Home |
Search |
Today's Posts |
|
UK diy (uk.d-i-y) For the discussion of all topics related to diy (do-it-yourself) in the UK. All levels of experience and proficency are welcome to join in to ask questions or offer solutions. |
Reply |
|
|
LinkBack | Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#41
Posted to uk.d-i-y
|
|||
|
|||
Build my own power station
On Saturday, 6 May 2017 20:42:01 UTC+1, newshound wrote:
On 5/6/2017 12:11 PM, Tim Streater wrote: In article , AnthonyL wrote: ok, a bit t-i-c but it'd be fun having my own steam generator (modified boiler?), turbine and generator. I recall a viable jet engine (intended for VTOL some 45yrs ago) that could be picked up by one person so a turbine needn't be too big. You can get small jet engines from, f'rinstance, these people: http://www.wrenpowersystems.com/index.html I've no idea whether anything like that would be suitable or not. They didn't obviously have prices but they were IIRC not that expensive. As I said elsewhere, a turbocharger turbine is somewhat comparable. But they run at getting on for 100,000 rpm. Gearing is never going to be an option, but perhaps something like the Dyson "digital" motors might be adaptable. You'd have to find some way of lubricating it too. some sort of oil resrvoir and pump. |
#42
Posted to uk.d-i-y
|
|||
|
|||
Build my own power station
On Sun, 7 May 2017 12:58:07 +0100, Andy Burns
wrote: Except it costs £15k, with a £3k installation grant available, then a mandatory £500/year servicing contract Sounds like the guarantee of parts for 10 years with my new cheap Indesit washing machine, only valid if the parts are fitted by an Indesit engineer at £109/hour. |
#44
Posted to uk.d-i-y
|
|||
|
|||
Build my own power station
On 5/7/2017 5:21 PM, harry wrote:
On Saturday, 6 May 2017 20:42:01 UTC+1, newshound wrote: On 5/6/2017 12:11 PM, Tim Streater wrote: In article , AnthonyL wrote: ok, a bit t-i-c but it'd be fun having my own steam generator (modified boiler?), turbine and generator. I recall a viable jet engine (intended for VTOL some 45yrs ago) that could be picked up by one person so a turbine needn't be too big. You can get small jet engines from, f'rinstance, these people: http://www.wrenpowersystems.com/index.html I've no idea whether anything like that would be suitable or not. They didn't obviously have prices but they were IIRC not that expensive. As I said elsewhere, a turbocharger turbine is somewhat comparable. But they run at getting on for 100,000 rpm. Gearing is never going to be an option, but perhaps something like the Dyson "digital" motors might be adaptable. You'd have to find some way of lubricating it too. some sort of oil resrvoir and pump. Yup. Probably not a ring lubricator :-) |
#45
Posted to uk.d-i-y
|
|||
|
|||
Build my own power station
In article ,
writes: On Sat, 6 May 2017 19:28:12 -0000 (UTC), (Andrew Gabriel) wrote: It was done - Whispergen and another I forget made domestic boilers with 1kW electricity output. They weren't viable and the companies abandoned the domestic products when the development subsidies were withdrawn. Sounds about right, one was a free running piston and the other used three cylinders and a swash plate IIRC The Whispergen used a Stirling engine to drive the generator. They got unexpected interest from the marine sector for boilers on boats which could generate the electricity to power themselves and the boat. The original Whispergen couldn't run without a mains supply, but they produced a module to replace the grid-tie which enabled it to start from a battery, and then generate power to run itself and supply the rest of the boat. Looked like a great idea, but it also went nowhere beyond shipping some early units. -- Andrew Gabriel [email address is not usable -- followup in the newsgroup] |
#46
Posted to uk.d-i-y
|
|||
|
|||
Build my own power station
On Sun, 7 May 2017 19:54:25 -0000 (UTC),
(Andrew Gabriel) wrote: The Whispergen used a Stirling engine to drive the generator. Yes there was another similar unit along with the whispergen both were Stirling engines as prime movers , the whispergen pistons drove a swash plate which then rotated the alternator. The other (Microgen) used a piston which oscillated past the armature. AJH |
#47
Posted to uk.d-i-y
|
|||
|
|||
Build my own power station
On Sun, 7 May 2017 13:51:47 +0100, Andy Burns
wrote: AnthonyL wrote: The Natural Philosopher wrote: a big ccgt plant! I'll keep an eye on Ebay to see if one comes up cheap. I think you were asking about Ratcliffe the other week? I happened to drive past on Friday and the coal heaps looked very well stocked and neatly raked over ... suppose the bulldozer drivers have to do something over summer? Isn't there some requirement that the coal at the bottom needs to be scooped up to prevent self-ignition? The bulldozers seem to work 24/7. -- AnthonyL |
#48
Posted to uk.d-i-y
|
|||
|
|||
Build my own power station
AnthonyL wrote:
Andy Burns wrote: I think you were asking about Ratcliffe the other week? I happened to drive past on Friday and the coal heaps looked very well stocked and neatly raked over ... suppose the bulldozer drivers have to do something over summer? Isn't there some requirement that the coal at the bottom needs to be scooped up to prevent self-ignition? I seem to remember something along those lines, yes The bulldozers seem to work 24/7. |
#49
Posted to uk.d-i-y
|
|||
|
|||
Build my own power station
On 05/05/2017 19:42, AnthonyL wrote:
