OT: Alt fuels was Re: [AT] Gasoline $

Wed Aug 10 10:10:29 PDT 2005

George,
    Not everywhere is solar such a low-density thing. Here in AZ the
number shot around is around 1KW per square meter... if you've been here
in the summer you know there's a lot of power in it. :) The technical
issues with pushing it into mainstream are considerable though. My guess
is that with the energy costs we'll see a lot more exploration into
using it. I know I'm working on a couple of alternative fuels/energy
projects.

1. Propane conversions for new vehicles. I'm not in the middle of this
one but I'm doing some support for a couple of guys working out the
software and hardware. The new vehicles have some pretty stringent
requirements and can be very finicky about what you feed them for
fuels... and again, sometimes they aren't. GM and Ford have been
building a lot of vehicles that will run on ethanol/gasoline blends far
in excess of the 85% gasoline. With the modern fuel controls, it's going
to be a lot better than some of the previous experiences (carburetor
conversions) and they have higher compression ratios that will take
better advantage of the amount of energy in the ethanol. Yes, there is
less energy available than gasoline, but if the engine isn't designed
for the fuel you're burning, it's going to be inefficient.

2. A lot of energy goes into domestic usage (heating and cooling) and
that CAN be directly affected by alternative sources a lot easier than
transportation. Simple things like using a fan and bumping the A/C
setting up a few degrees saves a LOT. Couple that to addition of
insulation, newer windows, servicing HVAC systems and filters, and a LOT
of energy can be saved. When I moved into my house (built in 1979, 2300
square feet) the previous owner was paying over $600 per month for
cooling in the summertime. Last month's bill for me, 10 years after I
moved in and started improving things, was under $200, and energy costs
have not gone down in the last 10 years...

3. Another idea that I'm going to attempt is a solar powered air
conditioner. There's an experimental system being tested in several
locations that uses low pressure water as a refrigerant. They use solar
panels to capture the heat, boil the water and use a venturi to generate
a pumping action that generates chilled water out the other side. My
guess is that with a ground loop (something I've been reading about on
this group with close and careful attention) and some controls could be
added to the system. 
   I plan on building a carport roof this winter and making it strong
enough to support the solar collectors on top of it. The idea is to
generate cooling that I will be using on my shop (where I work on my
tractors!). With a solar system it should reduce the cooling
requirements on the main shop. I do not expect it to eliminate them by
any stretch but knocking the edge off it is a good start. While it's not
the do-all and end all, reducing our reliance on foreign energy is going
to be more and more critical. I feel China is waking up and is going to
become ravenously energy-hungry and I just don't see fuel costs ever
coming down. 
    I've already done a few things to improve my transportation fuel
costs. First, I don't drive my Blazer as much; only when hauling stuff
or for recreation. I'm running a fuel injected, manual transmission
Camaro which gets about twice the fuel mileage. Trip planning helps but
does not eliminate driving; I commonly have 2 to 8 stops on a daily trip
(picking up and dropping off parts, visiting customers and vendors, all
the trappings of a small business). I also do a lot of shopping online. 

I'd like to hear of more ideas; this group is great for them.

Ken

Gilbert, Arizona

On Wed, 2005-08-10 at 07:23, George Willer wrote:
> Richard,
> 
> I think you are right on both counts.... but solar and wind are just plain 
> silly, because of the low energy density.  The much ballyhooed hydrogen is 
> even sillier.
> 
> Of course blended gas will produce poorer mileage.  Ethanol contains only 
> about 64% as much energy per pound as gasoline.
> 
> The fact remains that as a country we are bleeding profusely.  We're sending 
> FAR too much of out collective wealth to the Arabs when we should be 
> producing our own energy.
> 
> Oops... political again.
> 
> George Willer
> 
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "RJK.Sr" <Farmall at riverview.net>
> To: "Antique tractor email discussion group" <at at lists.antique-tractor.com>
> Sent: Wednesday, August 10, 2005 9:24 AM
> Subject: Re: [AT] Gasoline $
> 
> 
> > Everything I've read on the subject, it take more energy to produce a
> > gallon of ethanol then you get burning it...   Now if they used solar or
> > wind energy to distill ethanol, you might have something...
> >
> > On a recent trip west we found that gas milage suffered when using
> > a ethanol mix,  I avoided it whenever I could...
> >
> > Richard
> > West Michigan
> >
> > On 10 Aug 2005 at 0:13, steve sewell wrote:
> >
> >> George: You know, if some of that $$$$ was going to the American farmer 
> >> it
> >> wouldn't hurt as bad. Why in the world we aren't burning 10% ethanol in 
> >> our
> >> gas and B20 ( 20% soy ) bio-diesel is beyond me. Both are direct
> >> replacements - no modifications required.
> >>
> >> - Steve
> >>
> >> Steve Sewell
> >> Albany, Ohio USA
> >> sewell at atis.net
> >> sewell at ohio.edu
> >>
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