Re: [biofuel] Electric Biodiesel Hybrid (was New to the group)
Darryl McMahon [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: As for a biodiesel-electric hybrid, it is with some pride (and a tinge of embarassment over the extended delays) that I can announce the Porsche 914 project is now in the hands of a friend of mine to complete the work to make it roadable as a pure electric. (I've had to admit I'm not finding the time to do it myself, and for a change, paid work is coming in fairly steadily.) Once licensing and insurance and emissions certification are out of the way, I will be looking at the final step - installing the (yet to be acquired) diesel generator set to make it an electric-biodiesel hybrid. Bruce, the 914 may not be a practical 3rd-world vehicle, but it should turn heads - and in government circles here, that's worth more than practicality in terms of delivering the message. What sort of co-operation are you looking for? Darryl McMahon Darryl- I am considering a rather novel approach to the design of such a sustainably powered hybrid electric vehicle - doing it by open source internet collaboration on a .org web site that I am developing specifically for the purpose of collaboration on various projects for a better world. By open source, I mean that the project would be in the spirit of open source software in that the design would be in the public domain for others to contribute to as well as freely use and copy if they choose, as long as their ideas and improvements also are disclosed and made available to others in turn. I would hope that such collaboration would begin by defining a vehicle design that would be applicable to the third world - perhaps some kind of rugged utility vehicle might be appropriate. Hopefully ideas for such a design would come from people in those countries where they know the local needs, requirements and market potential. Local sourcing information for materials and parts would also be an important ingredient, as it would be important to maximize local sourcing. Various design inputs would flow to the web site from qualified, interested people with various skills and disciplines necessary to design such a vehicle (including CAD skills), with a project manager to oversee the entire online endeavor. The collaboration web site will have various built in discussion group topics relevant to the various design areas, but the goal here is to go beyond discussion to the point of action and implementation. Other groups might use information from this project to break off and begin sustainable HEV projects of their own, and unlike the competitive, proprietary world, that would actually be welcomed in our collaborative, open source world. Therefore to finally answer your original question, by using this model, the opportunities for cooperation and collaboration are quite extensive and limited only by one's skills and interests. Bruce Colley, Sustainable Energy Project http://www.sustainableenergyproject.org 1997 VW Jetta running on SVO; SVO powered generator for hybrid EV or independent power generation. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ~-- Yahoo! Domains - Claim yours for only $14.70 http://us.click.yahoo.com/Z1wmxD/DREIAA/yQLSAA/FGYolB/TM ~- Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Biofuels list archives: http://infoarchive.net/sgroup/biofuel/ Please do NOT send Unsubscribe messages to the list address. To unsubscribe, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Yahoo! Groups Links * To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/biofuel/ * To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] * Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
Re: [biofuel] On another note... (a philosophical question)
Before Reduce, Re-use, Recycle, one might insert Respect. As I suggested in an earlier post, an appropriate last R might be Restore. Bruce Colley, Sustainable Energy Project http://www.sustainableenergyproject.org 1997 VW Jetta running on SVO. - Original Message - From: Kim Garth Travis To: biofuel@yahoogroups.com Sent: Friday, June 18, 2004 5:25 AM Subject: Re: [biofuel] On another note... (a philosophical question) At 12:35 AM 6/18/2004, you wrote: Though not a bio fuel question I want opinions... Does anyone agree with me that re-use of something As-is is better than recycling? AllanD Totally, I think the list of Reduce, Re-use then Recycle is in order of importance. Bright Blessings, Kim Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Biofuels list archives: http://infoarchive.net/sgroup/biofuel/ Please do NOT send Unsubscribe messages to the list address. To unsubscribe, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ADVERTISEMENT -- Yahoo! Groups Links a.. To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/biofuel/ b.. To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] c.. Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ~-- Yahoo! Domains - Claim yours for only $14.70 http://us.click.yahoo.com/Z1wmxD/DREIAA/yQLSAA/FGYolB/TM ~- Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Biofuels list archives: http://infoarchive.net/sgroup/biofuel/ Please do NOT send Unsubscribe messages to the list address. To unsubscribe, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Yahoo! Groups Links * To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/biofuel/ * To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] * Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
Re: [biofuel] New to the group
John Woolsey wrote: Think about it. Electric cars have the same problem as hydrogen cars. There is no free supply of electricity. The only way to produce relatively polution free vehicles would be to have all electrical power produced by nuclear energy. Right now any increase in electrical energy consumption is generally produced by coal. Net CO2 output from coal after inefficiency of batteries and the like are taken into account is far higher than gas vehicles. As my air modeling friend told me. Electric vehicles are just a moving the smoke plume issue. - bfn - JAW You seem to imply that CO2 is a pollutant, but it is not classified as such (at least in the U.S.), but rather as a greenhouse gas. (If it were, then you and I and all other human beings would be classified as gross polluters and be sent directly to the scrapyard, since we exhale CO2.) About five years ago I did read that emissions for Honda cars were approaching emissions levels of fossil fueled power plants and so perhaps by now your claim may be at least close to correct, at least for certain current cars. I do think that the characterization of electric vehicles as zero emission vehicles is, at best, highly misleading. I have owned an electric vehicle for eight years but am about to sell it since my SVO powered VW Jetta TDI is so far superior in performance and range, not to mention that it runs on renewable fuel. Now, if anyone would like to join in on the design of a diesel hybrid electric vehicle that would run on SVO or Biodiesel, possibly for use in third world countries, then I am all ears. (I have already designed and built the diesel engine powered SVO/Biodiesel generator for such a vehicle.) Bruce Colley, Sustainable Energy Project http://www.sustainableenergyproject.org 1997 VW Jetta running on SVO. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ~-- Yahoo! Domains - Claim yours for only $14.70 http://us.click.yahoo.com/Z1wmxD/DREIAA/yQLSAA/FGYolB/TM ~- Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Biofuels list archives: http://infoarchive.net/sgroup/biofuel/ Please do NOT send Unsubscribe messages to the list address. To unsubscribe, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Yahoo! Groups Links * To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/biofuel/ * To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] * Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
Re: [biofuel] Re: Australia - home brewers have to pay excise
I still think there are ways to protect our future without projecting the ultimate doom of the planet. I look around at the recycling programs today and they astound me considering our lifestyle of 20 years ago. We need to find ways to change things for the better that are easily acceptable by all of the public like recycling. That is the battle for the here and now. Don't stop working the world is getting better. - bfn - JAW
Re: [biofuel] Re: Macro Economics Plant Fuel Stats?
