Re: [biofuel] Digest Number 225
On Wed, 20 Dec 2000 06:05:32 + "DAVID REID" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Wrote John, Further to your e-mail have given your idea of using paddy melons a bit more thought and think this may not be such a good idea after all. Dont let me put you off altogether and at least try them but suspect the carbohydrate level is probably only round the 5% level. This means to get 1 tonne of carbo you will need to harvest 20 tonnes of paddy melons and I seriously doubt that labour and transport for these would pay. Most melons and even the ones we eat are more than 90% water and less than 9% carbo. eg. canteloupe are almost 90 water and just over 8% carbo, and honeydew which have the highest carbo to my knowledge are 89% water and 9% carbo. Suggest you check out the true levels before proceeding further. All the best. B.r., David Good points David will check it with the Ag dept One thing is these things are full of seeds which likely aren't considered in the carbohydrate levels normally and may change the scenario a bit for this use once they have been through a hammer mill Regards John -- eGroups Sponsor -~-~> eLerts It's Easy. It's Fun. Best of All, it's Free! http://click.egroups.com/1/9699/0/_/837408/_/977323984/ -_-> Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html To unsubscribe, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[biofuel] Re PLC control
On Tue, 19 Dec 2000 16:14:39 -0400 [EMAIL PROTECTED] asked mind telling us what the plc does in your still? The Plc will monitor evaporation and condensation temperatures at bottom and top of still and control the heatpump output by bypassing some refrigeration gas or liquid. will also monitor and control outflow of bottoms and match inflow of beer to the rate of bottoms and product comming off. will also control reflux rate and shut down on over pressure. All of this could be done mechanically with TX valves, pressure valves and float level valves.but the advantage of the plc is that as well as monitoring the situation it can also keep a record of what has happened which could be important if a fault develops in a continuos still and the reason isn't obvious Also these days electronic control is far cheaper than mechanical control and its so easy to change the parameters if the feed (and boiling point) changes or a different reflux is required. Regards John -- eGroups Sponsor -~-~> eGroups eLerts It's Easy. It's Fun. Best of All, it's Free! http://click.egroups.com/1/9698/0/_/837408/_/977323983/ -_-> Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html To unsubscribe, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: [biofuel] Digest Number 225
On Tue, 19 Dec 2000 21:27:37 - "stephen lakios" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Wrote >Why not spend the time cutting 1/4" or 3/8" type "M" copper tube into 3/8" or 1/2" lengths? Radiator cores are >thin when new, and thinner,corroded, and full of scale and crude,when used.You would probably spend the >same amount of time. stephen Thin was what attracted me - lots of surface area in a package thats all bonded together and designed for heat transfer and to resist channelling so we get heaps of area for evaporation and condensation and the low mass and good conductivity means the column starts operating more quickly on startup. Regards John -- eGroups Sponsor -~-~> eGroups eLerts It's Easy. It's Fun. Best of All, it's Free! http://click.egroups.com/1/9698/0/_/837408/_/977323981/ -_-> Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html To unsubscribe, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[biofuel] Re: sugarcane
Comments below: --- In biofuel@egroups.com, Keith Addison <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Hi Stephen > > >We don't drive a whole lot of rabbits here anyways,and with the cost > >of land here in the states,sugarcane will not cut it.ADM convinced > >the big soda producers to sweeten with corn syrup years ago. Many of > >the cane producing areas cut back or quit,and now grow other > >crops.Or have been converted to housing tracts.stephen > > >ADM convinced the big soda producers to sweeten with corn syrup years ago. > > I think that had more to do with the corn surplus than with the real > economics of sugarcane growing. Agribusiness giants like ADM (NOT a > nice corporation) skew everything their way. I think Dick Carlstein's > comparative figures might be more real. > > Best > > Keith Addison > Journey to Forever > Handmade Projects > Tokyo > http://journeytoforever.org/ I think the point is you would generally work with the crop that is most readily available to you. Corn could be easiest if you live in the states. Sugar cane would be better if you lived in the more tropical environments. But if you lived in Ireland and your crop is potatoes, wouldn't you want to make the most of that crop? I haven't heard of much sugar cane being grown there. Cost of land and the availability of land is also a major issue. I'm sure you can relate to that being in Tokyo Keith. Farm land and its use for food to sustain life would be more important than transportation purposes in some areas. From the information that I have, the big disadvantage that sugar crops have is that they require long term storage and their production cost is high. Is this statement correct, please advise if these problems have been overcome? Ricardo did not mention any specifics in his post. The only thing that I got out of that was that the future of ethanol production is here and now and could never get any better than what the Brazillians are doing. I hope that isn't the case. Nothing against Brazil, I just think we are still in the research stage at this time. Who knows what technology is around the corner? Here in the states and I'm sure other countries as well can look into industrial wastes from candy manufacturing and soda bottling plants as well for making ethanol. That would be recycling and that is good. There would be no extra farm land to use, no erosion and there is plenty of sugar... Since the sugar originally came from a crop of some kind, it would still be classified as a bio-fuel wouldn't it? Sam **If we knew what we were doing, it wouldn't be research** Albert Einstein -- eGroups Sponsor -~-~> eLerts It's Easy. It's Fun. Best of All, it's Free! http://click.egroups.com/1/9699/0/_/837408/_/977322347/ -_-> Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html To unsubscribe, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: [biofuel] Computer
They are the same thing. - Original Message - From: "DAVID REID" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: Sent: Tuesday, December 19, 2000 2:44 PM Subject: Re: [biofuel] Computer > Why use a 24v sprinkler system valve? Had not thought of these and do not > know how they actually work. I use a 24v solenoid valve that is off or on. > What is the difference? > B.r., David > > -Original Message- > From: Global Energies <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: biofuel@egroups.com > Date: Wednesday, December 20, 2000 11:16 AM > Subject: [biofuel] Computer > > > >Hi, I'm new to this ethanol thing but have been reading this group for a > >while. I have a few things I would like to know. > > > >With the reflux still like the stillmaker I understand the top of the still > >has to be kept at 178degF. > >I am an electronics engineer and my company manufactures all sorts of > >automated controls using inexpensive PIC microcontrollers. > > > >My thoughts on keeping the teperature at 178Deg could be done like this, > and > >please let me know if this is workable and if so I will build the device to > >do it. > > > >Use a 24volt sprinkler system valve, they are ON/OFF and controlled by a > 24V > >signal. A processor could monitor the temp in the top of the column and at > >>178 it would open the valve and let cold water into the cooling coil. you > >could regulate the flow of water manually and keep it at a slow pace and > let > >the computer do the rest. > >The only thing I need to know is where would the temp sensor go? how far up > >the column? would the temp sensor actually touch the cooling coils or would > >it be better to just measure the air temp? > > > >Thanks > > > > > > > > > >Biofuel at Journey to Forever: > >http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html > >To unsubscribe, send an email to: > >[EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > > > > > > Biofuel at Journey to Forever: > http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html > To unsubscribe, send an email to: > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > -- eGroups Sponsor -~-~> eLerts It's Easy. It's Fun. Best of All, it's Free! http://click.egroups.com/1/9699/0/_/837408/_/977321199/ -_-> Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html To unsubscribe, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: [biofuel] Sugars
Some posts I delete, some I save and very few I print. Keiths recent mails on enzymes and sugars both got printed. Thanks. It's just the sort of thing needed both to get actual results and also to help explain to other potential exponents WHY the best way IS the best way. David Teal -- eGroups Sponsor -~-~> eGroups eLerts It's Easy. It's Fun. Best of All, it's Free! http://click.egroups.com/1/9698/0/_/837408/_/977319939/ -_-> Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html To unsubscribe, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: [biofuel] Re: Computer
