Re: [Biofuel] A chapter ends ...
Darryl, Thank you so much for picking up this ball! I have been reading for about 15 years with only a few posts, because I had so much more to learn than to say. I came to learn biofuel for my off-grid homestead. I got a broad education. Keith's perspective and this list have made the difference between my feeling overwhelmed and marginalized by much of our social direction, and gaining valid perspectives for inquiry. Thanks again, Tom Thiel New Hampshire USA On 12/31/16 2:54 PM, Darryl McMahon wrote: ... and another begins. I want to thank Chip for his efforts in recent years to keep the list operating. I don't really know how much effort that was (it was considerable when I last ran a list many years ago), but I'm grateful I did not have to look after that, freeing me to concentrate on content. I don't see this list (sustainablelorgbiofuel) as being much work for me. If I read a piece which I think deserves a wider audience, I simply shared it. I could just add it to Reddit or StumbleUpon or other such tools instead, but those do not save the content to make it searchable (in the mail archive). And while Internet searches are more comprehensive, they don't have a human filter to determine what is real and what is manufactured. In a world where perception and sound-bytes rule the mainstream messaging, I think that has value. In a world of Internet narrow-casting where feeds provide only reinforcement for pre-selected viewpoints, I hope that occasionally some of the posts I share cause others to pause and think for a moment. This was Keith's gift to me (and many others). I came to learn about biodiesel, and I learned about so much more. I have set up a new mail list via FreeLists.org. I have called this Keith's List because in my mind that is the most accurate and succinct description of it, though not everyone has known or corresponded with Keith Addison. It's a bit last minute, so the transition may be a bit rough. Same purpose, same mandate, same rules. If you think there should be discussion of a topic you are not seeing, just jump in and post. Perhaps you can ask a question (though I hope the archives will continue to be your first-stop resource to reduce duplication), or find some like-minded souls to help with your personal projects and desires to 'save the world'. It's a big place; no doubt you can find something in it to improve. Sorry, the following instructions are a direct lift from the list instructions, but I'm rather working to deadline as this list expires today. + - Subscribers can join your list by sending email to keiths-list-requ...@freelists.org with 'subscribe' in the Subject field OR by visiting your list page at http://www.freelists.org/list/keiths-list. - To post on your mailing list, simply send email to keiths-l...@freelists.org (only after you are a list member) - Online, searchable archives of your list are available at http://www.freelists.org/archive/keiths-list Each list's archive is automatically updated as new messages come in. - There's a FAQ at http://www.freelists.org/wiki/the_faq + Please note: I will not subscribe anyone to this list (or unsubscribe them either). The first post is up, and can be seen in the on-line archive at: http://www.freelists.org/post/keiths-list/First-Post,13 (I believe the on-line archive is web-accessible without need for a log-in, but unfortunately appears to be supported by ads. As far as I can tell, no ads in the e-mail version or via the member's web interface, which requires a log-in. I still have some learning to do.) See you on the other list if you choose to show up there. If not, strength to your arm, and all best in your future endeavours. Wishing you all a successful (however you choose to define that) 2017, Your correspondent, Darryl McMahon “Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, Nothing is going to get better. It's not.” ― Dr. Seuss, The Lorax ___ Sustainablelorgbiofuel mailing list Sustainablelorgbiofuel@lists.sustainablelists.org http://lists.eruditium.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/sustainablelorgbiofuel ___ Sustainablelorgbiofuel mailing list Sustainablelorgbiofuel@lists.sustainablelists.org http://lists.eruditium.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/sustainablelorgbiofuel
Re: [Biofuel] Solar breakhrough
On my way at 6:30 T On 24 Mar 15, at 6:23, bmolloy wrote: http://www.extremetech.com/extreme/188667-a-fully-transparent-solar-cell-tha t-could-make-every-window-and-screen-a-power-source ___ Sustainablelorgbiofuel mailing list Sustainablelorgbiofuel@lists.sustainablelists.org http://lists.eruditium.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/sustainablelorgbiofuel ___ Sustainablelorgbiofuel mailing list Sustainablelorgbiofuel@lists.sustainablelists.org http://lists.eruditium.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/sustainablelorgbiofuel
Re: [Biofuel] Fw: Dear all...
