Aquaponics Digest - Mon 04/30/01
Message 1: Stirling fans
from Roy Houston
Message 2: RE:OT ... Neat Animation of Bourke Engine
from "billevans"
Message 3: Re: Unlinking Systems
from Peggy & Emmett
Message 4: Re: Unlinking Systems - Biodigestor construction
from "Juan C. Bobeda"
Message 5: Re: RE:OT ... Neat Animation of Bourke Engine
from "TGTX"
Message 6: Re: Unlinking Systems
from "TGTX"
Message 7: Stirling Engines idea
from "Frank Stancato"
Message 8: Re: Unlinking Systems
from marc 'at' aculink.net
Message 9: Re: Stirling Engines idea
from marc 'at' aculink.net
Message 10: RE: Stirling Engines idea
from "billevans"
Message 11: Re: Stirling Engines idea
from "Jerry & Nelda Miles"
Message 12: Organic Standards
from "Jay Myers"
| Message 1
Subject: Stirling fans
From: Roy Houston
Date: Mon, 30 Apr 2001 08:50:38 -0500
Ted:
The fan thing is way cool. Using one of these in a greenhouse gives you the
benefit of moving air and the added benefit of CO2 being generated for the
plants. Granted the amount of co2 is minimal based on the fuel consumption
rate, but even small amounts help when the plants are starved for co2.
| Message 2
Subject: RE:OT ... Neat Animation of Bourke Engine
From: "billevans"
Date: Mon, 30 Apr 2001 13:00:34 -0700
Below is an interesting, seemingly factual , account of a "bourke" engine
test.
possibly the jury is still out on the merits of the design.... it still
looks great , tho http://www.niquette.com/books/sophmag/bourke.htm
.....
http://www.bourke-engine.com/ani.htm
tedzo
| Message 3
Subject: Re: Unlinking Systems
From: Peggy & Emmett
Date: Mon, 30 Apr 2001 19:30:49 -0400
At 06:31 PM 4/29/2001 -0600, kris book wrote:
>Meir,
>
>This discussion wasn't about USDA until someone brought it up at the end.
>Fact is, that I find the organic standards are set so low that I'm hoping
>someone comes up with a higher standard to judge the purity of food.
As I understand it, and I may be wrong, the Federal organic standards are
written so that no other standard may EXCEED them. That is to say,stating
that my products exceed Federal standards puts me in violation of US law. I
can never have a product better than the USDA standards. My aquaponic
system is a pure organic system. My fish are fed with organic grain. And
all those hard working Biodynamic farmers that worry about rock fines on
their soil, and who produce beautiful organic produce from their farm,
well, they're like us. The law is written, in such a way, that we may
never say that, WE EXCEED THE FEDERAL ORGANIC STANDARDS. By law, we
cannot have a higher standard.
Well, if the last paragraph is somewhat repetitive, it's because of the
point that our government has said that it is illegal to say one can exceed
its standards.
Arrrgghhh. Wasn't it Voltaire that said something to the effect that it's
dangerous to know more than the government? ...Emmett
| Message 4
Subject: Re: Unlinking Systems - Biodigestor construction
From: "Juan C. Bobeda"
Date: Mon, 30 Apr 2001 20:18:06 -0400
Hello Raul,
Thanks for your reply. I'm glad we agree in our views about using biodigesters with aquaponic
systems.
To keep from reinventing the wheel, I would like to see your drawings of the small biodigester
using 200 liter plastic drums. As you indicated, I will contact Mr. Melvin Landers to that
effect.
I would very much like to know why you say that a venturi wouldn't work very well since we
have about 180 venturis operating in our tanks and they haven't given us any problems until
now.
As for the gentleman that has been using fish wastes and weeds in a flood and drain hydroponic
system for several years, I just found the article, it is called "Back yard recipe for organic
hydroponics" and appeared in the July/August 2000 PH&G magazine and the gentleman's name is
Stan Marshall who has been doing this for over 10 years. It is a very interesting article
because it shows that a gravel bed system is very forgiving even when used with incompletely
digested organic wastes.
As for my system design, I hope that with your help I won't have too many problems.
Best regards,
Juan C. Bobeda
Raul Vergueiro Martins wrote:
> Hello Juan:
> ......
> I agree with you. A simple biodigester can be made at low cost
> ......
> Im just finishing the drawings of a small biodigester that uses 200 liter plastic drums,
> basically designed to treat the daily feces of 50 laying hens (about 15 or 18 Kg/day).
> The resulting biofertilizer will basically be used to prepare nutrient solutions for
> hydroponics. I can say that the final stage is an aeration one, and unless you make the
> aeration during at least 24 hours, the process is not complete.
> And the venturi doesn't work so well.
> For this biodigester we will furnish the complete drawings and a small handbook for people
> to set and use it.
> This will be distributed to poor people around the world, and will be sold for those who
> can pay for it.
> You can contact Mr. Melvin Landers at agrimel 'at' yahoo.com to know about our project.
> ......
>
> And you can be sure it works. But it takes some months for the anaerobic decomposition
> to take place.
> ......
> Be sure you will have good results. I have no doubts that you will have some problems in
> the begining, but you will succeed.
