Modular Solar Photovoltaic-Powered Dc Nanogrids for Ambulances

Abstract

Ambulances serve as the primary vehicles in pre-hospital emergency medical services providing crucial support during medical emergencies, but in many isolated communities lack a full complement of electric powered medical devices. An approach not fully developed in the literature is to provide power to medical equipment in isolated communities is to apply modular solar photovoltaic (PV)-powered DC nanogrid systems to provide uninterrupted power supply for mini-mobile clinics or ambulances. This study aims to i) integrate this modular DC nanogrid into ambulances, ii) analyze the estimated loads and iii) optimize the sizes of PV modules and batteries using the physical constrains of the ambulance and simulations with the Solar Alone Multi-Objective Advisor (SAMA) for representative locations in the global north and south (London, Ontario, and Addis Ababa, Ethiopia). The results of this study found the rooftop integrated solar-powered DC nanogrid can supply critical power for the instruments inside the ambulance or mini clinic throughout the day without requiring grid power even with the ambulance moving. The study finds that in Addis Ababa a single 175W PV panel can meet the ambulance's annual energy demand using only a 2-kWh battery bank.

Keywords: open hardware, DC nanogrid, nanogrid, ambulance, medical hardware