I was watching the early development of electricity generation and houses had their own coal fired generators before power distribution became widespread. was a lot of noise about CHP units a few years ago ... not sure how they have progressed |
#50
Posted to uk.d-i-y
|
|||
|
|||
Build my own power station
On 26/05/17 22:58, rick wrote:
On 05/05/2017 19:42, AnthonyL wrote: I was watching the early development of electricity generation and houses had their own coal fired generators before power distribution became widespread. was a lot of noise about CHP units a few years ago ... not sure how they have progressed They work exceptionally well where the heat to electricity ratio suits. Ä–g. municipal waste burners in Denmark that power the council flats and have free hot water. Of course the wind power companies want them closed down, because they represent a source of energy that cant be switched off when the wind is blowing -- "If you dont read the news paper, you are un-informed. If you read the news paper, you are mis-informed." Mark Twain |
#51
Posted to uk.d-i-y
|
|||
|
|||
Build my own power station
On 26/05/2017 23:12, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
Of course the wind power companies want them closed down, because they represent a source of energy that cant be switched off when the wind is blowing There was a lot of discussion on something smaller than a Combi boiler .... assume it has not progressed. |
#52
Posted to uk.d-i-y
|
|||
|
|||
Build my own power station
On 27/05/17 12:44, rick wrote:
On 26/05/2017 23:12, The Natural Philosopher wrote: Of course the wind power companies want them closed down, because they represent a source of energy that cant be switched off when the wind is blowing There was a lot of discussion on something smaller than a Combi boiler ... assume it has not progressed. Probably not. Along with the solar revolution, the battery revolution, the hydrogen revolution, the smart grid revolution, the wind power revolution the tidal power revolution, the run of river turbine revolution, the biofuel revolution.... Once upon a time a technician made a remark that has stuck with me forever..'If it were that easy, we would all have done it years ago' And that is a salient point here. The principles of all this 'alternative energy' have been established for years,. And yet no one has made a commercial success ...Trillions have been thrown in, and yet the technology cannot survive without subsidy. Golly gosh, if it were that easy we would have done it years ago. -- "The great thing about Glasgow is that if there's a nuclear attack it'll look exactly the same afterwards." Billy Connolly |
#53
Posted to uk.d-i-y
|
|||
|
|||
Build my own power station
On 5/27/2017 1:31 PM, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
On 27/05/17 12:44, rick wrote: On 26/05/2017 23:12, The Natural Philosopher wrote: Of course the wind power companies want them closed down, because they represent a source of energy that cant be switched off when the wind is blowing There was a lot of discussion on something smaller than a Combi boiler ... assume it has not progressed. Probably not. Along with the solar revolution, the battery revolution, the hydrogen revolution, the smart grid revolution, the wind power revolution the tidal power revolution, the run of river turbine revolution, the biofuel revolution.... Once upon a time a technician made a remark that has stuck with me forever..'If it were that easy, we would all have done it years ago' And that is a salient point here. The principles of all this 'alternative energy' have been established for years,. And yet no one has made a commercial success ...Trillions have been thrown in, and yet the technology cannot survive without subsidy. Golly gosh, if it were that easy we would have done it years ago. +1 I was looking up some CEGB Research Division "glossies" from the 70's and 80's the other day. They did quite a bit of research on wind, geothermal, photovoltaic, and wave power before confirming that they were all miles away from being commercial. Hydro is a no brainer pretty much anywhere there is a suitable water supply. And of course pumped storage is a big winner too. |
#54
Posted to uk.d-i-y
|
|||
|
|||
Build my own power station
On 27/05/17 19:50, newshound wrote:
On 5/27/2017 1:31 PM, The Natural Philosopher wrote: On 27/05/17 12:44, rick wrote: On 26/05/2017 23:12, The Natural Philosopher wrote: Of course the wind power companies want them closed down, because they represent a source of energy that cant be switched off when the wind is blowing There was a lot of discussion on something smaller than a Combi boiler ... assume it has not progressed. Probably not. Along with the solar revolution, the battery revolution, the hydrogen revolution, the smart grid revolution, the wind power revolution the tidal power revolution, the run of river turbine revolution, the biofuel revolution.... Once upon a time a technician made a remark that has stuck with me forever..'If it were that easy, we would all have done it years ago' And that is a salient point here. The principles of all this 'alternative energy' have been established for years,. And yet no one has made a commercial success ...Trillions have been thrown in, and yet the technology cannot survive without subsidy. Golly gosh, if it were that easy we would have done it years ago. +1 I was looking up some CEGB Research Division "glossies" from the 70's and 80's the other day. They did quite a bit of research on wind, geothermal, photovoltaic, and wave power before confirming that they were all miles away from being commercial. Hydro