it's a basic design, a fully developed design would need to cover maybe 2-300 variables, yes it's there, but you need the right address and the right time, it has to be reached through www.skaar.101main.net, if you try to reach the site through the ip number you will not get it, it would be someone else's ip by then. i'll be adding some stuff to it, but now i'm thinking about odd redesigns of diesel engines and floating seaweed rakes. i'll repeat the part about probe placement here. using two heat activated switches. i will give an example, one switch actuates at 95c, the other at 75c, the one that toggles at the higher temperature would be nearer the bottom of the column, the lower temp actuating one would be nearer the top. find the place that is 95c on the outside of the column, place a mark, make a mark about an inch lower. find the place that is 75c, make a mark 1 inch higher. the one on the bottom would close when it is colder than 95c, a signal through it should cause a valve to close allowing the temperature to rise, when the temp rose to nominal it would signal to the controller that operating temperature had been reached. the one on top would work the same way, but the signal would have to be inverted so that the controller would open the valve and stop the temperature rise. the controller and valve arrangement would control small variations in the temperature due to fuel increase or decrease, for instance if there was a brownout the temperature would drop slightly, or with a remote boiler a log gets tossed on the fire and rises the temp. the larger variations in temperature would be controlled with a bypass valve so the average temperature is maintained at near nominal. with incremental valves like the servo and stepper the design would need to flow constantly, being controlled by raising or lowering the flow amount. the pwm method would turn the valve on and off completely, but my method would use a voltage controlled timer, the kind that turns a light on for a few minutes and then off for a longer time, you would need to add a small pressure tank to keep the flow constant, working like a potable water pump to keep the pressure constant. the considerations in the design are basically the type of valve that can be obtained, the simplest ones to install are the water heat type that are used to control heating zones, the others must have custom frames built. the controller interfaces are however cheaper and simpler for the incremental valves. the pwm method requires a DAC, which might be included in the microcontroller but usually is added, then factor in the timer kit $20US. the servo one can be used with a controller that has the control method built in for the servo, the stepper method can sometimes be used with a controller that has its control method built in, but usually needs a separate chip. all three methods come out to the same price+difficulty amount. Keith Addison wrote: > Hi skaar > > >i stuck some stuff on my site a while back, it's mirrored on jtf > >somewhere. www.skaar.101main.net from 20:00 to 7:30 AST, it has a > >little bit on the placement of the temp probes. > > I took a copy, but wasn't sure it was your final version, and now I > can't find it on your site, is it still there? I can email you the > version I have with the diagram offlist, and if you confirm that's > it, then I'll upload it to the Journey to Forever site. > > Best > > Keith Addison > Journey to Forever > Handmade Projects > Tokyo > http://journeytoforever.org/ > > > eGroups Sponsor [Click Here!] > > Biofuel at Journey to Forever: > http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html > To unsubscribe, send an email to: > [EMAIL PROTECTED] it's a basic design, a fully developed design would need to cover maybe 2-300 variables, yes it's there, but you need the right address and the right time, it has to be reached through www.skaar.101main.net, if you try to reach the site through the ip number you will not get it, it would be someone else's ip by then. i'll be adding some stuff to it, but now i'm thinking about odd redesigns of diesel engines and floating seaweed rakes. i'll repeat the part about probe placement here. using two heat activated switches. i will give an example, one switch actuates at 95c, the other at 75c, the one that toggles at the higher temperature would be nearer the bottom of the column, the lower temp actuating one would be nearer the top. find the place that is 95c on the outside of the column, place a mark, make a mark about an inch lower. find the place that is 75c, make a mark 1 inch higher. the one on the bottom would close when it is colder than 95c, a signal through it should cause a valve to close allowing the temperature to rise, when the temp rose to nominal it would signal to the controller that operating temperature had been reached. the one on top would work the same way, but the signal would have to be inverted
[biofuel] Brewing resource
http://hubris.engin.umich.edu:8080/cgi-bin/dothread Thread searches of Brewing Mailing Lists Select searches of Home Brewers Digest, Judge, Lambic, Mead. 1988-2000 List of HBD searches to date. http://hubris.engin.umich.edu:80/Beer/Threads/Threads/ Example: Thread search of 1994 Homebrew Digest for "potato" http://hubris.engin.umich.edu:8080/Beer/Threads/Threads/thread.948841447.html Also, The Homebrew Digest: http://hbd.org/hbd/ * Read current Homebrew Digest * Read previous Homebrew Digest * Chronological Index * Search Homebrew Digests Keith Addison Journey to Forever Handmade Projects Tokyo http://journeytoforever.org/ -- eGroups Sponsor -~-~> Big News - eGroups is becoming Yahoo! Groups Click here for more details: http://click.egroups.com/1/10801/0/_/837408/_/977307589/ -_-> Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html To unsubscribe, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[biofuel] Re: sugarcane
Hi Stephen >We don't drive a whole lot of rabbits here anyways,and with the cost >of land here in the states,sugarcane will not cut it.ADM convinced >the big soda producers to sweeten with corn syrup years ago. Many of >the cane producing areas cut back or quit,and now grow other >crops.Or have been converted to housing tracts.stephen >ADM convinced the big soda producers to sweeten with corn syrup years ago. I think that had more to do with the corn surplus than with the real economics of sugarcane growing. Agribusiness giants like ADM (NOT a nice corporation) skew everything their way. I think Dick Carlstein's comparative figures might be more real. Best Keith Addison Journey to Forever Handmade Projects Tokyo http://journeytoforever.org/ -- eGroups Sponsor -~-~> Big News - eGroups is becoming Yahoo! Groups Click here for more details: http://click.egroups.com/1/10801/0/_/837408/_/977307613/ -_-> Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html To unsubscribe, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[biofuel] Sugars
SUGARS Glucose. Also known as dextrose. Two names for the same thing. A 6-carbon sugar (hexose) with the empirical formula C6H12O6. Dextrose. See above. Fructose. Also known as laevulose. A left-rotated isomer of glucose. A 6-carbon sugar Sucrose. A dimer (disaccharide). A combination of glucose and fructose with the empirical formula C12H22O11 (glucose + fructose - H2O) Isomers. Molecules with the same empirical formulae but different spatial arrangements of the -O and OH groups. Lactose. A dimer consisting of one molecule of glucose and one of galactose. Fructose syrup. A sweetener widely used in soft drinks, etc. Made from corn in 4 steps: Corn wet milling starch acid or enzyme glucose isomerization with enzyme fructose Starch. A polymer of glucose with alpha 1-4 linkages. The chains cannot pack together, water can enter, and the starch is water-soluble. Digestible by humans. Hydrolyzable with amylase enzymes. Cellulose. A polymer of glucose (typically 4- to 8,000 units) with b-1-4 linkages. Unlike starch, the spatial arrangement of the glucose units permit them to pack closely (crystallize) and prevent the entry of water. Cellulose consequently is insoluble and indigestible by humans. Can be hydrolyzed rapidly to glucose by strong mineral acid or (slowly) by a cellulase enzyme. Sweetness. Fructose: sucrose: glucose = 128:100:67 Fermentation. Sucrose. Ordinary yeast contains an enzyme which breaks down sucrose into glucose and fructose ready for fermentation. Lactose requires a special yeast to ferment it to alcohol. Chiefly used for production of vodka because there is no natural flavour. -- eGroups Sponsor -~-~> eLerts It's Easy. It's Fun. Best of All, it's Free! http://click.egroups.com/1/9699/0/_/837408/_/977307603/ -_-> Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html To unsubscribe, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[biofuel] Re: Computer
Hi skaar >i stuck some stuff on my site a while back, it's mirrored on jtf >somewhere. www.skaar.101main.net from 20:00 to 7:30 AST, it has a >little bit on the placement of the temp probes. I took a copy, but wasn't sure it was your final version, and now I can't find it on your site, is it still there? I can email you the version I have with the diagram offlist, and if you confirm that's it, then I'll upload it to the Journey to Forever site. Best Keith Addison Journey to Forever Handmade Projects Tokyo http://journeytoforever.org/ -- eGroups Sponsor -~-~> eLerts It's Easy. It's Fun. Best of All, it's Free! http://click.egroups.com/1/9699/0/_/837408/_/977307596/ -_-> Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html To unsubscribe, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[biofuel] Re: Big auto makers
>Hybrids,alternative fuels? I will belive when I see them. But I >won't hold my breath waiting for the big auto makers to do so. >Something everyone can afford.They have been kicking this around for >decades.Something is announced,there is a flurry of news,then? >nothing.stephen I share your skepticism Stephen, but in this case it's actually come a long way. The cars aren't on the market yet, but the cost gap - the difference between what the prototypes were costing and a marketable cost - has narrowed right down, and the performance has gone right up. Other vehicles are on the road now - the US Army is using them, and Steve just caught a hybrid bus in NYC! There's quite a lot of info here: http://journeytoforever.org/biodiesel_future.html There's also been a lot of skepticism about the big companies' efforts to market EVs, probably justified, but the new rules in California might change that. See "Car Makers Face Fuel Economy Fight", 19 Dec 2000. Best Keith Addison Journey to Forever Handmade Projects Tokyo http://journeytoforever.org/ -- eGroups Sponsor -~-~> eGroups eLerts It's Easy. It's Fun. Best of All, it's Free! http://click.egroups.com/1/9698/0/_/837408/_/977307595/ -_-> Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html To unsubscribe, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[biofuel] On enzymes
