[TheForge] new shed design and other ramblings

[terry l. ridder]

hello bruce;

On Wed, 15 Apr 2009, Bruce Freeman wrote:

> Terry,
> I'm picking up on the 3-phase power requirement.
> You use an engine to generate power which you then use to power motors.
> Very convenient, but not efficient.
>

the generator is a spare from one of the ships. been a spare for at
least 10 years. looks like the day it came out of the factory. was
protected by layers of grease and linen cloth. took a while to get it
cleaned up.

>
> How about a modification of the old line-shaft idea.  Run an engine
> and power the tools more-or-less directly from it.  I know this
> conjures up visions of 4" iron shafts and bearings, and big flat-belt
> pulleys everywhere, but that was only one implementation of the idea.
>

this is similar to my other idea. hydraulic motors driving basically
pto's. i have two tractors with cat 1 hitches and 540 rpm ptos. i like
the ability to swap out different implements that use the tractor's pto
to provide power. so far i have a 3pt hitch post hole digger, a reverse
rotation tiller, a finishing mower. i am working on a boom crane for the
3pt hitch. the same could be done in the shop. why should everything
have its own electric motor or diesel/gas/propane/natural gas/alcohol
engine when they are able to share a single power plant or perhaps
several power plants. the pto with drive shafts is my current idea.
still working on the design and layout. this is not set in stone. this
idea may or may not be implemented. time will tell.

>
> You could use scrap driveshafts from trucks or cars, and use the
> differentials as variable-speed output points.
> Just brainstorming here.
> Best of luck.
>

thank you for the ideas and the wishes.

>
> On Tue, Apr 14, 2009 at 5:52 PM, terry l. ridder <terrylr at blauedonau.com> wrote:
>> hello;
>>
>> i am attempting to build an environmentally friendly shop. i would like
>> to keep the carbon footprint for the shop as small as possible. i am
>> trying to use recycled materials in building the shed to being with.
>>
>> i am looking at either producing all the 3-phase electrical power that i
>> would need for the shop using a marine diesel 3-phase 240 volt generator
>> or cut back on power requirements and produce the electricity using
>> solar panels on the shed roof and a wind turbine. i have the marine
>> diesel all ready i would have to purchase the solar panels and wind
>> turbine. i have not reached a final decision on the electrical system.
>>
>> i would like to have the new shed off grid if at all possible. that way
>> i am able to control the cost of producing the electricity for the shed.
>> i have looked at the commonwealth edison offer and it is just loaded
>> with fees and charges. there is the metering charge, distribution
>> facilities charge, transmission services charge, electricity supply
>> charge, purchased electricity adjustment charge, environmental cost
>> recovery adjustment, energy efficiency programs charge, etc. there is
>> even a charge is i do not use the 3-phase equipment often enough.
>>
>> if i include the cost of the equipment to produce the 3-phase electrical
>> power it is clear that i would not break even for many years.
>>
>> i am looking at putting radiant heat in the concrete portion of the new
>> shed floor. the heating system will be a wood/coal boiler/stove. i have
>> not decided on just how the new shed will be cooled or even if it will
>> be cooled. i may go with the new generation of spot coolers to cool the
>> location of the shed where creature comforts are required.
>>
>> i have looked at the ground water heating and cooling systems but the
>> requirement for using a double walled heat exchanger is a killer. i can
>> understand the need to protect the ground water from contamination put
>> there are other ways to do that other than using a double wall heat
>> exchanger. a double walled heat exchanger is twice as large as a single
>> wall heat exchanger.
>>
>>
>> --
>> terry l. ridder ><>
>

-- 
terry l. ridder ><>