Fireplace door Pictures

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Some Photos
of my new Fireplace Door

The fireplace before fitting the door

Introducing the new door to the fireplace - Pleased to meet you!

How it fits and a look at the door seal

The side frame

Up and running - It looks really well!

2B further continued.

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Pressure Cooker used to Extract Oil from Algae

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Bio-Science meets Domestic Science

Bio-fuel researchers at the University of Michigan have come up with a novel way of extracting oil from algae.

They are mixing Domestic Science with Bio Science! They have found that pressure-cooking algae allows extraction of oil in a simpler and more efficient way.

The pressure-cooker method of oil extraction has not been used to date AFAIK. The accepted technique is to grow the most oily types of algae, then dry the algae before extracting the oil.

The pressure cooker method can extract oil efficiently from less oily varieties of algae. The process also eliminates the need for drying, which wastes a lot of energy and time.

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SEAI Promotes Fireplace Doors

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The Promotion of
Fireplace Doors
by the
Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland??

Almost two years ago I spoke, at some length, on the phone to a high ranking advisor at SEAI Sustainable Energy Authority Ireland about promoting fireplace doors as a viable, cheap, and effective way of increasing the nations energy efficiency, if not simply reducing fire related accidents.

The high-ranking SEAI consultant I spoke to practically dismissed the idea out of hand, offering several reasons why it couldn't or shouldn't be attempted, no reasons given why it might be looked at or tried in any sort of reasonable way!!!

I got the feeling that SEAI would much prefer to engage in hugely expensive multi-million Euro exercises promoting woodpellet heaters and geothermal units to the richer part of our society, rather than waste their time on piddling little exercises.

I was extremely frustrated by the stonewall response I received. It is partly the frustration that SEAI engendered, that has led me to have my own prototype fireplace door made. So thank you SEAI for helping me, yet again, - through your obduracy, lack of insight, and institutional self-serving attitude, to embark on another experimental sustainability exercise.

May Fools - June Fools- July Fools- August Fools- etc. !!!

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The Experimental Fireplace Door

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A First Look at the Door

A really big thanks to Seamus O' , my engineering friend who did a first class job of making the experimental door. Firstly, he expertly deciphered my very poor drawings and measurements. Secondly, he came up with some neat ideas for seals, hinges etc.

My new fireplace door is really sturdy and IMHO quite classy looking made 100% in stainless steel. The fittings are simple, strong, and very effective. The door glass is a nice big piece, and gives a really good view of the fire.

So well were the makers interpretations of the measurements, that all I had to do when fitting the door, was present it to the fireplace, drill a couple of holes and it was fitted. Just finished off with a bit of packing to make the seal of the frame to the stone of the fireplace somewhat air tight.

2B Continued....

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Experimenting with a Fireplace Door

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Experimenting
with a
Fireplace Door

A friend of mine, who is in engineering R&D has recently made me a really nice experimental fireplace door. I fitted it without much effort in about an hour.

I will be taking temperature measurement and experimenting with draught and fuel over the next couple of weeks. I will of course post photos and details here as the experiment runs.

Initial impressions are;

(1) the burn is much better,
(2) radiant heat is well reduced from the front of the fire,
(3) heat to the back boiler is increased substantially.
(4) the door and its frame get quite hot - something you would need to be aware of when adding fuel etc.

Watch this space for further postings.




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Irish Grant for Electric Cars

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Retrofitted EV

€5000 Grant for EVs

The just announced Irish Government Grant of €5000 towards electric cars might be better spent on a national strategy to retrofit existing vehicles.


I have just sent a proposal to Your Country Your Call on this basis. The focus of my proposal is, that instead of importing 100% of electric vehicles EVs over the coming years, and thereby sending some €7bn (my estimate / guesstimate) out of the country, that we set in motion a national plan to retro-fit existing vehicles.

A retrofit EV strategy would:

(1) substantially reduce the money leaving the country on imported electric vehicles,

(2) because of the substantial savings possible over new vehicle purchase price, it would encourage many more people to go electric,

(3) a retrofitting industry would provide new jobs and save existing jobs in the motor trade

(4) stimulate ancillary services,

(5) It would additionally stimulate the economy,

(6) add to national security,

(7) further promote Ireland's sustainability drive,

(8) substantially reduce spending on imported fuels,

(9) spare us scrapping tens of thousands of ICE vehicles, and

(10) last but not least, it would help reduce our carbon footprint.