From The Homebrew Digest Date: Fri, 30 Jul 1999 15:37:24 -0400 From: "Stephen Alexander" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> http://hubris.engin.umich.edu:8080/Beer/Threads/Threads/thread.973554365.html I think a little enzyme note is in order. Enzymes are proteins, and are created in a nearly direct transcription process from DNA to RNA to protein. Enzymes and their remarkable catalytic activity are a primary expression of genes. These long strings of amino acids are have extremely complex shape or conformation. They form spirals like DNA and amylose, but also fold and turn sharply. They forms weak molecular bonds between the folds. The various amino acids have distinct electrical properties and so along the length of the protein the electrical potential varies. The internal electrical attractions also determines the shape of these ribbons of amino acid. Enzymes just speed up reactions, they are not used up, nor do they supply energy. They just make reactions which are already happening very slowly, suddenly happen much faster. Imagine a billiard table without pockets (where would the physical sciences be without billiard analogies?). The lowest energy state for the ball is on the floor, while the table is a higher potential energy state. The balls usually stay on the table during normal play, because they don't have the energy to make it over the bumper. If you supply a lot of kinetic energy then once in a long while a ball goes over the bumper and hits the floor. Adding enzymes is like lowering the bumper height. No energy is added to the balls, but the rate of change from high to low energy state is vastly increased. Hydrolytic enzymes [amylases, glucanases proteases and peptidases in malt] require substrate (starch, protein etc) AND WATER. Water is a key reactant in the breakdown process. The hydrolysis reaction breaks a chemical bond in starch, for example, and one side of the broken bond gets a hydrogen (H) from water, while the other side gets the hydroxyl group (OH). So busting up all the bonds in your malt actually uses up a little water. Next we need to consider the kinetic energy amongst the molecules. The amount of energy needed to tear apart a protein or starch molecule is extremely high - like having billiard table bumpers a foot high. When enzymes are added the energies required drop by a factor of 2 to 10, but they are still much higher than the typical energy of a molecule at room temp. For example a particular peroxidase enzyme lowers the 'bumper' energy from 76kJ/mol to 30kJ/mol. But at room temperature the average molecule has only about 3-4kJ/mol, and raising the temperature by 10C increases the average kinetic energy by less than 2%. Fortunately the energy is not evenly distributed between the molecules. A small, but appreciable number of molecules carry the requisite 30kJ/mol for the reaction above, and many orders of magnitude fewer carry the 76kJ/m needed for the non-enzymatic reaction. Also the number of these very high energy molecules increases almost exponentially with temperature, leading to the familiar rule of thumb that many reaction rates double per 10C temp increase. There are other factors which make this rule imprecise, but the main points are that the number of reactions with sufficient energy is vastly increased (often by a factor of 10^6 to 10^10) by the presence of enzymes. Also that this number roughly doubles per 10C increase in our domain of interest (20C to 100C). If you bring together water, substrate and enzyme - all in the right orientation and conformation, with sufficient kinetic energy, the hydrolysis breakdown occurs. But at what rate ? TEMPERATURE: As we have seen, temperature increases cause an almost exponential increase in the number of collision in which the reaction might happen. So temperature is a major factor. Instead of increasing at 2X per 10C as a simple analysis would suggest, enzyme reaction rates typically increase from 1.2X up to 3X per 10C. CONCENTRATION: The reactant concentrations impact the reaction rate. Given a solution of amylase enzyme, an increasing amylose concentration at first causes a near linear increase in reaction rate, but eventually when enough amylose substrate is added the enzyme is effectively 'saturated' and can react no more quickly. The curve this represents and the equations that fall out of this observation are attributed to Michaelis and Menten of almost a century past. (see crude graph below) REACTION RATE | |_- - Vmax |. | ` |/ | - | / | / _/___ reactant concentration Water is a reactant in our mashes too, but since it is also our solvent the matter is a bit confusing to think about. For a *fixed* concentration of amylase and amylose, increasing the water concentration results in a curve similar to the one above. However if we just add water
[biofuel] Re: cores
Why not spend the time cutting 1/4" or 3/8" type "M" copper tube into 3/8" or 1/2" lengths? Radiator cores are thin when new, and thinner,corroded, and full of scale and crude,when used.You would probably spend the same amount of time.stephen Why not use potscrubbers? Keith Addison Journey to Forever Handmade Projects Tokyo http://journeytoforever.org/
[biofuel] Alternative diesel fuel - sugar
Mindaugas posted this url previously, here's the full story: http://www.urc.ukans.edu/News/96N/NovNews/Nov05/diesel.html Alternative diesel fuel November 5, 1996 Science KU RESEARCHER ADDS A DOSE OF SUGAR TO DIESEL FUEL LAWRENCE - A recipe for an alternative diesel fuel using agriculture resources found in Kansas begins with a liberal dose of something not normally used in engine fuels - sugar. The primary goal of a University of Kansas researcher is to demonstrate technology that can convert grass, stalks, trash, farm byproducts, surplus grains and corn stover - corn stalks without the ears - into sugar for use as the primary component in fuel for diesel engines. "It's not a question of if sugar will work," said Galen Suppes, assistant professor of chemical and petroleum engineering. "It's only a question of when these fuels will be less expensive than diesel fuels." Suppes estimates that this alternative fuel using sugars "costs considerably less than ethanol or methanol made from biomass and should cost less than diesel." "We know the technology is there to convert many forms of biomass to sugars," Suppes said. "In fact, we are developing technology to give these fuels exceptional fuel quality. The problem is one of perception - of using sugar as the primary component of a fuel recipe." In fact, he said, KU researchers have already made these fuels run in conventional diesel engines. Tests have been so successful that a provisional patent application has been filed with the U.S. Patent Office on the fuel mixtures, with a final patent application expected to be filed this summer. "It's better to plan ahead and work with engine manufacturers and develop engines which can use both conventional and alternative diesel fuels," he said. According to Suppes, you normally can't use sugar in a gas engine. "Gas engines have injectors and carburetors that rely on fuel evaporating, and sugar doesn't evaporate," he said. Diesel engines are different, he said, because the fuel is sprayed into the cylinder at very high temperatures, where it evaporates, burns and ignites before it can solidify. "Placing sugar directly into diesel fuel would also foul up the system," Suppes said. "But put sugar in a soluble mixture, and you have a viable alternative fuel." In fact, research shows that a diesel fuel composed of nearly 15 percent water, 20 percent to 30 percent methanol or ethanol, and 50 percent to 75 percent syrup - water and sugar - is an attractive recipe for the fuel. What is missing from the equation is the proper amount of cetane improver. Cetane numbers rate the ignition properties of diesel fuels, just as octane numbers determine the quality and value of gasoline. A recent diesel engine test at KU was successful using a fuel mixture of 54 percent syrup - 7.5 grams water and 46.5 grams of sugar; 8 percent cetane improver; and 38 percent methanol. "The demonstration of a fuel comprised of greater than 50 percent syrup was a significant research milestone," Suppes said. "It will be easier to improve upon this fuel than it was to make the initial demonstration. We intend to meet the goal of being less expensive than diesel for select markets by 2005." Researchers at KU have developed a combuster, a device to estimate cetane numbers. By blending and synthesizing fuels and additives, they evaluate the cetane numbers in the combuster. Once a desirable fuel blend is found, it is tested in a laboratory engine. Funding for cetane-improver research into conventional diesel fuel comes from the Kansas Soybean Commission, the KU Energy Research Center and the Kansas Value Added Center. Suppes said a partnership initiated between the U.S. government and Ford, Chrysler and General Motors expected diesel engines to replace gas engines by 2010. "Economically competitive fuels and fuel additives could provide a large source of revenue and new jobs in Kansas," he said. "Surplus grain commodities could be used in these biofuel markets to eliminate the reductions in grain prices which occur during years of high and record production." Suppes also suspects that such markets could double the net farm income of farmers and lead to sustainable prosperity in rural Kansas. Story by Dann Hayes, (785) 864-8854 -30- To KU University Relations' Home Page | To KU News | To KUfacts | To KU Home Page This site is maintained by University Relations, the public relations office for the University of Kansas Lawrence campus. Copyright 1996, the University of Kansas Office of University Relations. Images and information may be reused with notice of copyright, but not altered. [EMAIL PROTECTED], (785) 864-3256. -- eGroups Sponsor -~-~> eGroups eLerts It's Easy. It's Fun. Best of All, it's Free! http://click.egroups.com/1/9698/0/_/837408/_/977307587/ -_-> Bio
Re: [biofuel] lazers & water cutters