is a no brainer pretty much anywhere there is a suitable water supply. And of course pumped storage is a big winner too. Around IIRC 1999. I was guest at a convention aimed at bringing advocates of 'alternative energy' together with city banker and fund managers. There were several interesting power point sessions from various representatives of green leaning oil companies and so on, and I asked a lot of questions.... .....When we adjourned for a lunch of soggy vol au vents and flat sparkling wine, a gentleman sat at my table and in a thick German accent he addressed me.. "You unnerstand zis technology ja?" "A little" "So, tell me straight, is there any of this that is making money without government subsidy?" I thought for a considerable time. "No". "Thank you!" He beamed. "I am to London going now, I have been here before. We put money in, the government pays, we try and take a little profit, and the government says you are making too much profit, and we never get our money back. Good bye, and thank you". -- "Anyone who believes that the laws of physics are mere social conventions is invited to try transgressing those conventions from the windows of my apartment. (I live on the twenty-first floor.) " Alan Sokal |
#55
Posted to uk.d-i-y
|
|||
|
|||
Build my own power station
On 27/05/2017 01:21, Huge wrote:
On 2017-05-26, rick wrote: On 05/05/2017 19:42, AnthonyL wrote: I was watching the early development of electricity generation and houses had their own coal fired generators before power distribution became widespread. was a lot of noise about CHP units a few years ago ... not sure how they have progressed They haven't. They aren't economic. Usually CHP schemes require 'high' cap ex and a lot of maintenance. Some CHP schemes did seem to be viable on paper but long payback periods and de-industrialisation put paid to widespread take up. |
#56
Posted to uk.d-i-y
|
|||
|
|||
Build my own power station
On 5/27/2017 8:05 PM, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
On 27/05/17 19:50, newshound wrote: On 5/27/2017 1:31 PM, The Natural Philosopher wrote: On 27/05/17 12:44, rick wrote: On 26/05/2017 23:12, The Natural Philosopher wrote: Of course the wind power companies want them closed down, because they represent a source of energy that cant be switched off when the wind is blowing There was a lot of discussion on something smaller than a Combi boiler ... assume it has not progressed. Probably not. Along with the solar revolution, the battery revolution, the hydrogen revolution, the smart grid revolution, the wind power revolution the tidal power revolution, the run of river turbine revolution, the biofuel revolution.... Once upon a time a technician made a remark that has stuck with me forever..'If it were that easy, we would all have done it years ago' And that is a salient point here. The principles of all this 'alternative energy' have been established for years,. And yet no one has made a commercial success ...Trillions have been thrown in, and yet the technology cannot survive without subsidy. Golly gosh, if it were that easy we would have done it years ago. +1 I was looking up some CEGB Research Division "glossies" from the 70's and 80's the other day. They did quite a bit of research on wind, geothermal, photovoltaic, and wave power before confirming that they were all miles away from being commercial. Hydro is a no brainer pretty much anywhere there is a suitable water supply. And of course pumped storage is a big winner too. Around IIRC 1999. I was guest at a convention aimed at bringing advocates of 'alternative energy' together with city banker and fund managers. There were several interesting power point sessions from various representatives of green leaning oil companies and so on, and I asked a lot of questions.... ....When we adjourned for a lunch of soggy vol au vents and flat sparkling wine, a gentleman sat at my table and in a thick German accent he addressed me.. "You unnerstand zis technology ja?" "A little" "So, tell me straight, is there any of this that is making money without government subsidy?" I thought for a considerable time. "No". "Thank you!" He beamed. "I am to London going now, I have been here before. We put money in, the government pays, we try and take a little profit, and the government says you are making too much profit, and we never get our money back. Good bye, and thank you". :-) |
#57
Posted to uk.d-i-y
|
|||
|
|||
Build my own power station
On 27/05/2017 13:31, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
On 27/05/17 12:44, rick wrote: On 26/05/2017 23:12, The Natural Philosopher wrote: Of course the wind power companies want them closed down, because they represent a source of energy that cant be switched off when the wind is blowing There was a lot of discussion on something smaller than a Combi boiler ... assume it has not progressed. Probably not. Along with the solar revolution, the battery revolution, the hydrogen revolution, the smart grid revolution, the wind power revolution the tidal power revolution, the run of river turbine https://www.thegreenage.co.uk/chp-bo...-buyers-guide/ |
Reply |
|
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Forum | |||
More O/T power station ramblings..... | UK diy | |||
Wylfa power station closes | UK diy | |||
OT. World's most expensive power station. | UK diy | |||
low odour grass composting station: build or buy? links, tips wanted | Woodworking | |||
Recommendations for soldering station and Desoldering station or rework station. | Electronics Repair |