Check out the Portable Farms website link above. The production rates per square foot are just astounding.
The Robot Project is fastly becoming a success. In the past few weeks there have been leaps and bounds in GPS Automation here. Alot has been done.
We also have enough information and materials to start growing Algae samples in small bioreactors (which just have to be put together). After we find the sweet spot of temperature and lighting conditions we should be able to build the insulated tank in back.
Funding has become a small issue. We've been spending money out of pocket on everything so far. We now have the ability to start generating money collectively for projects and have several ideas on how to do so.
NEXT MEETING: We have to vote on what funding routes to pursue. There are quite a few. Once we pick a few they will be researched as to actual viability. Once we do that we should end up with just a couple options for now, but we'll have many other options well documented and on file for the future.
Foiled Again!!!…
So you buy some rolls of aluminum foil and some cling wrap. Lay down one layer foil, one layer wrap, one layer foil, one layer wrap. Leave the foil hanging out of opposite ends for electrodes, roll it up and see what happens!
The point is, energy storage is needed. You've got batteries, but they only last a few years. Compressed air tanks, raised water tanks, and flywheels are the only other things that can store energy for a rainy day that I can think of.
Expected results:
[http://www.machinist-materials.com/comparison_table_for_plastics.htm]
[http://www.azom.com/details.asp?ArticleID=2004]
[http://www.glad.com/faqs/plasticwrap.php]
Glad Cling Wrap LDPE (low density polyethylene) is about 0.5mils thick (0.0127mm). It has a dielectric strength of about 27Megavolts/meter, so we're looking at a max voltage of 343v. I'd stay a bit lower than that… Now its also got a dielectric constant of about 2.3.
Capacitance is calculated as C = (ε0)(k)(A)/(d). d is 0.0127mm. ε0 is universally 8.854*10^(-12). k is 2.3. Let's say every roll is about 0.3m wide. Let's say we found a roll that is 6m long. We've got 1.8 square meters of capacitor plate.
So two rolls of crappy foil should get us (8.854*10^(-12))(2.3)*(1.8)/0.0000127 farads, or 2.88 microfarads. That's… a tiny cap.
A car battery is typically 12v at 35Amp*hours. This is about 12*35*3600 Joules, or 1.5 MegaJoules. A capacitor holds C(V)(V)/2 Joules, or in our case (2.88micro)(12)(12)/(2) Joules = 208 microJoules.
So we'd need a capacitor of roughly 7.2 Trillion times this area to be a lame car battery. Right…
Say instead we put 120v into the cap (not 12v). This would store 100x the energy, but we'd still need 72 Million of them to store as much as a car battery.
Bad idea, yes, but I'm still not convinced. I'll make a mock up and see how it compares to the math.
DISH CONSTRUCTION COMPLETED!
Went together pretty easily. Only one missing piece. All-in-all very successful. Now we just have to turn it into a greenhouse.
Nice work everyone!
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433mhz TX/RX Data Link
Found this while stumbling around the **Instructables.com website.**
*http://www.instructables.com/id/Build-a-500-metre-radio-data-link-for-under-40./
Here is the TX already made for decent price ($18 with shipping)
*http://cgi.ebay.com/4000m-RF-Wireless-Radio-Transmitting-Module-TM4000-1
Copper Wire and such
This site has amazing quantaties of equipment for wind power application. Using this new data to estimate, we may be able to build a 2kW turbine for $300 - $500 dollars.
Using a mixture of purchased and salvaged parts I think we can drive this price down even further.
Also a really cool site with designs for turbines!
SAY HELLO TO MY LITTLE FRIEND!!!
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Right now the future of this 187lb, 15hp, 3phase-AC beast is undecided.
Either it will be sold or turned into one hell of an ambitious wind turbine… Or sold.
As far as converting ac motors into generators. it's not the most efficient way of doing things. But it does work.
The equipment required to make full use of this motors capabilities might prove expensive.
We need to hash this out as soon as possible and take a vote.
A Few Misc. Links.
http://www.tumbleweedhouses.com/
- Really small green housing ideas
http://www.harborfreight.com/
- Cheap Solar panels 45watts = $200 U.S.
http://www.treehugger.com/
- Design and architecture news
tinyhouseblog - Simons House
tinyhouseblog - Cabin-On-A-Lake
http://www.sandbirch.com/
GOOGLE SketchUp NEW!
There are quite a few different architecture programs in use today. Most of which do some pretty cool stuff. Unfortunately the better they are the more they tend to cost.
So how do you feel about free?
GOOGLE has released a free program (with a buyable counterpart) that is pretty damn handy when it comes to design and project placement visualization. It's simple to use, effective, and best of all FREE! Who could ask for more?
DOWNLOAD - Google SketchUp
(Great find, Sara!)
Small, cost effective, energy efficient, 2 person dwelling.
FLOOR 1 = 480 square feet - 24"x20"
- Kitchen Area
- Communal Area
- 2 Offices with pullout stairs to reach second floor
- Bathroom with modular shower stall
- * (Shower stall is completed when 2 glass doors swing out from the side wall and lock into place)
(CLICK IMAGE TO VIEW LARGER)
FLOOR 2 = (total area depends on end choice of roof)
- Storage for both sleeping area's in the eaves
- Adjoining doors so both occupants can monitor and access the water heating system
- Trap door to stairs to increase usable space
(CLICK IMAGE TO VIEW LARGER)
Did some estimation work with 10kwh in mind. Pre-made solutions are as follows:
* 1 X Wind Turbine = $600 X 40 Units = $24,000 to get an average 10kwh @ 1kw per $2,400
Which aint bad considering the cheapest Solar setup I can find is: 1kw per $4,000
The other drawback being you can only generate energy during the day. So you need to store as much as possible. Wind might require less storage.
