Modeling and analysis of masonry electro-thermal heating and storage for optimal integration with remote stand-alone wind-diesel systems

Due to their remote locations and small populations, many remote villages in Alaska generate electricity with microgrids that employ diesel-electric generators for their primary source of power, and supplement this production with wind turbines. In such communities, it is economically advantageous to minimize fuel consumption by shifting as much of the village's energy demands to the wind system as is feasible. When wind turbines produce in excess of the demand, it is possible to use the excess electricity to power resistance heaters to heat water in tanks or masonry. The heat is then stored so that it can be used immediately or in the future to meet the village's heating demand. This is called electrothermal heating (ETH). The goal of this research work is to use MATLAB/SimulinkRTM to model heating scenarios employing masonry electrothermal heaters to investigate how excess electricity from wind can be used for immediate heating needs and storage. The results demonstrate reduced heating oil consumption using electrothermal heating and increased storage potential in conjunction with oil stoves.