Your news feeds enlighten my life. Please continue them. Thanks, Tom I would also like to be included, Thanks Keith, Deborah On Oct 13, 2012, at 9:25 AM, Josephine Wee wrote: Hi. Keith. Count me in, too. Many thanks. Josephine - Forwarded Message - From: Tyler Arnold [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: sustainablelorgbiofuel@sustainablelists.org Sent: Saturday, October 13, 2012 12:23 PM Subject: Re: [Biofuel] Dear all... Keith, I'm not sure how to let you know offlist, but I am happy to say this publicly: I have been silently lurking for years and consider your news snippets one of my best sources for real news, and have a great deal of respect for the work that you do and the community you have run -- it has put me on to paths I would not have otherwise got on and I'm glad of it. Count me in, too. -Tyler -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] On Behalf Of Bob Molloy Sent: Friday, October 12, 2012 8:53 PM To: sustainablelorgbiofuel@sustainablelists.org Subject: Re: [Biofuel] Dear all... Hi Keith, Count me in. Regards, Bob. -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] On Behalf Of Keith Addison Sent: Saturday, 13 October 2012 4:27 a.m. To: biofuel@sustainablelists.org Subject: [Biofuel] Dear all... It's October, the list is going to run out of time soon and the host service will close it down. I'm not sure of the exact date, but suddenly the music will stop. The new community I mentioned previously is still some way down the road, but it will eventually happen. When it does, you'll be hearing from me. Meanwhile, the list will stop, but I won't. I'll keep harvesting the news, I do it anyway. If any list members would like to keep receiving these daily snippets, I don't mind sending them direct. Please let me know - offlist please. All best, and a very big thanks for everything, over the years. This list has taught me so much (deep bow). Regards to all. Keith ___ Biofuel mailing list Biofuel@sustainablelists.org http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/sustainablelorgbiofuel Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Search the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (70,000 messages): http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/ ___ Biofuel mailing list Biofuel@sustainablelists.org http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/sustainablelorgbiofuel Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Search the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (70,000 messages): http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/ ___ Biofuel mailing list Biofuel@sustainablelists.org http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/sustainablelorgbiofuel Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Search the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (70,000 messages): http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/ -- next part -- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: /pipermail/attachments/20121013/49f4d34c/attachment.html ___ Biofuel mailing list Biofuel@sustainablelists.org http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/sustainablelorgbiofuel Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Search the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (70,000 messages): http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/ ___ Biofuel mailing list Biofuel@sustainablelists.org http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/sustainablelorgbiofuel Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Search the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (70,000 messages): http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/ ___ Biofuel mailing list Biofuel@sustainablelists.org http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/sustainablelorgbiofuel Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Search the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (70,000 messages): http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/
Re: [Biofuel] Paying for fire response service (was Alabama Town's Failed Pension..)
One element that serves to equalize the decision forces is the cost of insurance premiums. A homeowner who chose to opt-out by not paying the annual fee would face fire insurance cancellation, astronomical premiums or non-collection of damages upon investigation after an unprotected fire. If an institution (the bank) holds a mortgage on the house, it would require fire (and other) insurance which would require fire protection. Such forces serve to overwhelm the majority of people's potential decision to not support the local fire protection service. Common-good systems require participation by all affected parties. Withdrawal from a system is something that an adult might choose. Such decisions have real consequences. This scenario brings such consequences into clear focus. Tom Thiel USA On 30 Dec, 2010, at 7:55 PM, Dan Beukelman wrote: This is much better stated that what I said but means the same thing. Without funding by everyone, the service will fail. I live in South Dakota. Our community fire department (full time) provides ambulance and fire protection for the surrounding rural area, all of which is too small to pay for a fire department themselves in entirety. Some of these smaller communities have volunteer services which can be called up if there is a large disaster, but the first responders are our town fire department. One township wasn’t taxing themselves enough to pay their share for the service. They ran out of money between road maintenance and fire service costs. They faced the prospect of having no fire protection since they couldn’t pay for it. The town, had to decide if they would continue to provide the service for this township that didn’t have enough money, for free (which would, in fact, be penalizing everyone else who contributes for the service) and risk loosing other payers the same way, or cutting off service. Fortunately for us, cooler heads prevailed, the township residents decided to increase their own taxes, in the meantime the town fire department continued providing service, but kept the unpaid fee on the books, saying it would need to be paid, with interest. The township is now paying off their unpaid debt to the town, and collecting