could build your own laser cutter, it's not all that difficult. if you know someone who does neon signs it's even easier to get it done. stephen lakios wrote: > There are wood cutting lazers for $30,000 and up. Lazers are wonderful > close up,but as you draw away,power and size must be increased. Which > increases costs,ect to a point.Then it changes from a cutting-burning > tool to a concentrated light beam, for guidance,measurement,reading > ect.There was a place in santa ana, ca. were you could rent time on > one for $150 an hour, after a lawsuit that ended. One of my nephews > does high pressure plasma cutting.I forgot the name of the process. > But it aint cheap either baby.He charges $125 an hour,and would not > allow anyone to touch his machines.I could imagine the look on his > face, if someone asked him to cut radiator cores.He uses his to cut > out broken,corroded,and rusted bolts upto 3" in diameter.stephen > > > eGroups Sponsor [Click Here!] > > Biofuel at Journey to Forever: > http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html > To unsubscribe, send an email to: > [EMAIL PROTECTED] could build your own laser cutter, it's not all that difficult. if you know someone who does neon signs it's even easier to get it done. stephen lakios wrote: There are wood cutting lazers for $30,000 and up. Lazers are wonderful close up,but as you draw away,power and size must be increased. Which increases costs,ect to a point.Then it changes from a cutting-burning tool to a concentrated light beam, for guidance,measurement,reading ect.There was a place in santa ana, ca. were you could rent time on one for $150 an hour, after a lawsuit that ended. One of my nephews does high pressure plasma cutting.I forgot the name of the process. But it aint cheap either baby.He charges $125 an hour,and would not allow anyone to touch his machines.I could imagine the look on his face, if someone asked him to cut radiator cores.He uses his to cut out broken,corroded,and rusted bolts upto 3" in diameter.stephen Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html To unsubscribe, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Related: :Handmade:C-\WINDOWS\TEMP\nsmail66.gif:0005C115:4A7ADDBF::
Re: [biofuel] seaweed
the urchins here are taken wild by divers. the irish moss by rake, for carageenan. seaweed is a large availability wild plant here, i could build a diesel powered low damage harvester to attach to a boat. so how exactly does a seaweed digester work? stephen lakios wrote: > I harvested seaweed off the oxnard coast,first by hand, then a sort of > under water mower and conveyor.Very hard work by hand.The boat owner > had a contract to suppy a land based sea urchin farm. They were grown > in tanks.The "caviar" was shipped to japan. I know that seaweed works > very well in a digester. But I do not know of any used for > ethanol.stephen > > > eGroups Sponsor [Click Here!] > > Biofuel at Journey to Forever: > http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html > To unsubscribe, send an email to: > [EMAIL PROTECTED] the urchins here are taken wild by divers. the irish moss by rake, for carageenan. seaweed is a large availability wild plant here, i could build a diesel powered low damage harvester to attach to a boat. so how exactly does a seaweed digester work? stephen lakios wrote: I harvested seaweed off the oxnard coast,first by hand, then a sort of under water mower and conveyor.Very hard work by hand.The boat owner had a contract to suppy a land based sea urchin farm. They were grown in tanks.The "caviar" was shipped to japan. I know that seaweed works very well in a digester. But I do not know of any used for ethanol.stephen Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html To unsubscribe, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Related: :Handmade:C-\WINDOWS\TEMP\nsmailTT.gif:0005C114:0311D3C6::
[biofuel] lazers & water cutters
There are wood cutting lazers for $30,000 and up. Lazers are wonderful close up,but as you draw away,power and size must be increased. Which increases costs,ect to a point.Then it changes from a cutting-burning tool to a concentrated light beam, for guidance,measurement,reading ect.There was a place in santa ana, ca. were you could rent time on one for $150 an hour, after a lawsuit that ended. One of my nephews does high pressure plasma cutting.I forgot the name of the process. But it aint cheap either baby.He charges $125 an hour,and would not allow anyone to touch his machines.I could imagine the look on his face, if someone asked him to cut radiator cores.He uses his to cut out broken,corroded,and rusted bolts upto 3" in diameter.stephen eGroups Sponsor Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html To unsubscribe, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[biofuel] seaweed
I harvested seaweed off the oxnard coast,first by hand, then a sort of under water mower and conveyor.Very hard work by hand.The boat owner had a contract to suppy a land based sea urchin farm. They were grown in tanks.The "caviar" was shipped to japan. I know that seaweed works very well in a digester. But I do not know of any used for ethanol.stephen eGroups Sponsor Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html To unsubscribe, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: [biofuel] Big auto makers
us smart people getting into this stuff early will be left intact when the next really big fuel crisis hits. for sure i'm gonna use it in my next boat, current is sail only. we are on the forefront, and we will be the only ones to be self sufficient if something really bad happens. besides the local environment, world environment is an important consideration in everyday life now, soon the laws will make it uneconomical to keep using such wasteful fuels as gasoline. electric cars are not viable in the near term, hybrids will be, but they are currently too expensive to be given serious thought. my personal view for the immediate future is that only experimenters with scrounging skills will be able to use alternate fuels. the current state is evident to me as a paltry attempt to save some cash and maybe as an afterthought the environment. until the government allows us alt-fuel experimenters a larger theatre of exposure we will not have an opportunity to turn our little cobbled together engine conversions and small scale fuel plants into a local industry in all parts of the world. if i can get seaweed to convert to a fuel i will have a really good supply, most people in rural areas can find something to turn into fuel, corn, molasses, potatoes, almost anything with sugars of some sort. having a large supply in reserve for the possibility of going into business and having a supply that will last 5 years before having to start making more means that the seller will have time to stabilize the business and advertise. of course it will take a long time to "build brand", so that a small supply will last a long time till demand rises. stephen lakios wrote: > Hybrids,alternative fuels? I will belive when I see them. But I won't > hold my breath waiting for the big auto makers to do so. Something > everyone can afford.They have been kicking this around for > decades.Something is announced,there is a flurry of news,then? > nothing.stephen > > > eGroups Sponsor [Click Here!] > > Biofuel at Journey to Forever: > http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html > To unsubscribe, send an email to: > [EMAIL PROTECTED] us smart people getting into this stuff early will be left intact when the next really big fuel crisis hits. for sure i'm gonna use it in my next boat, current is sail only. we are on the forefront, and we will be the only ones to be self sufficient if something really bad happens. besides the local environment, world environment is an important consideration in everyday life now, soon the laws will make it uneconomical to keep using such wasteful fuels as gasoline. electric cars are not viable in the near term, hybrids will be, but they are currently too expensive to be given serious thought. my personal view for the immediate future is that only experimenters with scrounging skills will be able to use alternate fuels. the current state is evident to me as a paltry attempt to save some cash and maybe as an afterthought the environment. until the government allows us alt-fuel experimenters a larger theatre of exposure we will not have an opportunity to turn our little cobbled together engine conversions and small scale fuel plants into a local industry in all parts of the world. if i can get seaweed to convert to a fuel i will have a really good supply, most people in rural areas can find something to turn into fuel, corn, molasses, potatoes, almost anything with sugars of some sort. having a large supply in reserve for the possibility of going into business and having a supply that will last 5 years before having to start making more means that the seller will have time to stabilize the business and advertise. of course it will take a long time to "build brand", so that a small supply will last a long time till demand rises. stephen lakios wrote: Hybrids,alternative fuels? I will belive when I see them. But I won't hold my breath waiting for the big auto makers to do so. Something everyone can afford.They have been kicking this around for decades.Something is announced,there is a flurry of news,then? nothing.stephen Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html To unsubscribe, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Related: :Handmade:C-\WINDOWS\TEMP\nsmailFU.gif:0005C111:37F84A5C::
[biofuel] Big auto makers
Hybrids,alternative fuels? I will belive when I see them. But I won't hold my breath waiting for the big auto makers to do so. Something everyone can afford.They have been kicking this around for decades.Something is announced,there is a flurry of news,then? nothing.stephen eGroups Sponsor Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html To unsubscribe, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[biofuel] cores
Why not spend the time cutting 1/4" or 3/8" type "M" copper tube into 3/8" or 1/2" lengths? Radiator cores are thin when new, and thinner,corroded, and full of scale and crude,when used.You would probably spend the same amount of time.stephen eGroups Sponsor Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html To unsubscribe, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[biofuel] Re: Jeff's Web Page