For venture capital, you might try the following. (They are also sponsoring an event this fall, and that is referenced below.) I think that it might be useful to compile a list of socially and environmentally responsible investors/investment firms and post it for this group to have in the archive (if this already hasn't been done - don't have time to check right now.) www.investorscircle.net/entre.html Investors. Circle is a leading social venture capital intermediary whose mission is to support early-stage, private companies that drive the transition to a sustainable economy. Its members and active affiliates are high net worth individuals, professional venture capitalists, family offices and foundations looking to maximize financial and social returns on their investments. Investors. Circle has been running venture fairs for over 10 years and since inception, its members have put over $90 million into 150 companies and small funds. To learn more about this event, please visit our website: http://www.investorscircle.net/Conference2004.html or call our office: 617-566-2600. Bruce Colley, Sustainable Energy Project http://www.sustainableenergyproject.org - Original Message - From: Marc Orion Cardoso To: biofuel@yahoogroups.com Sent: Wednesday, June 09, 2004 9:31 AM Subject: [biofuel] Re: Macro Economics Plant Fuel Stats? We have been growing fuel food and fertilizer grade algaes for some thirty years, now that we are in the biodiesel rersearch and development business ,we are focusing on oil from algae extraction technology from three algae species that show the most potential yeild. at this time we would welcome financial inputs from any sources so that we can accelerate our development programs.so far the oils we have extracted on a bench scale seem idealy suited for biodiesel production getting the technology up to production scale is all that remains in our NSHO. We know how to grow it, we have the ponds, we have the biodiesel plant capable of 7000 gallons per week capacity, anyone interested in offering venture capital? we are all ears. help us take the rd to the next step.see one of our ponds in fryer to the fuel tank and on our website www dabney.com/ecogenics/ Marc Orion Cardoso biofuel@yahoogroups.com, John Woolsey [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: It is cool, but is it proven? Anyone want to start a algae farm? I am sure it would be easy to find a patron among the internet millionaires. joeyhundert wrote: Lyle, Thanks very much, that's a really cool article. Algae for oil, that's the first I'd heard of it. I forgot to take efficiency trends into http://groups.yahoo.com/group/biofuel/message/35405 Oh well. Has there been any conjecture on the theories presented on Algae? $287Billion war budget vs. $170Billion Independence? (I know the infrastructure re-fit would be huge, but still, that's a pretty telling tale) The latest National Geographic is a must read for everyone here. Bronze the cover and put it on the mantle. Just got the latest from Campbell's stats - Peak Oil Production = 2008! Hold on to yer hats! -Joey Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Biofuels list archives: http://infoarchive.net/sgroup/biofuel/ Please do NOT send Unsubscribe messages to the list address. To unsubscribe, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Yahoo! Groups Links Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Biofuels list archives: http://infoarchive.net/sgroup/biofuel/ Please do NOT send Unsubscribe messages to the list address. To unsubscribe, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ADVERTISEMENT -- Yahoo! Groups Links a.. To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/biofuel/ b.. To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] c.. Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ~-- Make a clean sweep of pop-up ads. Yahoo! Companion Toolbar. Now with Pop-Up Blocker. Get it for free! http://us.click.yahoo.com/L5YrjA/eSIIAA/yQLSAA/FGYolB/TM ~- Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Biofuels list archives: http://infoarchive.net/sgroup/biofuel/ Please do NOT send Unsubscribe messages to the list
Re: [biofuel] Bio-motor oil?
Fuchs in Germany makes a vegetable oil based engine lubricating oil that they call Plantomot (has good biodegradable properties). http://www.fuchs-oil.de/index.php/worldwide/0/ In fact Elsbett specifies that this oil be used in engines that have been converted to run on SVO using their kits, presumably because some vegetable oil fuel inevitably mixes with the lubricating oil and this Plantomot oil is less prone to polymerization (thickening) of the lubricating oil when this happens. Bruce Colley, Sustainable Energy Project http://www.sustainableenergyproject.org Jetta TDI running on SVO - Original Message - From: Steven Pfaff To: biofuel Sent: Wednesday, June 09, 2004 2:42 PM Subject: [biofuel] Bio-motor oil? Is it possible to make motor oil out of WVO? I read in another thread about using biodiesel in gas engines as a fuel additive, anyone know anything about maybe using it as an oil additive? Good idea, bad idea? - Do you Yahoo!? Friends. Fun. Try the all-new Yahoo! Messenger [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Biofuels list archives: http://infoarchive.net/sgroup/biofuel/ Please do NOT send Unsubscribe messages to the list address. To unsubscribe, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ADVERTISEMENT -- Yahoo! Groups Links a.. To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/biofuel/ b.. To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] c.. Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ~-- Make a clean sweep of pop-up ads. Yahoo! Companion Toolbar. Now with Pop-Up Blocker. Get it for free! http://us.click.yahoo.com/L5YrjA/eSIIAA/yQLSAA/FGYolB/TM ~- Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Biofuels list archives: http://infoarchive.net/sgroup/biofuel/ Please do NOT send Unsubscribe messages to the list address. To unsubscribe, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Yahoo! Groups Links * To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/biofuel/ * To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] * Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
Re: [biofuel] Macro Economics Plant Fuel Stats?
The following link provides some insight into large scale production of oil: http://planningcommission.nic.in/reports/genrep/cmtt_bio.pdf This study investigates the potential in India for producing Jatropha oil on idle land and using it to displace up to 20% of existing petro diesel usage. The study projects about 1000 lb. of oil production per acre, less than some other oil crops, but not bad considering that it grows on marginal land and requires very little rain and maintenance. Bruce Colley, Sustainable Energy Project http://www.sustainableenergyproject.org - Original Message - From: Joey Hundert To: biofuel@yahoogroups.com Sent: Monday, June 07, 2004 5:37 PM Subject: [biofuel] Macro Economics Plant Fuel Stats? Dear Keith, I have combed the archives and can't seem to find what I'm looking for. Therefore, if I'm asking for information that has already seen discussion, please just point me in the right direction. I'm preparing a presentation to the AMA (Alberta Motor Assoc.), and I'd like to find some statistics that put plant-based fuels into perspective. Statistics that hypothesize the amount of arable acres necessary to operate x % of vehicles on plant-based fuels (specifically oilseed). Or, details on the canola situation, and how many vehicles can operate on currently planted acres. I also remember hearing something about the potential utilization of idle acres to significantly ease the fuel situation. Furthermore, BIOX (www.bioxcorp.com) claims, BIOX is the only process that can compete at a remarkable $0.07/litre CAD. This new technology makes biodiesel the most cost-effective green fuel available and competitive with petroleum diesel on the market. At the current bulk vegetable oil price of $0.77(CAD)/Litre, that's a fairly attractive price. Does their process look viable to you? All the best, Joey Hundert Edmonton, AB Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Biofuels list archives: http://infoarchive.net/sgroup/biofuel/ Please do NOT send Unsubscribe messages to the list address. To unsubscribe, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ADVERTISEMENT -- Yahoo! Groups Links a.. To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/biofuel/ b.. To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] c.. Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ~-- Yahoo! Domains - Claim yours for only $14.70 http://us.click.yahoo.com/Z1wmxD/DREIAA/yQLSAA/FGYolB/TM ~- Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Biofuels list archives: http://infoarchive.net/sgroup/biofuel/ Please do NOT send Unsubscribe messages to the list address. To unsubscribe, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Yahoo! Groups Links * To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/biofuel/ * To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] * Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
Re: [biofuel] VW TDI SVO users?
