Renewable Energy Technologies: New Concepts
I’m always happy to receive and comment on new ideas in renewable energy technology. If you happen to be sitting on a business plan, or just a raw idea, and you’d like my opinion on it (at no charge), please send it along.
Here’s a discussion I had with a reader just the other day:
Representative: I represent a gentleman who would like to sell his patent on this device (see video) that generates AC power with solar PV panels.
Craig: Thanks for writing in. This is very creative, but it comes under the heading: “physically possible but not practical in the real world of today.”
Representative: I’m curious why is it not practical in the real world?
Craig: Here’s the basic reasoning.
To elaborate, it calls for the replacement of a minor cost with a solution that will represent a huge cost–in both dollars and efficiency. It’s the electronic equivalent to replacing the salt you put on your eggs with some exotic spice (that tastes the same) brought down from the mountaintops of Nepal on the backs of domesticated yaks, then FedEx’d from Katmandu to your door. That may not be the perfect analogy, but it’s close.
Representative: Makes sense, unfortunately. I think you’re pretty funny and your analogy made perfect sense. I really appreciate your time.
Craig: Thanks, and I’m happy to help.
This may be too broad a generalization, but any machine that uses a moving physical object to accomplish a certain task will eventually be replaced by electronics that greatly reduce the cost and improve the efficiency. A good example of this is the electronic ignitions in our cars that came into being in the 1970s. Until that time, I would do my own tune-ups, which meant that I would go to the auto parts store and buy replacement “contact points” (see photo) that I would then screw into place and calibrate with a little metal tool, dictating, with as much precision as possible at the time, when the electrical pulses would be sent to the spark plugs. A few years later, all this physical stuff became obsolete; I’ll bet most readers don’t even recognize the photo above.
Again, thanks for writing.
The next step will prove to be a solid state device, not necessarily electronic.
“Solid state” devices are by definition “electronic,” aren’t they?
Craig I’ve replaced and set the gap on many sets of points that more or less look like those you pictured which (at first glance) looked like those we used to tune up Briggs and Stratton motors on lawn mowers during the 1960’s at my family’s motorcycle, outboard motor, small engine and bicycle sales and repair shop here in Lawrence Kansas.
Yes, the invention is clever and it would work. However, the efficiency of the solar cells would be considerably less than 50% of what it normally would be since half the time, each solar cell would have an output of zero. Even during the part of the waveform when the output would be greater than zero, its power would be restricted most of the time to be able to get a sinusoidal wave form. Controlling the sun exposure mechanically would be awkward because the rotating shutter would have to operate at 3600 rpm and, in addition, be phased properly. In theory it could be done without a rotating shutter because there are substances which can control light by means of an electric field, but even if that worked properly, there would still be the problem of not permitting each solar cell to operate at full power all the time.
Regarding electronic ignition for Otto-cycle engines, that was available well before it became common. By the late 1960s, Studebakers had electronic ignition, yet some cars did not have it until well after 1970. Even in the early 1960s, electronic ignition was available from auto parts stores as an after-market device. Some were triggered by the existing ignition points, but by reducing the current and voltage on the points, they greatly extended point life. I don’t understand why it sometimes takes far too long to implement new technology which is a big improvement.
Yes, that’s a matter I forgot to discuss. The inventor goes out of his way to explain that the voltage goes through zero 60 times a second. He doesn’t seem to realize that this isn’t a good thing….
Craig, I have a business plan that focuses on commercialization of the multi-fuel and multi-process fuels conversion technology I’ve invented, patented, made several prototypes and tested over the past 30+ years, but unless and until I find someone who can get their head around the multi-fuel and multi-process capable concept, and is willing and ready to get on board with that novel and innovative new concept in fuels processing there isn’t any need to discuss the business plan for commercialization of my patented and tested technology which I’ve proved can save a homeowner 75% of a home’s heating costs during the winter, or save a town or city that hauls municipal trash to the landfill and pays by the ton to tip it off at about $25,000 for each thousand tons per year they landfill instead of converting it into low carbon heat, power and/or renewable gaseous or liquid biofuels.
I understand. It seems you’ll have to expend some effort in promoting the validity/importance of the overall multi-fuel concept. Best of luck to you, as always.
Like Mr. Eggers I don’t understand why it sometimes takes far too long to implement new technology which is a big improvement, unless it’s because people can’t get their heads around revolutionary new ideas whose time has come such as my multi-fuel and multi-process capable conversion technology.
The unique fuels conversion tech I’ve developed is a fuels processing unit designed for being scaled up or down and being managed automatically as a combustion furnace or as bulky biomass fuels dryer or as an advanced thermo-chemical conversion unit for biomass and waste fuels gasification, or for Torrefaction or pyrolysis. This advanced new fuels conversion concept has been patented in the U.S. under U.S. Patent # 5,261,335 which was issued to its inventor Les Blevins and will be further developed and demonstrated whenever he is able to find those who can get their heads around the novel concepts involved in it. For more info contact;
Les Blevins
President
Advanced Alternative Energy
12307 N 1800 Rd.
Lawrence, KS 66049
785-842-1943
LBlevins@aaecorp.com
http://aaecorp.com/ceo.html
One thing that I suspect people are not getting their heads around is the replication factor of the in the technology I’ve developed. Most companies go out of their way to make products that no one else can readily duplicate or replicate. On the other hand I designed a technology can be replicated and utilized in virtually any local in any country on any continent. It seems to me that the reason we are facing such a dire future due to the climate threat is because the light bulb and the jumbo jet and every energy consuming product in between those two extreme examples of items that are made to consume fossil fuel energy can be and in fact are being replicated around the world in quantity.