Though I would like to have a large backup capacity ready for those midnight 40kwh energy usages.
(You never know with innovative people.)
As Far as making our own. It is very possible:
ebay: 450 Watt DC motor
ebay: 640watt DC Motor
* A few of these and a CNC machine and we'll be good to go.
We could go vertical also….
DESIGN:
Should be pretty easy to fabricate props and a standoff.
http://www.otherpower.com/
- A fairly advanced alternative energy project group.
Just some links of resources for now…
Here is a rough calc for general hydro production:
Average rainfall in Rhode Island 3.5 inches per month which = 2.185 gal/ft^2
Assuming 10 acres of land (435,600 ft^2 * 2.185) = 951,786 gallons per month
Total cubic feet of water equals 126,905 ft^3 of water available assuming no losses.
1 ft^3 per second roughly equals 1kw using a simple hydro setup.
360 ft^3 will get you 1kwh
126,905 ft^3 / 360 ft^3 = 352.5 kwh per month
Averaging 11kwh per day generously without figuring for losses. Which is crap, I might add. Enough energy for one house.
HYDRO-ELECTRICITY ROCKS!
Recently found an instance of a Hydro-Electric Turbine in use at a resort in Oregon
They have been using their turbine since is was installed in 1929! This thing has been pumping out an average of 40-42kw per hour every day for 80 years. They are making more energy than they can actually use. So much that they have to throw heaters into the river to get rid of the excess energy. They're no anywhere near a grid so they can't sell it back to the power company.
Here are the specs on this Hydro-Electric Turbine:
- Model made between 1895-1827 by Leffel Co. "22-inch Francis" (Samson model?)
- 40-42kw average
- 35 ft^3 water per second (15,700 gpm)
- 800ft of 42in. penstock drops the water 19ft to reach 8psi by the time it reaches the turbine.
- Main shaft spins @ 312rpm
- Stepped to 1,800rpm to drive 45kw 3-phase 208vac generator
- Stepped (electronically?) to 480vac for distribution
- 2 Bearings need to be changed every 3-5 years. )They look like a mushroomed bullet, and they're made from "Iron Wood")
So, long story short… "River is necessary."
Recycled Plastic Lumber
Not really a new idea. However making it @Home may be.
Well I started here Melting Bottle Plastic. Which then gave me a general idea of what plastics we might be working with and what the melting temps were.
I then explored a bit more and eventually found some info: File on RPL Industry costs etc...
Also: General Guide of All Things RPL
From here it's really only a question of using the same techniques they do for installing a pool liner to injection mold a beam out of a homogenous mixture. Then maybe glossing will take place… Depends on preference and whether or not we use fiberglass.
*Most likely we will use about 20% wood fiber/cotton in the form of shredded jeans and cardboard.
*After that I have the form and pump ready to go.
*Need to buy some CO2.
*Also found a good price on silicon sheeting with rating up to 500+ degrees Fahrenheit.
*Need a heat source. we're going for around 300 degrees here! Accurately!
- Solar as a source of electricity is a good idea. However, current technology doesn't allow more than %20 efficiency in the conversion process. Testing must be done to decide whether storing energy via Hydro Capacitor or via Lead Acid Battery is best.
Direct thermal conduction is very efficient and requires few moving parts (if any). They require very little maintanance and are fairly inexpensive to build.
HARD DATA COMING SOON….
Where would be the best place to put an Eco-Village?
We must define all the factors involved first:
- Laws
- Resources
- Weather
- Utilities
- Location
- Cost
- "?"
After that's done we need to take a look at all the things we need, want, or otherwise regarding land.
It seems that we've come across many renaissanced ideas in this venture. Not limited to a substance called "Spirulina".
Along with being a fantastic source of protein Spirulina is a otherwise well balanced nutritional food that is very easy to grow. There are several options for growth. One of which we already have the equipment necessary.
A quick maturity rate (3-4 days) makes this algae (cyanobacterium) a very intriguing option. Steady water quality tests will be required as the conditions this algae grows under also allows for the growth and absorbtion of other things you may not want to ingest (heavy metals etc…).
Spirulina must be fed well to yield good results. Baking soda can supply most of the Spirulina's CO2 needs. Baking soda may be a viable option.
Also temperature must be kept rather tropical and constant to allow the Spirulina to grow.
Low tech example of growing CLICK HERE
Catfish Farming
Growing catfish is fairly simple. The laws governing fish farming and the licenses required to do so are not too bad. They all seem to point to an above-ground tank as having the least legal hassle.
Automation as far as Ph testing, feeding, and temperature can all be acquired. In this way, very little maintenance will need to be done by hand.
Water purification can be accomplished using standard bleach. The bleach can then be removed using Sodium Thiosulphate.
This should only be done in small amounts so as to keep the measurement of chemicals more exact.
+++MORE TO COME….