Elsbett in Germany makes a one tank kit for the TDI. For information and a quotation form, See: http://www.elsbett.com/gmbh/eindex.htmand http://www.elsbett.com/wwwusa/engl/corporate.htm ). Elsbett us regarded as the leader in this field and their representative, Alexander Noack, will be in the U.S. during the month of August to conduct conversion workshops. (He informs me that you must purchase your kit by the end of June in order to be in this schedule.) Some of these workshops will be in the S.F. Bay area but I'm not sure what other locations he plans to visit. I converted my 1997 Jetta TDI using their kit and am very pleased with the results. Bruce Colley Bruce Colley, Sustainable Energy Project http://www.sustainableenergyproject.org - Original Message - From: wildistheway To: biofuel@yahoogroups.com Sent: Sunday, June 06, 2004 7:27 PM Subject: [biofuel] VW TDI SVO users? Hello, I am new to this list having just bought a 96 VW Passat TDI Wagon. I want to convert it to run on SVO and am looking for any out there who have successfully made the conversion. I live in Oregon and am ready to go on this once I am confident it will work well on TDI's. Thanks Much, Daniel Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Biofuels list archives: http://infoarchive.net/sgroup/biofuel/ Please do NOT send Unsubscribe messages to the list address. To unsubscribe, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ADVERTISEMENT -- Yahoo! Groups Links a.. To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/biofuel/ b.. To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] c.. Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ~-- Make a clean sweep of pop-up ads. Yahoo! Companion Toolbar. Now with Pop-Up Blocker. Get it for free! http://us.click.yahoo.com/L5YrjA/eSIIAA/yQLSAA/FGYolB/TM ~- Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Biofuels list archives: http://infoarchive.net/sgroup/biofuel/ Please do NOT send Unsubscribe messages to the list address. To unsubscribe, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Yahoo! Groups Links * To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/biofuel/ * To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] * Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
Re: [biofuel] FW: Petrol prices - want to do something about it - boycott Esso Shell
With all due respect, this seems like a naive and misguided idea to me. It is naive in the sense that I seem to remember on about the second day of Economics 101 that price is determined by the intersection of the supply and demand curves. For a given supply level, without changing overall demand for a commodity like crude oil, then price will not change. I think that is it misguided in the sense that you can't go on a diet by consuming the same foods purchased at a different supermarket. This group is dedicated to changing our collective diet - i.e. steering the world towards a sustainable fuel future . I have seen similar proposals in the past such as to not purchase fuel from oil companies whose supplies of crude oil come from the Middle East. Unfortunately, the oil business operates as a worldwide commodity market, and so if you or I purchase more oil derived from say, Mexico crude, and less oil derived from say, Saudi Arabia crude, then someone else will inevitably do just the opposite and nothing changes. Change will only occur when we switch to viable sustainable alternatives. And one other thing - BP at least makes solar panels, recognizes global warming and has taken significant steps to reduce their own emissions from operations, so why target them? Bruce Colley, Sustainable Energy Project http://www.sustainableenergyproject.org 1997 VW Jetta TDI and 5 KW generator running on SVO. - Original Message - From: î Riain, Michael To: biofuel@yahoogroups.com Sent: Thursday, June 03, 2004 8:51 AM Subject: [biofuel] FW: Petrol prices - want to do something about it - boycott Esso Shell With petrol(gas) prices here(Ireland) hitting EUR1/litre (1US gallon = 3.5 litres, I think) people are really getting concerned. Hence this campaign (see below) to boycott Esso Shell m -Original Message- From: aine ryan [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: 01 June 2004 15:06 To: David (Eircom); [EMAIL PROTECTED]; î Riain, Michael; Sadbh Subject: FWD: Petrol prices - want to do something about it, read on... = Original Message From geraldine fahy [EMAIL PROTECTED] = Note: forwarded message attached. ___ How much mail storage do you get for free? Yahoo! Mail gives you 6MB! Get Yahoo! Mail http://uk.mail.yahoo.com - Forwarded Message - From: Sinad [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Petrol prices - want to do something about it, read on... We are going to hit over EUR1 a litre by the summer. Want petrol prices to come down? We need to take some intelligent, united action. Philip Hollsworth offered this good idea: This makes MUCH MORE SENSE than the don't buy petrol on a certain day campaign that was going around last April or May! The oil companies just laughed at that because they knew we wouldn't continue to hurt ourselves by refusing to buy petrol. It was more of an inconvenience to us than it was a problem for them. HOWEVER, whoever thought of this idea, has come up with a plan that can really work. Please read it and join in! Now that the oil companies and the OPEC nations have conditioned us to think that the cost of a litre is CHEAP at 90c to 95c, we need to take aggressive action to teach them that BUYERS control the marketplace not sellers. With the price of petrol going up more each day, we consumers need to take action. The only way we are going to see the price of petrol come down is if we hit them in the pocket by not purchasing their Petrol! Moreover, we can do that WITHOUT hurting ourselves. Heres the idea: For the rest of this year, DON'T purchase ANY petrol from the two biggest oil companies (which now are one), ESSO and BP. If they are not selling any petrol, they will be inclined to reduce their prices. If they reduce their prices, the other companies will have to follow suit. But to have an impact, we need to reach literally millions of ESSO and BP petrol buyers. It's really simple to do!! Now, don't whimp out on me at this point...keep reading and I'll explain how simple it is to reach millions of people!! I am sending this note to a lot of people. If each of you send it to at least ten more (30 x 10 = 300)... and those 300 send it to at least ten more (300 x 10 = 3,000) ... and so on, by the time the message reaches the sixth generation of people, we will have reached over THREE MILLION consumers! If those three million get excited and pass this on to ten friends each, then 30 million people will have been contacted! If it goes one level further, you guessed it... .. THREE HUNDRED MILLION PEOPLE!!! Again, all you have to do is send this to 10 people. That's all - and not buy at ESSO/BP. How long would all that take? If each of us sends this email out to ten more people within one day of receipt, all 300 MILLION
Re: [biofuel] Interesting news about crude reserves
The idea that fossil fuel is really a misnomer and that oil is constantly being produced within the earth is intriguing and something that I have read about before, but not in the detail that this article describes. Of course, the issues of global warming, oil spills, tensions between the oil haves and oil have nots would loom as large as ever, even if this wealth were to materialize. As to the reality of today's energy situation, this is depicted very well on the BP website: http://www.bp.com/ If you click on this link: http://www.bp.com/subsection.do?categoryId=10104contentId=2015020 it should take you directly to the Statistical Review - Downloads page where you can choose Oil, Natural Gas, Coal, Nuclear Power, etc., and there is considerable useful statistical information for these fuels. On the bottom of the menu on the left side of that same page, there is an Energy Charting Tool link. If you click on that and then click on Launch the energy charting tool (in the middle of the page), you can get very useful and flexible graphical information. One of the most useful charts is the Oil Reserves/Production ratios chart. The Oil Reserves/Production ratio indicates the number of years of remaining supply for a given region, or the world as a whole, based on proven reserves and the current level of production. For example, click on the + for Oil Reserves/Production Ratios to expand the menu, and then click on North America - Oil R/P Ratio and on the right side, click on All (years) and you will see a chart with a declining trend that terminates at the number 10 by the end of 2002 - i.e. there is a 10 year supply of oil remaining in North America. So for anyone in this country that is already concerned that we are using and importing too much oil, then just wait about 10 years and see how it looks. (Homework assignment - what is the 2002 North America R/P ratio for natural gas?) The most optimistic estimates that I have heard for North Slope oil production, even if that were to proceed, would only add about 1.5 years to the U.S. supply, and all of this assumes