RE: [biofuel] Diesel Sawmill
Based on personal experience, I would agree with the recommendation to use the diesel engine to power an electric generator and then do the work with electric tools. There is an efficiency loss, which is likely to be in the order of 10 to 20% (conversion from mechanical energy to electrical/chemical and back again). However, that assumes that the diesel engine is perfectly sized to the mechanical application. If not, the electric conversion may actually be more efficient, especially if there is a battery component involved. Suppose the diesel engine available is rated at 7500 watts (approx 10 hp), and the saw varies in power demand from 75 watts (idling - blade moving but not cutting) to 1500 watts (cutting at rated wood feed speed, blade somewhat dull). In this circumstance, the diesel engine will never be running efficiently - its internal friction losses will be greater than the useful work being done, and diesels like to run at fairly constant speeds and loads, where this work will vary from low load to virtually no load. The electric motor is more efficient over a varying range of speeds and loads than an internal combustion engine. If the diesel can be run to charge a battery as well as providing power to the electrical load, then it can be run at a load closer to its efficient point. Once the battery is fully charged, the diesel can be shut off, and the electric saw can be run from the battery. (If an AC motor is used, an inverter is also required.) It will increase the cost, but as mentioned previously, will increase the flexibility of what can be run from the power produced, e.g. (fluorescent) lighting for operation when it is dark outside, or other wood working/finishing tools. There is also a safety advantage - electric motors can typically be shut off more quickly than diesel engines in the event of a problem, or between cuts to save energy. It also makes it easier to locate the saw some distance from the engine, or even to operate several devices at the same time if that is desireable. Darryl McMahon (admittedly biased in favour of electrical devices) Derek wrote: > My personal opinion is that for most applications along these lines you > should get electric machinery and then run it from a biodiesel powered > generator. It is a lot more flexible. Darryl McMahon 48 Tarquin Crescent, Econogics, Inc. Nepean, Ontario K2H 8J8 It's your planet. Voice: (613)784-0655 If you won't look Fax: (613)828-3199 after it, who will?http://www.econogics.com/ Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Biofuels list archives: http://archive.nnytech.net/ Please do NOT send Unsubscribe messages to the list address. To unsubscribe, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
RE: [biofuel] Diesel Sawmill
My personal opinion is that for most applications along these lines you should get electric machinery and then run it from a biodiesel powered generator. It is a lot more flexible. For example, I have been looking at oil press machinery and at first thought I would want to power it directly with a biodiesel fueled Diesel engine. The machinery directly driven with a Diesel engine was a lot heavier, needed a much heavier foundation to damp the vibrations, and was more cumbersome. I wanted to be able to move the press fairly easily from site to site, but the Diesel direct drive required a 'permanent' concrete foundation, whereas the electric drive unit only required a steel frame foundation. There seems to me to be little downside to powering an electric mill with a biodiesel fueled Diesel generator. Derek -Original Message- From: Ben Falk [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Saturday, December 14, 2002 17:21 To: biofuel@yahoogroups.com Subject: [biofuel] Diesel Sawmill Hello, Does anyone have any advice on purchasing a small portable diesel band sawmill?The only model I have found is the LT15 by Wood Mizer (which is a bit out of our budget). Our school is interested in a 8-15hp band sawmill that can run on biodiesel. Simple, mostly manual mills are of particular interest as we are remote from any service operations. A used mill might be fine. The wood is Casuarina, and at least as dense as shagbark hickory. Thanks for any insight you may have! -Ben Ben K. Falk Design-Build Manager The Island School Cape Eleuthera, Bahamas www.islandschool.org Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Biofuels list archives: http://archive.nnytech.net/ Please do NOT send Unsubscribe messages to the list address. To unsubscribe, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
Re: [biofuel] Diesel Sawmill
http://www.baker-online.com/DOCUMENTS/band%20_scragg_mill.html Steve Spence Subscribe to the Renewable Energy Newsletter & Discussion Boards. Read about Sustainable Technology: http://www.green-trust.org [EMAIL PROTECTED] - Original Message - From: "Ben Falk" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: Sent: Saturday, December 14, 2002 11:20 AM Subject: [biofuel] Diesel Sawmill > Hello, Does anyone have any advice on purchasing a small portable diesel band sawmill?The only model I have found is the LT15 by Wood Mizer (which is a bit out of our budget). Our school is interested in a 8-15hp band sawmill that can run on biodiesel. Simple, mostly manual mills are of particular interest as we are remote from any service operations. A used mill might be fine. The wood is Casuarina, and at least as dense as shagbark hickory. Thanks for any insight you may have! -Ben Ben K. Falk > Design-Build Manager > The Island School > Cape Eleuthera, Bahamas > www.islandschool.org > > > - > Do you Yahoo!? > New DSL Internet Access from SBC & Yahoo! > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > > Biofuel at Journey to Forever: > http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html > > Biofuels list archives: > http://archive.nnytech.net/ > > Please do NOT send Unsubscribe messages to the list address. > To unsubscribe, send an email to: > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ > > > Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Biofuels list archives: http://archive.nnytech.net/ Please do NOT send Unsubscribe messages to the list address. To unsubscribe, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
Re: [biofuel] Diesel Sawmill
I have a 23" Rip Saw band saw mill which can use either a still chain saw or a Milwaukee right angle drill to turn it which can be run on a small diesel generator for power. Therefore a diesel saw mill. The saw is used only once as very little wood suitable for harvest grows here on Kauai. Conrad: [EMAIL PROTECTED] - Original Message - From: "Ben Falk" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: Sent: Saturday, December 14, 2002 6:20 AM Subject: [biofuel] Diesel Sawmill > Hello, Does anyone have any advice on purchasing a small portable diesel band sawmill?The only model I have found is the LT15 by Wood Mizer (which is a bit out of our budget). Our school is interested in a 8-15hp band sawmill that can run on biodiesel. Simple, mostly manual mills are of particular interest as we are remote from any service operations. A used mill might be fine. The wood is Casuarina, and at least as dense as shagbark hickory. Thanks for any insight you may have! -Ben Ben K. Falk > Design-Build Manager > The Island School > Cape Eleuthera, Bahamas > www.islandschool.org > > > - > Do you Yahoo!? > New DSL Internet Access from SBC & Yahoo! > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > > Biofuel at Journey to Forever: > http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html > > Biofuels list archives: > http://archive.nnytech.net/ > > Please do NOT send Unsubscribe messages to the list address. > To unsubscribe, send an email to: > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ > > Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Biofuels list archives: http://archive.nnytech.net/ Please do NOT send Unsubscribe messages to the list address. To unsubscribe, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
