Micro CoGen.

More intrique in the 'What's this world coming to?' department!  Looks like I'll have to put that axial flux design on the 6/1 at least, maybe a wind turbine too.  It sure seems that time is of the essence these days.

Do you have a design and parts sources that you prefer Bob?

Will C

Hi Bob

I'll cast votes for one each of a 6/1 and a design that would accomodate the Redstone engine, which it sounds like you have.  It so happens that I have a Goodway heat exchange tube cleaning tool ( http://www.goodway.com/client_ucs/products/133-psm-500.aspx ). I am hoping to find a heat exchanger design that can be maintained with it.  Sizing the tubing to their brushes would be my issue there.

Regards,
Will C

Two weeks ago, I purchased a 40' High Cube.  It will be loaded to the legal limit with tools after it is set on my 40' car haul trailer for the 1400 mile trip to Montana from California.  Initially, it will house a 27' military water bladder and a multi-function set up based on the Redstone.  Coupled with a second similar unit set about 30' feet parallel, on vapor barrier and base material, the units will be covered with Clearspan (fabric covered) trusses.  This will be the work area and base camp at my ranch until my rather ambitious shop is built.  The containers will then become the basement (same configuration) for a strawbale home.

A friend of mine has built underground homes with containers in Northern California.  Foam insulation, water proofing, soils engineering, solar tube lighting vapor barriers below And above with curtain drain perimeters,  I get.  My friend did not solve the indoor humidity/ventilation issues completely.

Southwest Windpower has an interesting application of their small wind turbines to do with cathodic protection that I intend to look into further.  It seems that making accomodation for the maintenance of sacrificial zinc would be prudent.

As to the electrical generation being incorporated into a shelter, I think that sound, fume and EMI would be a little close..  In my case, I intend to bury a 20 footer for energy related equipment.

As to loading and unloading the containers on the gooseneck car hauler, I have been collecting heavy mechanical jacks and castors.  I'll make something interesting pretty soon I expect. The trailer has an electric winch with a heavy snatch block.  I haven't determined some of the design of the tie down, mainly because I'm still looking for useful goodies.  The commercial trailers have a system that pins the corners of the containers.  I'm leaning towards setting the unit down on pressure treated 4X4's, securing it to the bulkhead and deck with straps and cross chains.

WC

That would be a great help.  I'm trying to acquire parts for 4 different system designs.  Our corporate sourcing is as valuable to me as our corporate engineering.  I have wondered whether we could go even further, for instance, to the assembling of groups of components for various common solutions. 

Bob, I have a R175.  Because of the electric start, I hope to use this for a guest house.  It will serve as a backup unit also.  I'm still trying to determine whether the vibration will be too much for a direct drive set up.  I've removed the hopper and built a plate for the hoses but am looking for weld on tstat and hose fittings.  Noise abatement, heat exchange, PM head, alternator application, remote start/system moitoring, on board inverter, battery pack, portability, and machine guards are undetermined choices yet.

For what it's worth....  I have a Redstone that will be the basis for a multi function platform.  It will power a 12 KW ST head, flour mill, water treatment and 2-3 ton seed press on a military style (skid-able, fork lift accessible) frame.  I'm still looking at Moblie Bob's alternator application.  Other design issues are the 12v leg of his design, the SVO/Bio diesel/dino diesel fuel system and certain components for oilseed treatment.

The project will serve a large off grid shop, office, kitchen, restrooms/showers and dorm. A Bergey 1KW windturbine and solar panels will feed the battery/inverter.  If successful, the system will be duplicated overseas with grant money from an organization interested in establishing "food security" programs.  In that setting, it will serve as a village services and jobs provider.

I'm between California and Montana right now and expect to begin construction on the unit late this winter.  I'm doing 3 other designs, all far less involved, for a bunk house, residence and guest house.

Will C

(BioDBilly)

Hi Bob!

First of all, Thanks for sharing all the hard work.  (And I hope your back is doing better!)

I read your white paper with great interest.  I am nowhere near qualified to contribute on electrical engineering but as a semi pro DIYer, I'm gettin fired up over your success. I'm implementing a number of off grid systems.  While I think there is great merit in a KISS system under certain conditions, the one I'm likely to want to live with is yours.

I'm curious about the prime mover applications that would be possible, essentially, the HP and torque requirements that the Prestolite would demand.  Joel K first suggested that I put an alternator on the little 4HP engine he sold me.  It seemed to make sense for a bunkhouse system on the ranch.  A golf cart starter/generator could provide the 12v leg, perhaps even on a 6/1.  I'm also speculating whether to dedicate the shop Redstone to 240v with an ST head and leave the 120v to a Mobile_Bob Prestolite/sine wave inverter system.  (This unit is the basis of a multifunction platform that will include a flour mill and 2-3 ton oilseed press, maybe more).  It looks like your system would suit a number of applications, from 24v on up.

Again, Thanks for all the hard work, I'll be following along with great interest!