Five solutions for outdoor power supply

Nowadays, people in cities can enjoy the convenience of urban power supplies. But more and more people prefer outdoor sports and want to experience nature outdoors. However, outdoor power supplies pose a problem for adventurers. With the advancement of science and technology, there are many ways to generate electricity outdoors. Today we will talk about outdoor power supplies.

1. Diesel generator:

Diesel generators are not only a representative of early energy utilization, but also the most important method of early outdoor power generation. This type of equipment, which relies on diesel to generate power, also represented a step forward in the application of energy. It attracted a lot of attention at the beginning. Diesel generators can generate power continuously and support multiple scenarios. So, what are the advantages and disadvantages?

Advantages: First, diesel generators have a high energy conversion rate, high thermal efficiency, and a wide range of applications. They can run solely on diesel, so the barrier to entry is low. Diesel generators are also more reliable, more durable, and have a lower failure rate during operation, saving a lot of maintenance effort. They also offer good fire resistance, making them safer to use. Furthermore, they are easy to operate, and daily maintenance is convenient, saving a lot of maintenance costs.

Disadvantages: The disadvantages of diesel generators are that they run on diesel, which produces a large amount of high-temperature exhaust gases and smoke during use, which has a negative impact on the environment. Furthermore, diesel generators are particularly noisy. Finally, it becomes difficult to operate the diesel generator in locations with extremely low temperatures, making their use impractical.

Nevertheless, diesel generators used to be a good choice for outdoor power supply because they operated independently of the city's power grid. However, this wasn't a particularly good solution for outdoor power supply.

2. Lead-acid battery:

Next, I'll introduce another energy tool: the lead-acid battery. This is what we commonly know as a battery, which is frequently seen in everyday life, and its application conditions are also very diverse. Lead-acid batteries can be found in industry, agriculture, and various vehicles. So, what are the advantages and disadvantages of lead-acid batteries?

Advantages of lead-acid batteries: First, the raw material is inexpensive, which keeps the price relatively low and makes them affordable to use. Second, they offer good performance even under deep discharge conditions. Third, they are less likely to be affected by temperature, with an operating temperature range of -40 to +60°C. Fourth, they are suitable for floating charging, have a longer service life, and no memory effect. Finally, used lead-acid batteries are easy to recycle and have a lower environmental impact, which promotes environmental protection.

Disadvantages of lead-acid batteries: As with everything, there are two sides to this. Having discussed the advantages, let's now look at the disadvantages: First, the battery's energy density ratio is low, typically 30–40 Wh/kg. Second, there is still a certain gap in battery life compared to Cd/Ni batteries. Third, the manufacturing process can pollute the environment, requiring appropriate waste treatment equipment and comprehensive measures.

3. Photovoltaic power generation:

Energy conservation and environmental protection are increasingly being promoted these days. With the continuous development of the energy industry, photovoltaic power generation through solar cells has become a prominent feature. Due to the characteristics of photovoltaic power generation, it has developed rapidly, and more and more energy products are being adopted. Aside from the form of photovoltaic charging, what are the advantages and disadvantages of photovoltaic power generation using this solar system?

Advantages of photovoltaic power generation: First, there is no risk of exhaustion because it relies on sunlight to generate energy. Second, it is safe and reliable, with no operational hazards, no noise, no noise pollution, and no emissions—absolutely clean. Third, it is not limited by the geographical distribution of resources. As long as it is sunny, it can be charged at any time. It can also take advantage of building roofs, for example, in areas without electricity or in regions with complex terrain. Fourth, there is no need to consume fuel or construct power transmission lines, allowing electricity to be generated directly on-site, with low usage requirements and low access thresholds. Finally, the construction of solar panels is short, and the time required to generate energy is also short. Today, it is also very convenient to use solar panels for charging. The operating conditions only require sufficient sunlight, which can be considered the least restrictive way to generate energy.

Disadvantages of photovoltaic power generation: Now, let's look at the disadvantages of photovoltaic power generation: First, its energy density is low, its dispersion is large, and it is highly dependent on external conditions. Even when the sun shines sufficiently, the energy density projected onto the solar modules is too low. Second, due to the low solar energy density, a large area of ​​solar modules must be installed to achieve the ideal charging power, which takes up a lot of space for photovoltaic power generation systems. Third, its conversion efficiency is low. The conversion efficiency of photovoltaic power generation refers to the rate at which light energy is converted into electrical energy, which is limited by various factors. Currently, the conversion rate is still not ideal. Fourth, solar modules require direct sunlight to capture energy and convert it into electrical energy, so they can only generate electricity during the day. Power generation cannot occur at night, and on rainy or cloudy days when sunlight is blocked, the solar power system cannot be used, making it directly dependent on weather conditions. Finally, the price of solar modules is high, and the manufacturing process of the crystalline silicon cells, which are the main components of solar modules, is highly environmentally harmful and energy-intensive.

4. Inverter:

There are many ways to enjoy the outdoors, but the most popular is self-driving because it's free and relaxing. This naturally involves the problem of power being connected to the car. Since the car's battery is often used to solve the power problem, an inverter is often used in this case. The advantage is of course convenience, as it is a way of utilizing local resources, directly using the self-driving vehicle to achieve the goal of outdoor power supply. However, this method is not suitable for long-term use. Various battery factors, such as the low conversion efficiency and high cost of the inverter, as well as the fact that the inverter cannot be separated from the car, make this solution problematic. There is also the possibility of the vehicle's battery being discharged, leading to vehicle failure and possibly causing a fire.

Connecting the car battery to an inverter for outdoor power usage is not a stable and long-term solution. Long-term use would accelerate battery aging, reduce battery life, and could damage the battery while using the inverter. This could even be dangerous for users. Clearly, this is not a better solution for outdoor power usage.