Hi Craig, I am not an engineer, but a pragmatists who is able to balance good engineering thinking against creative ideas – and for that reason I enjoy your column so much.
Here in South Africa we are facing a very serious energy crisis, precipitated by greed and stupidity. Because of the lack of maintenance and foresight, coupled with corruption (where weapons were considered more important than power stations), and inadequate skills, we are heading for a calamity.
Right now we are running our emergency, open-cycle gas turbines 24/7 (At a cost in diesel fuel of over U$200m per month), to keep the lights on! But it isn’t sustainable and inevitably there are increasing breakdowns in generation capacity. Quaintly called ‘load shedding’, (which our power authority sees as the solution, not the problem), these rolling blackouts are the precursor to a national collapse. The many voices of reason and technical insight are being ignored for political expediency. The truth is that we have to look the bull in the eye – a collapse is imminent. We have left it too late and the negative feedback loops are going to nail us.
The politicians, of course, are saying, “Don’t worry, we have it under control”. They lie. The current major coal-fired power station (Medupi), that was supposed to come on stream last year will now only deliver its first watt in 2018 – 2020. By then it will be all over. Now we hear of shady deals with the Russians to buy nuclear plants for a couple of trillion U$, so that in 10 or 20 years we can have 7 Chernobyl’s on our doorstep.
It’s insanity – especially in a country with one of the highest sunshine ratios per annum. And there lies our next problem. Water for the major industrial complex of Gauteng (Johannesburg), is pumped up from the Vaal River system 100 miles away, with a ‘head’ of 2,300 feet! Coupled with zero maintenance for many years, plus power cuts – water shortages are already occurring. Johannesburg is the only major city in the world that is not on a river. At 6000 feet above sea level, and with millions of people reliant on this water source, trouble is in the wings. The only reason Johannesburg is where it is, is because this is where gold was first discovered. But that is history.
I am telling this story to illustrate how important it is to ‘develop with circumspection’ when it comes to energy. Public opinion is up in arms now – when it should have been years ago. Change on the planet is driven by people, and that is why our efforts with Earth Corporation are solely focused on changing people’s attitudes, and informing them of the consequences of political expediency when it comes to life-threatening maladministration and greed.
We need a new energy consciousness on this planet, a new respect for resources and a new, gentler footprint for humanity. To ignore that is foolhardy – for in the darkness lurks the ugly face of anarchy.
Reg Wessels
Founder. Earth Corporation
I had heard that South Africa is a eco-disaster in progress, but I had no idea the situation was so dire. Godspeed to you and Earth Corporation.
Mr. Wessels I agree on the need a new energy consciousness, a new respect for resources and a new, gentler footprint for humanity and I propose we discuss a collaboration designed for these ends. Can I send you my position paper on this subject for consideration?
South Africa has tremendous biofuel potential when considering the capacity to grow total plant biomass (all lignocellulosic plant biomass. According to conservative estimates, South Africa produces about 18 million tonnes of agricultural and forestry residues every year. The South African biofuels target for 2008‐2013, according to Industrial Biofuels Strategy (2007), has been fixed at 2% penetration level in the national liquid fuel supply, which corresponds to 400 million litres per annum. When considering the use of 50‐70% of this plant biomass with second generation biochemical and thermochemical technologies, South Africa has the potential to substitute the bulk of its current liquid fossil fuel usage (currently 21.2 BL/annum) with renewable biofuels. However, the only real activity has been US$437 million investment by the South Africa’s Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) and Energy Development Corporation (EDC) in two biofuels projects that will collectively produce 190 million litres of bioethanol from sugarcane and sugarbeet.
Another important biomass energy sector is biogas-from-waste which can potentially generate more than 200 MW of electricity countrywide. There are several big projects in construction and operational phases in different parts of the country. CAE Energy in partnership with Humphries Boerdery, has developed 1.2MW biogas power project near Bela-Bela, Limpopo province, with the plant having produced 10 MWh of electricity since August 2009.
AAEC’s new concept bale burning furnaces are scalable in size and can use all types and sizes of bales either manually or automatically stoked plus other biomass and waste forms as feedstock fuels
About Using Straws, Stover, Stems, Trash etc. as a Heating Fuel
The use of agricultural byproducts as a heating fuel on the farm is growing in popularity because it helps to reduce expenditures on heating, utilizes otherwise unwanted and unneeded byproduct material and it provides a practical and environmentally acceptable alternative to field burning of stubble, straws, stems and stalks, and very often provides an inexpensive supply of fuel that l is close at hand. Most farm and ranch operations produce enough of these byproducts each year to supply a bulky biomass burning system. However, even if some biomass fuel must be purchased to add to what is already available, it’s usually low enough in cost to be a worthwhile venture.
There are five basic types of straw burners:
• those that accept shredded, loose straw
• burners that use densified straw products such as pellets, briquettes, cubes or straw logs
• small, square bale burners
• large round bale burners
• industrial size straw bale burners
Please Keep in Mind the AAEC Bale Burning Furnace Can Serve Each of the Above Purposes and “Straw” in this document also means stover, stems, leaves, trash etc.