enough in taxes to continue to pay the appropriate costs for their residents. Had the town caved and collect less, or nothing, other townships would have wanted equal treatment. From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Darryl McMahon Sent: Thursday, December 30, 2010 6:22 PM To: sustainablelorgbiofuel@sustainablelists.org Subject: [Biofuel] Paying for fire response service (was Alabama Town's Failed Pension..) I'm interested in the economic mechanism(s) at play here. (I'm sure I have my own political biases, but I'm trying to ignore them for the moment.) Let's consider this as sort of a poor-man's version of game theory. Let's assume I have a house, and I want to keep it intact. What measures can I take to protect it (in this case, specifically from fire)? I could build it out of fireproof materials. As almost nobody does this, I assume it is generally considered to be cost-prohibitive. I could build in a fire-suppression system. Having experienced an inundation in a past place of work, those come with their own disadvantages (there was no fire, just flooding, paper records and electronic equipment were destroyed just as effectively). I could 'outlaw' all points of ignition within the structure, and surrounding it to the extent of my control. I would have to rethink my current space and water heating systems, and have a serious debate with my wife regarding accent candle lighting and kerosene emergency lamps, matches and lighters. Actually, it would be more than that. So far, not particularly practical, economical or required by code. Large communities, with decades of practical experience, have not followed those paths, but instead put massive resources into staffing and supplying fire departments. We have significant public education programs regarding the use of smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, basic fire prevention and to a lesser extent the acquisition, use and maintenance of fire extinguishers. I am assuming these are the result of rational expertise based on experience. Proceeding from the assumption that a fire-response service is a rational response to the threat of structure fires and related hazards to residents, it becomes necessary to fund that service. How to go about it, on a sustainable basis? Let's suppose a fire house includes 3 major trucks (pumper, ladder, utility/rescue), has a staff of roughly 30 (to support 7x24 response) and can reasonably service a radius of 8 km, with up to 8,000 structures. (I'm completely guessing here, but a quick search turned up a ratio of 1.5 firefighters per
Re: [Biofuel] Fwd: Working with the Worm Gang
Consider investigating Borate as a wood preservative. Salts of Boron are formulated for osmosis into wood leaving behind a sharp crystalline residue which kills organisms as they invade the wood. It leaches very little and is not chemically active. Brands such as Tim- bor, Bora-care, Board Defense and others all provide the same ingredient. It is mixed at 10% solution, best on green (undried) wood, but can be used on dry wood. Borate is also available as a solid plug (as Impel Rods) which dissolve only when wood moisture exceeds 18% which is when rot organisms would begin to thrive. In either case. Whether or not Borate is used, I suggest NO finish, neither linseed nor tung oil or other. Finishes only work when the surface can be dried by hand, sun or wind. A damp surface in contact with ground will stay wet. Finish will not help and may harm by keeping wet wood wetter during conditions when it might dry a little if unfinished. Another idea is to use a wood that is naturally rot resistant. Local wood guys will know what woods work in contact with soil. In the USA we use Redwood, Cedars, Black Locust, Mulberry, Osage Orange and others. It's fun to investigate and find these treasures. Good luck, Tom Thiel Northwind Timber On 17 May, 2010, at 2:02 PM, Randy Johnson wrote: Linseed oil will leave a hard coating on the exterior of the wood. Which is fine until it loosens and leaves the wood unprotected from the moisture. Tung oil will soak into the wood grain and become part of the material instead of a coating on the material. From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: sustainablelorgbiofuel@sustainablelists.org Date: Mon, 17 May 2010 18:03:27 +0200 Subject: Re: [Biofuel] Fwd: Working with the Worm Gang Hi folks I'm making a worm compost box out of pine wood and am thinking of usiong linseed oil to help preserve the wood. Does anyone have a better idea? best James ___ Biofuel mailing list Biofuel@sustainablelists.org http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/sustainablelorgbiofuel Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Search the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (70,000 messages): http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/ _ The New Busy think 9 to 5 is a cute idea. Combine multiple calendars with Hotmail. http://www.windowslive.com/campaign/thenewbusy? tile=multicalendarocid=PID28326::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en-US:WM_HMP: 042010_5 -- next part -- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: /pipermail/attachments/20100517/315ba4da/attachment.html ___ Biofuel mailing list Biofuel@sustainablelists.org http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/sustainablelorgbiofuel Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Search the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (70,000 messages): http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/ ___ Biofuel mailing list Biofuel@sustainablelists.org http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/sustainablelorgbiofuel Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Search the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (70,000 messages): http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/
Re: [Biofuel] Treated-wood woes - Watch out for pressure-treated products
