to Plattin Creek, and a portion of Willers Lake. The coal ash contains environmentally harmful metals that migrate into adjacent surface waters.

Between October 2004 and September 2008, Rotary Drilling and another company, Mineral Resource Technologies, Inc., contracted with Kleinschmidt Trucking, Inc., to haul and dispose of approximately 95,000 tons of coal ash to the Rotary Drilling site. During that time period, Mineral Resource Technologies, Inc., contracted with Union Electric Company to find and secure locations for coal ash disposal. In 2007, Union Electric contracted directly with Kleinschmidt Trucking, Inc., to haul and dispose of approximately 45,000 tons of coal ash from the Rush Island Power Plant at Rotary Drilling’s property.

EPA’s proposed settlement, issued pursuant to federal RCRA authority, requires Rotary Drilling to abate impacts of the coal ash disposal by placing a protective cap over the coal ash piles and installing controls to prevent the continued migration of coal ash constituents into wetlands and other surface waters.

Additionally, Rotary Drilling must mitigate for lost wetland functions by purchasing wetland mitigation bank credits. Wetland mitigation bank credits involve the restoration, creation, enhancement, or preservation of a wetland, stream, or habitat conservation area to offset adverse impacts to similar nearby ecosystems. The goal is to replace the function and value of the specific wetland habitats that have been adversely impacted.

A copy of the Administrative Record is located at the Crystal City Public Library, 736 Mississippi Ave., Crystal City, MO 63019. EPA invites the public to comment on theAOC. The 30-day public comment period opens on May 30, 2013, and runs throughJune 28, 2013.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 7

11201 Renner Boulevard, Lenexa, KS 66219

Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, and Nine Tribal Nations

Contact Information: David Bryan, 913-551-7433, bryan.david@epa.gov

Thank you for stopping by St Louis Renewable Energy. Feel free to comment in the section below or contact Scotts Contracting- St Louis Home Improvement Projects and Energy Reducing Needs Get Your Green Building Tips and Resources at St Louis Renewable Energy Green Blog

Coal 101: What's Wrong with Coal?

Video on the Damages from Electricity Generated by Utilities that burn Dirty Coal to create our Energy.




Thank you for stopping by St Louis Renewable Energy. Feel free to comment in the section below or contact Scotts Contracting- St Louis Home Improvement Projects and Energy Reducing Needs Get Your Green Building Tips and Resources at St Louis Renewable Energy Green Blog