Hi Keith, >Nice truck, Jeff. Have you seen this? >http://www.gengas.nu/byggbes/index.shtml Yes I have seen this. I plan on building one in 2001. This time I have a digital camera and a web page, should be fun! Later Jeff www.jeff-davis.com -- eGroups Sponsor -~-~> Big News - eGroups is becoming Yahoo! Groups Click here for more details: http://click.egroups.com/1/10801/0/_/837408/_/977289829/ -_-> Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html To unsubscribe, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: [biofuel] sugarcane
i know seaweed is salty, but how much sugar and starch is in it, i could get maybe 20-30 metric tons a year by myself, by hand. stephen lakios wrote: > We don't drive a whole lot of rabbits here anyways,and with the cost > of land here in the states,sugarcane will not cut it.ADM convinced the > big soda producers to sweeten with corn syrup years ago. Many of the > cane producing areas cut back or quit,and now grow other crops.Or have > been converted to housing tracts.stephen > > > eGroups Sponsor [Click Here!] > > Biofuel at Journey to Forever: > http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html > To unsubscribe, send an email to: > [EMAIL PROTECTED] i know seaweed is salty, but how much sugar and starch is in it, i could get maybe 20-30 metric tons a year by myself, by hand. stephen lakios wrote: We don't drive a whole lot of rabbits here anyways,and with the cost of land here in the states,sugarcane will not cut it.ADM convinced the big soda producers to sweeten with corn syrup years ago. Many of the cane producing areas cut back or quit,and now grow other crops.Or have been converted to housing tracts.stephen Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html To unsubscribe, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Related: :Handmade:C-\WINDOWS\TEMP\nsmailTE.gif:0005BCBF:61E92E2F::
[biofuel] sugarcane
We don't drive a whole lot of rabbits here anyways,and with the cost of land here in the states,sugarcane will not cut it.ADM convinced the big soda producers to sweeten with corn syrup years ago. Many of the cane producing areas cut back or quit,and now grow other crops.Or have been converted to housing tracts.stephen eGroups Sponsor Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html To unsubscribe, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[biofuel] biofuel computer
Why use a 24v sprinler system valve? Had not thought of these and do not know how they actually work. I use a 24v solenoid valve that is off or on. What is the difference? B.r., David eGroups Sponsor Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html To unsubscribe, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: [biofuel] Computer
i stuck some stuff on my site a while back, it's mirrored on jtf somewhere. www.skaar.101main.net from 20:00 to 7:30 AST, it has a little bit on the placement of the temp probes. Global Energies wrote: > Hi, I'm new to this ethanol thing but have been reading this group for > a > while. I have a few things I would like to know. > > With the reflux still like the stillmaker I understand the top of the > still > has to be kept at 178degF. > I am an electronics engineer and my company manufactures all sorts of > automated controls using inexpensive PIC microcontrollers. > > My thoughts on keeping the teperature at 178Deg could be done like > this, and > please let me know if this is workable and if so I will build the > device to > do it. > > Use a 24volt sprinkler system valve, they are ON/OFF and controlled by > a 24V > signal. A processor could monitor the temp in the top of the column > and at > >178 it would open the valve and let cold water into the cooling coil. > you > could regulate the flow of water manually and keep it at a slow pace > and let > the computer do the rest. > The only thing I need to know is where would the temp sensor go? how > far up > the column? would the temp sensor actually touch the cooling coils or > would > it be better to just measure the air temp? > > Thanks > > > > eGroups Sponsor [Click Here!] > > Biofuel at Journey to Forever: > http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html > To unsubscribe, send an email to: > [EMAIL PROTECTED] i stuck some stuff on my site a while back, it's mirrored on jtf somewhere. www.skaar.101main.net from 20:00 to 7:30 AST, it has a little bit on the placement of the temp probes. Global Energies wrote: Hi, I'm new to this ethanol thing but have been reading this group for a while. I have a few things I would like to know. With the reflux still like the stillmaker I understand the top of the still has to be kept at 178degF. I am an electronics engineer and my company manufactures all sorts of automated controls using inexpensive PIC microcontrollers. My thoughts on keeping the teperature at 178Deg could be done like this, and please let me know if this is workable and if so I will build the device to do it. Use a 24volt sprinkler system valve, they are ON/OFF and controlled by a 24V signal. A processor could monitor the temp in the top of the column and at >178 it would open the valve and let cold water into the cooling coil. you could regulate the flow of water manually and keep it at a slow pace and let the computer do the rest. The only thing I need to know is where would the temp sensor go? how far up the column? would the temp sensor actually touch the cooling coils or would it be better to just measure the air temp? Thanks Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html To unsubscribe, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Related: :Handmade:C-\WINDOWS\TEMP\nsmailOU.gif:0005BBAE:406B8AB3::
[biofuel] Re: Computer
Have a look here, simple analogue solution. http://www.shortcircuit.com.au/EVCA/tcc.htm --- In biofuel@egroups.com, "Global Energies" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Hi, I'm new to this ethanol thing but have been reading this group for a > while. I have a few things I would like to know. > > With the reflux still like the stillmaker I understand the top of the still > has to be kept at 178degF. > I am an electronics engineer and my company manufactures all sorts of > automated controls using inexpensive PIC microcontrollers. > > My thoughts on keeping the teperature at 178Deg could be done like this, and > please let me know if this is workable and if so I will build the device to > do it. > > Use a 24volt sprinkler system valve, they are ON/OFF and controlled by a 24V > signal. A processor could monitor the temp in the top of the column and at > >178 it would open the valve and let cold water into the cooling coil. you > could regulate the flow of water manually and keep it at a slow pace and let > the computer do the rest. > The only thing I need to know is where would the temp sensor go? how far up > the column? would the temp sensor actually touch the cooling coils or would > it be better to just measure the air temp? > > Thanks -- eGroups Sponsor -~-~> eLerts It's Easy. It's Fun. Best of All, it's Free! http://click.egroups.com/1/9699/0/_/837408/_/977274059/ -_-> Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html To unsubscribe, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: [biofuel] Computer
Why use a 24v sprinkler system valve? Had not thought of these and do not know how they actually work. I use a 24v solenoid valve that is off or on. What is the difference? B.r., David -Original Message- From: Global Energies <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: biofuel@egroups.com Date: Wednesday, December 20, 2000 11:16 AM Subject: [biofuel] Computer >Hi, I'm new to this ethanol thing but have been reading this group for a >while. I have a few things I would like to know. > >With the reflux still like the stillmaker I understand the top of the still >has to be kept at 178degF. >I am an electronics engineer and my company manufactures all sorts of >automated controls using inexpensive PIC microcontrollers. > >My thoughts on keeping the teperature at 178Deg could be done like this, and >please let me know if this is workable and if so I will build the device to >do it. > >Use a 24volt sprinkler system valve, they are ON/OFF and controlled by a 24V >signal. A processor could monitor the temp in the top of the column and at >>178 it would open the valve and let cold water into the cooling coil. you >could regulate the flow of water manually and keep it at a slow pace and let >the computer do the rest. >The only thing I need to know is where would the temp sensor go? how far up >the column? would the temp sensor actually touch the cooling coils or would >it be better to just measure the air temp? > >Thanks > > > > >Biofuel at Journey to Forever: >http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html >To unsubscribe, send an email to: >[EMAIL PROTECTED] > > -- eGroups Sponsor -~-~> eGroups eLerts It's Easy. It's Fun. Best of All, it's Free! http://click.egroups.com/1/9698/0/_/837408/_/977273041/ -_-> Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html To unsubscribe, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[biofuel] Computer
Hi, I'm new to this ethanol thing but have been reading this group for a while. I have a few things I would like to know. With the reflux still like the stillmaker I understand the top of the still has to be kept at 178degF. I am an electronics engineer and my company manufactures all sorts of automated controls using inexpensive PIC microcontrollers. My thoughts on keeping the teperature at 178Deg could be done like this, and please let me know if this is workable and if so I will build the device to do it. Use a 24volt sprinkler system valve, they are ON/OFF and controlled by a 24V signal. A processor could monitor the temp in the top of the column and at >178 it would open the valve and let cold water into the cooling coil. you could regulate the flow of water manually and keep it at a slow pace and let the computer do the rest. The only thing I need to know is where would the temp sensor go? how far up the column? would the temp sensor actually touch the cooling coils or would it be better to just measure the air temp? Thanks -- eGroups Sponsor -~-~> eLerts It's Easy. It's Fun. Best of All, it's Free! http://click.egroups.com/1/9699/0/_/837408/_/977264150/ -_-> Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html To unsubscribe, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[biofuel] Re radiator cores