consumption at the current rate, an unlikely scenario in light of increasing consumption trends (see consumption charts). I have found this information very useful in conveying the urgency of our current situation (and it can also be useful if one is accused of the sky is falling rhetoric.)Also, in connection with this, the June issue of National Geographic has a cover story on the subject of oil supplies and the end of cheap oil, and it also has some very good graphical information. As to British Petroleum, I wish that BP really meant Beyond Petroleum in a literal sense and not in the figurative sense that they (Lord Brown) mean it, but they do seem to be much more progressive than their competitors. In any case, they have provided some very useful information in an excellent user friendly format. . Bruce Colley, Sustainable Energy Project http://www.sustainableenergyproject.org - Original Message - From: John Donahue To: biofuel@yahoogroups.com Sent: Wednesday, June 02, 2004 8:45 AM Subject: [biofuel] Interesting news about crude reserves Hi: I am a lurker in this group, mostly just reading what others have to say. I ran across this yesterday http://worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=38645 Regarding the source of petroleum reserves. John Donahue Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Biofuels list archives: http://infoarchive.net/sgroup/biofuel/ Please do NOT send Unsubscribe messages to the list address. To unsubscribe, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ADVERTISEMENT -- Yahoo! Groups Links a.. To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/biofuel/ b.. To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] c.. Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ~-- Yahoo! Domains - Claim yours for only $14.70 http://us.click.yahoo.com/Z1wmxD/DREIAA/yQLSAA/FGYolB/TM ~- Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Biofuels list archives: http://infoarchive.net/sgroup/biofuel/ Please do NOT send Unsubscribe messages to the list address. To unsubscribe, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Yahoo! Groups Links * To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/biofuel/ * To unsubscribe from this group, send an email
Re: [biofuel] Fiery Hell On Earth, Pt. 1
Perhaps there is a link between the administration's support for nuclear power and their support for the hydrogen economy. Let me state some facts and assumptions and then please follow my scary logic. 1. There is broad consensus, if not the will, to become domestically energy independent. 2. Hydrogen is not an energy source. There is very little free hydrogen in nature (unless you happen to live on the sun). Presently the only practical methods for producing hydrogen are to obtain it from natural gas, or use the process of electrolysis (electricity plus water). Based on proven reserves and the present level of consumption, the U.S. only has about a 10 year domestic supply of natural gas, so the use of this resource to produce hydrogen in any appreciable quantities only exacerbates this problem of very limited supply. (See http://production.investis.com/bp2/ia/stat/ ). Domestic electrical power is derived primarily from non renewable sources. If hydrogen were produced in sufficient quantities to replace just the existing fuels used in transportation, the only presently practical means to produce the required electrical power, short of nuclear power plants, would be coal. This raises significant emissions and CO2 issues. Even if renewables (solar, wind) were cost competitive, it would make much more sense to use this renewable power to replace existing fossil fuel power plants, since there are existing biofuel technologies that could be used , at least to some degree, to replace non renewable transportation fuels. 3. Hydrogen is an energy storage medium, and with infrastructure investment, it can be transported. This means that if produced with nuclear power, the power plants could be located anywhere that the entire production, transportation and distribution system makes economic sense. If built outside of the U.S. in an isolated location in a friendly country, but under U.S. control, and hardened against possible terrorist attacks, then domestic political opposition would probably be minimal. (If built within the U.S. it would probably involve waiting for a crisis (or else creating one) in order to lower domestic political opposition.) If the U.S. or anyone else develops practical hydrogen powered vehicles, any country with significant nuclear power could adapt this technology, decreasing oil demand and presumably lowering oil prices. Now, the only problem with all of this is that is does not address the problem of nuclear proliferation, not to mention nuclear waste and some other minor wrinkles, but why worry about details. This would be a big centralized program which the government would like, the hydrogen would be distributed through the infrastructure (i.e. service stations, etc.) of the oil companies, and the nuclear industry would be happy too. I can think of no better reason to ratchet up our commitment to developing decentralized, sustainable biofuel production and technology. Bruce Colley, Sustainable Energy Project http://www.sustainableenergyproject.org - Original Message - From: Keith Addison To: biofuel@yahoogroups.com Sent: Saturday, May 29, 2004 11:20 AM Subject: [biofuel] Fiery Hell On Earth, Pt. 1 RACHEL'S ENVIRONMENT HEALTH NEWS #792 http://www.rachel.org May 27, 2004 ^ ^ Fiery Hell On Earth, Pt. 1 For some time now, I have been searching for answers to a deeply perplexing question: Why is the United States promoting the spread of atomic bombs worldwide? By atomic bombs I mean the kind that turned Hiroshima and Nagasaki into a fiery hell in 1945 -- A-bombs made from plutonium (Nagasaki) or enriched uranium (Hiroshima). In this series, I will briefly examine the facts, then consider some of the possible reasons why the U.S. might favor the proliferation of atomic weapons worldwide. In at least four different ways, the U.S. is refusing to limit -- and in some cases is actively promoting -- the spread of atomic bombs around the globe.[1] (1) The U.S. is helping foreign nations acquire nuclear power plants, which everyone acknowledges have provided the basis for A-bomb programs in India, Pakistan, South Africa, North Korea and, during the 1980s, in Iraq.[2] In the hands of a willing nation, nuclear power equals nuclear weapons. (2) The U.S. is dragging its feet in achieving its stated goal of preventing theft of nuclear weapons within the former Soviet Union.[1] (3) The U.S. is failing to retrieve 35,000 pounds of weapons-grade uranium that the U.S. loaned or gave to 43 countries during the past 50 years. A crude but effective A-bomb requires 110 pounds (50 kg) of enriched uranium.[3] (4) President Bush has ordered a fundamental shift in U.S. nuclear weapons policies, initiating what the New York Times calls
Re: [biofuel] Diesel VWs: High Mileage Vehicles, Well Kept Secrets?
Keith- The vegetable-based lubricating oil that is referred to, is mandatory to use in Elsbett converted engines, according to the Elsbett instructions. However, this lubricating oil, made by Fuchs, is not sold in the U.S. so this poses a problem. However, I have not been able, so far, to find any other Elsbett customers in the U.S. who seem concerned by this. How about synthetic oil? I have recently ordered a new Amsoil oil - European Car Formula 5W-40 !00% Synthetic (Product Code: afl) - that meets or exceeds API CI-4, VW 505.00 and various other specifications. (My car is a 1997 VW Jetta TDI.) I have also ordered test kits so that I can periodically have the oil tested for the polymerization condition, as well as other properties. For information on this and more information than you ever wanted to know about lubricating oil and other VW TDI topics, go to: http://forums.tdiclub.com/postlist.php?Cat=Board=UBB5 Bruce Colley, Sustainable Energy Project http://www.sustainableenergyproject.org Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Biofuels list archives: http://infoarchive.net/sgroup/biofuel/ Please do NOT send Unsubscribe messages to the list address. To unsubscribe, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ADVERTISEMENT Yahoo! Groups Links a.. To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/biofuel/ b.. To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] c.. Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Yahoo! Groups Sponsor -~-- Make a clean sweep of pop-up ads. Yahoo! Companion Toolbar. Now with Pop-Up Blocker. Get it for free! http://us.click.yahoo.com/L5YrjA/eSIIAA/yQLSAA/FGYolB/TM -~- Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Biofuels list archives: http://infoarchive.net/sgroup/biofuel/ Please do NOT send Unsubscribe messages to the list address. To unsubscribe, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Yahoo! Groups Links * To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/biofuel/ * To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] * Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
Re: [biofuel] Diesel VWs: High Mileage Vehicles, Well Kept Secrets?
Alexander Noack of Elsbett made the same statement to me regarding the lubricating oil contamination problems when using soybean SVO. (We were discussing only SVO so I am not sure if he also meant to imply soybean based Biodiesel as well.) I did some research on the lubrication oil contamination issue and polymerization issue and the following links may be helpful: http://www.missouri.edu/~pavt0689/Research_Needs_Resulting.pdf http://www.biodiesel.org/resources/reportsdatabase/reports/gen/19990902_gen-228.pdf http://www.me.iastate.edu/biodiesel/Pages/biodiesel21.html The vegetable-based lubricating oil that is referred to, is mandatory to use in Elsbett converted engines, according to the Elsbett instructions. However, this lubricating oil, made by Fuchs, is not sold in the U.S. so this poses a problem. However, I have not been able, so far, to find any other Elsbett customers in the U.S. who seem concerned by this. Bruce Colley, Sustainable Energy Project http://www.sustainableenergyproject.org - Original Message - From: Keith Addison To: biofuel@yahoogroups.com Sent: Wednesday, May 19, 2004 4:09 PM Subject: Re: [biofuel] Diesel VWs: High Mileage Vehicles, Well Kept Secrets? Hakan, MM MM, You asked about VW, Europe and biodiesel. In Europe the VW diesels are certified for RME fuel (biodiesel). The are clearly stating that in the specifications. RME = Rapeseed Methyl Esters. They don't like soy biodiesel. It's been thought that this is more political than anything else - Europe grows rapeseed, the US grows soy. But biodiesel is biodiesel is biodiesel. Which is what the EPA says with their substantial equivalence for all feedstocks, although the NBB only tested virgin soy biodiesel. But there could be more to it. Rachel Burton posted a link to Lyle's site and her report on a recent SVO workshop with Elsbett engineer Alexander Noack. It included this interesting bit: Soybean oil is bad. Whether it is straight vegetable oil or soybean based biodiesel. It is a no-go in diesel engines. Why? In diesel engines you have slight mixing between fuel and lubricating oil. There is a fuel property in soybean oil that makes it reactive when in contact with engine lubricating oil. It supposedly has a polymerizing action with the engine oil, which is detrimental to the life of your lubricating system. What they do in Europe is use a vegetable-based lubricating oil for the engine to prevent any problems with fuel-lubricating oil intimacy. What else? They do not use soybean oil; They use rape seed also known as canola. http://www.biofuels.coop/blog/archives/66.html Energy Blog: Elsbett Workshop Slightly different, but if you have a look at the new Euro standard for biodiesel, here: National standards for biodiesel http://journeytoforever.org/biodiesel_yield2.html#biodstds See Europe EN 14214, scroll down to Oxidation stability hrs; 110¡C - 6 hours min. Only Europe has such a standard, and the concern is polymerisation due to oxidation. The Iodine No. standard is 120; others are lower, but the US ASTM D-6751 doesn't specify an IV. The higher the IV the more it's a drying oil that will polymerise, the highest being linseed and fish oil and the lowest coconut and palm kernel. For an explanation see: Iodine Values http://journeytoforever.org/biodiesel_yield.html#iodine So have a look at these Iodine Values: Rapeseed oil, h. eruc. - 97 to 105 Rapeseed oil, i. eruc. - 110 to 115 Soybean oil - 125 to 1 So. I think there's some substance to this, I'll find out more soon. Meeting the German or Austrian standard isn't difficult, but the Euro standard might be, especially if we think bubblewashing is a great idea. Might have to drop bubblewashing, go for simple stirring instead (and making the stuff properly in the first place). Might have to use an additive as well. And, might have to drop soy too. Something tells me the ASTM standard isn't about to adopt these Euro oxidation limits any time soon. Anyway, both VW and Mercedes seem to be going for Fischer Tropsch diesel from biomass. Perhaps the reason they prefer it to biodiesel might be that it gives them a nice industrial, high-tech, expensive operation to invest in, well beyond the reach of this shabby riff-raff that's taken to making biodiesel in their garages and now the whole thing's right out of corporate control. :-) Best Keith Hakan At 20:16 19/05/2004, you wrote: I have collected four testimonials to high-mileage VW Diesels that came up in discussion. I have seen many such testimonials over the years, but I have been meaning to make a few points in response to them. These came up recently, in response to reports that the two gasoline hybrids have not been getting as good mileage as they advertise. My comments
Re: [biofuel] Re: alternatives for methanol
There are a number of diesel model airplane engines available, and I don't see why if you heated the SVO, that it wouldn't work. (In fact I have been wanting to try this and just haven't gotten around to it.) Bob Boumstein ( [EMAIL PROTECTED] ) publishes a monthly list of engines that he has for sale, including diesel engines. If you e-mail him to get on his list, you can see what is available. I would be very interested in your results. Bruce Colley, Sustainable Energy Project http://www.sustainableenergyproject.org - Original Message - From: Jeffrey Kumjian To: biofuel@yahoogroups.com Sent: Saturday, May 15, 2004 6:04 PM Subject: [biofuel] Re: alternatives for methanol Can you convert a model Airplane engine to run on straight Vegetable oil and how are you do it? --- In biofuel@yahoogroups.com, Keith Addison [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: You might consider converting your engine to run on straight vegetable oil and eliminate the need for methanol. For conversion information, see: http://www.biofuels.ca/ http://www.elsbett.com/gmbh/eindex.htm http://www.elsbett.com/wwwusa/engl/corporate.htm For a comparison, see: Three choices 1. Mixing it 2. Straight vegetable oil 3. Biodiesel http://journeytoforever.org/biodiesel_make.html#3choices More information: Straight vegetable oil as diesel fuel http://journeytoforever.org/biodiesel_svo.html I have several new copies of the latest edition of Tickell's book that sell for US$24.95 plus shipping. If you are really ambitious, you may consider growing oil producing crops. Depending on the soil conditions or climate in Malta, there may be many possibilities. Try: http://www.jatropha.de There's a huge amount of information an many different oil and energy crops available in the databases linked from here: Other oil crops http://journeytoforever.org/biodiesel_yield.html#othercrops Best Keith Bruce Colley, Sustainable Energy Project http://www.sustainableenergyproject.org - Original Message - From: Jean Paul To: biofuel@yahoogroups.com Sent: Saturday, May 15, 2004 6:42 AM Subject: [biofuel] alternatives for methanol to whom it may concern, I am a Maltese chap and diesel here is very expensive, and i thought of an environmental free alternative fuel and bio-diesel seemed the answer. but the METHANOL in malta is a bit expensive can someone please tell me if there are any other alternatives.. Can anyone send me the pdf file of joshua tickells book from the fryer to the tank please at [EMAIL PROTECTED] thanks Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Biofuels list archives: http://infoarchive.net/sgroup/biofuel/ Please do NOT send Unsubscribe messages to the list address. To unsubscribe, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ADVERTISEMENT --- --- Yahoo! Groups Links a.. To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/biofuel/ b.. To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] c.. Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Biofuels list archives: http://infoarchive.net/sgroup/biofuel/ Please do NOT send Unsubscribe messages to the list address. To unsubscribe, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Yahoo! Groups Links Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Biofuels list archives: http://infoarchive.net/sgroup/biofuel/ Please do NOT send Unsubscribe messages to the list address. To unsubscribe, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ADVERTISEMENT -- Yahoo! Groups Links a.. To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/biofuel/ b.. To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] c.. Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Biofuels list archives: http://infoarchive.net/sgroup/biofuel/ Please do NOT send Unsubscribe messages to the list address
Re: [biofuel] 100,000 miles on SVO?
Keith- Thanks for your comments and the very helpful links. I would very much like to carry on this discussion on the agricultural aspects of oil production after I have had a chance to study the links and other information in more detail. Bruce Colley, Sustainable Energy Project www.sustainableenergyproject.org - Original Message - From: Keith Addison To: biofuel@yahoogroups.com Sent: Thursday, May 13, 2004 11:53 PM Subject: Re: [biofuel] 100,000 miles on SVO? Hello Bruce Ed- Your insights into these issues is helpful to me, and I'm sure, to others. (I am aware of some of your work in this area, as some months ago your partner Craig made me aware of your Master's thesis and I actually read it!) I would love to top Alex's 300,000 km benchmark, but it will take some time at the rate that I drive. Like him, I am not using any WVO, as I want to take a very conservative approach to this, and that may help to extend the life of my engine. However, there is another reason that I don't use WVO (and this may be worthy of another discussion thread.) In my work, I am attempting to develop and espouse a model of worldwide personal transportation sustainability, and also practice what I preach. The limited volume of WVO simply does not lend itself to such a model. I have serious doubts as to whether even Canola, sunflower, camelina sativa or any other annual row crop can be justified in such a worldwide model, as these would compete with food crops if produced on a very large scale, they use considerable energy to produce, and require water, weeding, and pest control. It can be done sustainably, but indeed not via industrialised monocropping. I said this before: If you just swap fuels instead of changing the entire disaster you'll end up with wall-to-wall industrialized monocrops of GMO soy and canola. Big Biofuels may not turn out to be much better than Big Oil. Silly thing about it is that industrialized monocropping of biofuels crops would be (is) just as fossil-fuel-dependent as industrialized monocropping of anything else is. What's the use of finding a cure for cancer if it gives you a heart attack? You can find messages in the list archives from organic farmers in the US raising maize and soy at equal or better yields than the so-called conventional chemicalised farmers next door with their much higher fossil-fuel inputs and higher costs too, and without the externalised costs associated with chemicalised farming practices, such as depleted soil (the farm's capital). I've proposed, and others have agreed, that it's quite possible to raise energy crops without the use of any dedicated land at all or dedicated anything else, as by-products of the ever-changing cropping patterns used on sustainable, integrated farms, and without any fossil-fuel inputs. Don't forget a lot of those food crops aren't really food crops at all. This is worth a look: Food or Fuel? http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel_food.html#grainexports On How much fuel can we grow? and How much land will it take?, you might find these previous posts of interest: http://archive.nnytech.net/sgroup/BIOFUELS-BIZ/1395/ http://archive.nnytech.net/sgroup/BIOFUELS-BIZ/1801/ When there are hardy perennial oil producing plants like Jatropha that grow for up to 50 years in otherwise unusable soil in semi arid climates with virtually no maintenance requirements, and also can serve to as a natural fence, wind break and source of medicinal compounds, it seems like that is where the focus should be (and I am in the process of importing some seeds, planning a trip to Africa, and otherwise investigating this.) I agree with you, very much, but with the reservation that, for all jatropha's advantages, and those of other similar crops, there's no single best answer to this. Each situation requires a different solution, or at least a fresh appraisal, and local involvement is essential at all levels, including all decisions and choices. There are almost always local energy crops, or weeds, or wild plants, that could be exploited, and past experience with rural development projects shows that such local resources usually perform better than imports such as jatropha or whatever, regardless of yields. If, that is, by performance one means overall community benefit. Which you do mean. I am also approaching the longevity issue from an entirely different angle. I have developed a generator powered by a Kubota diesel engine. The engine was sent to Elsbett in Germany for conversion to SVO and I am very pleased with its performance. The generator can be used for stand alone power generation, but was really developed with the idea of incorporating it into a hybrid electric vehicle. With such a system, one can
Re: [biofuel] 100,000 miles on SVO?
Ed- Some comments: Also, it would be very good to see this undertaken as someone's academic work, and to see more testing done in an updated way via funded research here in Canada and the USA, as well as elsewhere in the world. I see incredible enthusiasm and interest in the entire area of sustainable fuels from students, and someone could perform a huge service for this cause by introducing students at all levels to the possibilities of studying the chemistry, physics, agriculture, biology, social, economic, political and business aspects and implications of sustainable fuels. For long term, large scale use (and I've just been having a very good discussion with Michael Briggs at the University of Vermont about this, do you know him?) then there are all sorts of production models and issues to discuss - a very large topic. I don't know Michael Briggs, but would like to know of his work. Maybe you could encourage him to participate in this forum. (SVO powered generator project) Yes, also very much of interest to me, and mentioned earlier to me - how is that going? Absolutely. Is all of this a commercial project, or will you be doing all this as a non-profit enterprise in future? Either way, congratulations on bringing it along, and keep in touch - we have very similar interests on these topics. I have successfully coupled a three phase induction motor to the SVO powered Kubota, and, with associated circuitry, run this motor as an induction generator (patent applied for). (As you may know, a three phase induction motor is rugged, simple in design (no brushes or slip rings), efficient, very economical, readily available, and is produced in sizes from about 5 HP to hundreds (or even thousands) of HP or KW.) I have developed, but not totally completed, an embedded microcontroller that can monitor and control all engine parameters as well as fuel heating, battery charging, and other variables, and send this data to a virtual instrument panel on a PC which is then internet connectable. I am working on AC applications for stand alone power generation, or grid tied power generation where the customer is on a net metering contract with the utility. For the hybrid EV, the three phase output is rectified and then used to drive a DC motor and/or charge the batteries. I would like to first develop a vehicle around this which could demonstrate the feasibility of economical (100 miles/gal), low emissions, sustainably fueled personal transportation.(If you connect to: http://journeytoforever.org/biodiesel_future.html and then scroll down to Leading the way: Volkswagen 1-liter Concept, you will see that they are using a one cylinder diesel engine in a vehicle that they claim is achieving over 200 mpg (and it isn't even a hybrid!)). I think that such a demonstration vehicle could generate interest which could then take it to the next level, preferably on a for profit basis. I have engineering skills and reasonably good machining and fabrication capabilities at my shop in Alameda, CA, but am not versed in vehicle design or frame and body construction.If I could find someone or some group to merge capabilities, this could move forward. Another interesting application of the generator is for farm equipment. It would seem obviously compelling to offer farmers the choice of using oil that they can produce (or which is produced through a co-op) in machinery that they use to produce the oil producing crops (or other crops for that matter.) Frankly, I don't know how much farm equipment is already diesel powered, and if it would therefore be economically sensible to convert such equipment to diesel electric hybrid, or else to just convert it to run on SVO or to use biodiesel. If it is predominantly gasoline powered, then this could be interesting, and possibly a simpler initial undertaking than the hybrid EV. I have interest in this from someone raising Jatropha in Mexico. (He informs me that mechanical harvesting of Jatropha seeds is very advantageous.) As you know, even one demonstration project of this nature can garner beaucoup publicity and raise awareness and consciousness on a wide scale. Say, will you be able to make it to the SVO event at SolWest? Sounds like a possibility. I will be looking forward to seeing more information on this. Bruce Colley Sustainable Energy Project www.sustainableenergyproject.org - Original Message - From: Neoteric Biofuels Inc To: biofuel@yahoogroups.com Sent: Friday, May 14, 2004 10:00 AM Subject: Re: [biofuel] 100,000 miles on SVO? On Thursday, May 13, 2004, at 07:13 PM, Bruce Colley wrote: Ed- Your insights into these issues is helpful to me, and I'm sure, to others. Thank you. (I am aware of some of your work in this area, as some months ago your partner Craig made me aware of your Master's thesis and I
Re: [biofuel] 100,000 miles on SVO?
Say, will you be able to make it to the SVO event at SolWest? Sounds like a possibility. I will be looking forward to seeing more information on this. Ok, well if you can make it, we'll hope to see you there. How about Solfest? Are you and other SVO people going to be there? As usual, it is shaping up to be a very good event. (Charris Ford told me a few days ago that he and Daryl Hanna are going to be speaking there, among others - extra incentive!) I would be interested in meeting with you and other SVO/WVO proponents to discuss various big picture topics. Although Biodiesel has received the majority of the publicity and attention up until now, I think that SVO/WVO in the long run has compelling advantages that will (or at least should) cause it to predominate. However, the Biodiesel people have their Biodiesel Board, Joshua Tickell, their celebrities, and other advantages. While Biodiesel is great, and both fuels have an important place, I would like to see the SVO proponents get organized. Maybe what is needed is at least some informal group or maybe even a trade association that can help to get the SVO message out, and educate, publicize, lobby, do research, and serve as an information clearinghouse in order to level the playing field relative to biodiesel. Bruce Colley, Sustainable Energy Project www.sustainableenergyproject.org - Original Message - From: Neoteric Biofuels Inc To: biofuel@yahoogroups.com Sent: Saturday, May 15, 2004 5:24 AM Subject: Re: [biofuel] 100,000 miles on SVO? On Friday, May 14, 2004, at 12:36 PM, Bruce Colley wrote: Ed- Some comments: Also, it would be very good to see this undertaken as someone's academic work, and to see more testing done in an updated way via funded research here in Canada and the USA, as well as elsewhere in the world. I see incredible enthusiasm and interest in the entire area of sustainable fuels from students, and someone could perform a huge service for this cause by introducing students at all levels to the possibilities of studying the chemistry, physics, agriculture, biology, social, economic, political and business aspects and implications of sustainable fuels. I certainly agree with that! (I also do some part-time instructing at a university here, so get to hear from students about this quite a lot - and yes, I think it is time we had more programs focusing on renewable energy and the issues surrounding it. I've started making inquiries about this to see if a program might be started here at one of our provincial universities) For long term, large scale use (and I've just been having a very good discussion with Michael Briggs at the University of Vermont about this, do you know him?) then there are all sorts of production models and issues to discuss - a very large topic. I don't know Michael Briggs, but would like to know of his work. Maybe you could encourage him to participate in this forum. He may be on the list, but I will forward that to him. (SVO powered generator project) Yes, also very much of interest to me, and mentioned earlier to me - how is that going? Absolutely. SNIP ENDSNIP For the hybrid EV, the three phase output is rectified and then used to drive a DC motor and/or charge the batteries. I would like to first develop a vehicle around this which could demonstrate the feasibility of economical (100 miles/gal), low emissions, sustainably fueled personal transportation.(If you connect to: http://journeytoforever.org/biodiesel_future.html and then scroll down to Leading the way: Volkswagen 1-liter Concept, you will see that they are using a one cylinder diesel engine in a vehicle that they claim is achieving over 200 mpg (and it isn't even a hybrid!)). Yes, I have seen that and shown a copy of the article about it at shows - to let people here know just how much can be accomplished with the technologies we already have, if we choose to do so. Another interesting application of the generator is for farm equipment. It would seem obviously compelling to offer farmers the choice of using oil that they can produce (or which is produced through a co-op) in machinery that they use to produce the oil producing crops (or other crops for that matter.) Frankly, I don't know how much farm equipment is already diesel powered, and if it would therefore be economically sensible to convert such equipment to diesel electric hybrid, or else to just convert it to run on SVO or to use biodiesel. The majority of farm and marine applications are diesel. I think there's a lot of scope for greater use of biodiesel, SVO and DEH (diesel electric hybrid) on farms, in mobile equipment and in generators, etc. We just did some work with the people
Re: [biofuel] alternatives for methanol
You might consider converting your engine to run on straight vegetable oil and eliminate the need for methanol. For conversion information, see: http://www.biofuels.ca/ http://www.elsbett.com/gmbh/eindex.htm http://www.elsbett.com/wwwusa/engl/corporate.htm I have several new copies of the latest edition of Tickell's book that sell for US$24.95 plus shipping. If you are really ambitious, you may consider growing oil producing crops. Depending on the soil conditions or climate in Malta, there may be many possibilities. Try: http://www.jatropha.de Bruce Colley, Sustainable Energy Project http://www.sustainableenergyproject.org - Original Message - From: Jean Paul To: biofuel@yahoogroups.com Sent: Saturday, May 15, 2004 6:42 AM Subject: [biofuel] alternatives for methanol to whom it may concern, I am a Maltese chap and diesel here is very expensive, and i thought of an environmental free alternative fuel and bio-diesel seemed the answer. but the METHANOL in malta is a bit expensive can someone please tell me if there are any other alternatives.. Can anyone send me the pdf file of joshua tickells book from the fryer to the tank please at [EMAIL PROTECTED] thanks Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Biofuels list archives: http://infoarchive.net/sgroup/biofuel/ Please do NOT send Unsubscribe messages to the list address. To unsubscribe, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ADVERTISEMENT -- Yahoo! Groups Links a.. To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/biofuel/ b.. To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] c.. Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Biofuels list archives: http://infoarchive.net/sgroup/biofuel/ Please do NOT send Unsubscribe messages to the list address. To unsubscribe, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Yahoo! Groups Links * To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/biofuel/ * To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] * Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
Re: [biofuel] 100,000 miles on SVO?
Ed- Your insights into these issues is helpful to me, and I'm sure, to others. (I am aware of some of your work in this area, as some months ago your partner Craig made me aware of your Master's thesis and I actually read it!) I would love to top Alex's 300,000 km benchmark, but it will take some time at the rate that I drive. Like him, I am not using any WVO, as I want to take a very conservative approach to this, and that may help to extend the life of my engine. However, there is another reason that I don't use WVO (and this may be worthy of another discussion thread.) In my work, I am attempting to develop and espouse a model of worldwide personal transportation sustainability, and also practice what I preach. The limited volume of WVO simply does not lend itself to such a model. I have serious doubts as to whether even Canola, sunflower, camelina sativa or any other annual row crop can be justified in such a worldwide model, as these would compete with food crops if produced on a very large scale, they use considerable energy to produce, and require water, weeding, and pest control. When there are hardy perennial oil producing plants like Jatropha that grow for up to 50 years in otherwise unusable soil in semi arid climates with virtually no maintenance requirements, and also can serve to as a natural fence, wind break and source of medicinal compounds, it seems like that is where the focus should be (and I am in the process of importing some seeds, planning a trip to Africa, and otherwise investigating this.) I am also approaching the longevity issue from an entirely different angle. I have developed a generator powered by a Kubota diesel engine. The engine was sent to Elsbett in Germany for conversion to SVO and I am very pleased with its performance. The generator can be used for stand alone power generation, but was really developed with the idea of incorporating it into a hybrid electric vehicle. With such a system, one can get into a vehicle and drive away on battery power while using the propulsion battery pack to preheat the oil, or better still, preheat the entire engine, as considerable engine wear and emissions occur when starting a cold engine. The engine is then run at a nearly constant power level that is at or close to optimum levels for fuel economy and emissions. Needless to say, engine longevity in such an engine run in this manner could be very impressive. As experience with gasoline hybrids has proved, high fuel economy is also achieved, and a diesel hybrid could achieve really eye popping fuel economy. Combine this with fuel from perennial oil producing plants that grow on otherwise unusable land and things might really begin to look interesting. Bruce Colley Sustainable Energy Project www.sustainableenergyproject.org - Original Message - From: Neoteric Biofuels Inc To: biofuel@yahoogroups.com Sent: Thursday, May 13, 2004 2:02 PM Subject: Re: [biofuel] 100,000 miles on SVO? Ok, thanks again -yes, it's likely that Alex does use only new oil, I believe that is what is recommended for that system, and it would be affordable in Germany especially for him to do so, and they do have it in bulk, for sale, at their location (and SVO is for sale at quite a few other bulk locations and pumps in Germany) ...it's not taxed as fuel, considered to be the same benefits, more or less as biodiesel, whereas petrodiesel is heavily taxed, so of the three new oil (SVO) is the cheapest (and maybe overall, also the least subsidized?!) In Canada and the USA, of course, new oil is still more money than diesel fuel, but actually the gap is closing, so perhaps it's possible for more people to start looking at greater use of new, cold pressed oils (not soy) here, or perhaps at least looking at a blend of new oil (Costco Canola, or Sunflower) and good WVO, as a cost-effective and technically better option than just using WVO. If it's affordable, do it, I would have to say, and especially if your best local option for WVO, after really checking around, is still not so good. Blending with new oil will thin the WVO, and the cold pressed is nice - also the new food grade oil (not cold pressed) maybe has a few advantages, as well. It has after all been degummed, bleached, deodorized, winterized - the Wonder Bread of cooking oils...Not so tasty, but good for a fryer and pretty good stuff for blending with WVO, IMHO, for reduced viscosity, FFA compensation/correction to closer to neutral pH, etc. New cold pressed high oleic sunflower and WVO, 50/50, would be good. Also it would be good to see more happening with Camelina Sativa (false flax, pleasure-of-gold), since it can be grown in the same field at the same time as other crops (peas for example) eliminating the use
Re: [biofuel] 100,000 miles on SVO?
Ed- It is a single tank system. I believe that he uses only rapeseed oil, and no WVO. Bruce Colley, Sustainable Energy Project www.sustainableenergyproject.org - Original Message - From: Neoteric Biofuels Inc To: biofuel@yahoogroups.com Sent: Thursday, May 13, 2004 6:47 AM Subject: Re: [biofuel] 100,000 miles on SVO? Thanks, Bruce. Was that single tank or two-tank? Edward Beggs http://www.biofuels.ca On Wednesday, May 12, 2004, at 11:15 PM, Bruce Colley wrote: Alexander Noack, senior engineer at Elsbett, recently told me that they disassembled his Jetta TDI engine after 300,000 km (186,000 mi.) with the following results: -No detectible cylinder wear -No injector coking -Overall excellent condition I think that this speaks to the validity of the Elsbett system: Electric preheater, fuel-coolant heat exchanger, modification of injectors, upgrading of glow plugs, and modification of engine computer control settings. If an engine/injector pump doesn't lend itself to viable conversion, then they don't attempt to convert it. If they do, then they engineer and test the system to verify proper operation. So far, I am impressed by my Elsbett Jetta TDI conversion, but it is quite recent and I haven't gone through the winter yet. Bruce Colley Sustainable Energy Project www.sustainableenergyproject.org - Original Message - From: Neoteric Biofuels Inc To: biofuel@yahoogroups.com Sent: Wednesday, May 12, 2004 6:25 AM Subject: Re: [biofuel] 100,000 miles on SVO? Tom: First, I will say that we have always stated that WVO (Waste Vegetable Oil) or new plant oil conversion systems are to be considered experimental and do not have millions of miles of testing that biodiesel has had, at least not yet. The interest and the funding shifted to biodiesel early on, it seems, after the tests in the early 80's, which went more or less along the lines of: 1.Fill tank of then-current technology direct injection engine with sunflower or soy oil (most often, it seems) and see what happens. 2. Wait for a high incidence of failures. 3. Write the report: does not work very well or for very long. I have no doubt that the researchers were sincere and reported accurately, but at least in the studies from that era that I have read there were some common themes which are not reflective of the way things are done now which are thought to improve the results. Notably: - there never seems to be mention of preheating the vegetable oil, to reduce viscosity and thus make it easier on the lift pump, injection pump, and also improve atomisaiton. That's the single biggest change, which seems to improve results. - the oils chosen were often less than ideal. According to the information I have, oils such as Canola/rapeseed/mustard, coconut, high oleic sunflower (recent) might have yielded better results. - the engines were often older type direct injection engines that did not have the sort of (with variations, of course) two-stage (pilot injection) high pressure, computer controlled systems we have today, nor the sort of combustion chamber designs that exist today. They were of course also not indirect injection engines (which many say will give better results on plant oils than direct injection). There have been quite successes in the use of indirect injection engines. - there was no mention made of using two tanks, for easier starting, operation of the engine on lighter fuel (diesel or biodiesel) until it was hot, and no purge cycle, again on the lighter and more combustible fuel, before shutdown. - also there is no mention of use of techniques such as blends of plant oils with solvents and cosolvents, in combination with preheating, as was done in some of the more recent, and very successful, trials of the ACREVO study, which is on our web site (blending 9% ethanol into rapeseed oil, preheating to 80C, and use in a small displacement direct injection engine yielded very good results) Regarding Shaine Tyson's comments, I am not sure how recent the study is that is mentioned, but if recent, then perhaps to put in proper context, I'd ask this: - were there a lot of premature failures documented, or is it just that these are mostly relatively recent conversions (most SVO conversions and kits having been done only since 2000 or so) and so the miles have not been accumulated yet, and there is insufficient data to come to any conclusion about the effectiveness of the use