>
> Best regards,
>
> Raul Vergueiro Martins
> rvm 'at' sti.com.br
| Message 5
Subject: Re: RE:OT ... Neat Animation of Bourke Engine
From: "TGTX"
Date: Mon, 30 Apr 2001 19:19:05 -0500
Wow, Bill, what a great story!
Quite beyond interesting...it goes into the heart of the drive for
experimentation and effort, andall that.
I will keep this story and mull it over for some time to come, I assure you.
Thanks.
> possibly the jury is still out on the merits of the design.... it still
> looks great ,
Yeah, there is an elegance there that struck me.....don't know how to
express it, but then I always tend to feel that way about gadgets and gizmos
that hard working inventors pull out of their hats...
Ted
| Message 6
Subject: Re: Unlinking Systems
From: "TGTX"
Date: Mon, 30 Apr 2001 19:34:56 -0500
> Arrrgghhh. Wasn't it Voltaire that said something to the effect that it's
> dangerous to know more than the government? ...Emmett
Dangerous, but almost always the case.
A passage in the movie version of Orwell's 1984 involved the
torture/interrogation by the ubermeister, played by Richard Burton, of the
main character, played by John Hurt,
"Two plus Two equals Five if the State says it equals five (today)..... Two
plus Two equals Four if the State says it equals four (tomorrow)". (with
apologies to both Burton and Orwell)
Ted
| Message 7
Subject: Stirling Engines idea
From: "Frank Stancato"
Date: Mon, 30 Apr 2001 21:47:29 -0700
TGTX, thanks for all of the links.
I have been looking at Sterling engines for a while also, but I am not much
of an engineer. Of course if you talk to my father he'll tell you I have 10
thumbs, all of which are targets for a hammer.
Always interested in figuring how to make them work without any added
energy. Always thought that you could get one of them to work by putting the
'heated' portion into a sweatbox outside and leave the 'cold' end outside
shaded. That should provide enough of a temperature difference to make the
engine work.
Anyone interested in further conversaions just send me an email on or off
the list. If anyone tries it and it works let me know.
Thanks,
Frank
| Message 8
Subject: Re: Unlinking Systems
From: marc 'at' aculink.net
Date: Mon, 30 Apr 2001 19:43:02 -0600
A careful listing of "FELT" freedoms from my upbringing,
popular literature, movies, folk lore etc. when compared to
ACTUAL laws, police actions and court rulings illustrated
that perhaps the USA has the best self delusion in the world
regarding itself as a free society.
The brief promise of freedom our country enjoyed during its
first few years may again exist somewhere - sometime.
The problem is our bloated freedom supression system stems
from social warfare imposed on citizens by fellow citizens
in the name of forming a perfect society.
I suspect perfection can only exist if there is no food for
debate. Seems all must think alike for perfection to exist.
Marc
Peggy & Emmett wrote:
>
> At 06:31 PM 4/29/2001 -0600, kris book wrote:
> >Meir,
...we may
> never say that, WE EXCEED THE FEDERAL ORGANIC STANDARDS. By law, we
> cannot have a higher standard.
>
> Well, if the last paragraph is somewhat repetitive, it's because of the
> point that our government has said that it is illegal to say one can exceed
> its standards.
>
> Arrrgghhh. Wasn't it Voltaire that said something to the effect that it's
> dangerous to know more than the government? ...Emmett
| Message 9
Subject: Re: Stirling Engines idea
From: marc 'at' aculink.net
Date: Mon, 30 Apr 2001 20:31:21 -0600
Looks like an interesting project. It would be able to
provide mechanical energy and last for an appreciable time
if well built out of proper materials.
As yourself I am also studying the engine and considering
applications such as battery charging and water pumping, et
al.
If we do it we'll post pictures on our web site and share
data.
Marc
Frank Stancato wrote:
>
> TGTX, thanks for all of the links.
...
> Anyone interested in further conversaions just send me an email on or off
> the list. If anyone tries it and it works let me know.
>
> Thanks,
> Frank
| Message 10
Subject: RE: Stirling Engines idea
From: "billevans"
Date: Mon, 30 Apr 2001 19:44:07 -0700
You could put the heat absorber at the focus of a large parabolic
reflector...
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
---
Always interested in figuring how to make them work without any added
energy. Always thought that you could get one of them to work by putting the
'heated' portion into a sweatbox outside...
| Message 11
Subject: Re: Stirling Engines idea
From: "Jerry & Nelda Miles"
Date: Mon, 30 Apr 2001 21:46:48 -0500
I want to know more about how to use the Stirling cycle engines for
cooling / refrigeration...
Jerry
-------------------------------------------
----- Original Message -----
From: "billevans"
To:
Sent: Monday, April 30, 2001 9:44 PM
Subject: RE: Stirling Engines idea
> You could put the heat absorber at the focus of a large parabolic
> reflector...
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
------
| Message 12
Subject: Organic Standards
From: "Jay Myers"
Date: Mon, 30 Apr 2001 23:11:57 -0500
Emmett -
I'm not sure I read the standards in the same way.
I think they said "no State could make tougher standards without just
reason - some local condition maybe". I think they are saying "This is
enough - adequate to be called Organic" and they didn't want States to come
up with more just because it may be technically possible. How pure is pure
? How pure does it have to be ?
I don't think it would be wrong, or even in violation to say "This exceeds
federal standards". They have set a standard and you are welcome to exceed
it, and say so if you choose.
Jay
|
