Solar power in the remote gas field

[Mike90250]

Ha Ha, that's why they are not solar pros
https://www.processingmagazine.com/2...ote-locations/

(hey boss, the batteries never charge right) Portable Gas Plant.jpg

[littleharbor]

My racking company didn't offer that option.

[SunEagle]

Maybe that strap allows photons to pass through and to the panel cells.

[J.P.M.]

Sort of off topic, but I believe I had a hand in the design of a prior iteration that processing equipment back in the day. Funny how things come around.

The original need for such equipment came about mostly from the need for EPA compliance etc. Goes without saying that the PV was not part of the scope of design that I remember. Not even on the radar.

[SunEagle]

Sort of off topic, but I believe I had a hand in the design of a prior iteration that processing equipment back in the day. Funny how things come around.

The original need for such equipment came about mostly from the need for EPA compliance etc. Goes without saying that the PV was not part of the scope of design that I remember. Not even on the radar.

I don't believe those 3 panels are not enough to run the entire rig. I think they are for keeping the generators battery under them charged. So PV was not a big part of the "power grid" for that system.

[J.P.M.]

I don't believe those 3 panels are not enough to run the entire rig. I think they are for keeping the generators battery under them charged. So PV was not a big part of the "power grid" for that system.

They sure aren't. That's what the big white box is for. The small(er) tank next to the unit is probably for the CH4 to power the generator. Sounds to me like the PV is for powering any telemetry/instruments, etc. The panel fixation method is a good example of redneck engineering. Oil patch engineering sometimes takes a bit of getting used to. I'm not even sure that PV placement is code allowed or recommended by some API (American Petroleum Institute) standard that would govern such equip, but I've been away from that end of the world since retirement.

[Sunking]

I don't believe those 3 panels are not enough to run the entire rig. I think they are for keeping the generators battery under them charged. So PV was not a big part of the "power grid" for that system.

The panels are not for the generator battery. They are for Telemetry/SCADA operation only. It allows them to monitor all the pressures, flow rates, control valves and operate the generator remotely. That big white box they set on is a large generator.

[SunEagle]

Both J.P.M. and Sunking are correct. The panels are more than likely connected to all the instrumentation on the rig, although they might be charging a battery system to run that telemetry 24/7.

[NorthRick]

The article says right in it that the panels provide backup power for if/when the gas generator goes off-line. The purpose is to still have telemetry to trouble shoot the reason the generator dropped off. Potentially avoids a long drive out there just to see what's wrong. Now, of course, if they have insufficient backup power because the panels aren't producing much, then they have a long drive ahead of them to figure that part out.

[peakbagger]

The company I used to work for made remote power stations for pipelines. 99% of the time the load was quite low, just telemetry loads and PV made sense. In the event of leak in the line there would be a need to for lots of power to operate valves and pumps which would be fed from a diesel. The stations had a big rack of VRLAs so if the PV couldnt supply the routine loads, the diesels could cycle on to charge the batteries.

[Wy_White_Wolf]

Looks to me like they are in process of setting up the unit. The strap would have been for trucking the unit in and simply hasn't been removed yet.

WWW

[Mike90250]

I think it was simply a beauty shot, roll it out the back door, jury rig it up and take a photo. I doubt the pipes are connected, just pushed together. All the pressure pads on the dirt are spotlessly clean

[littleharbor]

Interesting though. If the panels are properly racked what purpose does/did the tie down serve?

[J.P.M.]

Interesting though. If the panels are properly racked what purpose does/did the tie down serve?

The strapping serves as an anchor for the skid so it won't roll around.

[sdold]

Maybe the strap is just used for truck transport, and they haven't taken it off yet.