An excerpt from the report.
"This was the last day of the Dental Readiness Exercise, with the unit seeing only 75 patients in order to start packing up their equipment for redeployment. The PACCE held a closing ceremony at 4 PM in the afternoon. US Military, local dignitaries, and the Minister of Health for the Dominican Republic attended. Immediately following this event, UTESA held a press conference with local and University press to discuss the WHIX project and the renewable energy suite."
Researchers and UME soldiers replace cooling fans in the inverter box.
Closing Ceremony of the BTH dental readiness event.
"The maximum generation from the solar panels today was approximately 1500 watts. The medical clinic load consumption is 300 watts average usage. We are adding up to 3.5 KW of additional loads to test the system. University of Miami Tele-health program worked well, with multiple patients seen and consulted with practitioners in Miami by satellite. The DMIS system is capturing all patient information each day. Personnel were able to get wireless routing up and running so that all four computers (Patient Intake, Triage, Treatment, Out staging) are wirelessly linked for patient data entry at the hygienist level. Weather conditions were excellent for solar power most of the day. Winds were again near zero all day. Temperatures at the site were again above 90 degrees F, with humidity over 84%."
FIU Researchers take electrical load readings from the dental clinic central power distribution box, while the Clinic Commander and UME soldiers look on.
"Day eight continued our focus on the Tele-health system of the University of Miami and integrating the DMIS system with a wireless router between the principal DENTRETE site and the WHIX 08 Triage/tele-health area. However, serious satellite connection problems thwarted our efforts. It appears that satellite modifications/maintenance occurred over the weekend, requiring firmware updates. UM personnel worked throughout the day with SOUTHCOM and the satellite provider to make the updates and get a connection. By COB, the problems appeared to be resolved. Tele-health efforts will continue tomorrow, Tuesday, 10 May 2011."
The dental unit commander observes patient triage in the WHIX mobile medical clinic.
"Day seven’s focus remained on the Tele-health system of the University of Miami and integrating the DMIS system with a wireless router between the principal DENTRETE site and the WHIX 08 Triage/tele-health area. Satellite connection was up and running by 8:15 AM. Sonia Batista, UM; and Jerry Miller, FIU coordinated with the DENTRETE commander, COL Julian; dental mission commander LTC Alston, and Sgt. Morgan for a dental hygienist to be positioned at the tele-health site to review patient triage, and “interesting patient discoveries” with doctors from the University of Miami. The system performed well, however there were several instances of “dropped calls” through the satellite. This is a problem that we will address tomorrow.
The solar irradiation was not sufficient to improve nominal power of the solar system; the solar panels should produce approximately 2.5kw with solar radiation to 1000w/m2. The maximum generation from the solar panels today was approximately 1115watts. The load is consuming less today, with approximately 300 watts average usage as read from the Inverter Controller Box, as less equipment is being used in the MMU."
UME Electrician, SGT Medina and UTESA students check solar panel power production.
"Day six was devoted to getting the University of Miami tele-health system up and running, as well as continuing the flow of patients into the dental clinic. Everything went well. We were able to connect sporadically from 0830 to 0930 with UM clinicians at the hospital in Miami. After ironing out some bugs, we were able to transmit live patient pictures and diagnose the patient. The images were so clear, that clinicians could see a small line fracture on one tooth that dentists on scene believed would be very difficult to see. Excellent first day demo. The goal for tomorrow is to have a better flow of special interest patients from the over 180 people being seen each day. "
Screen shot showing Sgt Morgan in the Mao, DR, clinic (lower right hand inset picture) speaking with dentists at UM in Miami.
"Day five went well with the dental unit again processing nearly 180 patients through the facility. Weather conditions were poor today in the morning with overcast skies and no wind, but improved during the day. Solar irradiation was sufficient to meet all power requirements as well as to charge the battery system."
UTESA students test solar irradiation and solar power production.
An excerpt from the report."Day four went well, as the dental unit has found their stride and haveprocessed over 180 patients through the facility again today. Weatherconditions were poor today with overcast skies and no wind. Conditionsimproved throughout the day, so that solar irradiation was sufficient tomeet all power requirements as well as begin to charge the battery system."