John, Further to your e-mail have given your idea of using paddy melons a bit more thought and think this may not be such a good idea after all. Dont let me put you off altogether and at least try them but suspect the carbohydrate level is probably only round the 5% level. This means to get 1 tonne of carbo you will need to harvest 20 tonnes of paddy melons and I seriously doubt that labour and transport for these would pay. Most melons and even the ones we eat are more than 90% water and less than 9% carbo. eg. canteloupe are almost 90 water and just over 8% carbo, and honeydew which have the highest carbo to my knowledge are 89% water and 9% carbo. Suggest you check out the true levels before proceeding further. All the best. B.r., David eGroups Sponsor Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html To unsubscribe, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[biofuel] Re radiator cores etc
Am in the recycling game so have a ready supply of near new radiators albeitslightly bent. Which first started me thinking along these lines.Cant yet find a laser cutter in Perth but there must be one here somewhere. John sounds to me as if you dont need a lot of help and can probably fairly quickly sought things out. If you can get almost new radiators all the better. Laser cutting machines tend to start around the 300,000 to 400,000 mark and very quickly go up to 3/4 million. They are generally used in the engineering indusry for cutting out repititious complex and more simpler modular components. On small panel work they can cut within 0.1mm so are extremely precise and come into their own when someone wants hundreds of components all the same shape and size. At the prices above there is not many of them around. Try some of the larger engineering firms around Perth who may be able to put you on to one. One or two of the larger ss suppliers may have one or be able to put you on to one. Or ring a welding gas supplier like BOC Gas or AirLiquide as I think its argon they use. Another thought is the really high pressure water cutters ss sheet metal suppliers use. Heat for the still will be from a heatpump driven by a 10 horse honda motorrunning on biogas.will be very much a trial and error affair but should workOK. Sounds interesting and looks like your on to it Have all the control gear as long as my programming for the PLC holds upIts interesting writing programs when you are not sure what you want toachieve!! If you have someone you can run an idea past and who is good at the same thing you will be able to quickly decide what you want to do and be able to do it. So often I see situations where one guy is brilliant at what he does and something has come to a grinding halt because he cant find the time to sort out minor design or programming problems as all his time is required to run the business and it all has to wait until he can find the time.The most readily available form of fermentation stock here is cereal grainswhich I will fall back on If I cant get a consistant supply of householdbiodegradeables that I can find a treatment for. The other thing here atthistime of year is acres of paddy melons (Cucurbitaceae,Citrullus,lanatus)whichareinedible (or at least very bitter) melons about 75 to 100mm diameter. willhave to run a batch through the hammer mill and see if they ferment.Have looked at the Ag sites that I can find and can't find a guide to sugarcontent or type in the melons. Guess if I get a packet of the yeast forwatermelonwine It should work. Ring your local dept of Agriculture and ask at a high enough level and someone is sure to know or be able to put you on to someone who does. You may need need enzymes to help break them down Like most problems the answer is in thinking laterally. Good luck with your efforts. Let us know how you get on. B.r., David eGroups Sponsor Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html To unsubscribe, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: [biofuel] Re: Radiator cores
mind telling us what the plc does in your still? John Harris wrote: > On Tue, 19 Dec 2000 05:12:14 +1300 > "DAVID REID" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Wrote > >John, > > Will probably work well on this size column. A few words of > advice > >though and a few questions. Dont expect a long life out of the cores > so > dont > >spend a lot of money on them. I say this from experience as owning a > number > >of old cars over the years and recoring the radiators because most of > the > >motors have not been too brilliant and tend to run too hot, have > found the > >recored radiators do not last too long with constant heat changes. > Also > >modern cores arnt as good as older ones as everything is now made to > a > price > >and they arnt designed to last. > >If using pressure to clean these out use very low pressure or you > will > >damage them and bend and distort the fins closing some of them up, > and > >quickly causing channeling. > >Make sure you use insulation on the column at least. Good solid > rubber > >underlay fixed with masking tape and/or danband (blue nylon > strapping) and > >appropriate buckles pulled up tight do a good job and are cheap > >Rod through the centre and perforated plate washers (Approx 1/4" > holes > >covering at least 1/3 of the area)at either end will help > tremendously. Use > >threaded rod and put a nut either side of washer plate. > >Look through yellow pages and find radiator manufacturers and give > them a > >call to source radiator core material. Try to use as good a core > material > as > >you can easily and cheaply get. Maybe you can even obtain new damaged > cores > >to cut the rounds out of. (Will definitely last longer). Old ones are > on > the > >way out due to metal fatigue due to continuous temperature changes. > >Also try Holden as a likely source. Ring around the radiator > rebuilders as > a > >last resort > >Column should be at least 6' (72" or 1830mm) long minimum and > preferably at > >least 9' (108" or 2750mm). A good rule of thumb and one the old > timers > used > >to use was 20 times the diameter for the length.( = approx 120" or > say 3 > M). > >Even at 15 times this equals 7'-4" (88" or say 2250mm). > >I dont know about your 10 x 2" This only equals 20" . More like 40 > required > >I think although you may be able to cut the length and number down. > >Personally I wouldnt go below the 15 x figure for the length. Again > as I > >said above make sure you insulate the column properly. A double layer > will > >work even better minimising heat energy losses. The first layer > insulates > >and holds the heat, the second stops it radiating it out > >How are you intending to heat the still by the way, electricity, gas, > waste > >oil or wood? This is critical as it is this cost that will quickly > >determine wether the project is a success or failure. Also what are > you > >using for your fermentation stock? > >I can probably sell you a very good, precise, and accurate controller > > >shortly (probably about 5 to 6 weeks away) if you need one at > realistic > cost > >which we have just finished the design of for my own stills that I > intend > to > >put out shortly. (just in process of finishing and testing > prototype). > >Good luck with your efforts . Again as previously mentioned I would > use > >laser cutting for your discs. These are expensive machines so the > price is > >likely to be expensive but it is the only thing that will do a good > job. Do > >yourself a favour and ring around. Explain what you are trying to do > and > who > >knows at this time of year you might find someone who catches the > xmas > >spirit and is prepared to help. If you need more help please ask. > >B.r., David > > Thanks once again David for advice. > > Am in the recycling game so have a ready supply of near new radiators > albeit > slightly bent. Which first started me thinking along these lines. > Cant yet find a laser cutter in Perth but there must be one here > somewhere. > > Heat for the still will be from a heatpump driven by a 10 horse honda > motor > running on biogas.will be very much a trial and error affair but > should work > OK. > Have all the control gear as long as my programming for the PLC holds > up > Its interesting writing programs when you are not sure what you want > to > achieve!! > > The most readily available form of fermentation stock here is cereal > grains > which I will fall back on If I cant get a consistant supply of > household > biodegradeables that I can find a treatment for. The other thing here > at > this > time of year is acres of paddy melons > (Cucurbitaceae,Citrullus,lanatus)which > are > inedible (or at least very bitter) melons about 75 to 100mm diameter. > will > have to run a batch through the hammer mill and see if they ferment. > Have looked at the Ag sites that I can find and can't find a guide to > sugar > content or type in the melons. Guess if I get a packet of the yeast > for > watermelon > wine It should work. > > Thanks
[biofuel] Diesel Trucks and Buses Not Pulling Weight for Clean Air
