I should clarify; The oil burner system shown, is a BACKUP to the solar collector system shown here:
http://cpm01.smugmug.com/Bicycles/buy-fresh-bike-local-2010/IMG0751/963631204_narY5-XL.jpg When planning stuff like this, one of the key points to keep in mind, is the order of energy, as Amory Lovins puts it. Second law of thermodynamics. While an oil burner is in the same order of magnitude as the work in this case, heating the floor, it's still a higher quality of energy. A closer match is solar power. The closer the match, the more efficient, taking the long view. esp when you factor in the cracking of the biofuel in the first place. Biofuels, like fossilfuels are just too danged convenient for their own good. :) Using your ingenuity and some more of your food powered energy (IE doing work) you could probably front load your heating needs by dreaming up and implementing a solar heat collection/distribution system, which would drop the biofuel requirements for your heating needs radically. I know you are trying to get this done on a short timeline, but please plan for migrating the main energy source from the oil burner to solar collection, I think you'll be happy you did. You don't have time to do it this year, but maybe next summer. Again, neat project, keep us posted! cheers --chipper ----- Original Message ----- From: "Chip Mefford" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: sustainablelorgbiofuel@sustainablelists.org Sent: Tuesday, October 26, 2010 6:06:16 AM Subject: Re: [Biofuel] Nigeria: Shell Oil's 'License to Kill' ----- Original Message ----- From: "Seth Macdonald" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: sustainablelorgbiofuel@sustainablelists.org Sent: Monday, October 25, 2010 11:11:35 PM Subject: Re: [Biofuel] Nigeria: Shell Oil's 'License to Kill' |SNIP |I am also madly trying to pour a floor in my shop complete with in-floor heating |pipes before freeze-up(which is happening SOON!) | |I am curious if anyone out there has ever tried to run Bio-Diesel in a hydronic |in-floor heating system. It seems to me to be the perfect solution to using |energy already consumed by the drying process to heat the facility. My biggest |question is wether or not plastic pex water pipe is compatible with bio-diesel. | |Any leads on this subject would be greatly appreciated, | |Sincerely, |"The Dred Neck" | |Dunster BC |Canada |V0J 1J0 http://cpm01.smugmug.com/Bicycles/buy-fresh-bike-local-2010/IMG0749/963631153_nZVUP-XL.jpg Hey Seth; What you see in this picture, is an experimental greenhouse soil bed heating system, which is based on the same concept as radiant floor heating. This system uses an oil burner converted to run biodiesel. It works. This system is installed at the Dickenson College Farm CSA, which grows the food for Dickenson College in Carlisle Pa, US. This is the website: http://www.dickinson.edu/about/sustainability/college-farm/ Jen Halpin is the farmer/farm manager, and her partner, Matt is the whacko who comes up with stuff like this. You can find her contact info on the website, and they may be able to share some clues with you. Good luck! Sounds like a fun project. _______________________________________________ Biofuel mailing list Biofuel@sustainablelists.org http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/sustainablelorgbiofuel Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Search the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (70,000 messages): http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/
