maybe cogen is resurging?

[mobile_bob]

with large parts of texas without power, i wonder if there will not be a lot of folks starting to get into the cogen game

it is colder than a well diggers hiney in the klondike here in kansas
colby kansas was -25F last night and with the breeze windchill -40F

we got down to -14F here in central kansas

and they are calling for -15F in wichita tonight so we will probably be a couple degree's colder

luckily it should be passed us by thursday and we can get back into the 30's and above by weekend.

hope you all are staying warm?

bob g

[Tom Reed]

My CoGen is running right now, but it's only 50 degrees here.

[mike90045]

not strictly a cogen related question - but here goes

When doing the prelub on a listeroid ( pull the crankcase top plug, drip oil onto cam bearing, open hatch pre-oil the mains) what about the piston wrist pin ? It's sitting up there high and dry, only getting last weeks oil mist.   Why is it ok to not pre-oil, but everything else needs it ?  Because it's impossible to get to ?

[Tom Reed]

My take on it is that rotating bearings will heat up and score way faster than a wrist pin that just moves a little back and forth. I've never pre oiled since the initial startup. It does get run at least every couple of months though.

[LowGear]

Setting over here in Kona at 1000 feet elevation I can't quite feel your pain even when it plunges down into the 67Fs or even the 66Fs.  Of course I've got my emergency co-gen socks on so that may be the barrier to brotherly empathy.

I'm still fascinated with your co-gen programs.  Humans are such cleaver animals.  No plan for a move to more forgivable climates?  Hmmmmmm.

[mobile_bob]

-21F this morning in florence kansas (down in the valley where i live)
thank God the wind is not blowing, or it would be really miserable

bob g

[Henry W]

52 F right now in Raleigh North Carolina. Wow, a 73 degree difference. Bob I feel your pain. Be careful not to touch any steel when you go outdoors with sweaty  hands. I don't miss those days.

We used to take a pot of hot water and toss the water in the air. Instant snow. The kids loved it.

[mobile_bob]

and i ain't puttin my tongue on a flagpole either!

[Henry W]

LOL, Bob, I seen a guy lick his metal thermos cup after it was sitting out in the cold empty and his tongue stuck to it. One of the funniest things I've seen.

[Tom Reed]

My grandpa kissed the train good by with my grandma on it as she left for Florida to recuperate from TB. His lips stuck to the train.

[LowGear]

-21 degrees.  I don't think I've been anywhere below zero F.  Amazing.  You know it's cold when the NG mechanisms fail. 

Good Luck

[mobile_bob]

it was 17 above this afternoon, was out working on the wifes car in a t shirt and vest!  felt down right balmy
compared to yesterday!

bob g

[Henry W]

We are supposed to get an ice storm starting early tomorrow morning. The news is reporting that a million homes will loose power. I'm ready  for it. Battery is topped off and fully charged. Have 5 gallons of gas and the inverter generator ready. Propane tanks are full. Have enough propane for at least 3 weeks of heating and cooking.

If power goes out well pretty much will run on 12 volts. It will be for lighting, partial operation of the refrigerator and blower motor. Propane will take care of heat, hot water when needed and partial operation of the refrigerator.

Fresh water tank is filled.

If it's bad well bunker down and conserve gas by operating just what's needed. The battery will be charged every two hours than get recharged.

I wonder if there would be an interest in the off grid camping community to have a cogen unit that mounts in the back of a pickup bed and than run quick disconnect lines to a camping trailer that which is connected to a coil with a fan to help heat the trailer during winter months.
Just a thought

[Henry W]

We had thunderstorms with freezing rain early this morning. I've never seen that  happen. We are fine, very little ice on tree limbs and the roads are clear. I don't know about our neighbors in the northern  counties.

[LowGear]

I wonder if there would be an interest in the off grid camping community to have a cogen unit that mounts in the back of a pickup bed and than run quick disconnect lines to a camping trailer that which is connected to a coil with a fan to help heat the trailer during winter months.

In a sarcastic moment I thought "That almost sounds like a motorhome". 

I am surprised we haven't heard more about kerosene heater and camp stove tragedies.  And now so many homes have a propane barbeque.

I'm also wondering if there aren't low temperature versions of propane and natural gas mechanisms that just aren't distributed in the southern states? That would apply to wind turbines as well?

It's 40F in South Seattle where I spend a few months a year during the milder weather.  40F isn't that bad unless you're used to early morning  lows of 67F.