Diesel Trucks and Buses Not Pulling Weight for Clean Air UCS designs a cleaner big rig, offers plan to end era of rolling smokestacks As oil companies, large-engine manufacturers, and their allies in Congress work to derail the Clinton administration's proposal to clean up diesel trucks and buses, a new report from the Union of Concerned Scientists shows that big rigs pose an immense, disproportionate threat to human health and the environment. The study also offers affordable solutions, including a design for a cleaner truck and market incentives to spur development of a new generation of trucks and buses. "Trucks and buses are monster polluters," said Jason Mark, Transportation Program director at UCS and lead author of "Rolling Smokestacks: Cleaning Up America's Trucks and Buses." "From school buses in our neighborhoods to eighteen-wheelers on the highway, diesel rigs are a serious cancer and clean air threat." Although trucks account for under 6 percent of the miles driven by highway vehicles in the United States, they are responsible for one- quarter of the smog-producing pollution from highway vehicles, over half the soot from highway traffic, the majority of the cancer threat posed by air pollution in some urban areas, 6 percent of the nation's global warming pollution, and over one-tenth of America's oil consumption. The UCS report lays out a design for a cleaner big rig, one that slashes air pollution tenfold while doubling efficiency. The report also maps the way to eliminating diesel from urban areas where the added health protection offered by alternative fuels and advanced technologies is a necessity. UCS's engineers estimate that implementing a national green truck strategy would offer the following gains over "business-as-usual" efforts by 2030: prevent one-quarter of a million tons of toxic soot emissions, eliminate over 60 million cars-worth of smog-producing exhaust, allow truck travel to double without increasing oil demand, and reduce global warming pollution by 26 percent. The Environmental Protection Agency's recently proposed diesel engine regulations require that emissions from new trucks show a 95 percent reduction in smog-producing nitrogen oxides over current levels and a 90 percent reduction of soot. The rule would also require oil companies to remove 97 percent of the sulfur in diesel fuel. A final decision is expected before the end of the year. "The stakes are high for our health and air," said Michelle Robinson, UCS senior advocate. "The administration must stand tall against the oil and engine companies' attempts to undermine the new diesel standards." http://www.ucsusa.org/ -- eGroups Sponsor -~-~> eLerts It's Easy. It's Fun. Best of All, it's Free! http://click.egroups.com/1/9699/0/_/837408/_/977250483/ -_-> Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html To unsubscribe, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[biofuel] Fwd: Media Release - Ethanol - Aust'
--- In [EMAIL PROTECTED], "Don Johnston" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: Ethanol Sweetens Australia's Changing Fuel Policy. Don Johnston of Environmental Petroleum Systems, a Melbourne based specialist contractor recently installed a revolutionary underground FRP Storage Tank for Ethanol. Environmental Petroleum Systems (EPS) in conjunction with Envirotank Pty Limited devised a Fibre Glass tank, using specialist resins for the Storage of Ethanol. Don Said "The tank design, materials and manufacturing processes undertaken for Australia's first tank for this process shows that Australia is in the forefront with global best practice in environmentally sound hardware for dangerous goods storage and handling". EPS further source'd Australian manufactured pumping equipment which was fabricated into a normal Fuel Dispenser cabinet. Spill containment equipment was fitted to the tank and all pipe work is specially lined, flexible polyethylene which is totally resistant to corrosion. Don, who moderates an Global Internet Dangerous Goods Network from Australia said that interest had been shown from as far away as South Africa, UK and the US on the Network. He said "Having specialist people around the world showing a vital interest in this first installation in Australia was indicative of the global interest in Ethanol as a substitute fuel and the equipment needed to safely store and handle Ethanol" Don was impressed by the level of commitment that Ventura Bus Lines, and their Fleet Engineer, Mr. Ian Bourke, showed in the development of the system. This revolutionary system was installed in Melbourne to service Ventura Bus Lines new ethanol powered bus's which transports 200,000 commuters in Melbourne's eastern and southeastern suburbs. These are Australia's first pure ethanol fueled buses, and are expected to have a positive effect on rural sugar belt communities that produce 110 million liters of ethanol annually. When ignited in the purpose built Scania engines, greenhouse emissions from ethanol are substantially less than from petrol or diesel. In addition, ethanol, unlike fossil fuels, is totally renewable. Ethanol fuel is made from molasses, a byproduct of sugar milling, and is used extensively in Europe to fuel large vehicles. "With the average bus consuming 60,000 liters of fuel a year, these new services are going a long way toward reducing pollution and greenhouse emissions in the city and giving Australian farmers a boost as well," said Dr. Sharman Stone, Parliamentary Secretary to Environment Minister Robert Hill. Environmental Petroleum Systems PO Box 5080, Cheltenham. Victoria. Australia 3192 Ph 613 9583 0369 Mob 0419 321 998 "Dangerous Goods Listserver" Subscribe at: http://www.onelist.com/subscribe/DangerousGoods "Petroliana Australia Listserver" Subscribe at: http://www.onelist.com/subscribe/petrolianaAustralia The information contained herein was obtained from sources which I believe to be reliable, but I cannot guarantee any accuracy. --- End forwarded message --- -- eGroups Sponsor -~-~> Big News - eGroups is becoming Yahoo! Groups Click here for more details: http://click.egroups.com/1/10801/0/_/837408/_/977250237/ -_-> Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html To unsubscribe, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[biofuel] Re: Website Helps Diesel Truck, Bus Fleets Run Cleaner
Retrofit Manufacturer Any party engaged in the manufacturing, producing or assembling engine pollution control equipment, upgrade kits, replacement engines, or clean fuel or fuel additives designed to be used by participants in the Voluntary Diesel Retrofit Program. Retrofit An engine "retrofit" includes (but is not limited to) any of these activities: -addition of new/better pollution control aftertreatment equipment to certified engines - upgrading a certified engine to a cleaner certified configuration - upgrading an uncertified engine to a cleaner "certified-like" configuration - conversion of any engine to a cleaner fuel - early replacement of older engines with newer (presumably cleaner) engines (in lieu of regular expected rebuilding) - use of cleaner fuel and/or emission reducing fuel additive (w/o engine conversion) --- In biofuel@egroups.com, Keith Addison <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > http://ens-news.com/ens/dec2000/2000L-12-18-09.html > Environment News Service: AmeriScan: December 18, 2000 > > Website Helps Diesel Truck, Bus Fleets Run Cleaner > > WASHINGTON, DC, December 18, 2000 (ENS) - A new website from the U.S. > Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) - > http://www.epa.gov/otaq/retrofit - provides information on > retrofitting diesel vehicles to help fleets run more cleanly. > Nationwide, heavy duty diesel vehicles contribute 15 percent of the > nation's emissions of smog causing nitrogen oxides and 22 percent of > particulate matter, or soot, emissions. In urban areas, their > contribution to air pollution can be even greater. An older, dirtier > diesel truck or bus can emit almost eight tons of pollution in a > year, which amounts to 160 to 240 tons of pollution over the life of > an engine. To address the need for cleaner diesel vehicles, EPA > created the Voluntary Diesel Retrofit Program to match fleet > operators, engine manufacturers, local governments with those who can > provide the appropriate technology and resources in cleaning up dirty > trucks, buses and construction equipment. > > The website also provides information to help manufacturers have > their retrofit technologies verified by EPA for appropriate use, and > shows state officials how to incorporate diesel retrofits into their > air quality plans. EPA has already obtained commitments from fleet > operators to retrofit more than 5,000 diesel vehicles. EPA will > address emissions from new heavy duty vehicles and engines through a > two part regulatory strategy, beginning with 2004 models. In other > automotive news, the EPA said Friday that the average fuel economy of > new model year 2000 vehicles is 24.0 miles per gallon (mpg), the > lowest as it has been since 1980. Fuel economy remains at a 20 year > low because light trucks - including sport utility vehicles, vans, > minivans and pickup trucks - are less fuel efficient and make up > almost half of the U.S. light vehicle market. More information is > available at: http://www.epa.gov/otaq/fetrends.htm. > > * -- eGroups Sponsor -~-~> eGroups eLerts It's Easy. It's Fun. Best of All, it's Free! http://click.egroups.com/1/9698/0/_/837408/_/977247555/ -_-> Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html To unsubscribe, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[biofuel] Re: Sweet Deal Mirrors Australia's Changing Fuel Policy
In NYC today, I rode a new bus I've never seen before. The outside was plastered with "CLEAN FUELS HYBRID". It pulled away from the curb, silently, with the engine never making an RPM change. Seems to be CNG powered genny, with electric motors. --- In biofuel@egroups.com, Keith Addison <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > http://ens.lycos.com/ens/dec2000/2000L-12-15-10.html > Environment News Service: Sweet Deal Mirrors Australia's Changing Fuel Policy > > > Sweet Deal Mirrors Australia's Changing Fuel Policy > > SYDNEY, Australia, December 15, 2000 (ENS) - Australia has finally > caught up with the rest of the developed world by introducing the > country's first mandatory, national fuel quality standards. > > And in the southern city of Melbourne, 200,000 commuters have begun > using buses powered by pure ethanol produced from sugar cane waste. > > Parliamentary Secretary, Dr. Sharman Stone. (Photo courtesy > Environment Australia) > The Fuel Quality Standards Bill passed this week, replaces emissions > laws equivalent to the United States standard in 1981. > > "We had fallen 20 years behind the rest of the developed world in > diesel and petrol quality, refined in Australia or allowed to be > imported and sold here," said Dr. Sharman Stone, Parliamentary > Secretary to Environment Minister Robert Hill. > > "In European countries there are many smaller cars on the roads, > which have highly efficient motors driven by the cleaner, better > quality fuel," said Stone. > > "These smaller cars go further on a liter of fuel and they have less > effect on the air quality." > > Australia has one of the world's highest rates of asthma per head of > population, and pollution in some Australian cities often exceeds the > pollution of London, Toronto and other North American cities. > > The transport sector is the largest single contributor to Australia's > greenhouse gas emissions, accounting for almost 16 