Gee David C, I would've thought that just firing a boiler would be a LOT less efficient than running an engine....but...I suppose that it could actually be a better solution if it were a closed system--return the spent low press steam to the boiler and it's halfway heated already.....HEY! Here's a kick for ya---you're in AL? or was it GA? either way, you should have CLOSE to the same solar radiation there we get here in West central FL...maybe paint the boiler black and setup a couple of reflectors to get the sun to add a little energy to the loop? Or maybe preheat the water by running it through a couple of flat panel solar H2O heaters(I have one for my hot water supply--I get close to 120 deg water from my shower at the far end of the house, and it's only a 4'x8' collector). Whose turbine are you planning to use? something like picoturbine.com? or another?
For anyone: Has any thought been given to series/paralleling passive solar collectors together to get steam? Is this even possible? It's been nagging at the back of my mind...there're some working focusing setups(got links if anyone's interested), but Mirrors are pricey, and it's got a HUGE footprint! NOT a Suburban Backyard kinda toy.....oh well--DRAT those consarn Deed Restrictions anyway!! Also a bit OT (Sorry :) - I just started the 1st phase of a solar collector to help heat my pool--it's a 4x8 sheet of 1/2" plywood to which I just glued aluminum foil a few minutes ago. It will stand on it's long side. I plan to zig-zag a 100' black garden hose (if I figured right, I can actually fit 3 in --overlapping only at the return bends which have to be made inside of 5" minimum to prevent kinking it) left to right from bottom 8' edge up to the full 4' height. Water will circulate from bottom to top using(I HOPE) an old washing machine motor & pump (from the machine that my daughter murdered with an unbalanced load and I was left to dispose of the 'body' - UPside was--It HAD a signed 'Organ Donor' card tucked up under the lid, so It's motor, pump and controls live on! ;) The collector will be faced with 3M's Window insulation kits--the heatshrink clear stuff for exterior use. So, if anyone's interested in how it works, email me directly, so I don't detract from this forum anymore. Again, I AM sorry to post so off topic, but my wife thinks I am a TOTAL geek lately--If I'm not on this computer reading, I'm doodling & figgerin' new schemes out on my notepad, or out in my shed 'Putzing'. I'd like ANy feedback any of y'all may want to offer. Just wanted to share it with someone who might appreciate the idea :) -Tim Z geek<~~looking for his wayward Pocket Protector ;) ----- Original Message ----- From: "david e cruse" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <biofuel@yahoogroups.com> Sent: Monday, May 07, 2001 7:14 PM Subject: Re: [biofuel] Re: Enzymes > Hi Tim Z., > > Don`t know what exactly to tell you in regards to > Florida. I checked and Fla. doesn`t have a net metering > law in place. It`s difficult to say how to approach > your utility or CoOp in this. We have a net metering law here > although the House has disagreed with the Senate and > has asked for an amendment to it or a substitution, even > though the Bill shows passed on our State website, they > are not real big on explanations on what they put on the > site. Add this website to your bookmark list or favorites, > and everyone else should add it too, it is chock full with > info on "green power and renewables" and I find it > invaluable for keeping up with what`s going on, > www.eren.doe.gov/greenpower/home.shtml, for info > on net metering find state policies: net metering also > click on "relevant literature" and look at "connecting a > small-scale ..." and read that. That should be a lot of help > in understanding the situation . As for what I did , I just > called my local CoOp and talked to the vice president > about the possibility of operating a SRES ( small > renewable energy system ) and he was very helpful with > what I wanted to know. The whole thing is an expensive > proposition and after a lot of research I figured out that > for me and my partner a minimum of 3,000kw to 5000kw > generator is our best bet for a 2-3 yr. payback on the > whole shooting match, biodiesel plant included. I also > found out right away that "steam" is the way to go, you > can achieve an 80% fuel efficiency by using "steam", > ( biodiesel fired boiler with a steam turbine generator), > and possibly a second steam turbine running off of > the low pressure steam exiting the main turbine. I > know this sounds like a big deal but it`s not, a > modern 1 megawatt steam turbine generator set is > no longer than a Ford or Chevy small pickup truck, > and no wider and it`s not as tall as me ( 5`10`` ) so > that`s really small compared to the older units! > > David Cruse > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Tim Zarbo" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: <biofuel@yahoogroups.com> > Sent: Monday, May 07, 2001 12:49 AM > Subject: Re: [biofuel] Re: Enzymes > > > > David Cruse, > > Would you mind sharing your plans in reference to selling power to your > > CoOp? I am interested in doing something similar here in FL if I can get > > them interested. > > > > You In Jerry D? :) > > > > David, feel free to email me directly if you like, I am curious as to what > > scale, and methods exactly you might be considering to produce the power. > > -Tim Z <~~still gigglin' over "Flyin' Pigs" ;) > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: "david e cruse" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > To: <biofuel@yahoogroups.com> > > Sent: Sunday, May 06, 2001 10:29 PM > > Subject: Re: [biofuel] Re: Enzymes > > > > > > > Hey Todd, > > > > > > That sounds great , and would be fantastic ! Thank > > > you. I am not in a rural area here so we are going > > > to have to deal with that by either leasing , or > > > purchasing a couple of acres to put up a facility. > > > We want to produce power with the biodiesel > > > as our fuel, that way we can have the electricity > > > to use, and put on the grid. The vice president of > > > our local Electric Membership Coop has given > > > me the assurance that they will give us a purchase > > > agreement when we are ready. But that is going > > > to be a rough go getting everything together in > > > the right way so it all works without too many > > > problems. I`m not trying to take too hugh of a > > > leap by skipping the standard methods that can > > > be done on a now basis, but the Ginosar method > > > sounds like a great way to go if possible! I stress > > > "possible"!! Otherwise it would be dumb not to > > > use what works. > > > > > > Thanks, > > > David Cruse > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > > From: "Appal Energy" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > > To: <biofuel@yahoogroups.com> > > > Sent: Sunday, May 06, 2001 9:56 PM > > > Subject: Re: [biofuel] Re: Enzymes > > > > > > > > > > > Check the patent further. They may also have meant > > an > > > > > Ion-exchange column separator. I dont know; I only quickly looked at > > the > > > > > abstract. Sometimes also patents are deliberately confusing so they > > > cover > > > > > their ass either way. I just think a cream separator might do it > quite > > > > well > > > > > because of the different S.G.s of Biodiesel and Glycerine. > > > > > Todd your input and comments appreciated here. > > > > > B.r., David > > > > .......................... > > > > > > > > David, > > > > > > > > Appal's chemist and I discussed Ginosar's methodology when we first > saw > > > the > > > > article last year. That conversation briefly touched on Lewis acids > and > > > > resin coated polymers. We let it lay, as the process was not very > "real > > > > world" for our limited startup. > > > > > > > > I've forwarded Ginosar's patent location to him and asked him to > review > > > it. > > > > He has been researching patents continually over the past months and > may > > > > have already stumbled upon it. We'll see. > > > > > > > > Although the topic of moving away from soluble catalyst keeps > surfacing, > > > we > > > > continue to pursue the "traditional" method of manufacture with small > > > scale > > > > glycerin refining and potassium phosphate recovery. This seems to be > the > > > > best start up method for a micro-facility in an agricultural setting. > > That > > > > is unless something like Ginosar's method becomes even remotely > > available > > > > before we can reach the next plateau. > > > > > > > > It's not that far of a reach to pursue the solid catalyst method > though. > > > The > > > > high boiler heat requirement is already present in a plant that is > > > > distilling glycerin, as is the familiarity with pressure rated > systems. > > > > > > > > Let me see what the good Doctor says. > > > > > > > > Todd > > > > Appal Energy > > > > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Biofuel at Journey to Forever: > > > > http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html > > > > To unsubscribe, send an email to: > > > > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > > > > > > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to > > http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Biofuel at Journey to Forever: > > > http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html > > > To unsubscribe, send an email to: > > > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > > > > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to > http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ > > > > > > > > > > > > --- > > Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. > > Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). > > Version: 6.0.250 / Virus Database: 123 - Release Date: 4/18/2001 > > > > > > Biofuel at Journey to Forever: > > http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html > > To unsubscribe, send an email to: > > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ > > > > > > > Biofuel at Journey to Forever: > http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html > To unsubscribe, send an email to: > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > Your use of Yahoo! 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