Borates are readily available in much of the world and are turning up even in the USA. Search for Boracare, Board Defense or Tim-Bor. Also available as Impel Rods, a solid the size of a finger which is placed at the ground line, overhang, etc. and remains inert when the wood is dry and slowly dissolves if over 18% moisture content, supplying preservative only when / as needed. Note the Sodium Octoborate is effectively nearly chemically neutral; its fungicidal (etc.) action being a result of its micro-crystalline structure, which is small enough to osmose into the wood, especially if treated when green. Stuff that eats the treated wood dies by abrasion/laceration. Friendly agent. Tom Thiel On 17 Mar, 2009, at 1:46 AM, Dawie Coetzee wrote: It's a bit misleading lumping borates in with CCA and related treatments. The borate option is generally preferred on ecological grounds, as this item from the EPA indicates: http://www.epa.gov/oppad001/reregistration/cca/ borates.htm Furthermore, it has a fire-retardant effect. I don't know how available it is elsewhere, though, but it is a bit hard to find off-the-shelf here. Most building contractors have never heard of it; though I do know that the treatment is applied to cellulose-fibre pellet insulation, which is made from recycled paper. But glass-impregnated wood! though even that is better than the plastic planking which is marketed as eco-friendly because the plastic was already used for something else before being turned into planks. Best regards Dawie Coetzee From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Tuesday, 17 March, 2009 2:45:11 Subject: [Biofuel] Treated-wood woes - Watch out for pressure-treated products Treated-wood woes Watch out for pressure-treated products _http://www.newsreview.com/chico/Content?oid=925397_ (http://www.newsreview.com/chico/Content?oid=925397) By Lori Brown The right stuff Selecting building materials is vital to sustainable design because of the environmental impacts associated with processing and transportation. Actually seeing how products are made might make us reconsider using them in our green buildings and homes. Otto von Bismarck, a 19th-century aristocrat, once said, **The less people know about how sausages and laws are made, the better they’ll sleep at night.** He*s right, but in my experience pressure-treated wood and particle board should be added to his list (although I’m glad I know the whole story). Pressure treatment is a chemical process in which wood is placed inside a closed cylinder. Vacuum and pressure are then applied to force preservatives into it. The chemicals help protect the wood from termites, other insects and fungal decay. Toxic treatment Pressure-treated lumber contains some of the most potent cancer agents, such as chromated copper arsenate, alkaline copper quat, micronized copper quat, copper azole and sodium borates. Classified as waterborne preservatives, these chemicals primarily are found in treated lumber used in residential, commercial and industrial structures. Chromated copper arsenate (CCA) contains chromium, copper and arsenic (yikes). The chemicals are what give treated lumber a green color, which goes to show that just because something is green doesn’ t make it good for the environment! When pressure-treated wood is exposed to the environment—or buried into the ground—it poses a threat to human health and the environment by allowing toxins to leach into the surrounding soil and water. Obviously, it should never be burned. More than 90 percent of outdoor wooden structures are made with pressure-treated wood. It is used frequently for fences, raised garden beds, formwork for patios, borders, mow strips, decks, picnic tables, pet houses and even children’s play equipment. In fact, nearly all wooden playground equipment has been treated with toxic chemicals. This is why it is highly recommended that children wash their hands thoroughly with soap and water after coming in contact with it. Other options Alternatives to pressure-treated wood depend on the project. The best for outdoor applications—such as decks and play sets—is to use redwood, which is more expensive but never needs sealing or staining. Redwood*s aesthetic appeal is undeniably greater than other lumber and building materials, and its resistance to decay and insects make it well worth the added expense. There are several recycled rubber and plastic garden borders on the market. For raised planters, you can use recycled wood and plastic lumber. Look for wood treated by TimberSIL, too. Instead of impregnating the lumber with a mix of nasty chemicals and heavy metals, this product is treated at very high heat
Re: [Biofuel] Viability of converting a vehicle to run straight Ethanol?
Joey, If you do not find direct information from the list participants, I suggest you look to Brazil. In the 1980s, they had many vehicles which ran on 100% ethanol including some fiats and GM vehicles. Good luck, Tom On 29 Jan, 2009, at 6:05 PM, Joey Baghodoughnuts wrote: I am getting ready to make the conversion for one of my vehicles to run straight Ethanol, not E-85 but 100% Ethanol. Has anyone successfully done this? I have a project car sitting around, a 1986 Chevy Camaro, with the 2.8L 6-cylinder Engine, and I have a supply of pure ethanol available. I know I need to either reconfigure the timing in the computer for the injectors, or I need to buy a unit with a time-delay to be able to make the fuel-air mixture a little richer due to ethanol burning with a lower energy coefficient. I know that I'll also have to add a secondary filter to the fuel line that's easily changed on the side of the road, due to the detergent effects of ethanol. Is there anything else anyone can think of that I should add to the list of work that I will have to do on this engine before it can safely burn Ethanol? I know that I'll be taking a performance hit on this as well, but I will eventually get to making other modifications to improve performance and hopefully get it back to what it was before the conversion. ___ Biofuel mailing list Biofuel@sustainablelists.org http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/sustainablelorgbiofuel Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Search the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (70,000 messages): http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/ ___ Biofuel mailing list Biofuel@sustainablelists.org http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/sustainablelorgbiofuel Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Search the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (70,000 messages): http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/
Re: [Biofuel] interesting refrigerator
Hi Tom, Thank you so much for your post. We've been way back for 5 years and the decision tree is quite different from that of the plug in culture. Regarding refrigeration: it is a significant energy user and when watts are precious we take notice. My solution is quite simple in our cold climate of Northern New Hampshire USA where it is colder more than warmer than refrigeration temperatures. I put the refrigerator in an insulated cavity on an outside wall with vents (manually operated) to allow more and/or less access to outside air. The primary purpose of regulation was to keep the refrigerator from freezing. Since the refrigerator itself is also insulated, it averages temperatures over time and freezing has not been a problem, so vent operation is very minimal. In summer the (normal electric) refrigerator blows its waste heat (and noise) outside. Spring and Fall, the compressor sometimes comes on and works efficiently against cool outdoor temperatures. I'm installing a small chest freezer using same principles. I had ruled out a freezer due to excessive power consumption before the north wall concept. Small, personal innovation can produce satisfaction beyond savings. How nice that is. Tom Thiel On 10 Jan, 2008, at 9:47 AM, Thomas Kelly wrote: Hi Chip, You wrote: And yes, for the record, I am not a big fan of 'payback costs' when it comes to passive vs utility consumption. When the power goes out, passive systems continue to work. Some aspects of payback can be difficult to quantify or even anticipate. Gardening: Shovel $37 (US) Rake ($26) Pitchfork ($32) Hoe ($30) Small Hand Tools ($76) Seeds/Plants $__, etc. The experience of gardening; growing your own food: Priceless. While one could argue that vegetable gardening is profitable, what about flower gardens? What about people who grow fruits and vegetables and give most of them away w/o concern for payback period? Some things that are simply joyful ... as in full of joy. We take joy in doing them.. Some take joy in the little dollops of independence that we feel by producing our own food or by getting off the grid. I wouldn't know how to put a price on joy or independence. It certainly is an interesting refrigerator. When I see a creative idea/design implemented by human hands it takes on the qualities of art. Pouring a cold glass of milk from the interesting refrigerator . priceless. Not so much to jump on the question re; payback period for the refrigerator; it is a valid question. They did mention in the section Solar Electricity that they would have had to pay $30,000 to run wiring to their home. It might be that given their situation, the interesting refrigerator made perfect economical sense as well; another example of appropriate technology. Thanks for the original post Kirk. I've been playing around with some ideas for at least pre-heating water going to my boiler (heat hot water)using a solar collector and maybe even my woodstove, to lower the amount of fuel I use. Tom - Original Message - From: Chip Mefford [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: sustainablelorgbiofuel@sustainablelists.org Sent: Thursday, January 10, 2008 8:01 AM Subject: Re: [Biofuel] interesting refrigerator John Mullan wrote: I've seen that before. Excellent idea. I wonder how much all that copper, insulation, etc. would cost (for purpose of payback period)? When calculating the 'payback period' be sure to deduct (or add) the cost of a couple of medium term power outages, as folks all across the mid-west have seen over the last few winters. And yes, for the record, I am not a big fan of 'payback costs' when it comes to passive vs utility consumption. When the power goes out, passive systems continue to work. ___ Biofuel mailing list Biofuel@sustainablelists.org http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/sustainablelorgbiofuel Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Search the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (70,000 messages): http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/ ___ Biofuel mailing list Biofuel@sustainablelists.org http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/sustainablelorgbiofuel Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Search the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (70,000 messages): http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/ ___ Biofuel mailing list Biofuel@sustainablelists.org http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/sustainablelorgbiofuel Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Search the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list
Re: [Biofuel] WVO in Diesel Generators
Regarding starting motors in our off-grid woodshop: we treat 1 horsepower motors as intermittent-use, starting and stopping them at will. Larger motors are paired with a 1 horsepower motor to start each machine. After it is up to speed, the main motor is turned on. This system reduces the start-loading of the large motors almost down to full load amp rating, and its elapsed time to less than a second, since the rotor is already spinning. If he has an inverter / battery system, the battery bank will charge variably as (headroom) power is available, reducing the light-load wet stacking potential in the system. I await the SVO discussion with great interest. Tom Thiel On 6 Jan, 2008, at 8:52 PM, Zeke Yewdall wrote: Seems to me like an engine running an 8 hour shift would be ideal for SVO -- you'd have to start it on biodiesel till it got up to operating temperature, then just make sure the incoming SVO is as hot as you can get it -- 180F or higher. The schemes to just thin SVO with biodiesel and ethanol seem pretty risky. One thing to think about is wet stacking the generator depending on the loading of the shop -- many diesel generators cannot be run at less than 20% of full load, and if the generator is sized for starting large motors, it may not operate at this level consistently. Z On Jan 6, 2008 6:01 PM, Thomas Kelly [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Hello All, On 9/25/06 Pagandai Pannirselvan wrote: The small co generation of electrical energy based on the bio diesel can make possible the use of pure used vegetable oil and also some e 5 porcent hydrated ethanol , making possible to lower the viscosity of used vegetable oil in deiesel engine, removing dependence with Conventional deisel. Thus the blend of used vegetable oil 70 percent, hyrated ethanol 10 percent and biodeisel 20 porcent can be used with less problem for motor maintainence in rural areas. I've recently been contacted by a former student who would like to generate his own electricity for his woodworking business. He is considering a diesel generator and asked about biodiesel. I suggested he look into using a BD/WVO blend rather than processing it all into BD, as he would be using about 3 gallons (11.4 L) per hour (120+ gal/week). 1. Does anyone have experience using a blend such as that suggested by Pagandai Pannirselvan in a diesel generator? 2. Hydrated ethanol: What % water would be tolerated? In the U.S. it is possible to get a permit to distill ethanol. Only that which leaves the premises must be denatured to prevent human consumption. 85-90% ethanol is do-able, and used on premises would not have to be denatured 3. Could E-85 be substituted for the hydrated ethanol? I've heard of commercial suppliers adding small amounts of gasoline to their diesel. Since the E-85 would only constitute 10% of the mix, the total gasoline would only be .15 X .10 = .0150 (1.5%) Thanks, Tom -- next part -- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: /pipermail/attachments/20080106/e76c540e/attachment.html ___ Biofuel mailing list Biofuel@sustainablelists.org http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/sustainablelorgbiofuel Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Search the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (70,000 messages): http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/ ___ Biofuel mailing list Biofuel@sustainablelists.org http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/sustainablelorgbiofuel Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Search the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (70,000 messages): http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/ ___ Biofuel mailing list Biofuel@sustainablelists.org http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/sustainablelorgbiofuel Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Search the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (70,000 messages): http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/
Re: [Biofuel] diesel generator
Hi Zeke, If you calculate the relative power per wattage of single and three-phase motors, there will be a slight advantage to 3-phase. The value of 3-phase motors also extends to their better torque and start-load characteristics and lack of starting capacitor(s) to maintain. I would base my system on availability and overall usefulness rather than those relatively modest advantages of 3-phase motors. A single-phase, dual voltage (as in 240 / 120 volt in the USA) setup allows use of higher voltage for motors and the lower voltage for appliances and lighting. Single-phase inverters are the norm for converting stored Direct Current energy to useful Alternating Current power. You're on the right track to run your generator while running your motors. If you have inverters, they can augment the output of your generator to help with start-loads (up to 5 times the run-load of the motor). The battery bank can be charged by the excess generator power and by photovoltaic, wind, etc. at all times. In capturing generator heat, don't forget the waste heat of the exhust stream, harder to capture than the coolant heat, but about equal to it in power. Good luck with your project. Tom Thiel On 2 Jan, 2008, at 7:19 PM, Zeke Yewdall wrote: Are the three phase motors really more efficient? Or are they just lower amperage, but the same wattage? The formula for calculating three phase power, instead of being V*A*PF is V(line to line)*A*1.732*PF, I believe. Z On Jan 2, 2008 5:11 PM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: -- Original message -- i want to set up a small diesel generator to run my milking parlor and use the engine heat to supply the hot water. Since the pumps and refrigeration are my biggest load, but are only on for a few hours a day, i was thinking a 3 phase generator would be better because the motors operate at about half the amperage and would reduce the size of the generator i need to run. I was thinking a 6/1 or a 12/2 lister diesel. the fuel consumption on these is about 2 liters per hour. I only need to run about 2 -1 hp motors and 1- 2hp for milking and cooling ,then i could run the generator to charge batteries for the house and help heat the house in the winter. Any suggestions? it just seems to easy to change out the motors to 3 phase and reduce the kw size of my generator. ___ Biofuel mailing list Biofuel@sustainablelists.org http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/sustainablelorgbiofuel Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Search the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (70,000 messages): http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/ ___ Biofuel mailing list Biofuel@sustainablelists.org http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/sustainablelorgbiofuel Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Search the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (70,000 messages): http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/ ___ Biofuel mailing list Biofuel@sustainablelists.org http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/sustainablelorgbiofuel Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Search the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (70,000 messages): http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/
Re: [Biofuel] Hydropower doesn't count as clean Power
A precedent could be examined at Alloy, West Virginia, USA where Union Carbide built such a project in the New River Gorge many decades ago. At a loop of the New River considerable vertical drop (perhaps 1000 feet) was harnessed by boring a tunnel through the mountain ridge to rejoin the river several miles downstream. The outlet of the tunnel houses a turbine power plant. This plant has been operational for many decades, so those interested could gather facts regarding its cost per watt generated and various ecological considerations and outcomes. Such a project seems to have lower impacts than downstream dams and installations which adversely affect fish migration, create flooding of valleys, and introduce potential dangers from dam failure to toxic sedimentation. This project became feasible due to point of use generation for a large induction furnace to make technical metal alloys requiring clean firing. If, on the other hand, the power had to be transmitted long distances, the economic and ecological profiles would change considerably. Among those added costs would be intangibles such as environmental and health factors from transmission magnetic fields, disruption of backland ecosystems and the like. The assessments which make it to the light of day generally ignore large aspects of the complex equation of real costs to real benefits ratios. If all of the costs and impacts were accounted for, I think it unlikely that any large, centralized project could be honestly justified contrasted to distributed generation by low impact technologies such as photovoltaic and wind generation at point of use. On 17 Oct, 2007, at 2:24 PM, Terry Dyck wrote: Hi Fritz, Sorry for taking so long to get back to you and answering your questions. In BC the mountains are very high and there are rivers in these high mountains. I believe that it is possible to have some high river water diverted to a hole made in the mountain to create a drop for the water to create electricity. At the lower end of the mountain the water simply goes back to its original stream. Terry Dyck From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: sustainablelorgbiofuel@sustainablelists.org Date: Sun, 7 Oct 2007 08:23:42 -0400 Subject: Re: [Biofuel] Hydropower doesn't count as clean Power Hi Terry, and how do de get the Water on top of the mountain?? :)) But wont this water be missed in the river it belongs? Fritz - Original Message - From: Terry Dyck To: sustainablelorgbiofuel@sustainablelists.org Sent: Saturday, October 06, 2007 3:19 PM Subject: Re: [Biofuel] Hydropower doesn't count as clean PowerHi Fritz, A new Hydro project in BC, Canada is being planned which does not involve a dam. The water will spill into a hole in the top of a mountain and produce a lot of electricity. The project will not interfere with fish or the forest. Only damage will be roads to the facility. Terry Dyck From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Biofuel@sustainablelists.org Date: Sat, 6 Oct 2007 08:47:12 -0400 Subject: [Biofuel] Hydropower doesn't count as clean Power Hi Keith and all, if one counts how sloppy Hydro-dams have been built here in Quebec,Valleys had been flooten with little clesn up before flooding!Whole eareas of Forest submerged (a lot of them also in BC),wich creates on top of the Methane also a high Mercury-pollution (via Tannin/zyanide),so the Government recomend only restrictet Fishconsumption! Fritz -- next part -- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: /pipermail/attachments/20071006/cf5409a0/attachment.html ___ Biofuel mailing list Biofuel@sustainablelists.org http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/sustainablelorgbiofuel Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Search the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archiv! es (70,000 messages): http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/ _ Have fun while connecting on Messenger! Click here to learn more. http://e ntertainment.sympatico.msn.ca/WindowsLiveMessenger -- next part -- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: /pipermail/attachments/20071006/58346788/attachment.html ___ Biofuel mailing list Biofuel@sustainablelists.org http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/sustainablelorgbiofuel Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Search the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (70,000 messages): http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/ -- next part -- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: /pipermail/attachments/20071007/efba733e/attachment.html ___ Biofuel mailing list Biofuel@sustainablelists.org
[Biofuel] Termites
On 4 Mar, 2007, at 12:00 PM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Send Biofuel mailing list submissions to biofuel@sustainablelists.org To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/ biofuel_sustainablelists.org or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to [EMAIL PROTECTED] You can reach the person managing the list at [EMAIL PROTECTED] When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific than Re: Contents of Biofuel digest... Today's Topics: 1. Re: Termites - Re: Al Gore's 'Inconvenient Truth' Power Use (Zeke Yewdall) 2. Re: Al Gore's 'Inconvenient Truth' Power Use (Zeke Yewdall) 3. Re: the 'Inconvenient Truth' (Fred Oliff) -- Message: 1 Date: Sun, 4 Mar 2007 08:42:41 -0700 From: Zeke Yewdall [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [Biofuel] Termites - Re: Al Gore's 'Inconvenient Truth' Power Use To: biofuel@sustainablelists.org Message-ID: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1 Anything that discourages natural ecological processes should be well considered before use. Here in the Northeast US, I have chosen to build with wood, often reclaimed from deconstruction operations; and I prefer my constructions to be resistant to termites, carpenter ants, fungi and other organisms that degrade wood. I also prefer to avoid chemical migration into my little corner of the biosphere. I have chosen to use Borates as a wood preservative strategy. Borates are derived from mineral Borax, ground and prepared for absorption into wood. The mineral itself seems to be quite benign, not chemically reactive. Its form however is a sharp micro-crystalline powder which is dissolved into water and absorbed by osmotic action into the wood. Most effectively applied on green (non-dry) wood by spray, dip or brush, but also effective to shallower penetrations on dry wood. Anything that eats the treated wood gets cut by the sharp crystals and dies. The borate penetrant does not form chemical bonds with the wood and is thus susceptible to leaching; but it is surprisingly