percent of the > 72.6 million tonnes of carbon dioxide pumped into the environment > every year. > > The new rules will mean higher octane, lower sulfur content fuel. > This should help reduce pollution as well as cut greenhouse gas > emissions. Australia is struggling to meet international commitments > to limit emissions of carbon dioxide and other climate warming gases > to eight percent of 1990 levels. Such emissions have actually grown > by 16 percent. > > The Fuel Quality Standards Bill forms part of the Australian > government's A$1 billion (US$540,000) greenhouse plan known as > Measures for a Better Environment package. > > The new law will introduce tougher penalties to protect consumers > from fuel substitution. > > "We are very serious about protecting Australians from unclean, > impure fuel," said Stone. "People found guilty of supplying fuel that > does not meet the new standards, altering fuel or using prohibited > additives will face fines of up to A$50,000 [US$27,132]. Corporations > face penalties of up to A$500,000 [US$271,324]." > > Ventura Bus Line's fleet now includes vehicles powered by ethanol > produced from sugarcane waste. (Photo courtesy Ventura Bus Lines) > The law will also harmonize regulations that used to vary > significantly between Australia's states and territories. > > "This will lower the cost of doing business for Australian producers > who will no longer need to deal with different laws in different > jurisdictions - a barrier to cheaper fuel," said Stone. > > Sugarcane power > > Stone was in the southern city of Melbourne earlier this month to > launch a bus service powered by ethanol produced from Australian > sugarcane waste. > > Ventura Bus Lines ethanol powered bus service transports 200,000 > commuters in Melbourne's eastern and southeastern suburbs. They are > Australia's first pure ethanol fueled buses, and are expected to have > a positive effect on rural sugar belt communities that produce 110 > million liters of ethanol annually. > > When ignited in the purpose built Scania engines, greenhouse > emissions from ethanol are substantially less than from petrol or > diesel. In addition, ethanol, unlike fossil fuels, is totally > renewable. > > Ethanol fuel is made from molasses, a byproduct of sugar milling, and > is used extensively in Europe to fuel large vehicles. > > "With the average bus consuming 60,000 liters of fuel a year, these > new services are going a long way toward reducing pollution and > greenhouse emissions in the city and giving Australian farmers a > boost as well," said Stone. > > > > © Environment News Service (ENS) 2000. -- eGroups Sponsor -~-~> eLerts It's Easy. It's Fun. Best of All, it's Free! http://click.egroups.com/1/9699/0/_/837408/_/977247384/ -_-> Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html To unsubscribe, send
[biofuel] Engines
Fwd from Dave Elliott (Dave UK) [EMAIL PROTECTED] Take alook at www.zoche.de and www.dair.co.uk These are aircraft engines so for maximum reliability, are more heavily built and deliver less power than a road engine of similar design could easily manage. The big advantages are... Simple parts: No camshaft No poppet valves cam followers etc Single throw crankshaft cheap to make Simple cylinder design cheap to make Small size - No top end valve gear and separate sump can go anywhere convenient. No need for separate cooling system. Zoche use air, but sump oil would easily do the job. No more emissions than a 4 stroke because it does not draw air through the crankcase. Blowers make sure cylinders are well purged diluting NOx and we even arrange a measure of exhaust recirculation. Far more power as we get 4 power pulses per turn of the crank. I thought for bit Use roller bearings on crank big ends and small ends then a low pressure oil pump would serve everything. It could even be lubricated with biodiesel, the fuel being drawn from the hot oil sump return (via filter) and topped up from the tank. - No need for sump oil changes. This goes further - as fuel is the lubricant no need for oil control rings on pistons so less friction losses. Use Elsbett piston anmd injector design and efficiency goes up further. They spin the air inside combustion chamber so that the flame does not touch metal until fully fuel is burnt. They used to hand make some excellent engines but they were too expensive to survive. They also had a clever 2 part pistion which allowed much closer cylinder clearances. Without electronics road power may be around 70bhp per litre (50 in similar capacity electronic controlled 4 str turbo). But with electronics I could see it easily giving up to 100bhp per litre. The Alfa Romeo 156 2.4 litre can be rechipped to give 170bhp and better economy than standard. I think a radial 2 stroke with similar electronic and injection equipment could deliver that from half the capacity. The big snag is that car makers are geared up to mass produce inline 4 pot 4 stroke engines. They are most unlikely to totally rejig their plants to suit a different configuration. Again (like biodiesel) it would be down to home engineers but who can afford to build their own engines. D -- eGroups Sponsor -~-~> eLerts It's Easy. It's Fun. Best of All, it's Free! http://click.egroups.com/1/9699/0/_/837408/_/977239363/ -_-> Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html To unsubscribe, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[biofuel] Re: Radiator cores
On Tue, 19 Dec 2000 05:12:14 +1300 "DAVID REID" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Wrote >John, > Will probably work well on this size column. A few words of advice >though and a few questions. Dont expect a long life out of the cores so dont >spend a lot of money on them. I say this from experience as owning a number >of old cars over the years and recoring the radiators because most of the >motors have not been too brilliant and tend to run too hot, have found the >recored radiators do not last too long with constant heat changes. Also >modern cores arnt as good as older ones as everything is now made to a price >and they arnt designed to last. >If using pressure to clean these out use very low pressure or you will >damage them and bend and distort the fins closing some of them up, and >quickly causing channeling. >Make sure you use insulation on the column at least. Good solid rubber >underlay fixed with masking tape and/or danband (blue nylon strapping) and >appropriate buckles pulled up tight do a good job and are cheap >Rod through the centre and perforated plate washers (Approx 1/4" holes >covering at least 1/3 of the area)at either end will help tremendously. Use >threaded rod and put a nut either side of washer plate. >Look through yellow pages and find radiator manufacturers and give them a >call to source radiator core material. Try to use as good a core material as >you can easily and cheaply get. Maybe you can even obtain new damaged cores >to cut the rounds out of. (Will definitely last longer). Old ones are on the >way out due to metal fatigue due to continuous temperature changes. >Also try Holden as a likely source. Ring around the radiator rebuilders as a >last resort >Column should be at least 6' (72" or 1830mm) long minimum and preferably at >least 9' (108" or 2750mm). A good rule of thumb and one the old timers used >to use was 20 times the diameter for the length.( = approx 120" or say 3 M). >Even at 15 times this equals 7'-4" (88" or say 2250mm). >I dont know about your 10 x 2" This only equals 20" . More like 40 required >I think although you may be able to cut the length and number down. >Personally I wouldnt go below the 15 x figure for the length. Again as I >said above make sure you insulate the column properly. A double layer will >work even better minimising heat energy losses. The first layer insulates >and holds the heat, the second stops it radiating it out >How are you intending to heat the still by the way, electricity, gas, waste >oil or wood? This is critical as it is this cost that will quickly >determine wether the project is a success or failure. Also what are you >using for your fermentation stock? >I can probably sell you a very good, precise, and accurate controller >shortly (probably about 5 to 6 weeks away) if you need one at realistic cost >which we have just finished the design of for my own stills that I intend to >put out shortly. (just in process of finishing and testing prototype). >Good luck with your efforts . Again as previously mentioned I would use >laser cutting for your discs. These are expensive machines so the price is >likely to be expensive but it is the only thing that will do a good job. Do >yourself a favour and ring around. Explain what you are trying to do and who >knows at this time of year you might find someone who catches the xmas >spirit and is prepared to help. If you need more help please ask. >B.r., David Thanks once again David for advice. Am in the recycling game so have a ready supply of near new radiators albeit slightly bent. Which first started me thinking along these lines. Cant yet find a laser cutter in Perth but there must be one here somewhere. Heat for the still will be from a heatpump driven by a 10 horse honda motor running on biogas.will be very much a trial and error affair but should work OK. Have all the control gear as long as my programming for the PLC holds up Its interesting writing programs when you are not sure what you want to achieve!! The most readily available form of fermentation stock here is cereal grains which I will fall back on If I cant get a consistant supply of household biodegradeables that I can find a treatment for. The other thing here at this time of year is acres of paddy melons (Cucurbitaceae,Citrullus,lanatus)which are inedible (or at least very bitter) melons about 75 to 100mm diameter. will have to run a batch through the hammer mill and see if they ferment. Have looked at the Ag sites that I can find and can't find a guide to sugar content or type in the melons. Guess if I get a packet of the yeast for watermelon wine It should work. Thanks once again for the input Regards John -- eGroups Sponsor -~-~> eLerts It's Easy. It's Fun. Best of All, it's Free! http://click.egroups.com/1/9699/0/_/837408/_/977238208/ -_-> Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeyto
