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#1
Posted to alt.energy.renewable,alt.solar.thermal,alt.home.repair,sci.engr.heat-vent-ac
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N writes:
We have a pot belly pig "Ninja" who has terrible arthritis and we want to keep his outdoor pen/house warm this winter but we don't have electric by his house and we don't want to use a space heater because of the dangers of fire or gas inhalation. LA is an easy climate for solar heat, with 1300 Btu/ft^2 of sun on a south wall on an average 56.8 F January day with an average daily min of 47.8. But how much does Ninja weigh? The ASHRAE Handbook of Fundamentals says a W-pound animal has a basal metabolic rate of 6.6W^0.75 Btu/h, so a 50 pound pig would make 124 Btu/h. He might keep his house 70 F on a 47.8 F night with his own heat output if 70 = 47.8 + 124/G, ie if its thermal conductance G = 5.6 Btu/h-F max. It might have a raised platform above the top of the entrance opening to trap warm air in the upper part like an igloo. If the upper part were 2'x2'x1' tall with 12ft^2 of surface, this would work if the walls and ceiling had a min 12/5.6 = 2.1 R-value... 1" R4 white beadboard should work fine, with plywood on both sides for Ninja and weather protection. A ramp from the platform down to the ground could allow Ninja to find a comfortable thermal level somewhere between them. With a 1'x2' R1 flat polycarbonate north window and 10 ft^2 of R5 surface upstairs, G = 2+10/5 = 4, so Ninja might keep the air 70 F on a 70-124/4 = 39 F night. The HOF says winter temps are above 40 F 97.5% of the time and above 37 99% of the time, and a normally-active critter would generate 2.5 times more than basal heat, so with occasional shivers and rolls, Ninja might be comfy down to 70-2.5x124/4 = minus 4.4 F. NREL says LA has a 23 F 30-year record minimum temperature. Nick |
#2
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#3
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#4
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#5
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SC wrote:
Somebody should eat you. Mmmmmm Malc burgers. Do you have a problem with my solution? -- Malc "AFB Mr Tracey." "Underbirths are og" Les Barker - Irrational Neutscene |
#6
Posted to alt.energy.renewable,alt.solar.thermal,alt.home.repair,sci.engr.heat-vent-ac
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How about a light buld controlled by a thermostat? Cheap solution,
should work good. How come Ninja has a Pot Belly? Did he eat your stash? (Rump! Chink! Thanks! Dont forget to tip the bartenders!) |
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