I have, against my better judgement, posted the suggestion as a proposal to "Your Country Your Call"

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Minister Eamon Ryan's Charge Points

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Minister Eamon Ryan
unveils
“Charger Points”
for electric cars in Dublin

A few points (on these charger points) to note:

(1) The photo above shows a charging lead with a 13-amp plug on the end. This means the maximum rate of charge will be under 3Kw/h. You might need to set up a tent near the charging point at that rate, or at least book into a nearby guesthouse for the wait.

(2) The new types of battery soon to appear on the market, super-capacitor, nano-lithium or whatever, all boast very fast charging rates. These batteries therefore would require a current input of at least twenty times the capability of these flimsy points being opened in Dublin. Otherwise the fast-charging advantage they offer would not be achievable.

(3) These “charge points” are obsolete already even before the new type batteries become available. What a waste of public money- for what amounts to nothing much more than a window dressing exercise!

(4) High current charge points will require improvements in the grid system. This is what should be planned for, and not go wasting resources on outdated technology. These "charge Points" could be another voting machine type waste of our money.

(5) Has the Minister considered safety and vandalism when commissioning these “charge points” How safe will it be to leave your electric car plugged in for the 8 hours or more these points will take to deliver a charge?

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Nano Lithium Ecolocap Hmmmmm

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Ecolocap
a previously unheard of player
announce test results of new
Nano Lithium Battery

Testing seems to indicate that Ecolocap's Nano Lithium X batteries have the world’s current highest energy density output v/s weight. They would also appear to have the lowest total cost and fastest recharge time of any commercially-available battery.

"Using a multidisciplinary approach involving electrical, mechanical, scientific, thermal and statistical analysis, the Nano Lithium X battery was extensively tested for its charge and discharge capabilities at 100 amps, 150 amps, 200 amps and 235 amps. Rigorous testing has concluded that the Nano Lithium X Battery performs even better than the company previously estimated, and represents a substantial improvement over existing lithium-ion batteries in terms of energy density, total cost, and recharge time."

When are we likely to see them on the shelves? Who knows, this could be another EEstor. Whatever you do, don't go holding your breath - you hear now!!!!

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Earth Hour 2010

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It has come around again!
Time to Show you Care!
Switch the lights off
to
Make a Point.
Saturday 27 March at 8.30pm (local time)

Earth Hour started in 2007 in Sydney, Australia when 2.2 million homes and businesses turned their lights off for one hour to make their stand against climate change. Only a year later and Earth Hour had become a global sustainability movement with more than 50 million people across 35 countries participating. Global landmarks such as the, Sydney Harbour Bridge, The CN Tower in Toronto, The Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, and Rome’s Colosseum, all stood in darkness, as symbols of hope for a cause that grows more urgent by the hour.

In March 2009, hundreds of millions of people took part in the third Earth Hour. Over 4000 cities in 88 countries officially switched off to pledge their support for the planet, making Earth Hour 2009 the world’s largest global climate change initiative.

Earth Hour 2010 takes place on Saturday 27 March at 8.30pm (local time) and is a global call to action to every individual, every business and every community throughout the world. It is a call to stand up, to take responsibility, to get involved and lead the way towards a sustainable future. Iconic buildings and landmarks from Europe to Asia to the Americas will stand in darkness. People across the world from all walks of life will turn off their lights and join together in celebration and contemplation of the one thing we all have in common – our planet. So sign up now and let’s make 2010 the biggest Earth Hour yet!.

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SEI to SEAI Comment

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SEI to SEAI
Comment on Comment!

I had a comment on my last post in which I was somewhat scathing about SEI. My sarcasm was based on the poor performance of some of their past schemes, not least their abysmally poor handling of the situation evolving from the SEI woodpellet grants scheme, and not so much a comment on the future plan just announced.

My attitude to SEI / SEAI is encapsulated in a statement from the managing director of a large company involved in the business who put it to me regarding SEI; they have a "terminal lack of joined-up thinking"




energy has left a new comment on your post "New Name for SEI":

I understand that you are generally annoyed with SEAI. I am also of the opinion that their new plan is far fetched. However, before publicly condemning something, I feel that it is important that we read the plan in whole (which is easily available on their website). It is not necessarily a 5 year plan, but something that spans out over 15 years.

Personally I believe that in order to achieve your goals, it is important to reach for something higher - as the saying goes "Shoot for the moon, if you miss, you will land among the stars."
This mentality is used by most companies around the world during their annual goal setting exercises.

Also, I believe that if we have something to say about anything (good or bad), it should be followed up with facts and not a statement like "I sincerely hope that (SEAI) also gets a badly needed BRAIN transplant."

Please don't take my comment the wrong way, I am just simply stating my opinion - as are you.

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