persistent in the treated wood. Another form is a pressed cylinder of various sizes, set into a drilled hole in the wood in vulnerable locations such as ground-line or direct weather exposure. Generally looks like a cloudy glass slug the size of one's finger. These rods are self-regulating, remaining intact in moisture concentrations below 20% (where wood is quite resistant to microbial decay action) and slowly dissolving at greater than 20%mc. Borate technology is quite mature, being used by utility companies, etc. around the world for over half a century. The USA is a very late adopter having preferred seriously toxic industrial alternatives. A google search of borates generates considerable information including brand names such Impel Rods, Bora-care, Tim-Bor, etc. My research and personal experience find nearly identical products with very divergent pricing with Board-defense being a low cost champion. Handle with care, the powder is an irritant and the liquid will kill your gut bacteria. But on the bright side, there's no harmful fumes or outgassing. Tom Thiel Don't build from wood. Thats the only surefire method of keeping carpenter ants from eating your house in the northwest. Now, unlike termites, ants don't actually eat wood, as my grandpa delights in telling me. But they chew it up and turn beams into little piles of sawdust, so from a practical standpoint, they might as well. On 3/4/07, Thomas Kelly [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Mike, For what it's worth: Termites chew the plant matter, including wood, but it is the microbes in their gut that digest it. Termites, like all animals, lack the enzyme cellulase, needed to break down plant cell walls. As I understand it, the microbes are obligate anaerobes and are sensitive to O2. I've heard that high levels of O2 kill their endosymbiotic microbes and the termites then starve to death. I don't know if this is a practical means of eliminating termites or if it is done commercially. Tom - Original Message - From: Mike Weaver [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: biofuel@sustainablelists.org Sent: Sunday, March 04, 2007 9:48 AM Subject: [Biofuel] Termites - Re: Al Gore's 'Inconvenient Truth' Power Use Speaking of termites - any advice for a environmentally benign way to keep them under control? -Mike Keith Addison wrote: Hello Wendell snip By the way, I seem to recall that termites are the source of 20 percent of the world's methane. I am no entomologist --is there any known benefit to man or beast from termites? If not, let's get 'em! Right, let's kill them
[Biofuel] Fwd: Herbal Garden Sprays
On Feb 22, 2007, at 7:43 AM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Tom At the top of the Digest it says: When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific than Re: Contents of Biofuel digest... Nobody will read a message with the Subject Re: Biofuel Digest, Vol 22, Issue 74 and it will foul up archives searches forever. It should have read Re: Herbal Garden Sprays. Please change it and resend. Thankyou. Biofuel list administration From: Tom Thiel [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: Biofuel Digest, Vol 22, Issue 74 Date: Wed, 21 Feb 2007 21:26:00 -0500 To: biofuel@sustainablelists.org 7. Re: Herbal Garden Sprays (Thomas Kelly) -- Keith quoted a USA Today article: WASHINGTON - It may be cold comfort during a frigid February, but last month was by far the hottest January ever for the planet. Here in New York State (US) we had temps in the 60s (F) and even reached 73F during Dec and January. I had built a small ice skating rink for my kids back in early November and had just about given up hope of teaching them to skate this year. The first measurable snowfall in New York City occurred on the14th or 15th of January. The previous record for late snow had been January 10th (1878). It has turned cold. The kids are skating and I am frantically trying to keep up with my oil-fired boiler's hunger for BD. I have a tool that was handed down from my grandfather died in 1958 to my father . died in 1976 to me. It has a heavy, broad blade with an oval hole through which the long handle fits. Like a hoe or like a shovel? It's like a hoe... I've seen grub hoes that are similar, but the blade on this one is about 9 - 10 inches across. It has a long, thick, curved handle. I can appreciate that Tom, I love using old tools that are made right and built to last and come to you with a heritage of other hands that used them before you, maybe they help to guide your hand in a way. I have quite a few of them, and we sort of inherited a whole bunch of well-used old tools when we came here, used by the old people in older times when things were different, not very long ago. This is comforting to hear. While I don't object to rototillers, shredders, and other machines that make work easier, I don't own them and, so far, don't need them. Something happens, occasionally, when I work with this particular hand tool that has been handed down from previous generations. Doing the same job, in the same manner, with the same tool . maybe the effects of fatigue?? but for a brief instant it is as if you have stepped into their shoes, or they into yours. It's a good feeling. Thanks for the compost tea recipe. I'll give it a try. It will give use to the aquarium pump and bubble stones I bought when I first started making BD. The seeds arrived today .. spring is just around the corner. Tom That tool might be a forest adz. Adzes generally are made of tool steel which is able to be sharpened enough to cut through tree roots, etc. when clearing new ground and to pry things from the ground when clearing. Handle holes are often square or rectangular without being firmly fixed. Handles of adzes are bigger at the work end than below the head like an axe.The head can be easily removed for sharpening by tapping the end of the handle on a rock allowing the head to slide down the handle. Tom Thiel ___ Biofuel mailing list Biofuel@sustainablelists.org http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/biofuel_sustainablelists.org Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Search the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (50,000 messages): http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/