DMIS System screen showing patient info
WHIX Program Background:
The WHIX Program is designed to strengthen alliances and partnerships in the Western Hemisphere by facilitating information exchange in the areas of Installations; Environment, Safety and Occupational Health; and Energy Management (IEE). It supports US Defense Security Cooperation goals by promoting information exchange between the US Army and the military organizations of the Western Hemisphere, as well supporting US Southern Command objectives of security, stability, prosperity as well as building partner nation capacity through science and technology collaboration with partner nations.
WHIX 08 Project Participants:
The WHIX 08 project is a collaborative information exchange between US Southern Command, Florida International University, the Dominican Republic military’s Unidad Militar de Emergencia (UME), and the Univeristy of Technologia – Santiago (UTESA). An extended medical partnership includes additional technology demonstration providers from the University of Miami (UM) TeleHealth Department and the United States Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). Florida International University will train the Dominican Republic’s disaster preparedness unit, UME, on the employment of the system. The unit will then deploy the system as part of a Beyond the Horizon’s Dominican Republic 2011 Dental Readiness Exercise (DENTRETE) event. During the DENTRETE both US and Dominican dentists will provide some services from inside the shelter.
WHIX 08 Technical Objective:
The technical demonstrations will include the demonstration of a mobile medical clinic powered by a suite of renewable energy systems, tactical telehealth capabilities, and an electronic medical hardware and software capability that can be used in tactical and disaster situations.
Schedule:
Per Florida International University’s WHIX 08 System Design Document:
The goal of the WHIX‐08 project is to conduct a demonstration/validation project in a selected Western Hemisphere partner nation that will utilize a suite of renewable energy technologies. The project will entail the development of a mobile medical clinic which is powered by a suite of renewable energy technologies in support of military missions in the USSOUTHCOM Area of Responsibility (AOR). The suite of renewables will include wind, solar, bio‐diesel and lithium ion batteries. The development and deployment of the mobile medical clinic will be in alignment with the objectives of the Western Hemisphere Information Exchange program which include: strengthening the defense cooperation with the western hemisphere, enhancing sustainability and stewardship of U.S. military presence as well as increasing overall sustainability and security in the Western Hemisphere.
The Western Hemisphere Information Exchange 08 (WHIX-08) mobile medical clinic (MMC) is an integrated, portable, modular medical clinic system powered by a suite of renewable technologies including wind, solar and rechargeable lithium-iron-phosphate (Li-FePO4) batteries. The wind and solar systems are designed to charge the LiFePO4 battery bank in order to maintain continuous power to the medical tent even in the absence of wind or solar. A bio-diesel generator is implemented as a backup to the wind/solar/battery system in order to maintain a completely “green” renewable energy system. A requirement of 3kW of electrical power must be available and demonstrated for 24 hours continuous output for a minimum of two weeks.
WHIX-08 mobile medical unit concept layout and footprint are shown below.
The Mobile Medical Clinic is composed of advanced, commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) renewable energy components, each of which has been safety tested and certified by the manufacturer. Florida International University’s Applied Research Center (ARC) developed and designed the electrical integration system in coordination with EnerFuel Corp., as well as the deployable packaging of the system. A list of major components which comprise the Mobile Medical Clinic (MMC) is found below. The components listed below are the major system components required and the manufacturers for said components.
Component 1: Shelter Tent.
The tent is a Utilis USA , LLC TM-54 with 50.7 sq.m. of usable space designed to be simply erected and retracted. It is designed such that the photovoltaic (PV) fly is integrated into the thermal fly for the tent which may then be easily placed on top of the tent structure acting not only as a solar power producing covering, but also as a thermal insulator for the tent. The tent structure is a mobile, light-weight structure which is easily assembled and dismantled. The tent may be assembled by 4 people in 20 minutes.
Component 2: Thermal Tent Fly and Integrated Photo Voltaic Cells (PV)
The Ascent Solar Technologies, Inc., copper indium gallium di-selenide (CIGS) PV cells are attached by Velcro strips to the thermal tent fly which is placed over the MMC tent structure. The 88 PV modules with a exposure area of 60.37 sq. m., with a name plate capacity of 4,972 W of power at standard test conditions: 25oC, 1,000w/sq.m. The integrated system is manufactured by Energy Technologies for Utilis USA, LLC.
Component 3: Wind Turbine(s)
The renewable energy system incorporates two wind turbines. The two Bergey Wind BWC XL 1KW/48V Wind turbines combined are capable of name plate rated power of 2kW. Each has a weight of approximately 68kg (148lbs) and a blade length of approximately 2m. The Bergey wind turbine includes a charge controller which allows the turbine to produce 48VDC. The Bergey system has a start up wind speed of 4 m/sec (9 mph) and a top rated power of 1,219 W at 12.5 m/sec (28mph.).
Component 4: Wind Turbine Towers
In order for the MMC to be considered portable the wind turbines must be mounted on tri-sectional masts such that their sections fit onto a trailer system. The masts are 10m high when fully assembled and erected by a manual piston hydraulic jack. The wind turbine mast will be able to handle the weight of the largest possible wind turbine. Two masts are available as part of the system.
Component 5: Battery Bank
A lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) (LFP) battery bank is the central electronic element of the renewable system and is charged by a combination of the wind system and the solar system, or as a backup, a bio-diesel generator. All electronics in the MMC will then be powered by the battery bank. The battery bank will be able to handle the input of both the wind and solar systems and will provide power to the MMC when neither wind nor solar power is available. The battery bank is designed to provide 3kW of power for 10-12 hours in the case that wind and solar power are unavailable during overnight conditions. Five battery modules will be utilized in the battery bank, providing a total of 30-36kWh of stored energy.
Component 6: Backup Generator
The generator is used solely as a back-up in the case that the batteries become fully discharged and there is no wind or solar power available to recharge them. The generator is capable of producing a minimum of 5kW of electrical power in order to fit the renewable energy concept of the system. The generator will have an electrical start/stop switch as well, in order to be fully integrated onto the renewable energy system.
Component 7: Electronics
The electronics package is integrated by Florida International University’s Applied Research Center and EnerFuel, Inc., a company specializing in lithium battery power for renewable energy vehicles. The system includes COTS components, including all necessary power inverters (3kW, 48VDC, 120VAC), charge controllers (i.e. 4 Midnite Solar Classic Charge Controllers, 2 Outback OUTFW-FLEXMAX80) wiring, cables and Amphenol connectors rated for outdoor use necessary to integrate all electrical components.
WHIX Demonstration day 1 Operations, May 4th
First day has gone well. Our system was operational and used throughout the day. Weather conditions were mixed. Rain, wind, and partly cloudy but the system still generated power and was operational.
Set-up: Per the picture, we have set the system up outside the gym where the main dental activity is occurring. Tent 1, which is behind the tent in view, only has lighting since it is used for patient admin. Tent 2 is fully set-up for patient triage and treatment. The planned dental activity should provide a good mission power demand profile. We are starting to collect system test data. Tomorrow will be our first chance to see the quality of that data so we can begin to understand how the system is performing in a relevant environment.
A total of 130 personnel were triaged through the mobile clinic.
Site set-up at sports complex.
WHIX Demonstration day 2, May 5th
FIU will be sending daily Word file SITREPS. Full Report attached – “Activities Report for Wednesday 3 May.”
“Day two has also gone well, with the dental unit processing over 180 patients through our facility. Weather conditions still provided us a challenge, as skies were overcast with occasional light rain, and no wind. The solar panels still provided sufficient power to meet the current, like power conditions of the dental readiness exercise triage mission currently being performed in our facility. Equipment used in this triage operation included lights, two dental chairs and associated compressor, sterilizer, and x-ray machine.”
Triage Tent with two dental chairs in operation. Note the line of patients waiting. 3 May 2011
WHIX Demonstration day 3, May 6th
FIU will be sending daily Word file SITREPS. Full Report attached – “Activities Report for Wednesday 4 May.”
Excerpt from the report: “Day three has also gone well, with the dental unit again processing over 180 patients through our facility. Weather conditions improved dramatically with clear skies, but no wind. However solar irradiation was sufficient to meet all power requirements for today's dental readiness exercise.”
FIU and UTESA students manually collect system performance data, 4 May 2011.